HomeMy WebLinkAbout1989 Vol 3 No 3 August
2 Fi~'!Jl!n hlal/d Gaultl!
I Navy Periscopes Off Fishers Island
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The project sounds like a chapter out
of the submarine suspense novel "Hunt
for Red October." And it is being planned
right here on Fishers Island!
The U.S. Navy is planning to install
a platform off Wilderness Point on the
south side of the Island to test newly devel-
oped periscopes and antennas.
The antennas will be tested for signal
transmission and reception in a number of
situations including transmissions to satel-
lites. The antennas and the periscopes will
also be tested to determine how detectable
they are. Mr. S.G. Paine, public affairs
officer for the Naval Underwater Systems
Center. gave the following description of
the project.
A platform, 12 feet by 35 feet weigh-
ing 50_Om pounds. will be attached to a
fixed docking base 800 feet off Wilderness
Point at the ocean floor 30 feet below sea
level.
The platform itself will be movable
and through a system of winches can be
pulled up on shore when it is not in use.
Attached to the platfonn is a hydrau-
lic arm which will lift and lower the test
periscopes and antennas so that they can
be tested both above and below water.
"This platfonn will bridge the gap
between lab facilities and actu,ll subma-
rine testing," said Mr. Paine. "This will
provide more realistic circumstances than
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Arri.'i1's l"enderillK of IIndenmrer plarfnl"m,
in the lab."
The tests will be conducted from a
specially equipped van parked along the
Fishers Island coast.
The overall cost of the project is
expected to be $3 million. The Navy is
planning to place the construction of the
project out to bid this fall. with the system
becoming operational not until after 1991.
However. just like everyone else.
the Navy must apply for and receive all
necessary penn its for the project. Because
hauling the platform might have an enJi-
Dig Finds .Evidence of Early Life on Island
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An archeological team sponsored by
the Ferguson Museum uncovered evidence
this spring which indicates that Fishers
Island was occupied as early as 2.262 B.C.
These indications of human habitation.
including charred nuts. bones and several
charred corn kernels. were discovered in a
dig at Barlow Pond.
The earliest semi-permanent Indian
"settlement was also uncovered on a site
near Perch Pond. Potlery fragments and a
ceramic smoking pipe were unearthed as
well as scattered shells and bones. The
settlement was dated around 1.000 B.C.
The settlement was estimated to be a
250 square foot area. Twenty-five centi-
meters below the surface. dark soil was
found which might have been the floor of
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a habitation, possibly a wigwam.
The two-week dig this spring was
the fourth year that archeologists have
come to Fishers Island. The team is led by
John Pfeiffer. president of the Archeologi-
cal Society of Southeast Connecticut. Dr.
Robert Fonk of the New York State Mu-
seum and his assistant Beth Wellman. and
has included eight volunteers.
The archeologists are hoping to re-
turn to Fishers Island next year to continue
their dig around Perch Pond.
Funding for the project has been
conducted by the Ferguson Museum in
conjunction with the New York State
Museum in Albany and with a grant from
the Sanger Fund.
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ronmental impact on the coastline. the
U.S. Navy most get an approval for the
project from the New York Department of
Environmental Conservation.
Mr. Paine of the Naval Underwater
Systems Center said the submerged plat-
form should pose no hazard fa boaters in
the Wilderness Point area. Nonetheless,
the location of the platform will be identi-
fied on Coast Guard maps as an exclusion
area and buoys will be located around the
affected area.
Doherty Unopposed in Ferry
Election
Tom Doherty is running for re-elec-
tion to the Fishers Island ferry district
board of commissioners. The election
will be held between ~ ~pm on August
g at the firehollse.
As of late July. no other candidates
have annollnced that they will oppose Mr.
Doherty. according to district manager
Phil Knauff.
There are five seats on the ferry
district commission. and the terms are
staggered so that one seat is up for election
each year. according to Mr. Knauff. The
terms on the commission are for five years.
Any property owner or registered
voter on Fishers Island may vote in the
election. according to Mr. Knauff.
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4 Fishers Island Gazette
Message from
Speedy Mettler
PH'sidell( (?frhl> Fi.\'hers 1.{lalld CiI'ic' Auociuliol1
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Now Ihal
summer is upon
us.I hope thaI you
will write down
two very impor-
tant dates:
I) Satur.
day, August 5,4
pm, the Fishers
Island Civic As.
sociation's Annual Meeting at the school.
2) Wednesday, August 9 is "Town
Father's Day" when many of our leaders
from Southold come over for the town
meeting.
It is most important that everyone
tries to make the effort to anend both of
these meetings. Why? Because it is the
only chance you get all year 10 ask the
questions that you constantly ask one
another. Remember, we have no govern-
ment on Fishers Island and this is the only
opportunily you have to ask any of the
town of Southold leaders about such topics
as: taxes (where does OUf money go and
how much do we get back'?); garbage (how
much do we pay now, and what will it cost
us after 1990?); insurance (what can
Southold do to make available 10 Ihe resi.
denls of Fishers Island a reasonable health
insurance plan'?): police (what is the dif~
Ference between the authority of the state
troopers and the Fishers Island constables'!)
as well as other questions that you feel
should be asked ofvour government repre.
sentatives.
I am most gratified by Ihe improve-
ment this year in law enforcement. State
Trooper James Fagan set the tone by crack-
ing down on speeders in May and his
example has been followed by the two
state troopers. Kevin Walsh and Ray
Vazquez. who have been very visible this
summer as well as our two constables.
Larry Horn and Dick Grebe. My thanks to
all of them and 10 our police advisory
committee. especially to chaimlan Russ
Heath.
As you know from our last meeting.
the Fishers Island Garbage commissioners
have decided Ihat they will send our gar.
bage to South old after 1990. Although
many of the questions are still up in the air.
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Know-how
It gets results.
the answers will become more definite as
we get closer to the 1990 deadline. It is
still unknown how much it will cost for
garbage in the future, but get ready be.
cause garbage costs are going to go WAY
UP!
One more garbage message: if you
have any problems wilh garbage pickup
call garbage conlraclor Dick Grebe and Iry
to reach an agreement. If you are unable to
do so. call commissioner Jim Hancock and
the garbage commissioners will arbitrate a
final decision. If people lake the time to
communicate. their garbage problems will
all be settled amicably.
I hope thaI you all have a safe and
wonderful sUl11mer and PLEASE DON'T
DRINK AND DRIVE! See you August
5th and August 91h.
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Pay Your Dues!
Join the Civic
Association Today
Charters
to the hub or
the country club
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That's why you listen, trust, learn.
AI ConnectiCUI National, we share what we know
and show you how to use il.
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FislU'rs Island Gazelle 5 I
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Island Pine Trees Threatened By Turpentine Beetles
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Innovative trapping devices were
placed throughout Fishers Island thisspring
in an effort to halt the ,small "turpentine"
beetles which have been destroying many
of the Island's pine trees.
The 30 traps which were designed
by a University of Florida scientist were
put up by the Fishers Island Conservancy
at a total cost of about $ 1.000. The long
cylindrica! traps are designed to attract the
beetles using a sexual scent. and then
destroy the beetles.
F.!. Conservancy President John
Thatcher estimates that the beetles have
killed about 15 percent of the pine trees on
the Island, .especially the Austrian and
Japanese black pine trees. Mr. Thatcher
said he was first alerted to the problem
about three years ago by landscaper Greg
Thibodeau.
"I noticed that a lot of pines were
dying," Mr. Thibodeau said. "I Iirst no-
ticed it with the pine trees next to the
Catholic Church. But it has gotten a lot
worse since then."
Mr. Thatcher speculates that the
turpentine beetles might have been blown
onto the Island by Hurricane Gloria be-
cause they had never been noticed before
then.
"Stressed" trees. especially ones
which are exposed to strong winds and sea
sprays, are particularly vulnerable to de-
,
Insect traps hanKing/rom 0 dead pille Ilear Il1e stafe !mopers harracks.
(Phoro: Did Edl,\"lI"d.~)
stmction by these beetles. Mr. Thatcher
said.
"The small beetle !lies into the lower
part of the tree and burrows through the
bark and then goes up about eight inches
and makes a nest and lays her eggs," Mr.
Thatcher said. "The trees are not actually
killed by the beetles. but by a furry fungus
which comes in with their legs. This
fungus spreads and dries up the sap.
"These beetles can kill trees within
weeks. ..
Mr. Thatcher has discouraged the
use of insecticides to fight the beetle be-
cause the poison might affect other wild-
life. However, Dr. Tom Phillips of the
University of Florida was contacted by the
conservancy. He has devised a program
where the sexual scents of the beetle can
be isolated in the laboratory, according to
Mr. Thatcher. The scent is then put in the
cylindrical traps so that beetles are at-
tracted there and not to the pine trees.
As of early June, the traps have been
collecting beetles, but their effectiveness
will not be better ascertained until later in
the summer, said Mr. Thatcher.
Town Board Fires Environmentalist
Larry Penny, who was appointed
environmental advisor for Fishers Island
in October of 1987. had his job terminated
by the Southo!d Town Board this past
spring. The move has local environmental
officials upset.
Southold Supervisor Frank Murphy
said the action was taken because Island-
ers were rarely contacting him for advice,
and because Mr. Penny was representing
some Islanders on a paid basis in environ-
mental applications before the town.
"Vou can't work both sides of the
fence," said Mr. Murphy. "When he (Mr.
Penny) was first appointed, he was used
quite a bit. but then it dropped off."
But Mr. Penny said the action was
retribution for having written an affidavit
in support of a law suit filed against the
town, and was not at all related to his
perfomlance on Fishers Island.
Fishers Island Conservancy Presi-
dent John Thatcher said the unanimous
vote of the town board to terminate Mr.
Penny's position on Fishers Island was
short-sighted.
"He (Mr. Penny) filled a very badly
needed role on Fishers Island," Mr. Thatcher
said. "He provided advice on environ-
mental matters on a year-round basis. He
made some excellent suggestions."
Both Mr. Penny and Mr. Thatcher
dispute claims of conflict of interest made
by Mr. Murphy.
Mr. Penny said he had only one
paying client on the Island and that job had
been completed before he was appointed
environmental advisor.
"There was no conflict of interest:"
Mr. Penny said. "I am very careful about
that."
Mr. Thatcher added that Mr. Penny's
"honesty and competence are above ques-
tion,"
Mr. Penny said he had written "3
fairly strong" amdavit supporting four
Southold citizen groups including the
League of Women Voters and the North
Fork Environmental Council in a lawsuit
Iiled this spring against the town board
over the recently adopted town master
plan. His job was tenninated a month
later.
Sa Penny on Page R
6 Fishers Island GazelJe
Tougher Traffic Enforcement Gets Rave Reviews
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Islanders have been getting slapped
with many more traffic tickets this sum-
mer, and they're loving it..of course, not
the people who are actually ticketed. Many
residents believe the tougher police action
has produced safer roads this summer in
comparison to the past few summers when
there were many complaints about exces-
sive speeding and dangerous driving.
"I have received no complaints about
speeding this summer," said P.I. Civic
Association President Speedy Mettler. "I
think people are driving much slower.
That's because the police are more visible
this summer.
'" think this has been a great im-
provement over previous years."
By late July, police had issued about
40 tickets, which is believed to be more
than double the number of tickets issued
all last summer. State Troopers Kevin
Walsh and Ray Vazquez said most of the
tickets have been for moving violations
such as going through Slop signs, and there
have been a number of speeding tickets.
No one has been arrested for driving while
intoxicated, Ihey added.
Last year, a special police advisory
committee was formed and met with po-
lice every few weeks during the summer
because of complaints about speeding and
lack of law enforcement. This summer,
the police advisory committee has not
even scheduled a meeting because there
have been no complaints, according to Mr.
Melller.
Russ Heath, chainnan of the police
advisory committee, said his group re-
quested that the troopers just become more
visible.
"We wanted people aware of what
they were doing when they get in a car."
The committee's goal was to get the
troopers out and seen in their cars up and
down the Island.
"We don't want to get into a ticket
quota thing," Heath cautioned, " and if
more tickets is an end result of their in-
creased visibility, I don't see it as a plus."
But he is pleased that people are
responding to the trooper's increased pres-
ence by driving more safely.
Though the troopers were reluctant
to discuss the specifics of their radar use,
residents have noted their presence on
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State troopers llf roadh/od: in late luly.
both ends of the Island at various times
night and day. As one anonymous victim
of the trooper's surveillance puts it, "that
one guy (Trooper Roy Vazquez) is on a
mission. He's everywhere."
Trooper Walsh admits that nol all
the public comment has been positive, but
most of the complaints have come from
those ticketed.
"But that's life, isn't it?" responds
Walsh.
Trooper Walsh feels Ihal the radar
use has been successful both from the
tickets written and from its visible pres-
ence.
"People have definitely slowed
down," he said, "They're not as easy to
get any more."
He suggested. "its a small Island.
Word gets around."
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(Pllow: Dal/Gordon)
Judge Ray Edwards in another ploy
to try to slow down speeders and promote
safety has posted a list of 18 Island viola-
tions which occurred in the month of May
with names listed.
"People can't be 100 happy about
Ihat:' said Trooper Walsh.
Judge Edwards said he will post his
monthly court report on the bulletin board
outside the post office from now on.
"This is public information. Some
people have wondered what we are doing,
This way everyone will know," he said.
The posting of the names of those
ticketed also serves as a deterrent. he added.
Besides the traffic violations, the
troopers said there has been one violation
for possession of marijuana. But other-
wise. there has been no other police action
on the Island.
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Candidates to Speak at Civic Meeting
The two candidates for the Fishers
Island seat on Ihe Southold town board,
republican incumbent Ray Edwards and
Democratic challenger Art Walsh are
scheduled to speak at the allnual civic
association meeting.
The meeting will be held at 4:00
p.m. at the Fishers Island school. Also on
the agenda are reports from civic associa-
tion president Speedy Menler, as well as
reports from various civic association
committees.
Fishers Island (;azelle 7
A Gatekeeper's Lot Is Such a Pretty Thing
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I n his seven years as gatehouse keeper
and greeter extraordinaire. Vinal Curtis
has seen many decorations come and go.
On average. the gatehollse is painted
between three and five times every sum-
mer. by a mysterious band of juveniles.
who have never been caught in the act.
Mr. Curtis does report. however. that
last summer the state troopers saw a group
of kids hanging around the gatehouse one
night. "The police asked (the group)
whetherthey were going to paint the house,
and they answered: 'yes. as soon as you get
out of here,''' Mr. Curtis said.
Gatehouse paint styles range from
abstract and geometric to figurative. Ar-
tistic imaginations run wild in the annual
ritual of gatehouse decoration and redeco-
ration.
But all agree that the best designs are
saved each year for the H.O.G. tournament
at the end of the summer. Last year. a giant
pink pig with a cocktail in one hand, and a
golf club in the other greeted tournament
participants as they drove up the Island.
In 1987, the theme was beer. Empty
silver kegs littered the ground near the
gatehouse, and an enomlOUS paper mache
mug perched precariously atop the gate-
house roof.
In 1986, large black polka dots on a
bright pink gate house were topped off by a
plastic pink flamingo on the roof.
But gatehouse decoration is not re-
served for the night before the H.O.G.
tournament There have been orange and
black color schemes for Hallowe'en. and
red, white and blue for the 4th of July.
This spring. the house sported large
letters proclaiming "Welcome back Cur-
tis!"
Mr. Curtis never knows what new
decoration will greet him as he arrives at
work every morning. As he put it. "this
may not be the most wonderful job I ever
had, but it's very interesting."
Reminder. , . Town Fathers
meeting Aug. 9th will be
held at the American Legion
hall, instead of at the P./.
School. The meeting is
scheduled for / p.m. , Wed.
Aug 9th
Villal Curtis l,meJ willi a piflkj7amillRo 1/01 to the Kareholl.H' ill S('/J/('mher, /9XfI. Ullforll/lllltdy.lhe
jlamiflRo WIH srolen. hur the t/(>'~iKn remaim olle of hi.~ fal'fw;reJ.
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III 19R7. UIltJ//yIl/OIlS hIt/lid "rtisH decortJ1t,d rht' gare/wI/H' ..dr/lUll t'1l0HnOI/S si/l.t'r slein. al1d ,wrrOI/l1di'd it
with hal" kegs. All rile k('K~. \\'{'re ('fUr/y. Mr. Curtis /lotNI.
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1/1 /9SX, till' gald/l!ll.\"e t'l/Ipllllsi;l'd rhe {'orcilll' 1It/fIlI"/' oflhl' rOllmt/lll/'/I(.\" tlITOII.\'II/. Mr. Cllrlis said thalli
/01 oftl/(Jl/gllI III/II talt'lIf II't'//f i/lro Ihis d('("orarioll.
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Fishers Is/and Gaulle 9
DEC Closes West Harbor to Clamming
Marina Activity Cited
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The inner section of West Harbor
has been closed off to fishing and shell-
tishing by the New York Department of
Environmental Conservation until the end
of October.
The order was issued on June 20th as
part of a new policy by the DEC to prevent
potential health hazards in arcas surround-
ing marinas. The shellfishing ban has
been imposed in many harbors in Long
Island. according to DEC ofticials.
"This is a measure being taken to
protect public health:. said Maureen
Davidson. a marine resources specialist
with the DEC. "In cases where we cannot
be there on a regular basis to monitor the
water quality. we think it is safer to close
the area seasonally to protect the public:.
The Fishers Island Yacht Club. Pi-
rates Cove Marina and the Goose Island
Corporation marina. all in the inner harbor
section of West Harbor. produce sufficient
marina presence to require the area be
closed off. said Ms. Davidson. The area
which is now off limits stretches from
Dock Beach in a line to the southwestern
portion of the Peninsula.
The ban will most affect amateur
c1ammers and fishermen. The oyster and
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Woll-to-lI'olf hoals in W('.,llIarhor mllht'-+rh of Jllly.
clam farols operated by Steve Malinowski
and Carey Matthiessen are in sections of
West Harbor outside the banned area.
Ms. Davidson said that water quality
tests have been perfonned in the inner
section of West Harbor this summer and
"elevated coliform readings" have been
taken. The source of this increase in
colifonn bacteria is difficult to identify
and could come from boats dumping wastes
or from sewer discharges from land. she
said.
Clam farmer Mr. Malinowski says
the shell fishing ban is a result of commer-
cialization of West Harbor and he blames
the two-year-old Goose Island Corpora-
tion for catering to ofT-Island boats.
He wrote a letter to Goose Island
Corp. President Chip duPont saying that
he was dismayed by the number of off-
Island boats using the marina.
.'Did you happen to stop in at the
marina on Sunday:' Mr. Malinowski wrote
in the letter dated July 2. ..AII the slips
were full -- not one with an Island boat.
There was lots of activity on the dock. The
dumpsters were overflowing and some of
the transient boaters had those fold-up
bicycles. I saw a couple ascend from their
boat, bailie of wine in hand. and be es-
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carted to a table in the restaurant:'
Mr. Malinowski said he had been
given assurances when Goose Island Cor-
poration was formed more than two years
ago that the marina would serve Island
residents and would not cater to off-Island
boats. Mr. Malinowski also read in a
Connecticut boating magazine an adver-
tisement for the Goose Island marina.
Mr. duPont disagreed strongly with
Mr. Malinowski's statements.
.'1 don't agree with it (the letter):.
he said. "We have remained within the
limits of our initial approach:'
Goose Island Corp. serves off-Island
boats already in West Harbor. but does not
try to attract them from out of the area. Mr.
duPont said. But he did sayan ad had been
placed in a Connecticut magazine promot-
ing the gasoline services of the marina.
Although there were a number of
boats from off-Island over the July 4th
weekend. there have been no more than
three off-Island boats docked over any
weekend. he said.
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(Phoro: Dick E(bnmls)
I 0 Fi.~"en hland GaZelle
School Superintendent Escapes to New Guinea
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To many people. the connection
between Fishers Island and New Guinea
seems tenuous at best. Fishers Island is a
bastion of gracious living and small town
values. New Guinea. a large mountainous
island off the northern coast of Australia.
still has headhunters and cannibals.
But for Tom Roy. the former super~
intendent of the Fishers Island School, the
dccision to go straight to New Guinea
from Fishers Island was easy.
"I accepted the job within ten days
of hearing about it," Mr. Roy said. He will
be running thc "Radio Learning Project,"
a program that tcaches science to school-
children in remote villages by transmitting
lessons over radio waves.
The program is ajoint venture of the
government of Papua New Guinea and
U.S. Aid. and is implemented through the
Educutional Development Center of
Newton, Mass.
According to Mr. Roy. the typical
classroom in New Guinea is an open space
with a thatched roof, where children sit on
the ground. and the teacher has a tenth
grade education at best.
The Radio Learning Project sends
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written materials to the teacher before the
lesson is transmitted, so that the teacher
will be familiar with the lesson. and can
demonstrate the principles discussed in
the lesson. In this way. Mr. Roy said, "the
teacher learns the same things the kids do.
and the teacher can take over and do the
lessons in the future." The project could
serve as a model for similar programs in
Africa, he said.
Mr. Roy will travel around the coun-
try to see how things are going. but will be
unable to visit many of the classrooms.
"The country is still dangerous." he said.
especially in the remote mountainous ar-
eas. which are still largely unexplored and
undeveloped.
Mr. Roy and his future wife, Ann
Hetzel, will be based in Port Moresby, tbe
capital of Papua New Guinea. Ms. Hetzel,
an early cbildhood special education spe-
cialist, will write her master's thesis and
will look for work at the University of
Papua New Guinea. which Mr. Roy says is
always looking for qualified instructors.
After spending July in New Guinea,
Mr. Roy will return to the United States to
be married in early August, and he and his
,
wife will return to New Guinea later that
month.
Mr. Roy served as superintendent of
the Fishers Island Scbool for tbree years
before resigning this past year. Before
Fisbers Island, Mr. Roy had been a scbool
administrator primarily in upstate New
York.
Although he has no definite plans to
return to Fishers Island, he said tbat he
looks forward to vacationing with friends
here in the future.
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Tom Roy
THE
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Fishers Is[atld Gazelte 11
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East End Castle Asking $6.5 Million
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uThe Castle" on the eastern point of
Fishers Island was put up for sale in July
for $6.5 million. The Castle has been
owned for the past three years by Jonathan
Barres. a developer from Stonington. CT.
"This is an absolutely unique prop-
erty. u said Torn Patterson. a real estate
agent with Ginnel Real Estate. which has
the listing on the property. "Vou are not
going to find many castle type properties
with a 300 degree view of the water."
The castle. which was built in the
1930's by the Simmons Family. is a rep-
lica of a French country estate. The resi-
dence has more than 10.200 square feet of
living space, and is situated on almost five
acres of land.
Because of its unique appeal, the
castle will be advertised internationally as
well marketed through prestigious brokers
in the United States. said Mr. Patterson.
Since the listing was just given in July. it is
too early to determine how much interest
among buyers this property will produce.
he added.
The castle has been completely reno-
vated in the last few years at substantial
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All aaiaJ \'it'll' of rhe emf/e.
expense. according to Mr. Patterson. The
original purchase price of the castle by Mr.
Barres three years ago was not disclosed
by Mr. Patterson. but it was reportedly
about $3 million.
Because of its design and location
on the eastern point of the Island. the castle
is considered the most prominent real es-
tate on Fishers Island. and one of the most
dramatic in the Northeast.
One national real estate finn vying
for the listing on the property apparently
promised to get the castle featured in a
segment of "Lifestyles of the Rich and
Famous" with narrator Robin Leach.
Included in the property is a care-
taker's residence with two apartments and
a garage.
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~m'J!'!!'!
~
.AfAKO JlfARINE
VOLVO
PENTA
Mystic Cove Boat Sales
STAFFORD ST., MYSTIC, CT 06355
203-536-4945
II
STERN DRIVES & IN BOARDS
I
Dealers For
Mako Boats - Marine Outboards
MerCruiser - Volvo Penta - lnboards & I/O's
Mercury outboard service available
(We can pickup & deliver)
12 Fishers Island GautJe
Nancy Murphy Named
New Library President
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Nancy Murphy was appointed presi-
dent of the Fishers Island Lihrary at the
library board'sJulymeeting. Mrs, Murphy,
who was appointed to a (me-year tenn,
succeeds Sis Matthiesscn.
Mrs. Murphy, a retired teacher from
the Greenwich Country Day School. has
served on the library board for six years,
and was first vice-president this past year.
Mrs. Murphy said she will be seeking
greater feedback from Island residents as
to what types of books they want pur-
chased for the library,
;.
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ORCHIDt ISLAND
Gall' & IlEACII ClUIl
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POSSIBLY THE LAST
PRIVATE OCEAN- To-RIVER
GOLF AND TENNIS COMMUNITY
To BE CREATED
ON FLORIDA'S TROPICAL COAST
f~RS ISLAND
UBRARY
_J./~
Na1lcy Murphy
,
<>
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--
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Mrs, Matthiessen has been president
of the library board for Ihe past five years,
and has been on the board since the early
1980's,
Mrs. Catha Hesse was named first
vice-president for a one-year tenn, In
addition, Harry Ferguson, Ken Lanier and
Catherine Leslie were named to the library
board tilling Ihe positions vacated by
Bernard Rafferly, Lily West, and Anita
Feaglcs who are stepping down after serv-
ing two terms on the board. The new board
members will be serving three-year tenns.
FOR BROCt tURE, KtNDLY TELEPHONE OR VVRtTE To,
G, MASON DELAFIELD
ORCHID IsLAND GOLF & BEACH CLUtl
9300 TOWN SQUARE,IOWN OF ORCHID
VERO BEACH, FLORlf)A 32963
TELEPHONE (407) 388-3888
VERO BEACH, FLORIDA
The Gazette Needs
You! Please send l/S
YOI/I' stnl'Y ideas,
('ommen/s. e/('.
Fi.~I,~rs Idand (;az~tte 13
New Manager for
Hay Harbor Club
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The Hay Harbor Club has reached
across the Atlantic to select a new man-
ager of the club. Tony Shepherd, 30, a
native of Stockport. England. was chosen
this spring to succeed Dave Rost. who is
stepping down at the end of this season.
Mr. Shepherd, who signed a three-
year contract for the position. is working at
Hay Harbor Club this summer along with
Mr. Rost.
It might seem strange to find a native
of England overseeing activities of a quiet
little club on tiny Fishers Island, but Mr.
Shepherd comes to this position well quali-
fied. And he comes with perhaps an ele-
ment of luck on the part of Hay Harbor.
Mr. Shepherd submitted his resume to a
referral service through the Resort and
Commercial Recreation Association. a
professional organization of which he is a
member, just as Hay Harbor began its
search.
Mr. Shepherd, who graduated from
the University of Cardiff where he played
on the varsity soccer team, came to the
United States in 1980 and took a summer
job working at a cmnp in North Carolina.
He took time off to do other things. such as
working as a tour director for a group
b~lsed in London and running a pub in
England. But the United States and camp
kept bringing him back and he spent seven
seasons in all at the North Carolina sum-
mer camp.
In 1985, Mr. Shepherd entered gradu-
ate school at Georgia Southern College
from which he obtained a masters degree
in commercial recreation and business.
After a one-year stint at graduate school in
business at the University of Wisconsin,
he is now pursuing a doctorate in commer-
cial recreation and business at Temple
University in Philadelphia. He also teaches
there in the department of recreation ami
leisure studies.
Mr. Shepherd came to Fishers Island
looking for something different. He ex-
plained that while his educational back-
ground is a perfect lit with the needs of
Hay Harbor, he was not prepared for how
quickly he would be involved in other
aspects. He has been on the lsland since
May 17 working with contractors on the
renovations at the club. He expects to be
back after the season ends in September on
a regular basis to continue oversight of the
construction.
Mr. Shepherd is very enthusiastic
about his new role. He enjoys working
with children and seeing the benefits from
their participation in sports, not only in
tenns of health but also in self confidence.
He also praised Dave Rost for all his
assistance during this summer of transi-
tion.
Mr. Shepherd, " bachelor, is cur-
rently living in the newly acquired man-
ager's cottage.
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TOllY Shepherd
(Photo: AfGo,.t!oll)
Our most important business...
is to get and keep your business...
and what better way than with
C' .. MICHAEL
= CHRYSLER-PLYMOUTH
425 Broad Street
rm New London, Conn. 06320
llli Telephone (203) 447-0391
STAN CARDINAL
General Manager
There are a lot 01 people who come to us to
have their cars taken care of - by
experienced, trained people whO know what
their doing, and want to do the job right the
first time. That's a lot of people willing to pay
for quality work and quality parts - because
OUR SERVICE IS SECONO TO NONE'
1\ you are one of our regular customers, we want you )0 know that we appreciate
your business. 1\ you aren't a regular With us, then we d like to Invite you to pay us a
visit, look us over, get acquainted - and give us one opportulllty to serve you. So
come to Michael Chrysler-Plymouth where it's OK to be just looking.
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GARY McQUEEN
Service Manager
EDWARD HALL
Paris Manager
FERRY DELIVERY AND PICK-UP
14 "';shers IslalldGazette
Connecticut Lobstermen Loose in F.I. Waters
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Island lobstermen are getting frus-
trated. Since the early 1900's, there has
been a law on the books limiting lobster
fishing around Fishers Island to New York
residents.
Yet each week. they see Connecti-
cut lobstermen come over to fish the wa-
ters around Fishers Island. Because of a
loophole in the laws and lack of enforce-
ment, there appears to be nothing that
Island lobstennen can do to stop the prac-
tice.
The Connecticut lobstermen have
been issued licenses because they own
property, usually somewhere in the Adi-
rondack mountain region. which they claim
is their principal residence, according to
Island lobstennen..
"How can anyone live more than
120 miles away in New York state and
lobster in Stonington:' said Dave Deni-
son. president of the F.1. Lobstennen's
Association. "We have to convince the
trial officers that this can't be done:'
Efforts by the Island Lobstennen's
Association and attorney Jonathan Kibbe,
whorepresented the association at no charge.
led the state Department of Environmemal
Conservation (DEC) to revoke the New
Yark license of one Connecticut lobster-
man last year. However, the DEC re-
instated the license of John Healey this
past February after he provided evidence
of a home in New Yark state.
The re-instatement was a crushing
blow for Island lobstennen who had hoped
that their complaints to the DEC would
result in prohibiting Connecticut lobster-
men from fishing around the Island once
and for all.
"It's very discouraging," said Mr.
Denison. "This has been our main focus
for the last couple of years. Now, we are
resigned to it."
Lieutenant Garrell Meadeofthe DEC
is sympathetic with the Island lohstermen.
However. establishing a domicile is an
ambigious matter which is difficult to
investigate especially with the shortage of
manpower at the DEC, he said.
"If we have the assets. we can begin
to investigate:' Lt. Meade said. "But it is
a very bulky process and we are vastly
undermanned.
"I see no light at the end of the
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La:)'. hm.y days of .mmmt'r, Sun breaks Ihroll~h fhe early mornin~ Jw:e al West Harbor.
(PhOTo: Dick Edwards)
tunnel. We cannot put in the amount of
time that is needed."
The Connecticut lobstermen show
ownership and tax records for property in
New York which has been sufficient for
them to receive licenses from the DEC.
However, Mr. Denison and other Fishers
Island lobstermen contend that it obvious
that the Connecticut lobstermen working
out of Stonington and sending their chil-
dren to Connecticut schools cannot have a
principal residence in New York.
Mr. Denison estimates [hat there are
about eight Connecticut lobstermen who
consistently fish the waters around Fishers
Island.
"Fishers Island is a very good area
for lobstering, much beller than the Con-
necticut shore:' said Mr. Denison. "I
guess because it is so rocky."
There are 10 full- and part-time
lobstennen on Fishers Island. said Mr.
Denison, who is a school teacher and pan-
time lobstennan. The presence of the
Connecticut lobstemlen reduces the local
catch significantly, he added.
"We have to have people in state
government aware of what is going on:'
said Francis Doyen. a retired lobstemlan.
"The law is there. We want it enforced,
that's all we are asking for."
Mr. Doyen said there are other vio-
lations taking place such as dragging boats
working the waters around Fishers Island
and not throwing back in the lobsters they
catch. In addition. many small lobsters
which are caught are not being thrown
hack in as required by law, he said.
Mr. Doyen is calling for stepped up
state police and DEC water patrols to
check these violations.
However, the DEC has one boat to
patrol the East End of Long Island, and it
is primarily used to patrol the high volume
areas of the Shinnecock Inlet and Peconic
Bay, according to Ll. Meade.
"It's a question of numbers:' said
Ll. Meade. "We would like to have an
officer out of Fishers Island. But we don't."
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y,J,fr., .......... _ I
Curtai" Call. Dad S('I'O.\1011. 8. a!Jol'f', and Nick
Malif/(/\\'Sl.:i. 7, flel'/' olll/hroll,'!h ('urta;" durin!:
.\'fa,l,:t' f1l'lfol'llulIIce af F.I. Scho(ll,
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Fi.\hers Islarld Gaze"e 15 ·
Sloop Ayesha Smashed on Sugar Reef
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LOII):-t/fJ/l' I.\laml r('.~id('''ls Leo \'alt,lItilli (11/11 Dr. Hal/,ll Hoell looked \'er)'
Jmarr iI/their l/IIillJ/'ms jiJl/owing /he .MI of July parade.
.
At noon on July 8, a $600,000 boat
went down for good off Fishers Island.
When the sea swallowed forever the
55-foot racing sloop Ayesha, it spelled the
end of a story that began four days earlier
when the boat caught a buoy in the Sugar
Reef Passage and smashed against the
rocks.
A salvage operation proved unsuc.
cessfo!. Stanley Rubenzahl, 59, of Irving-
ton, N.Y.. was the owner.
No one was killed or injured in the
wreck or the salvage, although pulling the
five crew members from the Ayesha on
July 3 involved two Coast Guard rescue
vessels, a helicopter and heroism in abun-
dance.
The story began 00 Monday, July 3,
at 4: 10 pm when the 55-foot "cutter rig"
Ayesha hit a buoy 2.5 miles east of Fishers
Island in the Sogar Reef Passage. A cutter
rig is like the sloops that race for the
America's Cup. according to Petty Officer
2nd Class Jay McNutt of the U.S. Coast
Guard Station in New London. who rc-
lated the following account of the inci-
dents leading to the abortive salvage effort
on July 8.
At4: 10 pm, July 3, the Coast Guard
in New London received a call from the
commercial fishing vessel Sand Dollar out
of Stonington, reporting the Ayesha had
run aground. The Ayesha was not yet
taking on water although her main radio
was dead. The Sand Dollar was in the
vicinity of Watch Hill Point and the east
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end of Fishers Island when she picked up
the distress call on the Ayesha's backup
radio.
The Coast Guard dispatched two 41-
foot patrol boats to assist.
By 4:36 pm, the live-foot seas and
10-knot winds had smashed the Ayesha
against the rocks of the reef hard enough
that she began taking on water through her
hull.
The Coast Guard arrived at 4:41 pm,
but could not get alongside the foundering
boat because of the rough seas and the
presence of the reef.
At 5 pm. a salvage boat arrived from
Southeastern Marine Towing in Salem.
Ct. The Southeastern boat also was unable
to get alongside.
At 5:56 pm, the Ayesha's hull sus-
tained more damage. "Things turned bad
quickly," said N.C.O. McNutt.
The Ayesha rolled onto her side and
the sea washed over the gunwales, which
is where the hull and the deck meet. The
situation was regarded as life-threatening
and a helicopter was called from Brooklyn.
The Coast Guard lowered an inflat-
able life raft into the water and maneu-
vered up-current from the Ayesha. The
current then carried the raft. containing
Seaman Tom Casey. back to the stricken
boat.
Seaman Casey got only one person
off on the Iirst attempt at 6: 15 pm. The
next attempt got three more off. To get the
last person off took four more tries. The
,,--
Sah'age of/at/film,
rescue was completed at 6:32. two hours
and 22 minutes after the Aycsha first hit
the buoy.
The Ayesha, weighing 10 tons. lay
on her side on the dangerous reef for three
days while Southeastern Marine Towing
fonnulated a plan and positioned equip-
ment for a salvage operation.
Although Mr. Rubenzahl was re-
ported by the Coast Guard to be optimistic
about repairing the boat. such was not to
be.
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"The keel broke: it turned turtle and
smashed itself to death:' said Don Rich.
owner of Southeastern Marine Towing.
"It was completely unsalvageable:'
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Trif/It'fs mail' (h1H Am(llula. t/I/(I Jusrin (rightJ show tht' colors OI'el" rht' 41h ofJlIly
we!'la'nd. Tht' B-year oltls were \'isifing their greal tllUlt Par Baker.
Fishen hlalld Gazette 19
Arnold Vowles
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Arnold Vowles. a long-time resident
of Fishers Island. died at his home in
Milford. Maine. on June 24 after a brief
illness. He was 74.
Mr. Vowles moved to Fishers Island
from Maine in 1966 and worked for the
Fishers Island Utility Co. for 14 years until
retiring about 1980. He then worked for
Z&S Contracting until 1986 when he re-
turned to his hometown in central Maine.
Priorto livingon Fishers Island,Mr. Vowles
had worked for the Penobscot Chemical
Fiber Company in Old Town. Maine, for
23 years.
Mr. Vowles was widely respected
on the Island for his friendly and even
temperament and conscientious work habits.
"He was unreal:' said Mario
Zanghctti. former owner of Z&S Con-
tracting. "Arnold was the first guy there
.
Obituary
in the morning and the last one to leave at
the end of the day.
"Vou know, I don't think I ever saw
him mad once in the eight years I worked
with him.
"Arnold was an unusual guy. Every
customer that came in contact with him.
loved him."
Vinal Curtis was another long-time
friend of Mr. Vowles.
"He had the nicest personality of
anyone that I have come into contact with."
Mr. Curtis said. "He was the same guy
every day. There were no ups and downs
with Arnold. He's the nicest friend to
have. "
Mr. Vowles first learned of Fishers
Island when he was visiting a son in the
New London area in the mid-60's. Mr.
Vowles saw an ad in the New London
paper announcing an opening at the Fish-
ers Island Utility power plant. He took the
ferry over. accepted the job and then moved
to the Island with his wife. Lila.
Mr. Vowles was an enthusiastic
bowler and was a member of the Union
Chapel. He developed a strong affection
for Fishers Island. but moved back to Maine
in 1986 to help look after his mother.
He is survived by his wife Lila of
Milford. his mother Celia Vowles of Old
Town. two daughters. including Shirley
Doucette of Fishers Island. and four sons.
including Bruce Vowles of Norwich: 23
grandchildren. and 15 great-grandchildren.
Funeral services were held in Old
Town and burial was conducted at Goulds
Ridge Cemetery in Passadumkeag. Maine.
Donations are being made in Mr.
Vowles' memory to the Fishers Island
Seastretcher.
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Mission Held at Catholic Church
,
The Reverend John Render of Chi-
cago conducted a week-long mission at
the Our Lady of Grace Church in mid-July.
About 60 parishioners attended serv-
ices during the week. This is the fourth
mission held at the Island'sCatholicchurch
in the past 10 years. An hour-long service
was held each evening during the week-
long retreat at the Our Lady of Grace
Church. The mission is designed to pro-
vide an intensive program to renew the
faith of Catholic worshippers.
During the retreat. Father Render
talked about how the image of Christ is
fonned. and how the Catholic's faith should
focus on this image.
Father Render. 64. has conducted
these retreats in 46 states. But Fishers
Island is the most beautiful location for a
mission. he said.
"It's like Camelot." he said. "There
is the closeness of the ocean. the beaches
are right there,"
During his more than 40 years as a
priest. Father Render has collected 10.000
slides and 350 books on the images of
Christ. He was very impressed with the
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Fllfha RClld('/" (ftlt) with focal pawor Falher W;JI/('ski in from of Oil/" Lady of Gran' Clmrch. .
(PhOTO: AfGordoll,
statue sculpted in front of Our Lady of
Grace Church by Janet LeCoux in the late
1950's.
"With its simplicity of fonn. it is the
best of contemporary art," he said. ..It is
timeless."
Father Render is planning to return
to Fishers Island next August for a two-
week mission program.
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Fishen' Island (;autte 21
Around the Town
with Ann Walsh Anthony
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W h i Ie
most of us were
watching pa-
rades on Memo-
rial Day week-
end. some Fish.
ers Islanders
were marching to
a different tunc.
On May 26,
Mason Goss and Jane Hamihon were
married in Fon Myers, Florida. Jamie
Coleman and Hillary Reese were married
on May 27 in New York City.
June is here and gone. and alas with
it many beautiful June brides. Leslie Law ler
married Edward McElwreath on Jone 3 at
the Hotel Pierre in New York City. June
10 was a glorious Fishers Island day: Ali-
son Carrie Cashel and William Saltonstall
were married at Our Lady of Grace Church.
Katharine Sanger and Lewis Rutherfurd
were married on the I Olh as well just down
the street at SI. John's Church.
June 24 was not the bright sunny day
OLDRIDGE
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SUI""" [,ulp," COII"ptfrcur 511,,, J9U
LEDYARD. NORWICH. EAST LYME. COLUMBIA
it mighl have been. But that didn'tdampen
the spirits of the Doctor Ralph Hoch fam-
ily. Daughter Susanae Faye married James
Joseph Glowacki on South Reach in a very
preny service. Luckily the Hochs thought
of the tent before hand! Jeannine Edwards
married James E. Kelly on the 24th as
well. Rain or shine. there is nothing as
wonderful as a June wedding.
The excitemcnt docs not stop there.
There will be lots of weddings throughout
the next year. Suzanne Coleman and Freder-
ick Bancroft are engaged and planning a
December wedding. Ann Kowalczyk and
Marc Banks are engaged and planning an
October '90 wedding. Stuan Brown and
Joanna Warburton are planning to be married
in High Point, N.C., which is whereJoanna
is from. in September. And of course we
are still waiting for the nuptials of our
favorite couple Richard Zangheni and Pam
Phillips -- they've set a date in September.
New arrivals: Rosie and Tolly Tay-
lor are pleased to announce the birth of
Talbot Jones Taylor Jr. -- who will also be
called Tolly -- born on April 16, 1989, and
weighed a whopping I I lbs. 9 oz.! Sarah
Ellen Whinhorne Cook arrived on June 9,
weighing 7 Ibs. 9 oz. Parents Jean and Geb
Cook and brother Bo are all doing well.
Elizabeth Coleman, Bobby's wife, gave
, :
,......
.- ..
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. .
206 BOSTON POST RD.
EAST LYME. CONN. 06333
TEL: 739-8397
Rte. 117
P.O. BOX 29. LEDYARD CENTER
LEDYARD, CONN. 06339
Telephone: Area Code 203-464.8400
I
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WEEKLY DELIVERIES TO NEW LONDON FERRY
I
Your every gardening need:
Evergreens. Fertilizers. Tools.
Insecticides. Mulches.
Fruit, and Shade Trees.
I
~ C~fuv)
binh to Contessa Elizabeth on July 4th.
Contessa weighed 8 Ibs.
Around The Town is a regular fea-
ture of the Fishers Island Gazette. Omis-
sions cannot be completely avoided.
However. if YOll have news of an engage-
ment. birth or marriage. please share it
with us by writing to the Gazette. Box 573.
Fishers Island. N.Y. 06390. We'd love to
hear from you.
(l! ~)
Lara's Theme
interior design studio
SPECIALIZING IN:
Custom-
.Wall covering -draperies,
balloon, and roman shades. bed cov-
ering . reupholstery and slipcovers.
blinds, shades
and verticals
Fishers Island, New York
(516) 788.7075
Old Saybrook, Ct
(203) 388-9244
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Laura G_ Forgione
Interior Designer
A.
JOHN
GADA
Oene,.1 Conlracting Ine
Phone 7231
EsI.bIISh~d 1946
DISTINCTIVE RENOVATIONS
RESTORATIONS AND CUSTOM HOMES
22 Fil'llers Islalld Gazelle
-
Islander Authors
Book on Indian
Economies
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Islander Rob White has written a
book on American Indians, which will be
published next spring by Henry Holt Pub-
lishing.
The book, titled Native Assets, ana-
lyzes the economic development of "four
Indian communities. who pulled them-
selves up by their economic bootstraps,
and have emerged as progressive, prosper-
ous and yet still fully Indian communi-
ties,"
The tribes are the Passamaquoddy of
Maine, the Mississippi Band of Choctaw,
the Warm Springs Confederation in Ore-
gon, and the Ak-Chin, of Maricopa, Ari-
zona.
The book grew out of an article Mr.
White wrote for Princeton Alumni Maga.
zine, about two Princeton alums in Port-
land, Maine, who were investment bank-
ers for the Passamaquoddy tribe. The
Passamaquoddy won millions of dollars in
a successful land claim suit against the
United States for violations of treaty pro.
visions.
Mr. White, who did not attend Prin-
ceton, explains that he "did some time
there as a 'minister of propaganda' for the
capital campaign,"
After reading the article, Donald
Hutter, general book editor at Henry Holt
Publishing, called Mr, White to ask if he
would like to expand the article into a full-
length book. "It was just like being dis-
covered in a Hollywood coffee shop,"
said Mr. White.
Among the many memorable expe-
riences Mr. White had in researching the
book was his trip to Wann Springs, Ore-
gon. There he stayed at the Kah-Ne-Tah
Resort, complete with naturiJl hot springs,
although the weather in mid-winter was so
frigid as to make bathing out of the ques-
tion.
The resort caters to business as well
as vacation visitors, and includes in its
brochure a century-old daguerreotype of a
tribal council meeting, boasting "Kah-
Nee-Ta: Successful meetings for over
3,000 years."
Now that he has finished the book,
Mr. White says that he probably will get
out of the writing business, and back into
consulting for non-profit groups, or public
relations for a corporalion. "It's delight-
ful to have completed the book, and right
now I'm looking for a regular job."
Mr. While, his wife Kaalje and daugh-
ter Katie come to Fishers Island at least
four or five times a year, to visit Mr.
White's parents, Bob and Ellie.
-Fax
-Copies
Office Center
- Word Processing
- Desktop Publishing
7101
Island
General
(formerly Doyens)
Fishing Tackle
7172
Papers
7277
Gourmet Deli
Take Out Muffins & Coffee
Hors d'oeuvres
7277
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26 Fil"hers Idalld Gazette
1
Tough Season for Hay
Harbor Tennis Squad
The Hay Harbor tennis junior pro-
gram has been beset by cancelled matches
and poor weather so that only one of the
four scheduled interclubmatches was played
in July.
The team, under the guidance of
professional John Birgbauer. traveled to
the Wadawancuk Club on July 12 and
suffered an 8-2 loss.
The winners were Scott Ketner. who
vanquished his opponent 8-1, ~nd Colin
Brooks, who won 8-5.
The other competitors who came up
short against Wadawanuck were Coleman
Brinkerhoff, Chad Bartcls, Sander Brooks,
Buffy Ketner, Stuart Marra, Ashley Brink-
erhoff, Genny Bartels, and Sarah Bartels.
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Teadll:n; Katie White 1111t/ Dall Cof\'ill, and Sflldellf.\' Hilary Brooks and Parh'l' Lmnhol"fl, f(lok on m YOl/llg
Rill Keenan rolls his hall 01/10 the pllffil/g .~reell ill the Pee \l'('l' Clin;(' for 3 - 5 yeur-olds.
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Tile telll/is dilliefor 3 - 5 ymr-oldJ m /fay lIarhor 0/1 (I Jllly Monday. From lei' to rig/II. Gussie Roth/dd.
Keegan Bel1l/l't1, 101m Hirghallt'f. Parker Lamhorn, Emily dllPollf and Erik UIl.\HI/.
1989 SUMMER SCHEDULE
EFFECTIVE 6/15/89
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From: Groton/New London
7:00
4:15
9:30
7:10 AM
4:25 PM
9:40 PM
From: Teterboro, NJ
5:00
7:00
6:00 PM
8:00 PM
FISH ERS ISLAN 0, NY
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Exc. SUN
Exc. SAT
FRI
To: Groton/New London
7:15 7:25 AM
4:30 4:40 PM
9:45 9:55 PM
To: Teterboro, NJ
8:00 9:00 PM
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Exc. SUN
Exc, SAT
FRI
SUN
FRI
FRI
One-way fares between Groton, CT and Fishers Island - Per Passenger $15
One-way fares between F.I., N.Y. and Teterboro, N.J, - Per Passenger $80
(Rates for scheduled flights only)
Reservations: 1-800-243-8623 FISHERS ISLAND 7747 1-203-448-1646
Single and twin engine charter service available to destinations of your choice, including New York City
SPECIALIZING IN AIRLINE CONNECTIONS
24 HR EMERGENCY SERVICE - (203-873-1101) \
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f'il'hers Is/and Gazelle 27
Injury Decides Hay Harbor Final
Tolly Taylor and John Charles won
the Men's Member-Guest tennis tourna-
ment at the Hay Harbor Club on the week-
end of July 22nd when their opponents in
the final were forced to retire due to injury.
Bevis Longstreth, who was teaming with
Michael Patterson as defending champi-
ons, went back after a lob on only the
second point of the final. Trying to exe-
cute a quick change in direction, he tore
his calf muscle, and had to retire from the
match. Thus Tolly Taylor and John Char-
les had their first club championship in
their third year of teaming together, all this
on Tolly's birthday as well.
The tournament for the first time in
five years was not plagued by rain. al-
though it looked like it might shower right
up to the tirst match on Saturday morning.
Forty players started play under threaten-
ing skies that gave way to hot. humid
conditions later on in the day.
All four seeded teams made it to the
semi-finals. The #1 seeded team of Mr.
Patterson and Mr. Longstreth defeated Lyons
Brown and Lincoln Frank 7-6, 6-3. The #4
seeded team of Paul Crowley and David
Chase outlasted Jim Benkard and Tom
Kean 5-7, 6-2, 6-0.
In the other side of the draw, #2
seeds Henry McCance and David Patter-
son defeated the father-son pair, and the
team of the 1990's, Scott and Scott Ketner
6-4, 6-3 in a match that was more evenly
contested than the score indicates. The
third seeded team. of Mr. Taylor and Mr.
Charles edged Howard Keenan and Tug
Howe 6-3, 7-6.
Conditions on Sunday for the semi-
finals were even more severe than those on
Saturday with the weather being oppres-
sively hot and humid. The teams of Mr.
Patterson and Mr, Longstreth and Mr, Taylor
and Mr. Charles advanced to the finals by
6-0,6-2 and 7-5, 6-2 scores respectively.
In the consolation bracket the team
of John Gates and Tom O'Neil swept past
Tom Tamoney and Rob Mountain to pre-
vail 6-0, 6-2 while in the next reprieve
bracket Mr. Keenan and Mr, Howe beat
Mr. Brown and Mr. Frank 6-3, 7-5.
The next large tournament at Hay
Harbor will be the Member-Member,
Member-Guest, non-spouse, mixed doubles
tournament the weekend of August 12 and
13.
Nature Walks
In July and August, H.L. Ferguson
Museum curator Edwin Horning conducts
nature walks on Tuesdays for children,
and on Wednesdays for adults. All walks
start at 2:00 p.m.
Family Horses Around
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Not one but two members of the
Faulkner family arc into the horse show
circuit. Brian has joined Lisa and tried his
hand at riding.
Brian has competed successfully in
10 shows and has 46 ribbons including 4
firsts, 9 seconds and 2 reserve champion-
ships. Brian rides his own horse, Eddie
Bauer. a Bay Gelding, 16.1 hands. Eddie
comes from the stables of Mike Laughlin
in Aiken. South Carolina. Brian competes
in children's hunter. low hunter and the
Connecticut hunter divisions.
Jim Basset, Brian's trainer from the
Westbrook Hunt Club, is eyeing bigger
things for Brian. who has been riding for
one and a half years now.
An update on Lisa shows her as 1988
Connecticut State Champion in her age
division. She has moved up to the larger
divisions and now shows in the Maclay,
America Horse Show Association Medal,
U.S. Equestrian T~am, Connecticul Hunt
Seat and of late has started in the jumper
division. Lisa trains over fences four to
five feet. but shows in a class with fences
three feet to three feet nine inches until she
has more experience. Floyd, Lisa's horse,
a Chestnut Gelding, 15.3 hands high, is
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basically a jumper. but Lisa's trainer,
Michael Kirhy. has done a great job with
him, and Floyd now competes ill all types
of classes.
Brian Faulkner wkingjllllll's 01/ Itis horse, Eddie Ball('/".
Lisa has been riding for two and a
half years and has over 200 ribbons and
trophies for her efforts.
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28 Fishers Island Gaulle
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Old Timers Still Kings in Softball League
Kevin Costner Has Nothing
on These Guys
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The Fishers Island softball league
started play on the 21st of June with many
familiar faces returning after various years
of retirement. Tom Shillo. the George
Steinbrenner of Z & S. spent much of the
winter months badgering, cajoling, and
pleading with stars of yesteryear to return
for one more summer of hope and glory,
Meeting with various levels of resistance
the corner was turned in early June when, in
a scene reminiscent of "Field of Dreams",
Tom and a group of other Island residents
renovated the playing diamond in the hopes
that "They will come." And out of retire-
ment they did come. Recapturing their
youth were such fanner stars of the True
Value team that dominated the early 1980's
as Steve "Lite" WaIter, Luis "Around the"
Horn. Dick Hale "Mary". Russ Heath "Bar".
and Tom "Double Axel" Doherty.
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Conspicuous by his absence was
Larry Horn "of plenty" though rumors
abound that he is saving himself for the
play-offs.
At the two-thirds point it would ap-
pearthat Shillo's efforts and tough. strenu-
ous training regimen have paid off as he has
his Z & S team not only in peak physical
condition but sitting atop the league stand-
ings with a perfect 4~0 record as well.
In second place is two-time defend-
ing champion Blues Brothers, captained
by Dan "0" Colvin. Despite the presence
of the Edwards Brothers. Chris and J.R"
fanner True Value stars in the own rights,
the Blues fell victim to Z & S in a thrilling
one.run, nine inning duel.
Tied for third are rivals Hay Harbor
and FISH (Fishers Island Softball Heroes).
In their first meeting of the year Hay
Harbor won in the bottom uf the seventh
by engineering a two~out, four-run rally to
prevail hy a count of 13-12. The FISH
enjoyed sweet revenge when in their sec-
and meeting they were able to put together
a four~run last inning as well. Hay Harbor
pitcher Doug Bevins walked six straight
batlers. on 25 pitches. before yielding a
game~deciding double. It was evident that
Hay Harbor missed their star pitcher Dave
Rost. who is on the disabled, voluntarily
retired list with a tom rotator cuff. It is
hoped that he will be able to join the squad
in time for the playoffs.
Bringing up the rear in the league is
the team fielded by the Pequot, which
started slowly but is rapidly showing signs
of improvement.
Games of note coming up are the
July 25th clash between the Blues Broth-
ers and the ageless Z & S squad, and the
August 2nd contest between the Hay Har-
hor team and a team from the Ferry Dis-
trict captained hy Captain Mark Easter.
The Ferry team will be trying to avenge
two straight losses. The community is in-
vited to come out for these and any other
game.
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Everyone's a Winner in the Seastretcher
Spyros Barres of Mystic. CT., blis-
tered the field in winning the eight.mile
division of the Peter Sanger Seastretcher
marathon in a record time of 40:0 I min~
utes. Mr. Barres, 26, defeated perennial
champion Tom Costin. 38, ofNahant, Mass.,
by a comfortahle margin.
The two had finished in a dead heat
two years ago when they last raced to-
gether in the seastretcher. Their time then
was 44: 19.
Roann Costin was the top women's
finisher over the eight-mile course in a
time of 56:46.
In the live-mile race, Heath Hender-
shal was the top men's finisher in a time of
30:48 minutes with Sarah Walsh the top
women's finisher in 37:20. In the three-
mile division Brian Faulkner won in 20:04
minutes andJanis Hunt was the top women's
finisher in 22:55 minutes.
In the one-mile, for children 12 and
over, Ryan Shawn was the top finisher in
6: 17 while Susan Stepanek won in the
girl's division with a time of 7:56. In the
one~mile for children 12 and under Mi~
chael Wall finished in 6: 18 minutes and
Caroline Costin was the fastest girl in
7:21.
Almost $10.000 was raised in the
race with 125 runner competing. Proceeds
of the race go toward operating expenses
of the Seastretcher ambulance boat.
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Din"!>"ioll "'fillll('l"S display their rrophies a/t//{' Sellstrefc},('I"jlll;.\'h /iIlC.
IPflolo. Chllr/il' Morcdll)
Fi~"'en hfand Gazelle 29
Nautical Notes
with Peter Rugg
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The first
half of the sum-
mer of 1989 has
been very active
on West Harbor,
predominantly
due to the arri-
vai of many new
boals. Ka- t I
houtec,lhenavy
blue International One Design(IOD) which
arrived late last summer has been trans-
formed into a swift, clean forest green
racing machine by her syndicate of own-
ers: Steve Burnham, Dan Malloy, Bill
Martling, Susan Peabody, and David Rogan.
Also new to the laD lIeet are John Brim's
Flicker, and Stuart Cutler's GinQersnao, a
classic yacht in the tradition of the 1930's.
The competition in the laD Ileet has been
keen as the top two crews from the Fishers
Island lIeet will have the opportunity to
represent us at the World Championships
in Rye, New York, in September.
Dominating the cruising boats, David
Strupp's new Alden 49 Shadow is sitting
pretty at lhe intersection of the two chan-
nels in West Harbor. She has all the
comforts of home and clearly sets the pace
for cruising in Sly Ie. Bill Musser's new
Glide is a J-33, one of the latest designs
from Johnstone Yachts. She has proven to
be very fasl when driven by Mr. Musser
and his all-star crew. Glide has taken
silver nearly every time out with firsts in
recenl races al Watch Hill and Thames
Yacht Club. Peter Brinckerhoff's well
sailed Hooli{!an took first in class at both
the American Yacht Club Spring Regatta
and the Edgartown Race Week Regatta.
Fishers Island was truly well represented
in the Marblehead to Halifax Race. Boots
Parker's big yellow catamaran Skviack
raced against 28 other multi-hulls to finish
first on both elapsed and corrected time.
Andrew Perkins. winning navigator on
Skviack, commented "it was pretty hairy
when we were screaming along at 20 to 25
knots and we could not see the bow through
the fog!" Indeed, anothercompctitor failed
to see a whale and was forced to withdraw
with a broken rudder after a collision.
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The Marblehead/llalifax Race was
training for Boots who will depart later
this year on a double handed trans-Atlan-
tic race on Skviack. (More on this in a later
issue.)
In mid-July, the Fishers Island Yacht
Club held its annual cruise. First, a tough
race for the sailing competitors who criss-
crossed Fishers Island Sound to finish near
East Harbor. The party then cruised over
to Stonington Harbor in formation. The
1I0tilla included a Bullseye, two laD's,
Bill Glendon's Shannon, Gus Kinsolving's
Seabird, Bruce May's Scout, TomCashel's
lovingly restored Hinckley Pilot 35 Sallv,
and the mother ship of the ann ada, the 50-
plus foot motor yacht Sealegs captained
by Sandy Jacobson. All hands partied hard
thanks to the hospitality of the Wada-
wanuck Yacht Club.
The younger set have been equally
dynamic with the Fishers Island Yacht
Club/Hay Harbor Club junior sailing pro-
gram operating at full tilt. Our under 18
sailors have been off to two regattas: lhe
Eastern Connecticut Yacht Racing Asso-
ciation One Design Regatta at Wadawanuck
where Mike McNamara took second place.
and Larchmont Junior Race week, where
McNamara 'placed third in his l3-foot
Blue Jay. Rivaling Larchmont Junior Race
week is our own Fishers Island Annual
Open Junior Regatta. Held July 25-26, the
final results will be in our next issue.
However, as this is written a record 12
clubs from Connecticut, New York, and
Rhode Island are sending entrants. There
will be compelition in three classes of
boats: 420' s, a double handed sloop equi pped
with a trapeze to assist the crew to offset
heeling in strong wind. the single handed
sport 14-foot Laser. and by far the most ac-
tive class, Blue Jays of which we may have
as many as 50 on the starting line. The
administrative complexities are under the
control of a dedicated group of parents
including Susie Ferguson. Harriet Mc-
Namara and Meredith Rugg. Over 100
sailors will be competing and housed hy
Island residents.
For those readers who are less skilled
al boating lhan they would like, we have
just reviewed a video training series -- the
Annapolis Book of Seamanship. The video
series is based on John ROllsl11anierc's
well-received book with the same title.
The book is fast replacing Chapman's
Piloting, Seamanship and Coastwise Navi-
gation as the sailor's hand book. The
material on this 72-minute video is clearly
presented and will provide a wonderful
introduction for lhe beginner as well as a
strong refresher for the intcnnedime sea-
man. Most interesting is the story of the
video. It covers a day of cruising from
Stonington Harborto West Harboron Fishers
Island. The finish of the tape is the perfect
end to a perfect day of sailing wilh swans
floating across West Harbor and the Fish-
ers Island church bells pealing in the back-
ground. Other volumes cover additional
material including offshore seamanship.
John Rousmaniere, perhaps the most well
known and prolific yachling writer today,
not only knows his seamanship. but he has
the gift of conveying his knowledge 1O
others.
Gazette Subscription Form
Please send me the next four issues of the Fishers Island
Gazette, Enclosed is $12, Ihe annual subscription rate,
NAME
ADDRESS
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30 Fhhers Island Gazette
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Prayers Answered on 1-95:
.
A new bridge is to be built over the
Conneclicut River at Old Saybrook which
highway planners hope will eliminate a
long-standing bottleneck for motorists on
lhe Conneclicut Thruway. The project.
which is expected to cost aboul $135 mil-
lion. is scheduled to commence in Febru-
ary.
However. relief will not be immedi-
ate. The project is expected to take four
years. At least. highway officials do nol
expect there to be any traffic delays during
lhe construction. The new bridge will be
built 60 feel to the south of lhe existing
bridge and therefore should not affect the
current traffic llow. according 10 highway
officials. The only faclor which mighl
slow traffic is if motorists "rubberneck"
to look at construction.
The new bridge span will consist of
four tmffic lanes in each direction and two
12-foot shoulders. also in each direction.
according to William Chamberlin. engi-
neer of bridge design for the Connecticut
Department of Transportation. This will
more than double the capacity of the exist-
ing bridge which has two lanes in each
direction with no shoulders.
The Baldwin Bridge. which spans
.
.
New Bridge at Old Say brook
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lhe Connecticut River at Old Saybrook.
has been a bottleneck for motorists espe-
cially in summer during recent years.
Traffic, which is sometimes backed up for
miles. has been a complaint for many
Fishers Island vacationers returning to work
in New York City.
After lhe new Baldwin Bridge is
completed. the existing one, which was
built in lhe late 1940's. will be demol-
ished.
Highway planners had been study-
ing the problems posed by the Baldwin
Bridge for many years. The Connecticut
I
ALIX Ho STANLEY
REALTOR
Serving Coastal Connecticut
and Rhode Island
COLDWELL BANKER LEIGHTON
REALTY
I Denison Avenue
Mystic, CT 06355
Bus. (203) 536-4983
Home (203) 536-0861
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DOT could not simply add lanes onto the
existing bridge because its foundation would
not support any additional weight. accord-
ing to Mr. Chamberlin.
Funding for the project will come 90
percent from the federal Highway Ad-
ministration and 10 percent from the state
Department of Transportation. he added.
The new bridge will have the same vertical
clearance over the Connecticut River as
the existing bridge and will have the same
basic appearance, Mr. Chamberlin said.
Walsh Service
Electrical
Contractor
(516) 788-7778
.