the independent 12-14-11

THE INDEPENDENT

After Two Years Of Renovation Historic Mill Ready For The Holidays.(photo layout inside)

VOL. 19 NO. 15 DECEMBER 14, 2011 www.indyeastend.com FREE

Fantasy Sportspg. 28

Beach DrivingDecision pg. 15

WhoopingCough pg. 7

NOW, FOR THE NORTH FORK, THE Traveler Watchman TRUTH WITHOUT FEAR SINCE 1826

MILL SAILS FOR HOLIDAYS

Snapspg. B-4

Your # 1 resource

for everything

happening in the

Hamptons this

week!

INDEPENDENT / JAMES J. MACKIN

Center

www.indyeastend.com ARTS & ENTERTAINMENTREAL ESTATE IN THE NEWSDecember 14, 2011 THE INDEPENDENT Q Traveler Watchman2

Phone (631) 287-1000www.BuzzChewAutoGroup.net

2011 Knapheide Utility Vehicle

2011 12’ Versa Rack

2011 Chevrolet Colorado

$33,113

$34,289

$24,886

Special Price with Rebate



www.indyeastend.comARTS & ENTERTAINMENT REAL ESTATEIN THE NEWS December 14, 2011 THE INDEPENDENT Q Traveler Watchman 3


Independent / James J. Mackin

The Hook Mill in East Hampton is whole again, the culmination of a painstaking two-year renovation.

Two years ago village officials noted the floor was settling, and a subsequent examination revealed significant deterioration. Village historic consultant Bob Hefner put together a detailed plan and the work began.

Richard Baxter was hired to dismantle the structure. “He literally took the beams out, cut out the bad parts, and pieced them back together,” recalled Village Administrator Larry Cantwell. Every piece of wood was taken out, numbered and lettered, and replaced. “We even used the same nail holes. That’s how meticulous we were,” Cantwell noted.

The work took more than a year and a half, “much longer than anyone thought,” Cantwell acknowledged.

Enter John Hummel, the local builder, who volunteered his crew to take over the shingling project. “He saved us a lot of money and time,” Cantwell said. Pat Bistrian Jr. donated a crane and manned it himself and the sails were set in place and the project completed just in time for the holiday season.

A former town employee, Dick Wood, for the village’s 350th anniversary parade, built the mini-mill that was in place during the renovation process. Sunday night it was returned to his widow.

R.M.


Open 7 Days a Week 10-6

SOUTHAMPTON ANIMAL SHELTER FOUNDATIONwww.southamptonanimalshelter.com

102 Old Riverhead Road, Hampton Bays, NY 11946631-728-PETS (7387) FAX: 631-728-8592

The mission of the Southampton Animal Shelter Foundation is to provide for the welfare of animals and reduce the number of homeless pets.

TakeMeHomeFor TheHolidays

CATSDOGSOPUPPIES

KITTENS


Available For PartiesNo party too large or too small.

Open Christmas Eve For Lunch & Dinner

Closed Christmas DayOpen New Year’s Eve

& New Year’s Day

631.537.79992402 Montauk Highway • Bridgehampton

Open For Lunch & Dinner • 7 Days

CALL FOR A FREE ESTIMATE OR STOP BY OUR DESIGN CENTER AT1668 SAG HARBOR TURNPIKE

631-725-3651

Peace. Love. Joy. Awnings.

www.theawningcompany.com

I attended a wonderful wedding last week near Sarasota, Florida. It was perfect. The bride and bride-groom were young and handsome and very much in love. The ceremo-ny was beautiful; the speeches were short, tasteful and to the point.

It was, in a word, civilized. So civ-ilized that as the couple exchanged vows in front of a handsome, “right out of central casting” Episcopal pastor, I started to drift off, think-ing about the wild wacky weddings of my youth.

When I was a young kid, the Ital-ians in my old “Gravesend Avenue U” neighborhood were at the bot-tom rung of the economic ladder. The men worked on the docks or drove trucks; the women cooked and raised children.

For many, attending a wedding was the social event of the year

THE ITALIAN “FOOTBALL” WEDDING

and, if the truth were known, Ital-ians in those days were much more comfortable attending funerals than weddings because one could cover the lags in conversation at a funeral by commenting on how good the dead person looked laid out in a casket.

One could kneel, make the Sign of the Cross and not say a word to anyone, feigning that you were so saddened by the death that you couldn’t talk.

Weddings were different. To begin with, we were a fairly inar-ticulate group, and at a wedding you had to be happy and talk, and what could you say besides “the bride looks beautiful.” As a boy I attended any number of “arranged” weddings of brides who were so homely that even the giant plaster saints in the church averted their eyes when the

bride came down the aisle.The early weddings I went to were

called “football” weddings. They were held in a local catering hall and since money was a consider-ation (we didn’t have any), the main source of nourishment was pre-made sandwiches wrapped in wax paper consisting of Swiss cheese or ham or salami or provolone or prosciutto.

The sandwiches were set up on two tables on each side of the cater-ing hall and as the guests started to jam the room, the sandwiches would be grabbed up with a vengeance.

If the catering hall employee man-ning one table saw his table was run-ning out of prosciutto sandwiches he would yell to the guy manning the table across the room, “Hey Jimmie, give me a dozen ‘proshoot.’”

Jimmy would grab a bunch of prosciutto sandwiches and then, with the deep passing skill of Eli Manning, he would literally hurl each sandwich in a tight spiral pass over the heads of the guests right into the arms his partner.

Thus the name “football” wed-ding. Of course, just like in football, interceptions were a problem. People not satisfied with the amount of meat or cheese in their sandwich would intercept a sandwich or two as it arched across the room, discard the bread and build a super-size sandwich.

Then there was the “kids” prob-lem. Italians would consider it an insult if the host had said, “Please leave the kids at home.” First of all, there wasn’t anybody at home to leave them with. So it would be chaos. Some families of 12 children would crowd the hall diving for sandwiches.

Little kids would be sliding all over the waxed floors and knocking

over elderly relatives. People would be slipping on loose slices of salami on the floor and kids older than eight would get drunk and throw up from sneaking drinks behind their parents’ backs.

Then, in time, my neighborhood moved up into the catered affair wedding and that brought about its own trials. The family had to deal with my Aunt Rosie.

My Aunt Rosie was a bit of a “klepto.” I’m not using her real name because I’m still afraid of my Uncle Tony.

The fact is Aunt Rosie was a delightful woman whom I haven’t seen in 40 years, but I remember that at family weddings she would drink eight or nine Manhattans and start looking for something to steal from the catering hall or restaurant.

Aunt Rosie’s biggest score was at my cousin Mary’s wedding, when she downed a record tenth Manhattan and decided to steal a coffee urn.

I was 15 at the time and my mother came up to me and said, “Your Aunt Rosie is drunk and she’s decided to steal a coffee pot.”

“That’s not so bad, Mom,” I said. “People get silly and take these tiny single-serving coffee pots.” My mother giggled. “It’s not one of the small pots they have at our table.” She pointed to a waiter’s station and said, “It’s that big silver one that holds 60 cups of coffee that the waiters are using.”

“That’s bad,” I said.“It’s even worse,” my mother

said, shaking her head in righteous disapproval while warming up to the heist with a big smile. “The pot is filled with boiling hot coffee. I’m scared she’s going to burn herself.”

Well, not only did my Aunt Rosie not burn herself, but also she man-aged to put her big, black woolen coat over the giant urn and then she triumphantly carried it past the unsuspecting catering hall staff and all my snickering relatives right out the front door.

No wonder they called them the good old days.

If you wish to comment on “Jerry’s Ink” please send your message to [email protected] or visit indyeastend.com and scroll to the bottom of the column.


QUOGUESINCLAIRFUEL,INC.631-728-1066www.quogue-sinclair.com161 W. Montauk Hgwy, Hampton Bays

Worrying about freezing pipes this winter? If you’re traveling, you should.Winter freeze-ups can cause serious water damage, lead to dangerous moldgrowth and require costly and inconvenient reconstruction. But with help fromQuogue-Sinclair Fuel, you’ll have no worries when you’re away!

Proud To Be Locally Run. We are the leading supplier of quality heatingfuel…both oil and propane…on Eastern Long Island. Family-owned and operated since 1954, Quogue-Sinclair is a local company that always puts our customers’ best interests first! We have budget billing, offer early pay and senior citizen discounts, and take credit card payments. We have two fuelstorage facilities, so you know your scheduled delivery will be on time, everytime. We offer 24-hour emergency repair service and a staff of highly trainedand experienced technicians.

Prevent A Cold Weather Catastrophe!Our Shield Security division can install a cold temperature monitor in your home that will warn us should a temperature drop put your home at risk. So, call to get ready for winter and never again worry about heating problems!

Away for the Winter?No Worries!

Away for the Winter-INDY_Quogue Sinclair 10/19/11 1:28 PM Page 1

By Kitty Merrill

The Southampton Elementary School student infected with the highly contagious whooping cough was in class when school officials learned the child had been diagnosed. The youngster, whom school officials would not identify, was sent home right away.

Now, whether it’s a case of closing the classroom door after the hacking horse is already loose, or whether disinfecting and notification protocols followed by district employees are sufficient to staunch the spread of whooping cough remains to be seen.

Last Wednesday, Superintendent Richard Boyles sent letters to all

Whooping Cough Case Reported In Southamptondistrict parents. He said Thursday that a similar alert was posted on the school’s website and the district’s automated system also robo-called parents.

The district already has “pretty strict” cleaning procedures, Dr. Boyles explained. However, once the diagnosis was revealed, he spoke to the facilities director. “He made sure all his people were aware of it,” Dr. Boyles said. Using disinfectant, all horizontal surfaces, including those on busses, were sanitized. The superintendent noted that universal preventative measures – such as encouraging kids to wash their hands and cough into their elbows, are covered in health classes.

Asking for “cooperation and trust” from parents Boyles’ letter states, “Please be assured that the

school district is strictly following all recommended protocols both

CONTINUED ON PAGE 19.

By Kitty Merrill

He’s doing God’s work. Greg Blass, the Suffolk County Commissioner of Social Services, believes his job ad-vocating for the homeless is “public service in its purest form.” He and a staff he describes as “professional, dedicated, compassionate and com-mitted to clients and their plight,” are “blessed with usefulness.”

But don’t get him wrong. Don’t think he’s a softy. During a visit to The Independent to discuss his depart-ment’s response to the homeless crisis in Suffolk last Thursday, Blass had plenty of pert words for detractors and obstructionist politicians who kowtow to those who say about homeless shel-ters “Not In My Back Yard.”

“I, and everyone in the depart-ment is extremely disappointed in those in a public service position who have been resoundingly silent in the face of this appalling bias that’s been expressed by some,” Blass said. Homeless shelters, like the one Suf-folk is establishing in Hampton Bays

Commissioner Blas(s)ts Silent Politicians


have been described as “warehouses for criminals and drug dealers” that are sheltered to “pursue a hedonistic lifestyle,” the commissioner reported.

That stereotype couldn’t be farther from the truth. Blass explained that clients who stay in the county’s 52 shelters, plus the dozen or so motels used as shelters must sign a set of rules for behavior, adhere to curfews and meet with caseworkers who are on site daily carrying out the mission of the department – steering clients to-wards self sustainability. Blass is proud of the county’s record of transitioning between 30 and 40 families out of homelessness every month. Still, it’s a struggle to serve the average of 530 families and 200 plus individuals seek-ing aid each week.

Endeavoring to dispel the picture of homeless “Bowery bums,” Blass reported his department’s clients are predominantly single mothers with small children, including victims of domestic violence who must be moved secretly for their own safety. His clients, said the commissioner, are very motivated and eager to find their own places. One family has already transitioned out of the new Hampton Bays shelter. “These are not people who require neighbors to keep their doors locked,” he said.

They’re people who have to un-dergo a grueling screening process in order to be eligible for the assistance. Long before the popular TV program “Undercover Boss” premiered, Blass surveilled county centers incognito and saw for himself the heartbreak clients – and staff -- endure. Applying for assistance is an intimidating pro-cess. Sitting in the lobbies observing, Blass saw the dedication of his staff, but also saw the county’s four centers are “truly overwhelmed with lines and the volume of people and it’s getting

worse.” With the economic downturn, demand for services is much higher than it’s ever been before.

Blass saw people from every con-ceivable family, education and em-ployment background with nowhere else to turn. Sitting in those lobbies, he worried that some people, faced with the need to provide the extensive documentation the state requires,

would leave and never return.It’s widely believed social programs

are exploited by undocumented immigrants looking to their new country for a free ride. There is “not one” undocumented immigrant in the county’s homeless shelter system, Blass made clear. “An undocumented individual is ineligible for any kind of program or service,” the commis-sioner said. County employees will refer them to other non-profit chari-

Independent / Jessica Mackin

James J. Mackin

Suffolk County Commissioner of Social Services Greg Blass.


FAA Fence Funding: Opponents Say Not Yet


By Rick Murphy

The Town of East Hampton and the East Hampton Aviation Asso-ciation are pitted against the Quiet Skies Coalition and the Commit-tee To Stop Airport Expansion in an escalating battle that has now

Airport Controversy

Just The Facts, Ma’am

By Kitty Merrill

Pro airport advocates and the East Hampton Town Board claimed victory. Opponents said, “not so fast.”

Last week State Supreme Court Justice John J. Jones rejected an effort by the Committee to Stop Airport Expansion to enjoin the town from pursuing an FAA grant to

cover the cost of deer fencing at the Wainscott facility. The town board voted to pursue the funding on De-cember 6, just five days after a well-attended hearing on the concept.

The Committee To Stop Airport Expansion, as well as individuals David Gruber, Barbara Miller, Frank Dalene, Robert and Barbara Wol-fram, Arthur French and Stephen Levin petitioned the court for a Temporary Restraining Order fol-lowing Tuesday’s vote.

Attorneys for the town, work-ing with legal reps from the group “Save The Airport,” argued the peti-tioners failed to meet the standard for a TRO. The application for an FAA grant had already been sub-mitted by the time they petitioned the court, the town’s reps argued, so it was already under review by a federal agency. The FAA is a federal agency and as such “immune” from state court jurisdiction, according to the lawyers’ brief.

Even if the petition could be considered, the request for remedy requires a “heavy” burden of proof, responding lawyers pointed out. Specifically, the plaintiffs had to prove they would suffer “irrepa-rable injury” if a TRO were not in place.

In a release lauding the judge’s decision to reject the request, air-port liaison Councilman Dominic Stanzione said that as a result of the ruling, the town can proceed with its grant application to the FAA for the deer fencing design and repair.

The decision clears the way for the town to end the 22- year contro-versy on how to properly maintain a safe and quiet airport for the benefit of East Hampton, officials declared. “The court’s support for our bi-partisan, unanimous town board decision advances the pros-pects for comprehensive manage-ment strategies that place a high-value on safety, fiscal responsibility and a much quieter airport,” said Stanzione. He added, “We are a step closer to really reducing the impact of aviation noise.”

A similarly worded press release distributed by the East Hampton Aviation Association Wednesday

entered the courtroom. Numerous readers have complained that there is so much conflicting information it is difficult to reach a conclusion. The Independent has interviewed attorneys from both sides of the fence, a spokesman from the Fed-

eral Aviation Administration, and consulted a pertinent law suit to get some answers.

Independent: The folks opposing taking further money from the FAA say that we will be able to restrict air traffic in 2014 if we begin wean-ing ourselves from FAA now. The town and airport supporters main-tain the FAA will probably always have some say in how the airport is run, but certainly until 2021, when the last of the present grant assur-

ances expire.Peter Kirsch, an aviation attor-

ney representing the town:There are 39 grant assurances.

Three are permanent. Thirty four expire in 2021. Two expire in 2014. The Quiet Skies people are saying two are very important.

Jeffrey Bragman, an attorney representing the CTSAE:

The two critical ones expire in two and a half years.

Jim Peters, FAA spokesman: The CONTINUED ON PAGE 26.


HARDYHARDYPLUMBING • HEATING • A/C • SOLAR • FUEL OIL

10% OFF

Offer applies to service calls or installations under $1000. Not to be combined with any other offers. Coupon must be presented at time of service. Offer expires March 31, 2012.

SAVE UP TO

Not to be combined with any other offers. Coupon must be presented at time of service. Offer expires March 31, 2012.

$200On Qualifying

EquipmentCall for details!

10% OFFSAVE UP TO$200 Any Repair or

Installation

Outstanding 24-Hour Service

FREE Estimates

Financing OptionsAvailable

Outstanding 24-Hour Service

FREE Estimates

Financing OptionsAvailable

Trust your Home Comfort needs to a company that’s

always here for you.

Trust your Home Comfort needs to a company that’s

always here for you.

Propane Service & Delivery Now Available

Propane Service & Delivery Now Available

[email protected] • www.HardyPlumbing.com

Licensed, Insured, Locally Owned And Operated

South Fork

631-283-9333 North Fork

631-298-8181

C

M

Y

CM

MY

CY

CMY

K

IndependentNovNORTHAd_18.pdf 1 12/5/11 1:34 PM

OLSEN’SFRESHCUTCHRISTMASTREESTop quality Noble Fir, Grand Fir, Fraser & Balsams

4ft. - 18ft. • Fresh Wreaths 12”- 66”Open 8am - 9pm 7 Days

Directions: From East 4.8 miles from SunriseHwy., Exit 65 on Route 24 North, corner of Rt. 24and Townsand Ave. From West, 1/2 mile East ofthe Big Duck.

If it doesn’t say Olsen’s, it’s not.631-680-9285

By Kitty Merrill

They want him gone. And Larry Penny, the East Hampton Town Director of Natural Resources is fighting back with help from the

Pink Slip For Penny?last squeaky wheel town officials tried unsuccessfully to oust, former town safety inspector Tom Horn who is now an attorney specializing in labor matters, Tom Horn.

A slew of charges of insub-ordination, incompetence and misconduct leveled against Penny conclude with a list of penalties or punishments that may be imposed should he be found guilty. Penny once dubbed East Hampton’s “en-vironmental rock star,” could be demoted, suspended without pay, fined, reprimanded or dismissed, according to the document signed by Town Attorney John Jilnicki. It states, “Please be advised the proposed penalty is termination.”

At a special work session last Wednesday, the town board voted unanimously to suspend Penny without pay pending the outcome of a hearing.

Fourteen separate charges accuse the 26-year employee of a variety of alleged misdeeds. The disciplinary documents note that last September officials discovered he’d been stor-

ing animal carcasses in the base-ment of the town’s office suites on Pantigo Place, sans authorization.

He was immediately directed to get rid of the unauthorized car-casses, to prepare a plan for their removal, and did not. “Your actions in failing to obey the directives of the Town Supervisor . . . constitute insubordination,” the document reads. Other unauthorized carcass charges relate to their alleged im-proper storage in chemicals, and failure to obtain and keep current proper permits and maintain prop-er records regarding the chemicals.

Penny was also called on the carpet for allowing trees on the Barbara Hale Preserve in Springs to be removed by mechanical means in violation of town and county permits, plus allowing the private


Try Our Famous

SHINNECOCK FRIED CHICKEN

Breakfast Specials • Lunch • Boars Head Meats • Tax Free

SHINNECOCK FRIED CHICKEN

Buckets, Pieces, and Dinners6 piece • 8 piece • 12 piece • 16 pieceOne Free Side with Bucket Purchase

Wings and FriesOPEN MONDAY-SATURDAY Til 9PM • SUNDAY Til 8PM

Call Ahead and Your Order Will Be Ready When You Arrive

Warehouse Sale 15%-50% Off

Monday-Saturday 6:30AM-9:00PM • Sunday 6:30AM-8:00PM

We DoGift Wrapping!!!

We DoGift Wrapping!!!

WE CARRY ALL NATIVE BRAND CIGARETTES AND MAJOR BRAND CIGARS

Independent / Kitty Merrill

Larry Penny, East Hampton Town Director of Natural Resources.


By Rick Murphy

RICK’S SPACE

Servicing Montauk to Hampton Bays

Volume Discounts AvailableSame Day Delivery

Speak to a Live Operator today

$ Low Prices Guaranteed $

24-hour Emergency Service Available

631-324-0242www.CashIsKingOil.com

Purchase 100 gallons get $5.00 off150 gallons get $10.00 off200 gallons get $15.00 off250 gallons get $20.00 off

300 + gallons get $25.00 off*Offer good through February 15, 2012

*Must present coupon at time of delivery

There is a reason why I hate to go to restaurants – it’s because it is becoming increasingly more difficult to commu-nicate with the help.

It’s not right – too many business owners sabotage their customers and their employees by hiring workers with insufficient language skills.

The absolute worst place to order food is the Kentucky Fried Chicken in River-head. I submit to you that it is virtually impossible to place a decent-sized order to go and actually get what you ordered. It happens to me all the time – I get home and the stuff in the bag doesn’t even resemble what I ordered. Not even close.

Now some of you may be asking at this point, “Why do you keep going

Filet Fish And Other Urban Mythsback?” I’m glad you asked.

Because I love Kentucky Fried Chick-en, that’s why. I think the colonel’s secret ingredients must include heroin.

I’ve tried going inside and watch-ing them pack up my order, but they still find ways to screw it up. The other day I asked for, among other things, a large mashed potatoes with the gravy in a separate container. But when I checked, there it was -- the gravy in with the potatoes.

“Excuse me,” I said extra nicely. “I asked for the gravy in a separate con-tainer. I don’t want it on the mashed potatoes.”

“Sorry,” the surly girl replied. “That’s against the law.”

I looked at her, flabbergasted. “Against the law?”

“That’s right sir, government regu-lations.”

How do you reply to that? I went back for another try last Satur-

day, only because Karen wanted a snack. I figured I could get away with going to the drive-thru. I was wrong.

“A small order of hot wings and a small cole slaw,” I said when prompted.

There was silence. Then, grumbling. “Er I er . . . umm.” I repeated the simple order. Nothing. Seconds passed. “Am I done?” No reply. I said it louder: “Hello! Hello? Am I finished?” Still nothing. Finally I screamed, “Should I proceed to the next freaking window?”

Then a new person, this one a man, answered. This gentleman had the heavy accent of a Pakistani.

“I am so sorry. I will help you!” He said confidently.

“One small order of hot wings and a cole slaw,” I said.

He paused, then said loudly and con-fidently, ”One order mashed potatoes!” With that I floored my truck, drove over

the divider, wheeled out onto Route 58 and peeled away.

“I’m still hungry,” Karen finally said meekly.

Once, out of curiosity, I asked a woman at McDonald’s what kind of fish they used in the fish filet sandwich, wondering if it might be codfish.

“It’s Filet Fish,” she said knowingly. “Just like the sign say.”

I tried to explain what “filet” meant, but she would have no part of it.

“It is Filet Fish. McDonald’s raises them in their own ocean.”

“So I guess Whoppers are grown on Burger King Island?”

She didn’t miss a beat. “I don’t know, sir. You’ll have to go across the street and ask them.”

While I’m at it, I want to express my profound hatred for prix fixe and early bird specials. To further examine these bargains, I harken back to the days of the TV show, “Queen For A Day.” All three contestants looked like they had been beaten by a big guy with an ugly stick. They had puffed eyes, blotchy skin, tangled hair, and forlorn looks on their faces. Each had a tale of woe more horrible than the next – husband got hit by a trolley, twin daughters fell off the Cyclone at Coney Island, etc. Everyone cried. Then one of the three – based on the applause of the audience as measured by the applause meter, would “win” and become “Queen for a Day.” The host, Jack Bailey, would say something like, “I know you lead a wretched life and you are going to die miserable and lonely. That’s why we have decided to give you A NEW WASHING MACHINE!” Then the crowd would go crazy.

That’s what an early bird/prix fixe three-course dinner is at some restaurants. Let’s says it’s $29.95. You get a choice of salad or soup, an entrée, and dessert. Here’s how they sucker you in. You look at the regular menu, and the salads are around $14, the entrees are all in the $35 range, and the desserts are all 10 bucks. You’re tempted to believe it’s a tremen-dous bargain. It’s not. Here’s the secret: no one pays regular price. The chicken, salmon, meatloaf, etc. on the regular menu are just there for show – no one pays $35 for that stuff. Now look carefully at the prix fixe menu: the steak, shrimp, lobster etc. are gone.

What we get is a plate of mixed greens (previously known as “weeds”), filet de poulet with truffled potatoes and crème fraiche, AKA a piece of dried roast chicken and a potato.

Then your chocolate mousse cake arrives, and it looks suspiciously like Betty Crocker chocolate cake. When the bill comes, you discover the three glasses of wine you needed to get all the dried food down your gullet cost $16 each (and each glass was about 1/3 full). All of a sudden its $128 -- not including the tip.

“Let’s go out but not drink any wine,” Karen always suggests. I always have the better idea: “Let’s drink wine and not go out.”


EDITORIAL

Independent VOICES


The Matter Of The AirportThere is no question that a significant portion of our

populace, though a minority, suffers because of the noise generated by the stream of helicopters particularly during “the season” when they come and go at all hours.

This is an indisputable fact, and the aggrieved parties are not just around the airport; folks in North Sea, Noyac, Bridgehampton, Sag Harbor and even the North Fork have complained.

Experts say the air-shattering sound of large jets has abated of late, as the industry has moved to less-intrusive planes, and those wealthy enough to own them insist on the newest toy, which thankfully is quite a bit quieter.

The debate isn’t helped by pronouncements that East Hampton is “a major metropolitan air traffic hub” or that at any given time “Thousands of planes fill the sky” above the town. Those silly arguments take away from the real distress the airport has caused some people, and how their quality of life is ruined because of the helicopter noise.

They are the aggrieved parties in this controversy and their discomfort must be addressed.

Not all airport “opponents” – for lack of a better word – have a right to complain. Despite claiming otherwise, there are those who bought cheap because of the proximity to the airport, and even developers who will benefit financially should the airport curtail activities or close altogether.

But even for them, traffic and noise have increased over the years – what was once tolerable no longer is.

The group of local, passionate flyers love their planes. Yes, it’s a good deal. Yet no better than gun enthusiasts who have a sweetheart lease at the nearby gun club, or Sag Harbor residents docked at the local yacht club for relative peanuts, or even children playing in a state-of-the-art municipal schoolyard. We are a small, resort town,

we have a wealthy base of homeowners, and the quality of life is good here.

The idea that the airport should close, as suggested by some critics, is preposterous and myopic and a mind-boggling overreaction.

The airport is responsible for over 90 jobs and pumps close to $10 million into the local economy. These are not numbers picked out of the air by proponents but figures from a bi-partisan state study.

More important though, is the user group of these helicopters and new jets – these are wealthy second homeowners that fuel our luxury real estate market, keep prices up and taxes low. If they can’t get in and out in a hurry – much like Aspen or Martha’s Vineyard – they’ll go elsewhere. But how far we should bend to accommodate is at the heart of this debate.

We need an airport, and that’s why there is one here, and it predates all its enemies. Our job is to alleviate the noise that is bothering some of our citizens and to keep it safe.

The argument that we shouldn’t use federal funds, though a noble idea, is hard to get behind. Otherwise it will cost the public money – even if landing fees are raised. We can’t help but think “opponents” are angling for the day when townsfolk, tired of paying to keep the airport up to speed, start turning against it and begin thinking about closure. That would be an economic disaster.

The current town board, in a bipartisan unanimous vote, is set to take more FAA money, which will lock us in to another 20 years of assurances, specifically that we won’t use noise as a reason to limit traffic. We’re not one to look a gift horse in the mouth, but this rush to erect deer fencing all of a sudden is a bit of a reach. Most of us can recall hunting deer in those parts decades ago and there

was a huge herd then. They have always managed, with rare exceptions, to avoid planes.

A control tower planned for next season may alleviate some of the noise problems. So might re-routing the flight paths the helicopters follow, though we’d in essence be moving them around the sky rather than decreasing the number that come in.

Without further FAA funding come 2014 we could attempt to put some restrictions on the helicopter traffic. But if the moves causes litigation – and it likely will – taxpayers get caught holding the bill.

Many of the people at the recent public hearing were local pilots; most agree they are not part of the problem. What would happen if an agreement were forged that local-based pilots would always be exempt from landing fees. Would they then drop their opposition to taking federal money?

Unfortunately, the two sides are polarized to the point that suspicion rules. The real players, and their motivations, have been carefully shielded from the public eye. Suffice it to say it’s always about money.

The town will never be able to fully control helicopter traffic without an extensive legal battle. We must identify the beleaguered parties – those who legitimately suffer from the noise, and measure exactly how often and how loud.

That will eliminate those pretending to be aggrieved but acting with another agenda entirely.

We must reach out to helicopter operators to voluntarily adhere to a set of guidelines – and if they don’t, there are tools in place to make their lives miserable.

If we can do those two things, the FAA becomes a source of funding and not Big Brother forcing us to cope with ever-increasing numbers of aircraft.

Held AccountableDear Editor,

I just don’t understand how the [Southampton] Town Comptroller did not know that overtime costs for the Town Police Department exceeded the budget and allowed the spending to continue. I also don’t understand how the Police Chief can spend money that is not

appropriated in his budget. New initiatives must be within the budget funding, you can’t spend what you don’t have. That is the law.

The Comptroller‘s office has staffing a mile long. Where are the checks and balances? Who reviews the monthly variance reports? What if every department head spent more than allocated? Administrators need to be held accountable, department heads must operate within their budget lines and all held accountable by the Town Board.

MARIETTA SEAMAN

Inalienable RightDear Rick,

Every action that government takes should be measured by its impact on the freedom of the American people. Our Declaration of Independence makes the argument against an oppressive system and for man’s right to self determination and our Constitution provides the framework in maintaining a free society. Its premise is that the federal government must be limited

in power and authority. The individual must remain free to pursue his “inalienable right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.”

I have attempted to describe the essence of the meaning of America, certainly in its past, but questionable for her future if we continue down the slippery slope of socialism where the federal government becomes the center of American life. I do not understand how any American could demand that it is the government’s responsibility to provide him a


Editor-In-Chief RIck muRphy News Editor kItty meRRIll Arts Editor JeSSIcA mAckIN Copy Editor kAReN FRedeRIckS Reporter emIly toy Columnists / Writers

JeRRy dellA FemINA, domINIc ANNAcoNe, SkIppy BRoWN, Joe cIpRo, kAReN FRedeRIckS,

ASheR lee, mIleS X. loGAN, pete muNdo, vIN pIcA

Advertising Senior Account Manager Bt SNeed Account Managers tIm SmIth JoANNA FRoSchl JohN Wyche

Advertising Production Manager JohN lAudANdo Art Director JIll kAmpF Web/Media Director JeSSIcA mAckIN

Classified Advertising Manager keRRy coNNelly Photography Editor JENNA MACKIN Contributing Photographers peGGy StANkevIch ed GIFFoRd Controller ShARoN domINy

Delivery Managers eRIc SupINSky BIll FRIck

Advisors to the PublishersJeSSIe dellA FemINA, JeNNIFeR cIullo

Publishers JeRRy dellA FemINA, JAmeS J. mAckIN,

JodI dellA FemINA

published weekly by:

The East Hampton Independent News Company Inc.

74 Montauk Highway Suite #19

East Hampton, NY 11937P • 631-324-2500F • 631-324-6496

The First Eastern Long Island Newspaper On The Internet.

Visit Our Website For More News and Photoshttp://www.indyeastend.comor e-mail to: [email protected]

send photos to: [email protected]

Subscriptions by 1st Class Mail: $91 yearly ©2011 Entire Contents Copyrighted

Financial responsibility for errors in all advertising printed in the Independent is strictly limited to actual

amount paid for the ad.

PLEASE RECYCLE

Independent VOICES

CONTINUED fROM PAGE 13.

cradle to grave existence. Yet, our Founding Fathers’ worst nightmare is happening before our eyes. A voice is being given to those who desire a federal government that has unlimited power and authority.

I am tired, no I am fed up with having to listen to those whose philosophy, if implemented, would strip me of freedom and destroy the greatest nation ever created. That is why, fair reader, it is so important that every action that Washington takes should be measured by its impact on the freedom of the American people.

BILL JONES

Flat LinedDear Rick,

What is it about these avid (read rabid) OWS haters? What blinds them from seeing; seeing what OWS is all about? Why is it so difficult for some to comprehend the outrageous disparity of wealth in our country, which is the reason for the Occupancies throughout our country?

The 99 percent will not and cannot be stopped. I read the same old Letters from the same old clueless writers; the ones that attempt to denigrate words like Occupiers, Progressives, Liberals; writers by tagging the 99 percent as Socialists, Communists, nihilists, any negative-ists one can think of rather than realist, empathist or humanist, which is what they are.

These misguided critics do not even realize that by their need elevate their self esteem and to paint themselves as superior to the protesting “riff-raff” does not make them a part of the elite 1 percent. They are merely stooges and facilitators and those 99 percent out there actually represent them as much as it represents nurses, teachers, firefighters, ad infinitum . . . as well as the police ordered to keep them contained.

One need only view the graphic proof indicating the comparative rate of income growths having taken place in the last thirty some odd years. The middle class has virtually flat lined while the wealthy have exploded exponentially. Why?

There are those simple minded who contend that the root cause for the lack of growth of the middle class is that they work not hard enough. Is there anyone naive enough to suggest that the ever growing disparity was and is because the wealthy had each year worked several times harder than the previous year while the middle class has just sat traditionally on their lazy old butt year after year! Obviously, nonsense.

The reason that the middle class has such a near impossible task of upward mobility

is the barriers set up by that exclusive club of the one percent making certain it is kept exclusive. Typical barriers set up to keep the middle class back in their place are: cut support for education and teachers; and raise college costs to keep them uneducated; cut health care, keeping them poor; do away with unions depriving working people of any power to insure their position remains stagnant.

Finally, to keep that 99 percent in their place and their one percent in their ever skyrocketing growth pattern, tax dodging is brought to an art form and loopholes like a mine field are dug everywhere possible. The wonder is not why the 99 percenters feel something stinks; the wonder is why the delusional would-be one percenters do not.

NICHOLAS ZIZELIS Inconsistent and ConfusingDear Mr. Murphy,

One of the reasons I believe Republicans haven’t developed a narrative to defeat Democrats relates to my argument that if Steve Levy ran for Governor he would have received 40 percent of the vote, about the same as Carl Paladino of Buffalo, in large part because Mr. Levy has embraced a Southampton “ethos” that has contributed to economic disparities between the areas east and west of the Canal through development practice that favors individual profit over the

community good. To explain some of the disparities I’ll

review my attempts to restore an old house as well as the hybrid planning vehicles favored by Southampton known as Planned Development Districts (PDDs) and Planned Residential Developments (PRDs). A minor but obvious detail is that in one case a hybrid is called a development and in another it’s called a district. Therefore, revising Southampton’s zoning code to eliminate inconsistent or confusing naming conventions would be a good job for someone.

The problem with hybrids is that they increase density by circumventing zoning. However, in Southampton both Republicans and Democrats have conflated hybrids with “community good” when in realty they pose unique zoning challenges that are never addressed because the hybrids are assumed to be inherently “good.” I’m going to argue that ignoring zoning challenges can hurt the economy.

SUSAN CERWINSKI.

New JobsDear Editor,

There’s a collective smile on the faces of New Yorkers proud of their government and what bipartisan cooperation can produce for a citizenry tired of the kind of bickering


What are you most looking forward to this holiday season?

Beth MarteSpending the holiday with my family. That’swhat I look forward more than anything else.My brother. My nieces and nephews. My greatnieces and great nephews. And my dad who is92. Everyone shares the cooking. We all bringsomething. I love the holidays.

Kevin NoonanI remember being a child during the holidaysand I remember how much I wanted the thingsI hoped for, or asked for at Christmas. So Ihope all the children get what they ask for. Iguess that’s what I’ll be looking forward to, orwhat I’ll be wishing for.

Abby RuizGetting to be with my family. We don’t all live inone place so on the holidays everyone istogether. A lot of my cousins are really youngand then there are my brother and sister. Andthey’re older and off on their own so I really likespending time with them.

Julie Sigler-BaumBeing with friends and family. We all gettogether and the ages go from six to 76. Forus, the holidays aren’t about gifts and materialthings. We want to do things to benefit theearth. They say we only have five years beforethe damage we’ve done is irreparable.

JUST ASKING By Karen Fredericks


and backbiting that has stalled our federal government.

In stark contrast to the gridlock in Washington D.C., the NY State Senate Republican Majority has worked together with Governor Andrew Cuomo to accomplish major changes and positive reforms this year.

The new Middle Class Tax Cut and Job Creation Plan will build on these successes by cutting taxes for hardworking middle class families, and helping to create new private sector jobs.

The package delivers on my longstanding goal of derailing the job-killing MTA Payroll Tax.

It includes:$250 million in new tax relief through

Independent VOICES

CONTINUED fROM PAGE 14.

elimination of the MTA Payroll Tax on most small businesses;

Elimination of this job-killing tax for more than 290,000 small businesses throughout the 12 county MTA region; an 81 PERCENT of all impacted businesses will see the tax completely eliminated.

Earlier this year, working in a bipartisan manner, we accomplished some very important things for the people of this State – including eliminating a $10 billion deficit, bringing spending under control and capping property taxes.

This job-creating economic plan continues to defy the political gridlock that has paralyzed Washington and shows that we can make government work for the people of this State once again. I am pleased to have partnered with the Governor on this agreement that reflects two of my long-held priorities: cutting your taxes and creating jobs in New York State.

KENNETH LAVALLE

“Show me your cemeteries, and I’ll tell you what kind of people you are.”Attorney George Stankevich quoted Thomas Jefferson at last Friday’s work

session when he, along with representatives from the Shinnecock Indian Nation, met with Southampton Town Board to continue a discussion on protection plans for Native American and colonial graves.

“We’re here because bulldozers run through both Native American and colonial graves,” Stankevich said. “People are concerned about their lives and projects being disrupted.”

Assistant Town Attorney Joseph Burke said the goal of the protection plan is to identify sites where there are human remains and have them listed on a map. The Building Department would then notify landowners to be cautious about the possibility of finding graves and what to do about it.

As of Friday, the status of the map was unknown.“I recall the map being important to this,” said Supervisor Anna Throne-

Holst, referring to a discussion from last year. “There was a high level of support for this, but without the map there’s no reference.”

Throne-Holst added that preserving native and colonial graves should be a concern for everyone. According to the supervisor, the map will establish and delineate areas of the town where the graves and remains are.

“Anyone commencing a project will have a reference,” she said.Rebecca Genia, one representative from the Shinnecock, stressed that the

“snail’s pace is no longer working” in getting the protection plans set in place. Genia reminded the board that several people had to be uprooted and reburied due to burial grounds being destroyed.

“We have a tiny bit of land,” Genia said. “There are people living in poverty on Shinnecock, people can’t get a mortgage. We’re not asking for much. We need to be on a schedule to get this resolved. Developers are raping this land, but we’re still here and we still have a history.”

The next discussion for new protection plans is scheduled for January of 2012. At that time, officials said the site map will be available.

E.T.

Burial Grounds Move Toward Protection

By Rick Murphy

For the second time a State Supreme Court Justice has sided with East Hampton Town and its Trustees

Beach Driving Lawsuit

Town, Trustees Win Another Roundover the issue of unfettered beach access on a stretch of Amagansett’s oceanfront.

Last Wednesday Justice Melvyn

Tenenbaum refused to grant summary judgment to a group of property owners who claim they own the beach in question. They have been trying to prevent a steady stream of trucks from parking in front of their homes and spending the day on the beach during the warmer months.

The same judge denied a similar motion by a motel further east, White Sands, to limit beach traffic.

“There’ll be a trial,” predicted Anthony Tohill, the attorney representing the Town Trustees. Better still, he added, the wording of the judge’s decision seems to strongly favor the town’s defense. “He’s allowing the town and the trustees to assert statute of limitations events.”

Tohill said old filed maps he’s uncovered clearly state the area in question as being a pedestrian promenade. “You can’t exclude the public. The people have the right.”

Stephen Angel of Esseks, Hefter, and Angel, filed the motion on behalf of the property owners before the summer, hoping to put an end to the unfettered access to

the 4000 foot long swath of beach favored by truck owners.

A group of beach-dr iv ing proponents, Citizens for Access Rights mobilized quickly and gained the support of local politicians to fight the suit.

The beach has long been a local hangout, and the property owners complain the numbers have swelled over the years, with 100 or more

trucks sometimes parked on the beach.

The judge cited an affidavit filed by Milton Miller, a longtime bayman who said the beach in question has been open to the public for decades.

“There is no adverse possession,” Angel countered in April. “You have to fence it. It has to be hostile. The [adverse possession] claim doesn’t work.”

But Miller’s recollection – he is 95 – coupled with the inconsistencies of the boundary line on assorted maps makes the land a prime candidate for condemnation. It’s sand used by the public. It has no value,” Tohill said.

“you can’t exclude the public. the people have the

right.” - Anthony tohill


30% OffAll Vests, Jackets, Coats & Sweaters for

Men, Women & ChildrenFor Customer Club Members Only

Valid Thru Tuesday December 20th

Free Pair of Socks forNew Club Members

Join the Club & Save 30% OffVests, Jackets, Coats & Sweaters,

Plus Save 20% Off Everything Else andGet a Free Pair of Red Wing Socks to Boot!!

Offer Valid until Tuesday December 20th

171 Main St, Amagansett NY631-267-3620

www.Outdoors4u.ccOpen 7 Days 10-6, Sat. 9-6

Copyright 2010 Outdoors & Barry Adelman


BUY SELL PRICE LOCATION

Real Estate DEEDSTHE INDEPENDENT

Source: Suffolk Research Service, Inc., Hampton Bays, NY 11946 * -- Vacant Land

East Hampton TownZIPCODE 11930 - AMAGANSETT Biase, N & L Adler, F & Tenny, P 1,400,000 81 Hampton LaneZIPCODE 11937 - EAST HAMPTON Moreno, J & M Shuman, L 465,000 44 Harbor View Dr 32 OHL, LLC Zimmerman,J&S Trusts 1,300,000 32 Oak Hill LaneZIPCODE 11954 - MONTAUK Loeb, J & K O’Connor, D 475,000 100 Deforest Rd Weil, L Choron, D 1,782,500 355 Old Montauk Hwy ZIPCODE 11963 - SAG HARBOR Bethel, N GravesRodriguez&Grav 420,000 33 Light House LaneRiverhead TownZIPCODE 11792 - WADING RIVER Lilimpakis, E Rourke, D 255,000 178 Cliff Rd W Santoliquido, R Birchwood at WR LLC 334,600 178 Calverton Ct ZIPCODE 11901 - RIVERHEAD Griffiths,R&G &RJr&C Surf & Turf Equities 250,010* 44 Louise Ct Yilmaz, J & M Buhler, C 168,000 1075 Northville Tpke Carr, R & M Bizzoco, B 50,000 741 East Ave Ext Nelson, R & M County of Suffolk 50,000 314 East Ave ZIPCODE 11933 - CALVERTON Sexton,J & Yardley,A Haizlip,G &Theisen,L 205,500 199 Edwards Ave Shelter Island TownZIPCODE 11964 - SHELTER ISLAND Kamen, S Lenox Jr, S by Exr 1,225,000 17D South Cartwright Rd Southampton TownZIPCODE 11932 - BRIDGEHAMPTON McCrum,M & Harden,C Hedges, M 650,000 7 Halsey St Cole, N & E Brown, M & J 8,035,000 29 West Pond Dr Sag Harbor StorageCo BridgehamptonIndPark 1,622,984 Tradesmans PathZIPCODE 11942 - EAST QUOGUE Valinoti, R & C Nolan, J & V 300,000 12 Seashore Ave 19 Post Crossing LLC Wetterau, D 305,000 19 Post Crossing ZIPCODE 11946 - HAMPTON BAYS Robert,V Revoc Trust LaPenna, J 290,000* 1 Channing Cross Korte, J & L Eberle, L 320,000 5 Canal St Pad Construction LLC Relyea French LC 107,000* 5 B Fanning Ave Pad Construction LLC Relyea French LC 107,000* 7 Fanning Ave Pad Construction LLC Relyea French LC 106,000* 9 Fanning Ave Swenson, C Chichester Realty 325,000 9 N Westbury Rd Vanbramer,G&Yoshwein Garson, A & Geiss, V 500,000 10 Glenmore Dr ZIPCODE 11959 - QUOGUE 91 Dune Road LLC Isaac, W & C 3,881,714 91 Dune Rd 93 Dune Road LLC Isaac, W 2,911,286 93 Dune Rd ZIPCODE 11962 - SAGAPONACK Saunders, A & C Johnides 1, LLC 1,000,000* 125 Greenleaf Ln 320 Parsonage Lane Wexler, P & C 13,000,000 320 Parsonage Ln ZIPCODE 11963 - SAG HARBOR Bernstein, J Rizzi, J 550,000 2390 Noyack Rd 17MadisonRestoration Krug,J &Knight Trust 1,570,000 17 Madison St Johnson, H & B Bernstein, M 1,500,000 12 Latham St ZIPCODE 11968 - SOUTHAMPTON Samelson, J & T Helbing, R & T 650,000 17 Fern Rd BK At North Sea, LLC MiddleLinePrps byRef 638,145* 6,15&16 SouthamptonHills Norasteh, S Wachtel,R &DiFiore,T 670,000* 135 Middle Pond Rd 110 Post Lane LLC Gulija,G&M&Trimmer 2,300,000 110 Post Ln ZIPCODE 11976 - WATER MILL Lusko&LuskoGunderman Vulliez, C & A 1,875,000 108 Middle Line Hwy Forcina, V Pflaum, J & J 1,100,000 421 Edge Of Woods Rd Panariello, R Najjar, M & M 2,125,000 10 Wood Edge Ct Southold TownZIPCODE 11944 - GREENPORT MapleStreetGreenport Wells, JE 190,000 220 Maple St ZIPCODE 11952 - MATTITUCK Mello, C Scheer, L 145,000 2490 Pike St ZIPCODE 11971 - SOUTHOLD Searl, S & Casey, E Salvatore, K 295,000 670 Youngs Ave Wolfgang, D & K Stanton, P & J 934,500 302 Town Creek Ln Mazza, J & L Keitt Jr, J & P 2,557,500 280 Basin Rd

Source: Suffolk Research Service, Inc., Hampton Bays, NY 11946 • * -- Vacant Land

Min Date = 11/9/2011 Max Date = 11/15/2011


• THE BEST PRICE• THE BEST MATERIAL• THE BEST INSTALLATION• AND THE NICEST PEOPLE

Then That’s Us!!

License # by request

WE DISCOUNTEVERYDAY!

Carpet • Vinyl • Laminate• Wood • Linoleum

Seen All TheOther Carpet Ads?Well if you have, and you’re

looking for . . .

See us Last and You Will SeeWhy East End Carpet in

Wading River Square Is theOnly Place To Buy Your Floor!

EAST ENDCARPET CO.

If you don’t know your carpet, you better know your carpet man!

929-3070 6278 Route 25A, Wading RiverSee owners Tom & Ken! You’ll be glad you did.

Hours: Mon. - Sat. 10 - 6

Push Ups for PenniesOn both Christmas Day and New Years Day, Sensei Michelle Del Giorno

and the children’s karate students at Epic Martial Arts-East in Sag Harbor will participate in a campaign called “Push Ups For Pennies.” This ongoing charity event raises awareness and donations for St. Jude’s Research Children’s Hospital as well as for the Alex’s Promise Foundation, created in memory of young Sag Harbor resident Alex Koehne, who passed away in March 2007.

Del Giorno and her students will perform one push up for every penny donated.

“This project is an example of how the children in our community can make a difference by participating in acts of kindness,” Del Giorno said.

F o r m o r e information or to donate visit www.hamptonskarate.com, call 631-725-5425, or stop by Epics Martial Arts-East located at 75 Main Street in Sag Harbor. E.T.

Independent / Kitty Merrill

The East Hampton Democratic Committee celebrated the service of outgoing town board members Councilman Pete Hammerle and Councilwoman Julia Prince (right) at their holiday party at The Palm last friday night. Also on hand were Councilwoman-elect Sylvia Overby and Congressman Tim Bishop.

OnlinRead The Independent

www.indyeastend.com


MEDICARE ELIGIBLE?

THEWASHWICK

AGENCY

860 E. Main Street • Riverhead, NY 11901

Whatdoes it cover?

Whatsupplements

are available?Finding it

confusing?

The Washwick Agency can help! Call 631 369-0888

Karl Washwick

Your friends at Allstate wish you the bestthis holiday season and look forward toserving you in 2012.

KENNETH G PAGANO(631) 728 2900 17 WEST MONTAUK HWYHAMPTON [email protected]

Happy Holidays FromOur Good Hands®

To Yours.

Insurance subject to availability and qualifications. Allstate Insurance Company and Allstate Property andCasualty Insurance Company, Northbrook, Illinois © 2010 Allstate Insurance Company.

for the proper cleaning of all school furniture and facilities, as well as for the eventual re-admittance of the infected student.”

In addition to cleaning protocols, district officials also monitored daily attendance for students and staff, the superintendent reported. When students are absent, district officials call to find out why, he explained. As of last Thursday, district attendance was “normal,” at the average of 95 percent attendance.

The notification letter included information from the Suffolk County Department of Health, outlining whopping cough symptoms and treatment.

Also known as pertussis, whopping cough is one of the most commonly occurring vaccine-preventable diseases in the United States. Worldwide there are an average of 30 to 50 million cases each year, accounting for some 300,000 deaths. In this country, there were 27,550 cases reported last year, but officials at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention believe many more cases go unreported.

The disease starts like the common cold, with runny nose or congestion, sneezing and a mild cough or fever. After a week or two, the couch

ratchets up and coughing fits can last for weeks. In fact it’s been dubbed “the 100 day cough,” because coughing fits due to pertussis can persist up to 10 weeks. Violent and rapid coughing occurs over and over until the air is gone from the lungs and the patient is forced to inhale with a loud whooping sound.

The disease is dangerous for infants. More than half of newborn babies less than a year old must be hospitalized if they catch pertussis.

And why is it easy to catch? Like the common cold, pertussis spreads when an infected person coughs or sneezes in close contact with others. According to the New York State Department of Health website, the incubation period for pertussis can range anywhere from four to 21 days before symptoms appear. That means the infected Southampton student could have been contaminating other kids for as many as three weeks before diagnosis. Untreated, a person can transmit pertussis from the onset of symptoms to three weeks after the coughing starts.

The CDC reports an uptick in cases since the 1980s, particularly among youth 10 to 19 years old and infants under six months. In a news report regarding an outbreak in Northport earlier this fall, Dr. Dennis Russo, director of public health preparedness

for Suffolk County reported cases almost doubled last year’s figures – from 110 to 216. He attributed the increase to better recognition and diagnosis of the disease, but also said it could be related to the decision to forgo vaccinations made by some parents.

Not that a vaccine is a guarantee. Pertussis immunizations fade over time. So having had a shot at some point in your life doesn’t mean you’re still immune. Researchers from the CDC studied the immunization records of 220,000 kids born in Minnesota between 1998 and 2003 and compared them to the state’s pertussis monitoring system, following up for six years. They learned that between 2004 and 2010 521 out of the 220K developed whooping cough; their risk of catching the disease increasing each year after the final shot. Children were seven times more likely to develop whopping cough six years after their last shot than one year after they’d been vaccinated.

Whooping coughCONTINUED fROM PAGE 7.

WEBER & GRAHN

Air Conditioning & Heating

PROMPT • QUALITY • SERVICE

“We Install the Best & Fix the Rest”

728-1166

The test results underscore the need for booster shots. The recommended vaccine to protect against pertussis is called DTaP. It’s a combo vaccine that targets three diseases, whopping cough, diphtheria and tetanus. Pertussis is easily treated with antibiotics. The period of communicability is reduced to five days after treatment with antibiotics, according the state health department’s “Information for a Healthy New York” website.

[email protected]


200 PANTIGO PLACE, SUITE K EAST HAMPTON, NY11937

Now Located in the EAST HAMPTON HEALTHCARE CENTER

PARK PLACE CHEMIST

631 324.6660HOURS:Mon - Fri 8:30 AM - 6 PMSat 9 AM - 1 PM

By Emily Toy

Keep in mind that it will be nice af-ter it’s finished. In the meantime, con-

Delays On The Horizon For CR39

Independent / Emily Toy

Assistant Town Planning and Development Administrator freda Eisenberg and Engineer William Hillman.

sider your alternate routes and hope the town doesn’t decide to embark on projects on the back roads, too.

Suffolk County’s proposed $6.5 million plan to widen County Road 39 from the North Sea Road intersection to where CR39 merges into Montauk Highway in Southampton was dis-cussed at Friday’s town board work session as county engineer William Hillman broke the news to the town board that the project will begin in the late spring/summer months, just as the tourist season begins.

“The county wouldn’t start the project until May or June,” he said.

The road expansion is a federally aided project, with 20 percent paid for by the county and 25 percent paid for by the state. Bids for the project, which Hillman hoped are competitive, were set to begin on Monday.

“We’re already $1 million over the funded budget,” Hillman said. “If there are any delays the contractor is entitled to reimbursement.”

Hillman also said that because the project is federally funded, there is a 12-month deadline and if it isn’t met, the bulk of the funding would be lost.

Councilwoman Nancy Graboski expressed concern over the probable increase in traffic. “There’s already so much traffic here in the summer,” she said. “What’s going to happen when there’s a need for the movement of emergency vehicles? I think it’s going to be difficult.”

Hillman explained that as the project gets underway, three open lanes (including the center turning lane) would be maintained. However between the hours of 9 AM and 3 PM, the center lane would be given to the contractor to work on for a stretch of 2000 feet. This would be the case on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from Memorial Day to July 3.

During these times, according to Hillman, flag people will be on hand to assist in the high traffic areas and will help cars shifting lanes. Staff from the New York State Department of Transportation would also be involved.

Between the Fourth of July and La-bor Day, all three lanes would be open and available for vehicular traffic.

“If sufficient flag people are there, things should go smoothly,” Hillman said, adding, “But it’s construction and things can happen.”

Hillman anticipates the project to be nearly complete by next winter. This includes having proper drainage, final pavements and road markings in place.

“We have no plan to close the road yet,” said Jeff Murphree, Town Plan-ning and Development Administrator.

The proposed project also includes rebuilding intersections at David Whites Lane and North Main Street, with the former getting separate lanes for left turns, right turns and straight traffic.

The County Road 39 draft corridor land use plan was also reviewed at


OPEN OPENNEW YEAR’S

EVE &NEW YEAR’S

DAY

GIFTCERTIFICATES

AVAILABLE

CHRISTMASEVE &

CHRISTMASDAY

EAST HAMPTON INDOOR TENNIS (631) 537-8012www.ehit.ws

Lisa Jones Holiday ClinicMon. - Thurs.12/26 - 12/299:30am - 11am

11am - 12:30pm$50 1.5hrs $90 3hrs

Jr. ClinicMon. - Fri.

12/26 - 12/3012 - 1pm12 - 2pm

$25 1hr $50 2hrs

At Your ServiceOn The Holidays


Prime Meats • GroceriesProduce • Take-Out

Fried Chicken • BBQ RibsSandwiches • Salads

Party Plattersand 6ft. HeroesBeer, Ice, Soda

Open 7 Days a WeekWholesale 725-9087Retail 725-9004

Sterling Silver Standing Prime Rib RoastFilet Mignon

Crown Roast of PorkImported Racks of Lamb

Spiral HamsFresh Turkeys

Lundy Smoked HamFresh Sausage Stuffi ng

Holiday PiesCheeses & Cold Cuts Platters

DECEMBER 24TH6:30 AM - 5:00 PM4 Butchers on Duty

DECEMBER 25th8:00 AM - 1:00 PM

Deli & Butcher Closed

Cromer’s Market Wishes All The Happiest of Holidays

Remember to call in your special orders early!

I don’t know how parents can foot the current college tuition bills for their kids. I know some parents with more than one child entered in college who are work-ing multiple jobs just to stay afloat. You would think the current exorbitant college tuition rates would be lowered during these hard times, but they continue to climb with the burden falling upon parents and students who have to undergo years of debt to pay off college bills.

I’ve been trying to research the studies on the teaching load of college teaching personnel because I can recall during my stint as a college teacher many years ago, the teaching responsibilities were minimal because one’s job was contingent upon publishing and research. This is especially true at highly competitive universities. But in my opinion, it’s also typi-cal of staffing responsibilities at smaller colleges.

I’ve examined the teaching loads of college personnel in some of our universities and colleges and it appears the average teach-ing load is four courses a year. The number of students enrolled in those courses varies, but may go as high as several hundred in one course. These are the “lecture” courses usually held in auditorium, lecture-hall settings. I question whether this qualifies as actually teaching since there is little, if any, individual student contact occurring except, perhaps, by teaching assistants that serve as intermediaries for the course’s professor.

What makes this light teach-ing load policy questionable is the additional fact that course sessions are not everyday. Classes generally meet two or three times a week, giving the professor days in between to plan, review student work, counsel students, etc. At least one would think that, but the days in between appear to be used more for non-teaching activi-ties such as doing research, filing grant papers, or personal enhance-ment endeavors, such as reading, schmoozing, or politicizing one’s status in the quest for attaining tenure.

What would happen if there were an increase in teaching loads at colleges and universities? How would that affect tuition costs?

Lowering College Tuition Costs

By Dr. Dominic Annacone

Eye On Education

One state’s answer was found in a report in Texas that said the fol-lowing:

“Preliminary data strongly sug-gests that the state of Texas could move towards making college more affordable by moderately increas-ing faculty emphasis on teaching. Looking only at the UT Austin cam-pus, if the 80 percent of the faculty with the lowest teaching loads were to teach just half as much as the 20 percent with the highest loads, and if the savings were dedi-

cated to tuition reduction, tuition could be cut more than half . . .“

Some universities and colleges brag about attracting high pro-file individuals, such as famous authors or Nobel Prize winners. If large numbers of students had access to those accomplished persons in a teaching setting, this would be a huge plus for an institution’s educational efforts. But, unfortunately, many times those individuals have little or no contact with students and their presence on campus is mainly for public relations purposes, for at-tracting students, or for obtaining grants. I recall at one university where I taught for seven years, a renowned Nobel Laureate in physics was retained for the then highest professorial salary level. I never saw this individual or heard much about him during those

years and when I inquired as to his whereabouts, I was told he was pretty much restricted to physic labs doing experimental research and writing grants.

Isn’t it curious how educational practices regarding time have be-come so entrenched they cannot be changed despite the fact that changes would have far-reaching beneficial effects on the populace? The school year of 180 days comes to mind with the U.S. unable to get states to substantially increase the number of school days for students despite the fact our western nation competitors have 200 to 240 day school years.

The same intractability applies to increasing the teaching load of college personnel and the American public has to continually bear the debilitating burden of the escalat-ing tuition costs.


Sports Sponsored byGive us a Call Before Problems Arise

A to Z Auto Radiator& Air Conditioning1040A Hortons Ln, Southold, NY 11971

Auto, Truck, Industrial Equipment & RVCooling, Heating & A/C Systems

Mention you saw us in The IndependentBob Andruszkiewicz (Prop.)Phone: 631-765-6849 • Fax: 631-765-6847

email: [email protected]

PETof the Week

By Sue Hansen

Dear Santa, My name is Braun. I am only five months-old and weigh 25 pounds. I am tan and white with blue eyes and unfortunately, deaf. My disability doesn’t bother me but I am learning hand signals.

You wouldn’t even notice the difference and I am usually calm as a result of it. I am house broken, crate trained and get along with everyone: people, dogs and cats. The

volunteers at RSVP, Inc are taking care of me and we will be at Little Lucys in Southampton Saturday Please stop by and visit.

I want to give you my Christmas list. Do you have one of these in your sled? I want it more than anything else in the world. A home. Your friend, Braun. Please call 631-833-0970 or visit www.rsvpinc.org and ask how you can help.

Parties Party for The

PantryMembers of every conceivable

political persuasion – Dem, Republican, Indie or even blank – are invited to an “All Party Holiday Party” to benefit the East Hampton Food Party.

It takes place Friday from 6 to 8 PM at the Spring Close Restaurant on Pantigo Road in East Hampton. The suggested donation is $20 or the equivalent in canned food. The evening includes wine or beer, plus passed hors d’oeuvres.

K.M.


E A S T � E N D � S E R V I C E S

AIR COND / HEATING

ATTORNEYS

Robert J. Savage, ESQ.

Former Asst. Dist. Atty. East End BureauFormer E. H. Town Attorney

DWI, Traffic, Misdemeanors, Felonies

Real Estate Closings, Contracts, Leases,Landlord / Tenant, Zoning & Planning

Accidents / Personal Injury / Wills & Estates

phone 329-3356 / fax 329-3424

V.A.V. CLASSICSFine Paint and Body

The Ultimate in BMW and Mercedes BodyworkForeign and Domestic

Spray Booth and Unibody RepairDetailing and Waxing

283-9409www.vavclassics.com

AUTO BODY/SERVICES

AWNINGS

AWNINGS

Canvas AwningsMarine Boat Covers

CE King & Sons Inc.www.kingsawnings.com

10 St. Francis Place, SpringsEast Hampton, NY 11937

631-324-4944 • FAX 631-329-3669

BLUEPRINTS / COPIES

Advertise Here!in The Independent

& on our Websitewww.indyeastend.com

324-2500

THE INDEPENDENTEast Hampton • Southampton • Riverhead • Southold • Shelter Island


To advertise in the service directory please call 324-2500

BOTTLED WATER

(631) 727-8610Distributed by locally owned and operated

NORTH FORK WATER SUPPLYWe carry Deer Park, Mountain Valley, Fiji, Vitamin Water,

San Pellegrino, etc.

CAR WASH

CENTRAL VACUUMS

CENTRAL VACUUMS

EAST HAMPTONVACUUMS ETC INC.

EAST HAMPTONVACUUM

Green Cleaning CenterClean Naturally

Clean GreenAll of your greencleaning needs

•Beam Central Vacuum Systems•Quality Installations•New or Existing Homes•Quick Reliable Service•Free Estimates on Installations•Guaranteed Lowest Price•Visit our Factory

Authorized ShowroomEast HamptonVacuums Etc.476 Montauk HwyEast Hampton, NY(631) 324-8900

Central Vacuum Systems• Expert Service - ALL BRANDS• Rebuilt tanks• Discount Attachments• Wholesale parts for self-installation

EAST END CENTRO-VAC, INC.

631-283-4917

Central Vacuum InstallationsSales & Service

HAMPTON VACUUM SYSTEMS

• We Service All Makes & Models• Parts & Accessories • New & Existing Homes

•PVC & Metal Pipe Installations

�

�

�

�

�

�

�

�

324-9649

��

CLEANING

Located at East Hampton Vacuum476 Montauk Hwy East Hampton, NY

(631) 324-8900

10 Years Experience

Reasonable Year-Round & Seasonal Rates

Home Openings & Closings

Reliable & Insured

631.377.2233Housekeeping & Cleaning,

� e Way You Want It.

ABSOLUTELYABSOLUTELYABSOLUTELY

ACESCLEANING SERVICE

CLEANING

EMERGENCY COMPUTER REPAIRS

On Site or Drop Off - Home or Office Upgrades - Anti Virus - Wifi - iTunes

Flat Screen TV’s - Audio Video SolutionsEast End - Discrete631-875-1057

COMPUTERS

CONSTRUCTION

East End

DECKS & PA TIO INC.

329-7150East Hampton & Southamp ton

Lic. & Insuredwww.eastenddeck.net

• New• Existing• Repairs• Design• Powerwashing• Fencing

&

DHHERBERT

DOLLINGERCUSTOMBUILDER

Tel/Fax 631.324.6898Cell 516.885.9237

E-mail: [email protected] & Insured

CUSTOM HOMESRENOVATIONS



DECKS

DRAFTING SERVICES

East End

DECKS


Licensed & Insuredwww.eastenddeck.net


Picture Your AD Here!To Advertise in

The Independent call us at

631.324.2500or visit our website

w w w. i n d y e a s t e n d . c o m

Traveler Watchman

ELECTRICAL

FENCING

BUILDERS OF CUSTOM DRIVEWAY GATE SYSTEMS

PROFESSIONAL FENCE INSTALLATIONSCREENING TREES - POOL

DEER CONTROL SPECIALISTS

631-EAST-END327-8363

eastend [email protected]

EAST HAMPTONFENCE

Driveway Gate Specialists

Cedar Fence • Aluminum Deer • PVC • Pool

Picket • Gate ServiceComplete Installation

and Service

[email protected]

FINANCIAL SERVICES

Frank S. MarinaceSecond Vice PresidentWealth Management

Financial PlanningSpecialist

Financial Advisor

611 East Main StreetP.O. Box 9010Riverhead, NY11901

Tel 631 548 4020Tel 800 233 9195Fax 631 727 [email protected]

Citigroup Global Markets Inc.

GLASS & MIRROR

Celebrating our 50th YearRobert E. Otto, Inc.

Glass & Mirror350 Montauk Highway • Wainscott

537-1515Glass, Mirrors, Shower doors,

Combination storm/screen windows & doors

CONSTRUCTION

EAST END HANDY MANHouse Painting, Landscaping,

Carting, Hedge Cutting, Cobble Stones, Window Cleaning, Lawn & Garden Care, Tree Care,

Deck & Patio Maintenance, Stone Driveways, Power Washing

Mulching & FencingDeck & Patio Maintenance, Odd Jobs

Est. 1990 Estate Care InsuredJ. Brown • PO Box 1584 • Sag Harbor, NY 11963

631-725-3669 516-524-8771

HEATING OIL/FUEL OIL

Fuel Oil, Inc. 631-668-9169Emergency: 631-668-2136 • Fax: 631-668-1021

www.marshallandsons.com701 Montauk Hwy., P.O. Box 5039, Montauk, NY 11954

HANDYMAN

HEALTH

•Decreased Pain•Move More Freely•Home Exercise Program•Deep Tissue Massage•Nutritional Counseling

Discover The Differencethat neuro muscular massage andchiropractic corrective treatment

can achievefor a better lifestyle

BalanceChiropractic

Dr.Janet

Cirronewww.drjanetcirrone.com

Southampton 631.283.1300Speonk 631.325.3354

PARENT ELECTRICELECTRICAL CONTRACTORS

LICENSED& INSURED

SINCE1974324-9649

99 West Montauk Hwy., Hampton Bayswww.Birthright.org

FREE InformationCounseling & Assistance

Call: 631-728-8900631-876-5138

or 1-800-550-4900

10 Years Experience

Reasonable Year-Round & Seasonal Rates

Home Openings & Closings

Reliable & Insured

631.377.2233Housekeeping & Cleaning,

� e Way You Want It.

ABSOLUTELYABSOLUTELYABSOLUTELY

ACESCLEANING SERVICE

FLOORING

JEO FLOORSANDING & REFINISHINGInstallations Repairs

POLYURETHANE, STAINING, BLEACHINGFREE ESTIMATES

287-2310

Dan W. LeachCustom Builder

• CUSTOM RENOVATIONS & CONSTRUCTION SPECIALIST

• ALL IPE & MAHOGANY DECKSDESIGNED & BUILT

• FINISHED BASEMENTS + BATHROOMS• SIDING • PAINTING • TILE • MASONRY• DRAFTING & FULL PERMITS

PROMPT • RELIABLE • PROFESSIONAL [email protected]

631-345-9393EAST END SINCE 1982

SH & EH LICENSED & INSURED

Expert Repairsto your Home or BusinessCabinets • Doors • Windows • FloorsDecks • Fences • Almost Anything

516.768.5974www.bryandowneyrestorations.com

GUTTERS

East EndGutters

�Visa - MC

728-8346LIC INS

PermitPlans

Drawn for Small Renovations & Alterations,Residences under 1,500 gross sq. ft., &

Kitchen or Bathroom Remodeling (631) 324-8200

Laudando + sonh o m e i m p r ov e m e n t s

DOORS & WINDOWSSHEETROCK

CUSTOM DECKSTILE & MARBLEBATHROOMSKITCHENS

POWER WASHINGFREE ESTIMATES

631.377.2226

HOUSE CLEANING


PLUMBING & HEATING

PRADO BROSPlumbing & Heating & Air Conditioning

Radiant Heat • Boilers

Hot Air Furnaces • Hot Water Heaters

668-9169 • EMG. 668-2136

The Best Serviceat the Best Price!

A Family Owned & Operated BusinessServicing All of Your

Propane Gas Needs for Over 30 Years.

God Bless America!

Heating • Cooking • Hot Water • Dryers • Pool HeatingGas Fireplaces • Forklift Fuel • Construction HeatUnderground Tanks Our Specialty

Restaurant Gas Appliance Sales & RepairCALL FOR FREE ESTIMATES

24 HOUR EMERGENCY SERVICE

399.3620

PROPANE

PEST CONTROL

Tick Trauma!Ant Anxiety!

Mosquito

Mania!Relax...

NARDYPEST CONTROL

Is your SolutionBotanical Products Available

50 Years of Honest, Reliable Service

726-4777www.nardypest.comLIMOUSINE

www.indyeastend.comwww.indyeastend.comwww.indyeastend.comCall 324-2500

for more information

Advertise Hereand also have your ad appear on our

website

POOL SERVICES

ROOFING


PEST CONTROL

GeeseDestroyingYour PropertyCall

GOOSE BUSTERSSAFE • EFFECTIVE • GUARANTEED

631-495-6826

Advertise Here!in The Independent

& on our Websitewww.indyeastend.com

324-2500

THE INDEPENDENTEast Hampton • Southampton • Riverhead • Southold • Shelter Island


IRRIGATION

631-723-1318 •Sales•Service•Installation•Opening•Closing

L.D.G.IRRIGATION

Luis D. GonzalezOwner

POST OFFICE BOX 792EAST QUOGUE, NY 11942

LANDSCAPING

East End

DECKS


Licensed & Insuredwww.eastenddeck.net


Licensed Insured

Roofing & Siding SpecialistMaster Copper Work • Slate

5% DISCOUNTFor All New Customers

Free Estimates

631-259-2229631-885-1998 CELL OR TEXT

www.fasthomeimprovement.com

&


&

VACUUMS

When you’re this powerful,you can afford to whisper...

the all new S2 by Miele.

Don’t be fooled by its ultra-quiet operation.The high-performance, Miele-made VortexMotor SystemTM tackles dust, dirt and allergens with absolute ease. Explore thislightweight yet powerful vacuum further at:

East Hampton Vacuum476 Pantigo Rd.

East Hampton, NY 11937�631.324.8900

BARTLETTTREE EXPERTS

Caring for America’sTrees Since 1907

Certified Arborists

Southampton (631) 283-0028

TREE SERVICES

Joe Hren IIILandscape & Maintenance

516.315.7762

All Phases of Landscape Construction.NEW Wholesale Tree Farm in Bridgehampton

Leyland Cypress for Sale

Starting at$150

Picture Your AD Here!To Advertise in

The Independent call us at

631.324.2500or visit our website

w w w. i n d y e a s t e n d . c o m

Traveler Watchman

ORECK XLRECKXLSALE

East Hampton Vacuums Etc.476 Montauk Hwy East Hampton, NY

(631) 324-8900

FactoryAuthorized

Sales &Service

FACTORY SHOWROOM

Free Oreck Iron withany purchase of an

Oreck Upright**XL3700 or above


WINDOW WASHING

B M WBILL MARTIN WINDOWS

WINDOW CLEANINGCOMMERCIAL • RESIDENTIAL

INSUREDServing the East End

for 25 YearsFor Estimates 631-287-3249

631-287-631-287-631-287-631-287-631-287-TOTSTOTSTOTSTOTSTOTS

FAA FenceCONTINUED fROM PAGE 8.

night added, “The East Hampton Aviation Association hailed the Court’s decision as confirmation that the town had lawfully rendered its decision on the issue of the deer fencing and the policy of using FAA funds at the East Hampton Town Airport.”

“The judge did not at all decide that the Town has acted lawfully. The decision was purely procedural. There has been no ruling yet of any kind on the merits of the action. That will come,” Gruber countered last Thursday morning.

He continued, “It is rare in the extreme to be granted a TRO, an in-terim emergency measure, against a municipality. We had to move to preserve our claims. Our motion for a preliminary injunction will be heard in January. I am confident

that the FAA will not enter into a grant agreement with the town before that motion is decided.”

[email protected]

Just the FactsCONTINUED fROM PAGE 8.

town is a federally obligated airport. I don’t think that ends in 2014. The airport is open 24-hours a day, you can’t restrict planes from landing.

Independent: Airport opponents say New York City was able to limit traffic and reduce noise at the 34th Street heliport.

JB: We’re in exactly the same position New York City was in. They set a percentage of noise reduction and closed it down on weekends. There is no difference in the situ-ation.

PK: New York City has never

taken FAA money. Permanent assur-ances were never applicable. We’re left to speculate –I’m not willing to go out on a limb.

National Helicopter vs. NVC case: “We agree with the district court that the weekday and weekend cur-fews imposed should be upheld. The protection of the local residential community from undesirable heli-port noise during sleeping hours is primarily a matter of local concern.”

Independent: One side calls East Hampton Airport “A major metropolitan transportation hub.” The other says we are “declaring war on the U.S.” if we don’t take grant money. Aren’t both guilty of hyperbole?

PK: Will they get in a war if the town ignores grant assurances? Ab-solutely. Will they if we don’t take FAA money? No.

JB: The aviation association has

obscured the true facts: we do have the power to regulate noise.

Peters: East Hampton is a gen-eral aviation facility. Kennedy is a hub. LaGuardia is a hub. East Hampton is an airport on the East End of Long Island that experiences a surge during the warmer months.

Independent: Is it true if we raised fees enough we could make up the money the FAA gives us?

PK: There is a range. A lot of small airports have no landing fees. If you raise the fees too high people won’t fly as much so the revenue will level off.

JB: The aircraft based here don’t pay anything except a small local tax on airplane fuel.

Peters: There are no restrictions on what an airport can charge.

Independent: The CTSAE went to court last Wednesday to get an injunction to stop the town from taking FAA money for deer fencing. How did that turn out?

EHAA: The court refused to en-join the town from entering into a grant agreement with the FAA or accepting grant funding from the FAA. The town may proceed with its grant application to the FAA for the deer fencing repair.

CTSAE: The judge did not at all decide that the town has acted lawfully. The decision was purely procedural. There has been no rul-ing yet of any kind on the merits of the action. That will come.

Independent: The FAA has been painted in some quarters as a litigious-loving Big Brother lurking over the airport, looking to increase traffic.

Peters: Our interest is that the airport is safe for planes to take off and land. The airport oper-ates under a state Department of Transportation license, but we can conduct safety audits whenever we want to make sure the infrastruc-ture needed is sound. That’s why they apply for grants.


INDEPENDENT SPORTS

Your locally owned communitypharmacy for over 65 years

Bob Grisnik-Pharmacist/Owner283-1506

Jagger Lane • Southampton

W W W . C O M F O R T K E E P E R S . C O M

Ph. 123-456-7890

W E A R E C O M F O R T K E E P E R S ™

Comfort Keepers® provides non-medical in-home care – such aslight housekeeping, meal preparationand companionship – to help peoplemaintain quality, independent lives in the comfort of their own homes.Call for more details.

Over 470 independently owned and operated offices nationwide.

®

16861-CK News Ad #6 9/15/05 4:58 PM Page 1

631-369-6080

Independent / Peggy Stankevich

A frozen housecan cause tensof thousands ofdollars in damageand repairs.

Don’t let thishappen to you.

Save yourselfthe headacheand call SchenckSentry Servicesto protect yourhome.

Call Schenck Sentry Services today toprotect your greatest investment:YOUR HOME.

62 Newtown Lane, East Hampton, NY 11937

631-324-0142

In winteran unattended house can freeze in 8 hours or less.

Custom tailored plans starting under $75 a week.

We use state of the art electronicmonitors, coupled with personal visits to theproperty to ensure its continued well being

and security.

Last weekend The Ross School Tennis Academy held a level 1B Juniors USTA Tournament.


HANDY HANDS, INC. ��

LICENSED ELECTRICAL CONTRACTORComplete Electrical service • Residential - Commercial • New Construction • Additions & Repairs

Professional & PromptINSURED - EAST HAMPTON

Free Estimates

631-329-1187

MEDICARE ELIGIBLE?

THEWASHWICK

AGENCY

860 E. Main Street • Riverhead, NY 11901

Whatdoes it cover?

Whatsupplements

are available?Finding it

confusing?

The Washwick Agency can help! Call 631 369-0888

Karl Washwick

By Vincent PicaChief of Staff, First District Southern Region, USCG Aux, US Coast Guard Licensed Master

Coast Guard Auxiliary News

Look for The Coast Guard Auxiliary News on our website!

www.indyeastend.com

FANTASY SP RTSFANTASY SP RTSBy Skippy Brown

One of the amazing things about playing fantasy sports is that the surprises never cease. Here we are, a week or so from the end of the season (depending on your league’s format) and an ace running back falls into our laps – those of us who planned for that kind of scenario, that is.

When the Cowboys’ Demarco Murray went down Sunday night that left Dallas with exactly one healthy running back – Felix Jones. The ‘Boys have preferred the run-ning back by committee approach in the past decade, but there is no time to groom another back now – Jones is the man.

He is also available in most leagues, right out there on the waiver wire. If you rank number one on your league’s waiver wire order, he’s yours.

It’s not luck. Every time a team picks up a player off waivers the team moves to the bottom of the list. A lot of guys purposely eschew the wire until they get the number

from Heaven To Your Teamone slot, hoping to hit gold just when you need it most – the play-offs. It may not be sound strategy, though.

Here are a few rules to live by:1. If your team is facing elimina-

tion and there are players on the waiver wire, grab them. There is tomorrow.

2. Generally speaking, use re-straint early in the season. However, if a star player goes down and his back-up is a stud, grab him: think Ben Tate.

3. Try not to waste picks on play-ers from bad teams: a wide receiver can’t help you much if his quarter-back can’t throw the ball.

4. Avoid unpredictable players. Players who get you 10 points one week and two the next always seem to disappear during big games. You probably have a guy on your roster that is better.

5. If you have a comfortable lead in the playoff race, avoid using your waiver moves and try and move up the list.

Here’s a list of players who may be available this week who might make a difference.

1. Jones: How the gods are kind. Not only is he available, but Dallas plays Tampa Bay and Jones figures to run wild.

2. Nate Washington and Damien Williams. Both Tennessee running backs were available in a lot of leagues last week, and the Titans are surging. More important, they play the Colts this week, and pass defense is atrocious.

3. Jabar Gaffney. Washington figures to get hammered playing the Giants next week, and that means a lot of passing. If you haven’t no-ticed, the Giants aren’t very good pass defenders.

4. Donald Driver and James Jones.

If Greg Jennings is out Green Bay will need someone to fill the void. Enter the ageless Driver, who has been coming on of late. Jones will also get more looks.

Here are a few more tips if you’re going for the gold: stick with what brung ya here. Don’t worry about match-ups of your star players. Play the best players. If you have a few weak links, look to improve. If you’re not sure who to pick up, do some research: Fantasy Guru ranks players at every fantasy position. ESPN2, Channel 35 locally, does the same every Sunday at noon and unlike the Fantasy Guru you don’t have to pay to see the lists. Don’t put much heed in Yahoo or CBS Sportsline projections – they aren’t very accurate.

felix Jones


Independent

MindedSportsBy Pete Mundo

What a difference nine months makes. It was back in early March that St. John’s basketball coach, Steve Lavin was wrapping up an impressive 20-win season. He led the Red Storm to the NCAA Tourna-ment for the first time since 2002, and the Johnnies finished with a final rank of 18 in the AP Poll.

Despite their first round loss to Gonzaga and returning only one player from 2010, there was plenty of excitement in Jamaica leading into this season. Lavin was bring-ing in a recruiting class that was ranked third in the country and included six players in the top 100.

Then, as the calendar turned to April, the tide quickly turned against the Red Storm. First, Lavin announced he had a low-grade form of prostate cancer and would begin treatments immediately. By the time September rolled around, three of the Johnnies star recruits, forwards, Amir Garrett and JaKarr Simpson, and center, Norvelle Pelle were ruled academically ineligible. The NCAA disallowed three classes that each took this past summer at Northeast Preparatory School in Philadelphia.

Since play started, things have not been much better. St. John’s sits with a 4-5 record and has lost three in a row, most recently 69-63 to the Detroit Titans (who?).

Lavin has been away for much of the past two months recuperating from cancer surgery. He missed the season opener, and then returned to coach the next four games. Since then, Lavin has been on an indefi-nite leave of absence, saying he had come back prematurely and needed to build up more physical stamina before returning full-time.

To make matters worse, junior college transfer Nurideen Lindsey announced last week he is trans-ferring from St. John’s after this semester. Lindsey is currently third on the team in scoring (11.8) and rebounds (4.9) per game, and is shooting 46 percent from the field.

While the Red Storm are off to a slow start, it’s early and the team can certainly improve over the next few months. Going forward, however, the strength of the St. John’s recruiting effort will defi-nitely be affected by the confusion and uncertainty facing the future of the Big East Conference as a basketball powerhouse. With the league in transition, it remains to

Change Of Tide Inside Red Storm

Steve Lavin

be seen whether top ranked recruits will continue to view schools like St. John’s as a potential gateway to the NBA.

But even if the Big East maintains its basketball dominance, the John-nies have problems luring talent that may other basketball power-houses don’t have.

As a commuter school, St. John’s provides less opportunity for star athletes to soak up the benefits of celebrity. And let’s face it, Jamaica isn’t Manhattan. As a matter of

fact, for a college athlete, it isn’t even Manhattan, KS (home of the Kansas St. Wildcats). Being a college athlete in the Big Apple may have its benefits, but the competition for attention is fierce, as the city is stocked with all sorts of celebrities from all walks of life.

The biggest pull for some recruits may be that St. John’s plays a hand-ful of its home games at Madison Square Garden. Unfortunately, anyone who’s been to a St. John’s game at the Garden in recent years knows it features plenty of empty seats and limited energy.

Lastly, the Garden may not hold the same fascination for today’s re-cruit, who was five years old the last time the Knicks really made magic in the World’s Most Famous Arena. Bernard King is a relative of the St. Bernard dog, right?

While it’s certainly not out of the

question for St. John’s to return to national prominence, what seemed like the next step for Coach Lavin and the Johnnies is becoming more difficult than imagined. Let’s hope Lavin can improve his health first, and then his program.

pete is a lifelong montauk resident and former sports talk host at 88.7Fm WeeR. he can be reached via email at [email protected].

A North Fork Tradition Since 1958 Famous for Our Marinated Steaks andAward Winning Clam Chowder

YOUR BROKEN WINDSHIELD

We’ll Sell You A New Windshield And Throw In

FREE DINNER FOR 2At Cliff’s Elbow Room

With Every Windshield Installed ByAction Auto Glass

A CTIONUTO GLASS

WE ARE AUTHORIZED

FOR DIRECT BILLING

TO ALL INSURANCE CO’S

No out of pocket

expenses to you

Where Quality Counts

(631) 7-ACTIONServing all of the East End(631) 722-8466

*(This offer applies to all insurance or cash work.)At Auto Glass we have over 20 years of professional experience.We can completely replace front, rear and side windows of any truck or car. In addition, we’re authorized by all insurance com-

panies and accept all major credit cards. Call with this ad and receive dinner for two on us at Cliff’s Elbow Room, Main Road, Jamesport with any windshield replacement.

expires 12/22/11

WECOMETOYOU Action’s vans can do the workat your home or office

Cliff’s Elbow RoomMain Road,Jamesport

Cliff’s Elbow Too1085 Franklinville Road,

Laurel


You Won’t Feel The Burn In Your Wallet!

Ends December 31, 2011

$99 FOR1YEAR!

*Home club only. Participating locations only. Must be at least 18 years old, or 13 with parent/guardian. Planet Fitness facilities are independently owned and operated. ©Planet Fitness

www.planetfitness.com

Gift CertificatesAvailable

Bring this ad

Commercial & Residential24 Hour Emergency Service

• Pumping• Locating• Extentions• Cesspool Certifications Licensed & Insured

631-907-4426

LocallyOwned & Operated

Camera Inspections

• Line Cleaning• Aeration• Chemicals• Quality Service

We Specialize In Hard To Find CesspoolsQC

Commercial & ResidentialCommercial & Residential

LocallyLocallyOwned & Owned & OperatedOperated

We Specialize In Hard We Specialize In Hard To Find CesspoolsTo Find CesspoolsQQQCQQCQ

Quackenbush Cesspools Inc.

Charlie is a staff favorite. She has somespunk to her so when shes done beingpet and needs some alone time shewill let you know. She loves attention

and is good with other cats.

THIS IS JUST ONE OF OVER50 CATS AND KITTENS HERE

PLEASE FEEL FREETO CALL THE SHELTER TO INQUIRE.

www.nfawl.org

SOUTHOLD ANIMAL SHELTER

ADOPT US

CALL 765-1811email: [email protected]

Friday’s session. Assistant Town Plan-ning and Development Administrator Freda Eisenberg said the plan is to have a meeting again with the town board in January.

“The issue is that County Road 39 is an established road,” she said. “One goal is to maintain highway businesses.”

Eisenberg recommended establish-ing further zoning restrictions on expansions if land uses continue to be grandfathered in. “If that continues, then you’re not going to be getting the change you want,” she said.

Supervisor Anna Throne-Holst agreed, noting that changes need to

be made quickly.“I’m starting to feel that time is

ticking on this,” she said.delaysCONTINUED fROM PAGE 20.

Bags Ban Soon?Southampton Town is moving

closer to a complete ban of plastic checkout bags for retailers, much to the chagrin of Tom Cullen, vice president of government, industry and public relations for King Kullen Grocery Company.

After months of consideration, town board was expected to vote to have a public hearing on the proposed ban yesterday.

If approved, the town will be the third East End municipality to ban plastic checkout bags, joining East Hampton and Southampton villages.

According to Cullen, the grocery giant’s economic responsibilities would increase due to the cost of paper bags exceeding the cost of plastic ones.

Last Fr iday afternoon, Sustainability Committee Chair Tip Brolin outlined the environmental advantages in banning plastic for the Southampton Town Board. “We’re proposing to ban single use plastic checkout bags,” Brolin said. “We’re encouraging shoppers to bring reusable bags. There will be no ban on produce bags.”

A short film was shown at the board’s work session, explaining that one million bags are consumed per minute and about 100,000 marine animals are killed each year due to the consumption of discarded plastic bags.

If yesterday’s resolution is approved, the hearing will be scheduled for December 22.

E.T.


contractor who removed the trees to keep them. Misconduct charges include the alleged failure to comply with the terms of an aquatic habitat restoration grant, failure to follow through on the investigation of an enforcement proceeding and failure to supervise and monitor employees in his department.

Long time denizens of town hall would likely read the charges against Penny and think, “Yeah. So?” The so called acts of misconduct and insubordination allegedly per-petrated by the veteran department head have been a sort of standard operating procedure for the em-ployee, whose office was known to house dead birds and samples of vegetation in plastic bags for years.

Horn was reluctant to speak at length about the charges, lest he tip his defensive hand. He said simply, “Larry did nothing wrong, nothing that hasn’t always been part of his job.” He added, “The charges as they are, are practically and legally insufficient and vague.”

Horn did opine derisively regarding one of the charges – that Penny conducted the carcass collection without a town board resolution directing him to. Horn asked rhetorically “How does he [Supervisor Bill Wilkinson] know what Larry’s job is? Larry developed the job.”

The Wilkinson administration isn’t the first to target Penny for a pink slip. Then Supervisor Bill McGintee tried several years ago to excise Penny by eliminating his position and placing his department under the Planning Department. The move spurred a groundswell of dissent, and officials backed off.

McGintee didn’t back off when it came to plotting to get rid of Horn, who served as the town safety inspector during his reign. He eliminated Horn’s position, then eliminated positions Horn could, by union rules, “bump and retreat” to. Horn fought the move in court and won. After a two-year battle, he was restored to his former position by court order. He subsequently retired at a higher pension, thanks to the court decision.

[email protected]

pink SlipCONTINUED fROM PAGE 10.

commissionerCONTINUED fROM PAGE 7.

table organizations, however. “You’re talking about human beings,” he said. “We try to get them help.”

Speaking to another inaccurate image, Blass refuted the view of shel-ters as ugly barracks-type settings rife with drugs, crime and alcohol. “We have a Zero Tolerance policy,“ he said. Individuals who violate the rules

relating to drugs or alcohol are asked to leave. Politicians encourage the ugly armory image, even when “they know it’s untrue,” Blass said. Rooms that are used to house homeless in the shelters and hotels are inspected by housing division staff, cleaned, maintained and repaired before any new families arrive.

Taking aim at another stereotype, that the shelters crowd school districts with out-of-town kids, Blass reported that of the 12 children at the Hampton Bays shelter last week, only two were enrolled in the local school district. The remainder were transported to their districts of origin,

As he described his department and its mission, Blass returned repeat-edly to the role of politicians in Suf-folk County’s state mandated effort to house homeless . . . or lack thereof. Elected officials, he said, “Luxuriate in their exemption from the responsibility

of housing the homeless.” His depart-ment, which is a quasi state/county agency, has the true state mandate.

Elected officials remain “resound-ingly silent” when it comes to dispel-ling inaccurate images of the county’s shelter program, because homeless are, “without a constituency, helpless and don’t vote. They are an inconvenience to most elected officials,” Blass said.

And not only do officials turn away from helping the homeless, they often use them for political advantage. Tak-ing aim at a statement recently made by Southampton Town Councilman Chris Nuzzi, who complained that Southampton was shouldering an un-fair burden Blass exclaimed “give me a break . . . It’s about getting political momentum. Stand at the gates, block the hordes and you are a hero, but at whose expense? These are people with shattered lives.” The commissioner believes the public service mindset on

21 Race Lane · East Hampton · Near LIRR · Phone 324-4595 · Free Parking

324-4595

.Wishing you the happiest of holidays.

Of course, your holidays will be a whole lot happier ifyou take advantage of our holiday discounts: 10% off sixbottles of wine, 15% off 12 bottles of wine (case) and 20%off select cases of red, white and sparkling wines (in-stock items only)! But don’t wait, because when they’regone, they’re gone! We’ve got special holiday cheer as

well: all-natural cranberry wine, apple wine and eggnog.Plus a huge selection of grappas, dessert wines, cognacs,ports and single malt scotches perfect for a special holidaygift. Look for us on Race Lane, next to Claws on Wheels,across from the lirr where there’s plenty of free parking.And remember, we offer free delivery for large orders.

Open every day 10-7Sun 12-6

Closed Christmas Day

Holiday hours:

20% off selectcases of wine

&bottles of wine

10% off 6

15% off 12

bottles of wine

the elected level regarding homeless is “make them go away.”

And when not downright hostile, elected officials’ attempts to deal with the shelter issue often fail when it comes to practicality. A recent initiative calls for housing no more than 12 families at one site. Since the department deploys caseworkers to each shelter and motel site every day, the cost of visiting smaller, but more numerous shelters would be “astro-nomical,” Blass said. Plus, finding vi-able locations is no mean feat. “We’ve struggled for every single site we found . . . It is a major undertaking.”

The motel converted into a shelter in Hampton Bays is the only one on the South Fork. With the exception of East Hampton and Southold, whose locations are too remote, all other towns in Suffolk County host more than just one shelter.

[email protected]


Green Art *Kitchen *Bath *Home* Southampton

Visit our new Showroom for all your Kitchen & Bath needs. Our professional staff will help create your dream room.

www.GreenArtHome.com

65 So. Columbus AvenueFreeport

M-F 9-5, S 9-4, Sun 10-3516.442.3735

1576 County Road 39Southampton

Closed Sundays 631.488.4210

Indio™ Cast Iron SinkIndio cast iron sinks are easy to clean and guaranteed not to chip, crack or burn and come complete with a basin rack and

cutting board. Multiple color options present a wide variety of design choices–allowing for customization in any kitchen

space. Visit our showroom to experience � rsthand the exceptional quality of KOHLER® Cast Iron sinks.

the independent 12-14-11

Documents

arts entertainmentreal

years of renovation

rebatespecial price

open christmas eve

village officials

renovation process

thetraveler watchman

hampton bays