EDITORIALS
Breathtaking, Lifesaving
As you probably know by now, we are in awe of our volunteer ambulance crews. The tireless dedication of these unpaid, little-sung heroes who rise from warm beds when the pager starts to howl — from half-eaten birthday dinners, from quality time with baby or grandbaby — never stops amazing us. We’ve often talked about the special extenuating circumstances here on the South Fork that make this service all the more laudable. Not to be too soppy about it, it is frankly heartwarming that most of the ambulance volunteers are working men and women who toil long hours to make ends meet before going on duty for their ambulance shift, and that they are everyday heroes who don’t drive cars half as nice as those of most of the vacationers and summer folks they race to rescue.
Swimmers Beware
Almost a year after the Peconic Baykeeper irritated Sag Harbor officials by recommending that steps be taken to reduce stormwater runoff at the Havens Beach bathing area, county-mandated closures continue there. As of last week, the Suffolk Health Department had issued four advisories this summer after heavy rains about the potential for unsafe conditions. These come after the department had ordered the beach off-limits to swimming seven times during 2006 and 2007. It was the only beach on the South Fork to have even a single shutdown order.
Sharing the Wealth
Riverhead Supervisor Phil Cardinale, facing a sharp drop in his town’s community preservation fund, has been among several leaders who would like to see some of the tab for open space shared by the richer South Fork towns. It is a shocking idea at first blush. Since the program’s inception in 1999, Riverhead has accumulated just over $32 million, while East Hampton has netted about $146 million and Southampton $311 million. In all, the five East End towns have taken in more than half a billion dollars, with money from the fund being spent within the confines of each town.
COLUMNS
Connections | Helen S. Rattray
Computer Savvy? Not
My computer drives me crazy.
The Mast-Head | David E. Rattray
Gotta Like the Dogs
The roster of dogs at The Star has grown in recent months, it seems
Point of View | Jack Graves
A Whole New Game
My late stepfather used to call mixed doubles “mixed trouble,” and, of course, rarely played, preferring men’s doubles.
GUESTWORDS | By Chucky Bologna
Chances Are
I suppose it’s never too late to admit a first love.
Relay | Isabel Carmichael
Jumping Ship
He was early, arriving to fetch me and my daughter at 10:45 in the morning to take us to J.F.K. for a 5:35 flight.