Letters

Saving the Sign

Dear Editor,

On the night of the cinema fire, it’s been widely reported that Chris Denon of Twin Forks Moving and Storage hauled the “Sag Harbor” sign to safety. What needs to be repeated is how determined he was to bring it back to life.

Within a few days after the fire, I stopped by his building to volunteer my metal working services and I found Chris in high gear. “SAG” had survived the fall to earth far better than “HARBOR” and it needed only new neon work and paint. Chris had already lined up someone to do the work.

He brought “HARBOR” to my shop where we rebuilt and repaired the damaged  letters and replaced the mangled interior structural elements. (Much of this work was done by my masterful assistant Franklin Paucar.)

Twin Forks again picked up the sign and this time delivered it to have the neon work done by Clayton Orehek.

Chris paid, out of his own pocket, many thousands of dollars for the new glasswork and paint job to be done and wherever the sign needed to be, he got it there.

I believe that Chris Denon must have seen last Saturday’s wonderful gathering at the sign lighting in his mind’s eye, years ago, when the smoke was still clearing. He harnessed his remarkable generosity and leadership skills and made it come to pass.

Thanks again Chris!

Sincerely,

John Battle

Sag Harbor

Get the Other Side

Dear Editor,

I refer to the opinion piece “A conversation with Kent Feurring” (May 16th edition).

Mr. Feurring represents fewer than 100 pilots. Quiet Skies, Say No to KHTO, and active community groups in Southampton, Riverhead and Southold, among others, represent thousands of families increasingly concerned by often reckless aviation operations over our homes. Hardly “…the small but vocal minority…” referred to by Mr. Feurring in your conversation.

Other statements by Mr. Feurring were misleading, at best.

Most importantly, there is no doubt that, in 2021, the Town of East Hampton will take back local control of KHTO, the most problem plagued, dangerous and polluting facility on the East End. The Town can then legally close the airport and return the 600 acres and all income from it to benefit East Hampton residents, not out-of-state aviation companies and primarily non resident users.

Voluntary noise abatement routes are risible, serving only to concentrate a dangerous mix of polluting and noisy rotor and fixed wing aircraft in narrow air corridors, disproportionally over residential areas north and west of the airport.

Also it is misleading to infer that noise and dangers to our communities are posed only by helicopters. Amphibian aircraft — aka seaplanes — are similar to those involved in two recent accidents, days apart, when seaplanes collided off the coast of Alaska in airspace far less than congested than over the East End.

I hope the Express will offer equal time for a “conversation” with a member of one of the many groups representing those who have lost their quality of life due to the commuter aviation scourge. It would be disappointing if the Express does not seek another view, one supported by a few facts.

Thank you.

Patricia Currie

Sag Harbor

A Generous Neighborhood

Dear Editor,

I am writing this letter to thank all the people who donated to “Pennies for Patients.” It was a fundraiser at my new school and all the money goes to the Lymphoma and Leukemia Society to help change cancer. A special shout out goes to Tom (Jackson;s dad). And to Ms. Jan (the lady with all the pennies). I counted them all and there were 2,072 pennies! Thanks again.

Sag Harbor is a very nice place to live with very nice neighbors and people willing to donate to those in need.

Evan Joly, 8

Sag Harbor

Where is Jay?

Dear Editor:

Many times Jay slips out of his office, and climbs to the top of the town hall cupola on Hampton Road.  He is seen gazing toward the west.  Many residents believe he is looking to Hauppauge, thinking of a high-paying patronage position with his friend, Steve Bellone.  Others suspect he is focused on the Suffolk County Water Authority in Oakdale, another bastion of political patronage.  Surprisingly, Jay never sees County Road 39 in his sights.  Although, his widening of County Road 39 is listed as one of his crowning accomplishments, he no longer mentions it.

Throughout history certain roads are famous.  The Silk Road, the Appian Way, and the Oregon Trail are legendary.  Unfortunately, County Road 39 has become Southampton’s answer to the Cross Bronx Expressway or the Belt Parkway.  Just like the assessment crisis received no attention from the supervisor until I mentioned it, Jay fails to see the dangers on County Road 39. Instead of searching for a county job, Jay should be demanding the county work to solve this disaster.  The trade parade, Hill Station Road, Shinnecock Hills and Shrubland  Road will not disappear.  The taxpayers are trapped, attempting to exit their neighborhoods, and the merchants lose business everyday.  How many accidents, how many tragedies are required for you to act?  Southampton Town is your “home” and it is also your responsibility.

Greg Robins

Republican Candidate for

Southampton Town Supervisor

Jean Vanier and L’Arche Long Island

To the Editor:

I was saddened to learn of the passing of Jean Vanier on May 7. Vanier was the founder of L’Arche, a worldwide movement that establishes communities where people with and without intellectual disabilities share their lives together. L’Arche means “ark” in French. In 1964, Vanier purchased a small house in France and invited two men with intellectual disabilities to share this home for the rest of their lives. From this simple act of kindness, Vanier’s vision for L’Arche has grown into the L’Arche of today that includes 154 communities and 21 community projects worldwide. The newest of these community projects is L’Arche Long Island, located in Riverhead.

Jean Vanier’s death follows the passing of Jean Lanier and Michel Berty, the principal founders of L’Arche Long Island. Through the tireless efforts of these two longtime residents of Wainscott, the Riverhead home was opened in 2016 for four people with intellectual disabilities and the assistants who share life with them.

The L’Arche Long Island community will honor Jean Lanier and Michel Berty on July 7, 2019 at a reception to be held at the Jackson Carriage House in Amagansett from 4-6 PM. Proceeds from this event will go to support L’Arche Long Island and help realize the vision of creating new homes and new programs on the East End.

Rob Smart

Sag Harbor