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We were feeling quite like a celebrity with our press badge hanging about the neck when the Hamptons International Film Festival came to town. Sitting right behind actor Bob Balaban, we saw “The Greatest,” with Susan Sarandon and Pierce Brosnan. He was a producer of the film, as well as the male lead and took the Guild Hall stage prior to the film. We were struck by what seemed the obvious difference in the ages of Ms. Sarandon and Mr. Brosnan in the excellent film, and that it did work, and very well. This writer, being “of a certain age,” found that quite notable. Afterward, we followed a steady stream of cars on the Old Montauk Highway filled with celebrities and others, who made their way to Gurney’s for the opening night festivities.
While we knew no one except Alec Baldwin at Guild Hall, we surely recognized many Montaukers who were patiently lined up outside the Montauk theater to see “Paper Man,” which was filmed in our hamlet. Pat and John Shea, along with their son Colin, did a good job of keeping the 60 to 70 people happy and orderly. Though we weren’t as thrilled with the movie as were many in the full house, it was delightful to see familiar scenes of winter Montauk, a feeling shared with many. Could it be that was why they clapped so enthusiastically?
About 35 attendees turned out on October 13 for Lori Newell’s excellent, comprehensive and free program on managing and preventing heart disease. The event was held at her bright Living Well Yoga and Fitness studio, and presenters covered many important considerations including when to call 911, administering CPR, stroke symptoms and controlling stress. On-site tests for glucose and cholesterol were also administered. The speakers knew their stuff and imparted it well. The lunch provided by Herb’s Market was healthy and delicious. It was an afternoon well spent, and kudos to Lori for meeting this community need.
Coming under the heading of “Six Degrees of Separation,” our friend Jessica James, she of the “green” solar house we’ve been writing about, told us she had attended an annual gathering in Montgomery, New York, of people who raise Norfolk terriers. There she met an acquaintance who discovered that Jessica has a home in Montauk. “So does my aunt,” said Liddy Baker of Connecticut. It turns out that her aunt is Carol Morrison, who stayed near Liddy last winter. Jessica has read about Carol but has never met her. She reported this coincidence just days before she left for Edinburgh, Scotland, to attend the wedding of her niece Katya. We’ve learned that kilts will be the dress code for the men in the wedding party. That will be a sight to see!
As readers may recall, last week’s column was principally about the history of the purchase of a telescope to enhance science education in our local schools; the need to find a permanent home for it, as its home in Roosevelt County Park was no longer feasible. A possibility being explored was a location at Camp Hero State Park. Chapter II of the sad saga of the homeless telescope continues with an e-mail received by the organization’s president Terry Bienstock from Ron Foley, regional director of the state parks. The gist of it: they are faced with budget challenges, and are “not in the mode of expanding activities at this time … I cannot be encouraging about locating the observatory at Camp Hero for the foreseeable future.” We earnestly hope that there will be a happy ending to this story before too long.
Anne Leuters-Querrard is coordinating the volunteer efforts in Montauk for Maureen’s Haven, an outreach program for helping the homeless. She reported that with the help and support of Father Riedner, an informational meeting was recently held at St. Therese’s school to introduce the program here. The program has been successful on the North Fork. Since 2002, 13 churches have opened their doors to provide shelter, food and a safe environment to those in need.
A film was shown by Barbara Jordan who is initiating the program on the South Fork. It showed footage of an actual evening of hosting a dinner and overnight stay. Anne felt that the Montauk meeting was very successful with 15 people volunteering. The Methodist Church in East Hampton is the sole church to be housing the guests, operating on the coldest months from November 2009 through April 2010. Other churches will hold dinners, raise funds and volunteer their services to assist. More help is needed. Call Anne at 238-5009 to sign up.
The Naked Stage returns to the library with a reading of Henrik Ibsen’s “A Doll House,” this Saturday at 7:30 p.m. Josh Perl is the producer, and the lead artist will be Anna Gutto, a Norwegian artistic director and actor, who will play Nora. What an opportunity and surely not to be missed.
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