Letters

I was very distressed to learn that we are at risk of losing Canio’s, a glittering gem in Sag Harbor’s cultural crown, because the shop’s lease, which runs through September, may not be renewed [“Canio’s Books, Long a Sag Harbor Cultural Icon, Faces Uncertain Future as Lease Is Not Renewed,” 27east.com, March 20].

Canio’s is not simply a shop. Yes, it sells books, but as an educational nonprofit organization, it provides so much more to the community. For decades, it has been a cultural hub, offering books, art exhibits, readings, lectures, workshops, visits to artists’ studios and public events on a wide range of social, political and environmental issues, enriching all of the South Fork. Its long-standing tradition of organizing the weekend-long Moby Dick Marathon reading is a highlight of the summer.

The old-fashioned shop itself is a defining element in Sag Harbor’s unique character and charm. Though it is stuffed to the gills, somehow the co-owners, Maryann Calendrille and Kathryn Szoka, can find just what you’re looking for.

Maryann and Kathryn are themselves members of the creative community, a writer and photographer, respectively. They are deeply involved in a number of cultural and social issues and events affecting the broader community. Their skills-building workshops are foundational components of Sag Harbor’s reputation as a center for the arts. Beyond that, Kathryn played an instrumental role in creating the Sag Harbor Partnership to preserve John Steinbeck’s home and create a world-class writers’ residency program that includes outreach to engage and enrich the community.

Sag Harbor — no, the whole South Fork — can’t afford to lose Canio’s. It’s as simple as that.

Jan Kumar

Southampton