Letters to the Editor: 12.31.15

Cooper, the Best Gift

Springs

December 27, 2015

Dear David,

This holiday season, let us all give thanks to the wonderful staff and volunteers at the Animal Rescue Fund. The work they do year round in finding loving and caring homes for rescued pets truly makes them one of the treasures of the East End.

After the loss this year of our beloved old cat, Panda, whom we had adopted from ARF in 2005, we waited several months before returning to ARF to meet a new cat. Finally, we went last week with open minds and hearts to see which cat might choose us. The adoption coordinator asked all the right questions and guided us to cats that would meet our profile. We were looking for “affectionate and outgoing, playful but not too feisty.” Bingo! In one of their spacious, solarium-like “catteries” we met Cooper, a 4-year-old who had been at ARF for a year, waiting for a new home. Or shall I say he was waiting for us?

Love at first sight, and Cooper has been the best gift anyone could wish for under the Christmas tree. He was the 1,329th pet that ARF placed in 2015 — an amazing number!

Do stop by ARF to see its cats and dogs of all sizes and colors. You too may find the perfect match.

KEVIN KELLOGG and STEWART PEARCE 

Dating 2016

Well hello, you brand spanking new year!

You’re fresh as the fallen snow, a newborn, fragrant as puppy breath or ginger or tea.

I see behind your smile a gaiety of senses, a joy of moments, a seduction of time.

Shall we dance?

 

Your friend left too soon. Will you stay longer, please.

Let’s journey together: A brook, the shore, glade, mountain and palisade;

Left Bank, West End, Tivoli, Chamonix, points east and east of that;

Dahl, Faulkner, Tan, Marquez, Springsteen, Sondheim, Simone, et al.

Oh, we have so very much to do!

 

You are perfect, unsullied, high spirited and beautiful.

You are the ingenue, coy with promise and surprise.

Oh! You gorgeous new year!

 

Shall we dance!? Can we sing and play?

You. You. You new, happy year!

Cheers!

BRUCE BLUEDORN

Put It Out There

Amagansett

December 28, 2015

Dear Mr. Rattray,

Seems all I was hearing for 35 days was “All I Want for Christmas Is You” by Mariah or “Wonderful Christmastime” by Paul. Then, suddenly, back to “Can’t Feel My Face” by the Weeknd and “Hello” by Adele. That holiday door shuts fast and hard, doesn’t it?

A couple weeks ago Mary and I bought a wreath near Bayberry Nursery in Amagansett, where the Kiwanis folks had set up their tree stand. And there we ran into the beautiful Joan Tulp, who expressed her happiness at being mentioned in my recent letter concerning the Historical Society’s holiday house tour (and unrelated matters, of course).

Joan said, “Lyle, women of a certain age become invisible in our society, so it was really nice of you to mention me.” (Words to that effect.) So let me say it again: Joan, you will never be invisible in our community — you are indelible in our minds and hearts. So shut up!

And, oh yes, I did fail to mention several people who made extremely important contributions to the renovation of our little house on Main Street.

Bob Scarpulla, a master craftsman who built cabinetry for us that appears to have been part of the house for over 100 years. You nailed it, Bob! And Carl Hamilton, who dismantled, lifted, and removed everything — from discarded windows and doors to concrete footings, with Herculean strength and wry humor — thank you, Carl!

As you know, Mr. Rattray, I was raised Catholic but haven’t been a practicing soul for decades. I will attend wedding and funeral Masses occasionally, and will even receive the Sacrament on such occasions, even though I am not in a state of grace. Hopefully this will not count heavily against me on the Big Ledger.

Earlier in this season we strolled by St. Peter the Apostle Church and saw the beautiful creche arranged on the front lawn, complete with statues of Mary, Joseph, wise men, sheep, and so forth. I said to Mary, “Somebody stole baby Jesus!” And she said, “Duh, He’s not born yet!” A special opportunity for me to feel stupid yet again. (Which I’m sure you enjoyed, sir.)

Then, on the day after Christmas, after all the celebrating, gift giving, paper crumpling, and eating were finished, we took another walk in the spring-like afternoon. Mary wanted to go into St. Peter’s to say a prayer, but the door was locked. (Good news, however: Baby Jesus was in his crib!)

So we walked to the Presbyterian Church at the corner of Meeting House Lane, a pinecone’s throw from our house. The door was open, and we stepped inside, taking a seat in one of the pews. I couldn’t believe the quiet and serenity of that old room. Something very calming permeated the stillness. I prayed a little while, for peace, for the health of my family and friends, and still my mind wandered to things like when the recycling center would be open again, what to do with a certain gift (I’ll report on that at a future, more appropriate time). Then we walked around the inside of the church, observing the stained-glass memorials to the early benefactor parishioners: names such as Edwards, Barnes, Hand, very touching.

And now, we enter the New Year, hopefully with a renewed sense of belief that it will be better than the one disappearing behind us. I myself am looking forward to electing our very first woman president of the United States! We shall see.

Resolutions? I try not to set myself up for certain disappointment. However, recognizing that our world has been thrown into frightening turmoil and tragedy in recent years, here on our own soil and in distant lands we know little of, I’ve decided to make a few resolutions for God, whose existence is acknowledged by a majority of Earth’s citizens (and on our own dollars and coins). Is it possible that the creator of all things has lost interest in our little planet? Is he or she distracted with creating other things elsewhere in a universe far far away? Hey, I don’t even know the hours of the recycling center, so don’t ask me.

But I figure it can’t hurt to put it out there — God would certainly be able to read The Star online, if not actually buy a copy at the I.G.A. So here we go:

Resolution Number One. God, in 2016 I urge you to resolve to temper the amount of religious fervor and fanaticism in the world. I know, counterintuitive, right? Still, we need less hating, killing, and destroying in Your name, whatever they are calling You, and more mercy, camaraderie, and human kindness. It’s a big ask, but give it a try. You can do it!

Resolution Number Two. God, You of all entities should be able to see that the most powerful among our species appear to be doing the least in the service of those who are weak and impoverished (with due respect to Bill Gates, Bono, etc. etc.). The Pope Francis tour was awesome, but here we are, pretty much where we started. In 2016 I urge you to resolve to work harder to inspire good will and generosity of spirit in those who rule the material world. True, no small task. You’ve heard the “freeloader” argument before, but don’t fall for that. As Michael Jackson so passionately sang, “Make that change”!

Resolution Number Three. God, you’re aware (I assume) that the Paris climate change agreement was recently signed by over 190 countries. That is great and thank you for any role you may have had in making that happen. But I would urge you in 2016 to resolve that all signatories and their respective political and corporate families comply post haste with the terms of the agreement for the benefit of our planet and the generations of living things who will continue to inhabit it. Absolutely, a tough one. But you can do it, God. Lean on us a little bit more in 2016. You’re welcome!

Happy New Year,

LYLE GREENFIELD

The Sun Doesn’t Rise

Springs

December 24, 2015

To the Editor,

Sitting on the sofa this Christmas Eve morn I am once again in wonder and awe of the state of our world. As I watch the news, it becomes painfully clear the conundrum into which we are drawn every day by the lies and untruths that permeate our consciousness.

I watch as computer graphics show Santa and his reindeer jetting through the sky, tracked by radar just like any real airplane, and then this fantasy is followed by the weatherman telling us what time the sun is going to go down later tonight, which is of course another fantasy. We all know the sun doesn’t rise or set, right? Or that Santa Claus isn’t real, right?

“What’s the harm,” I often hear others say, “if we say that the sun rises and sets every day?” The harm is that it’s a slippery slope that creates a gateway to greater lies and untruths that eventually lead to confusion and despair.

Children born into the world today have an increasingly hard time determining what is real and true. Beginning with the Industrial Revolution, our increasing separation from the natural world and the evolution of graphic images and modern information highways to distribute these images have made it increasingly difficult to discern real from fake. If anyone is looking for a reason for the current popularity of Donald Trump, I suggest you look no further than tomorrow’s rising sun for your answer. Buckminster Fuller suggested the words “sunsight” and “sunclipse” as replacements for the misleading “sunrise” and “sunset” currently in the lexicon.

“Sun goes down at 4:31.” I swear, as if to emphasize my point the weatherman just said that as I was paused at the end of that last sentence. It is 9:50 a.m., and I’m watching News 12.

So here’s the problem: An error oft repeated becomes the rule. If the world seems increasingly out of control to you it’s because of the proliferation of misinformation and resulting poor decisions. As they say in computerese, GIGO. Garbage In, Garbage Out. The more we expose children to non-truths like a rising and setting sun, or a man with a suit who delivers their wishes, the harder we make it for them to discern truth from fiction down the road, and we make them vulnerable to being mislead.

The other trouble is that we tell children not to lie, yet then lie to them on a regular basis, setting the stage for later mistrust and disillusionment. Much of the rebellion that parents experience from their growing children stems from these innocent lies that children perceive as confusing and hypocritical. When parents experience the feeling of communications breaking down with children, it is in many ways just a reflection of the fact that much of the communication had been bogus to begin with, and the kids are looking for some truth. It was different long ago, when truth was more plentiful in our daily world.

Our separation from nature has in many ways insulated us from the truths of its teaching, so there isn’t a rudder in most lives that aids in navigating life and its changing currents and conditions. It has made us more vulnerable to be taken in by things that make us feel good instead of choosing what is actually better for us long term. The bogus invasion of Iraq in pursuit of imaginary W.M.D.s would be a lesser probability in a more truthful world.

The solstice just passed, so now life is beginning again, unseen, in the Northern Hemisphere. Those who think the sun rises and sets may be waiting for the Easter Bunny to bring the flowers of spring, but those who can see beyond the surface know that life is growing under our feet all winter long.

A year is 584 million miles long. We travel 1.6 million miles every day. That works out to 18.5 miles each second, meaning that each second is 18.5 miles long. The choice we make from evolving possibilities in every second continually adds up to create the world around us. It’s simple and magical. What makes it hard is bad information, and bad information starts with a rising sun.

In my ebook “Where Time Comes From: A Handbook for Humans” by Michael Galileo, I explain the simple math formula by which everything in our universe is created, and endeavor to help others better understand the dynamic that drives our universe moment by moment, from what it is to what it becomes. Because it is only through a truer view of our world that we can correct the choices that have brought us to this point, and create the world of higher quality that exists if we can choose it to be.

Happy New Year. And remember: possibility + choice = reality, @18.5 miles per second. Just watch, you’ll see.

RICHARD M. KOSTURA

Shame on You!

East Hampton

December 28, 2015

Editor:

To the person or persons who removed the holiday decoration from the memorial tree near Main Beach: Shame on you!

This recently planted tree is in memory of our son, who passed away this summer after a courageous four-year battle with cancer. This, our first Christmas without him, we attached a holiday pine spray to the trunk of the tree. We walk to the beach daily. Passing by this site provides us with great comfort. Imagine our disappointment when we noticed the removal of this small but meaningful tribute.

KEITH and ELIZABETH McDONALD

Vegan Options

East Hampton

December 28, 2015

Dear Editor,

Once again, it’s time for New Year’s resolutions, particularly those to improve our diet and exercise routine.

Although gun violence and traffic accidents remain the leading causes of death among young people, the most dangerous weapon for the rest of us is still our fork. Well over a million of us are killed each year by high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease, stroke, cancer, and other chronic diseases linked to our meat-based diet.

But times are changing. According to Gallup, 22 percent of American consumers are avoiding meat and 12 percent are avoiding dairy products. Supermarket chains, along with Target and Walmart, offer a growing selection of delicious and healthy plant-based meats and dairy products. Animal meat consumption has dropped by 8 percent in the past decade.

Hundreds of school, college, hospital, and corporate cafeterias have embraced Meatless Monday and vegan meals. Fast-food chains like Chipotle, Panera, Subway, Taco Bell, and White Castle are rolling out vegan options.

Let’s make this New Year’s resolution about exploring the rich variety of plant-based entrees, lunch meats, cheeses, ice creams, and milks, as well as the more traditional green and yellow veggies. The Internet offers tons of recipes and transition tips.

ELIJAH HANNESBURG

A Planetary Trend

Springs

December 24, 2015

Dear David:

When the temperature is 61 degrees on Christmas Eve at 6:30 a.m. on Manor Lane, it is tempting to say climate change. But one event, whether hot or cold, does not prove a planetary trend. For that, one needs thousands of daily measurements all over the globe, and comparisons to the baseline of historical temperatures in the same locations. However, these studies are done and are available to anybody who cares to look. Here is one place on the web to look at them: robertscribbler.com/tag/july-of-2015-hottest-on-record/.

The world maps show red and blue areas, red being hotter than normal and blue being colder. The maps for many years now have been mostly red.

Deniers of climate change tried for several years to claim the upward trend had stopped, but over 40 scientific studies have refuted this claim. 2014 was indisputably the hottest year on record, and 2015 will drastically exceed 2014 to set a new record.

Our weather is just one of thousands of points incorporated into the global record. However, it is a reminder that if we want our federal government to embrace the truth on this issue, we have only one voice in Washington: Congressman Lee Zeldin. He will only represent our concern if we ask him to do so. He could co-sponsor the Republican Gibson resolution, and he could support the world’s commitments from the Paris Accord.

This web address takes you to his email: zeldin.house.gov/contact.

Be counted. And tell your children you are doing it for them.

DON MATHESON

Citizens Climate Lobby

Accessible Airport

East Hampton

December 28, 2015

To the Editor,

I am so grateful to live in a community that has an airport that is open and accessible to everyone. On Christmas Day I was able to enjoy the morning mountain of toys with my friend’s kids in East Hampton, have lunch with my brothers and sister and their families in Rhode Island, surf Point Judith, and be back home in time to have dinner with loved ones.

On Saturday good weather prevailed and I was able to make one of two EVAC flights in search of a dog that went missing Christmas Eve. The dog was returned home Saturday afternoon, hungry but unhurt.

We can see New England from our backyard and with a little smarts, imagination, and less money than a bus ticket to New York City it is easily accessible and more akin to the culture we know and love here on the East End.

MATT NORKLUN

Vehicular Pollution

Amagansett

December 21, 2015

To the Editor,

As residents of Amagansett for the past four years, we are horrified with Truck Beach. My wife and I purchased our house in the dunes section of Amagansett in April 2012 because of the natural beauty of the area. Only in July of our first summer there did we realize the existence of Truck Beach when we went for a walk onto what we thought was a pristine beach — only to discover that it had turned into a parking lot. We were dismayed by the scene and incredulous that the Town of East Hampton would allow this travesty.

We have difficulty wrapping our heads around the commitment of the town to the environment (e.g., protecting nesting birds and natural vegetation), while tolerating vehicular pollution of such a beautiful natural resource. It cannot be good for the beach environment to have hundreds of trucks travel over the dunes every weekend spewing fumes and litter along the way. We have also witnessed beer drinking, urinating in the dunes, and loud music playing on the part of those who drive onto the beach.

Also, this is an important safety issue. Having heavy vehicular traffic “share” the beach with local residents and their families cannot be viewed as sensible. Would the Town of East Hampton allow pedestrians, including children, to lie on a road shared by trucks without any traffic control? There have been reports from other areas in the country where vehicular traffic is permitted on beaches, of people being run over and children injured; note that small children are below the line of sight of large sport utility vehicles, which traverse the beach sometimes at inappropriate speeds.

For example, in 2010, a 2-year-old boy was hit by a van on the beach in Smyrna Beach, Fla. In 2006, a college student who was sunbathing on a beach in Georgia was run over by a beach patrol officer; in 2003, two sunbathers were run over in Miami Beach. These are just a few of the cases that clearly demonstrate the potential dangers of vehicular traffic on the beach.

As expectant grandparents, we would be very hesitant letting our future grandchild play on the beach with the voluminous truck traffic. We know of other homeowners in our area who will not use the beach when in “truck mode” for fear of injury. This is regrettable. What is especially frustrating is that a simple solution exists that we feel is being ignored by the town. There now is a truck entrance east of the populated Amagansett beaches in Napeague State Park, along with miles of uninhabited beach that could easily be used by local residents who wish to drive their vehicles onto the beach, thus eliminating the danger and negative effects of the vehicles on the Amagansett beaches. Instead, the Town of East Hampton has embarked on an expensive course of action by attempting to take by condemnation the Amagansett strip of beach, while the Napeague and South Flora beaches remain empty.

We are not in any way advocating privatizing the beaches. We are only concerned with the safety of our family and friends, and the preservation of the natural resources in the beach environment. It would certainly be tragic if it took a catastrophic event to wake the town to this danger.

WENDY and DAN MOSKOWITZ

Still Relevant?

Montauk

December 28, 2015

To the Editor,

Are the Constitution and Declaration still relevant? My question to Supervisor Larry Cantwell is this: Do you stand with the founding fathers or with the modern progressive movement?

VINCENT BIONDO

Springs School Parking

Springs

December 22, 2015

Dear David:

Re: School Street parking, pending public hearing on Jan. 7.

Parking has been ongoing for two years there since a former East Hampton Town official allowed it, without the proper resolutions or public input. Only after that did parking in front of Springs School become the thing. Lazy parents and teachers, blighting our historic district that never knew this problem in the 45 years I can remember as a former K through 8 student.

It will be temporary, they said. Well, on Sept. 20, the timed temporary parking ended and as per original intent reverted to no parking at any time.

Now, asking for enforcement of the no-parking rule to which it reverted, I am confronted with our Police Department’s lack of willingness to enforce the law. (Or is it a law?)

The reason? A supposed defect in tax map description. The powers that be seem to have personal, intimate knowledge of some codification defect and refuse to enforce the law as it states now, in a railroad agenda supposedly of police concern and input from Springs School officials.

Here’s the funny part. The school officials — Superintendent John Finello, Principal Eric Casale, and Elizabeth Mendelman, president of the school board, all have denied to me personally knowing of the resolution, announcing the need to continue parking in front of the school for “safety reasons,” etc.

Although the resolution states otherwise, the fix apparently is in once again.

Larry Cantwell is the mover of the resolution. Funny how that happened while I’m seeking enforcement of the original deal made. The allowed parking, given two years, finished as of Sept. 20, as clearly written in the town code, yet the insiders deny having to enforce it — again because of intimate details that apparently the law change never was filed correctly with the state. So the railroad express is alive and well.

Now they speak of grants for safe routes to school for kids on bicycles. So cars continuing to park in a shoulder area of safe routes for kids on bikes is of no concern for Cantwell and crew or the police? No concern for the chief of police, who also continues to support a questioned need for parking on the shoulder in lieu of the approximately 30 unused spots on campus in the rear of the school property and the continued abuse by parents also parking in the fire lane — where the fire marshals declared they had no authority to enforce unless school officials invite them on the property? WTF?

And now a school agenda to increase the size of the facility at more taxpayer expense, while failing to address increasing class sizes from 25 to 35 students per, as is allowed by state regulations, or looking to the space already inside existing buildings?

The board of Springs School (notice, no need to ram “the” into the description) needs to also address the following:

Why are parents with Illinois-plated vehicles, who live and reside in Illinois, apparently educating their kids here on our backs as taxpayers? Again no enforcement of New York State domicile laws?

Why are homes being continued as multifamily dwellings and not being taxed as such — or ended as such? Again, no enforcement! Everyone afraid of being labeled a racist?

Seventy percent of our taxes go to Springs School’s budget (again, no “the” required). New York State law has a domicile regulation. You live here? Change your residency. Get a New York license and New York plates. Declare New York as your residence.

Springs School officials preach having to follow laws only convenient to their agendas to get more kids enrolled. More kids equals more money. Last I heard, apparently Springs School has hoarded $3 million to $5 million in taxpayer money.

(Since the word on the street of our hamlet is “Springs,” you see that there is no “the” in my mention of the hamlet name again.)

No school expansion! We are not funding this fantasy. As a matter of fact, we want the $3 million to $5 million hoarded for this fantasy refunded to taxpayers!

Governor Cuomo will be notified of this collusion to break us in an agenda of continued diversity. We will no longer tolerate being the dumping ground for questionable residents and multifamily homes burdening our tax base and ruining our quality of life. We want a system like Tenafly, N.J., where all residents must prove multiple levels and proofs of residency. No matter your race, creed, or color, all must verify as residents. It is time the school district realizes this.

Get off our backs! Learn to do more with less! Increase class sizes, 25 to 35 as per regulations. Get your employees to park on site. Inform the parents the parking out front is over. Use the parking already paid for decades ago! Make your teachers and staff park in the rear, if indeed they have keys to the back entry. Leave the newly created parking up front for parents and guests only.

Management is the problem. Not lack of space, not lack of parking. Management. They can’t control simple parking now and want to sell us on expansions? Wake the hell up! We are busting at the seams! No way in hell will this fly with taxpayers.

Also, another note: It’s time second-home owners are allowed to vote in school elections. No matter where they vote in other parts of their political lives, this excluding homeowners who fund the tax base is taxation without representation.

And the voting needs to be at the firehouse. The agenda of the school on voting days is to host plays and events so parents are already on scene to vote, while others are discouraged from voting for the simple lack of parking to do so.

The agenda is now clear as a bell. The insiders know what they are doing. The railroad express — clear as a bell.

Make sure the concerned speak at the Jan. 7 public hearing Larry and crew want to ram down our throats — while their South Flora agenda denies parking, even though the taxpayers paid $9 million. For a site we can’t park at? When does the collusion end? When you stand up and shout enough!

Don’t even get me going on the rental registry. I’ll save that for another moment. Tell the town board and Springs School officials a sound no to the false flag resolution that is a personal agenda of Larry and his Police Department. We have had enough.

I remain,

MARTIN DREW

P.S. For all “the Springs” newbies, check our town seal and flag. “Springs” is where you now live. This matter was settled in 1648. That’s the facts, bubbies. Be well, Bonackers!

Speaking Against War

Sag Harbor

December 28, 2015

Dear David,

How often have we heard President Obama say that we are the only advanced nation in the world that has mass killings and no control over weapon sales? Notice he has not placed blame and seems to accept the reality. I give him credit for truth-telling.

There appears to be a conflict when Obama often uses America as a nation that possesses exceptionalism yet refuses to join the International Criminal Court, though invited many times. Is there a connection here? Also, one might ask how many members of Congress have accepted money from the N.R.A.

Coming to grips with the depth of our crisis is a daunting task, but it is also one that is full of promise, and the price to be paid for shrinking from it is too horrendous to seriously contemplate. All the above and what I’m about to write could lead to the crisis of the self and its relationship to the larger cultural crisis.

A new Congressional study has found the United States controls over half of the global arms trade. A caption in The New York Times (Dec. 28) reads: Arms Deals Ensure U.S. Is Top Seller. The world is armed to the teeth; the bottom line is money. How else can you explain our wars all over the world? Is this not exceptionalism?

Senator Bernie Sanders is the only presidential candidate who is speaking out against war — only as a last resort; no American troops on the ground. At least he is pointing us in a different direction. Better than self-destruction.

According to the debate, politicians appear to be more concerned with fear than a solution. Which leads me into a final quote: “At the root of all war is fear: not so much the fear men have of one another as the fear they have of everything. It is not merely that they do not trust one another, they do not even trust themselves. If they are not sure when someone else may turn around and kill them, they are still less sure when they may turn around and kill themselves. . . . They cannot trust anything, because they have ceased to believe in God.”

“It is not only our hatred of others that is dangerous but also and above all our hatred of ourselves, particularly that hatred of ourselves which is too deep and too powerful to be consciously faced. For it is this which makes us see our own evil in others and unable to see it in ourselves.” — Thomas Merton

LARRY DARCEY