Springs Community Notes, April 16

With the warmer season comes the ability for everyone to experience the sheer gorgeousness of all the special places our area has to offer. There are so many breathtaking places around here that welcome us to enjoy our surroundings by hiking, picnicking, frolicking, bird watching, photographing, or just simply taking it all in to nourish our souls, in large part thanks to the efforts of the Long Island Nature Conservancy. This wonderful group that is part of a world-wide organization has a mission to “conserve the lands and waters on which all life depends.” On their website, www.nature.org, Executive Director Nancy Kelley eloquently explains “By conserving lands and waters, we are helping nurture our artistic spirit and ensuring that future generations will continue to find inspiration in the natural world around us.” So much beauty at everyone’s disposal, regardless of social status or bank accounts, makes everyone who lives or visits here rich, in a profoundly enduring way.About five years ago, local artists Frank Sofo and Gene Samuelson organized a group of artists to set up easels at various picturesque venues to paint and interpret the scenery “en plein air” on Wednesdays (weather allowing) from May through October. Although they often gather on Fridays now, too, they continue to be known as The Wednesday Group. Last year, Bobbie Braun, a member of their group and the Nature Conservancy, inspired her fellow painters to congregate and create in a few of these preserves: specifically, Mashomuck Preserve in Shelter Island, The Andy Warhol Visual Arts Preserve in Montauk, and Sagg Swamp in Sagaponack. As a result, a large number of stunning paintings have been created that showcase beautifully the most vital mission of the Nature Conservancy.

All who attend this weekend’s art show at Ashawagh Hall will be able to see for themselves in this aptly named exhibit, “The Wednesday Group (plein air painters of the East End) Introduces Paintings of The Nature Conservancy of Long Island.” The participating artists are Bobbie Braun, Anna Franklin, Peter Gumpel, Jean Mahoney, Deb Palmer, Alyce Peifer, Gene Samuelson, Christine Chew Smith, Frank Sofo, Pam Vossen, and Dan Weidmann. The reception will be held Saturday, April 18, from 5 to 8 p.m. Gallery hours for this special show are Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sunday, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. A portion of the sale proceeds will go to the Nature Conservancy.

On another note in nature, those who seek the freshest eggs possible need only travel down the quintessentially country-like Barnes Hole Road, which leads to a lovely bay beach, keeping their eye out for a wooden red hen that sits at the edge of Todd Bennett’s property on the lefthand side. Happy hens produce the best eggs with sunny, deep yellow yolks, and Todd’s hundreds of free ranging hens with lots of space and fresh air could not be happier. It’s a help yourself honor system situation with the eggs inside a cooler for $5 a dozen. Just put your money in the container inside the cooler. Todd says that he has never been ripped off once in all his years of employing this system. As the season progresses, there are always lovely glass jars of bright wildflowers and beautiful collections of fresh garden vegetables laid out daily on the picnic table for only a few dollars, as well. Visiting this quaint stand is one of the sweetest small town experiences our hamlet has to offer. Enjoy!

I will end early this week with another reminder to readers that I really welcome your news as it pertains to our hamlet. Until next time, happy week all!