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Lenore Weinstein in search of the elusive cranberry.
Photo by David Weinstein

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Yes, the holiday season is imminent with Thanksgiving Day tomorrow to be followed by a host of activities. Before we list the menu of possible activities, we’re taking the liberty of sharing the experience we had while walking along the old highway one late morning. The ocean was roiling, the air was warm, traffic was minimal and no runners were running. All of a sudden a stag with a sizeable rack darted
across the road from one of the
motels and stopped as it spied us
several yards away. We both stood
still and stared at each other for
several long moments. Then he
turned and gracefully darted down the path to the beach. Yes, the deer have a deservedly bad rap, and
they’ve chomped away at our hydrangeas, devastated our day lilies and made tulips impossible to grow. Yet, there’s a real gift in living in this
wonderfully natural place, which
is so elemental. Why we even have hundreds of turkeys out for a
stroll in our woods! Montauk feels
like Thanksgiving to this writer.

***

It would seem reasonable to
mention first that the East Hampton Trails Preservation Society (EHTPS)
has just the remedy for those of us
who will have over indulged in delicious food consumption on tomorrow. Saturday at 10 a.m. you can take
care of the problem by challenging yourself to a Hither Woods “Longshanks” 11-mile hike led by Judy Kossover (267-6747). Hiking at a
moderate pace, you’ll enjoy stunning views and enchanting forests. Bring water and snacks when you meet
at the Montauk Recycling Center, 1 mile east of the Hither Hills Overlook on Route 27. A milder option is
to experience a new historic trail that connects “downtown” Amagansett with “downtown” Springs. Meet Gene Makl (324-8662) at the parking lot behind the Amagansett Library at 10 a.m.

Now for more activities in our
buzzing hamlet. Two very important community events take place on Saturday morning. The Montauk Community Church Christmas fair will be held from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. That’s always great fun to check out. The Montauk Library annual Holiday Book Sale will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. More than books are available, as decorations, jewelry and gift items will also be for sale.

The Chamber of Commerce has
lined up a very full weekend from this Friday through Sunday. On Friday
from 2 to 4 p.m. at the gazebo there will be caroling, a food collection,
a toy drive drop-off (unwrapped for ages 12 and under), hot chocolate
and cider will be served, kids will be able to make a holiday ornament,
and there will be a lighting of the Green and the downtown trees. Friday night an autumn concert at 8 p.m. will be held at St. Therese of Lisieux Catholic Church.

On Saturday from 1 to 3 p.m., the gazebo will be the setting for a repeat of Friday’s program but will also include naming the contest winner for the best decorated Montauk storefront (a great idea!) Saturday night, courtesy of the Lighthouse Committee of the Montauk Historical Society, there will be the “Lighting of the Lighthouse” event at the lighthouse, with cookies, cider, live music, and Santa between 4:30 and 7 p.m. Parking and admission to the lighthouse grounds will be free and the lights will remain on every night through January 3.

On Sunday at the lighthouse from 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. there will be pony rides, Santa will be available, and the gift shop will be open. An added treat will be a performance of holiday songs by the Sarah Conway Christmas Trio from 2 to 4 p.m.

Speaking of Santa, didn’t we see Gurney’s Marketing Director Ingrid
Lemme hanging out with him (as well as several elves) on the beach just below Gurney’s last week? We know
it couldn’t be too private an interview as we noticed the presence of some camera and lighting people. Perhaps Ingrid was having a consultation regarding arrangements for Gurney’s annual tree lighting on December 5 at 6 p.m. Soprano Christina Fontanelli is scheduled to perform and of course gingerbread, hot cider and eggnog will be provided.

Calling all bakers: It’s not too soon to (wo)man your ovens in readiness for the library’s December 8 Holiday Cookie Party at 7 p.m. Bring a plate of your homemade cookies, a $5 dollar grab bag gift (if you choose to participate) and a nonperishable item for the food pantry.

We suggest you note on your calendar two events coming up soon. On December 3 at 7 p.m. the library winter film series will present “Sunshine Cleaning,” which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival. On Saturday night, December 5, at 7 p.m., Music For Montauk will present “Six Decades of the Duke,” a musical biography of Duke Ellington to be held at the Montauk Public School. It will feature the big band orchestra of “Duke Lowenthal.”