The Independent 12-14-11

e resourc Your # 1 rything for eve g in the in happen ons this Hampt k! wee

VOL. 19 NO. 15

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

INDEPENDENT / JAMES J. MACKIN

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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.

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THE ITALIAN “FOOTBALL” WEDDING I attended a wonderful wedding last week near Sarasota, Florida. It was perfect. The bride and bridegroom were young and handsome and very much in love. The ceremony was beautiful; the speeches were short, tasteful and to the point.

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

When I was a young kid, the Italians in my old “Gravesend Avenue U” neighborhood were at the bottom 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

and, if the truth were known, Italians 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 inarticulate 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

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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 consideration (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 catering hall and as the guests started to jam the room, the sandwiches would be grabbed up with a vengeance.

If the catering hall employee manning one table saw his table was running 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” wedding. 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” problem. 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

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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 managed 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 jerry@ dfjp.com or visit indyeastend.com and scroll to the bottom of the column.

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Whooping Cough Case Reported In Southampton

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

district 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.

Independent / Jessica Mackin

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.

Commissioner Blas(s)ts Silent Politicians

James J. Mackin

Suffolk County Commissioner of Social Services Greg Blass.

By Kitty Merrill

He’s doing God’s work. Greg Blass, the Suffolk County Commissioner of Social Services, believes his job advocating for the homeless is “public service in its purest form.” He and a staff he describes as “professional, dedicated, compassionate and committed 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 department’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 shelters “Not In My Back Yard.”

“I, and everyone in the department 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 Suffolk is establishing in Hampton Bays

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 towards 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 seeking 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 undergo 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 process. 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

would leave and never return.

It’s widely believed social programs are exploited by undocumented immigrants looking to their new worse.” With the economic downturn, country for a free ride. There is “not demand for services is much higher one” undocumented immigrant in than it’s ever been before. the county’s homeless shelter system, Blass saw people from every conBlass made clear. “An undocumented ceivable family, education and emindividual is ineligible for any kind ployment background with nowhere of program or service,” the commiselse to turn. Sitting in those lobbies, sioner said. County employees will he worried that some people, faced refer them to other non-profit chariwith need to provide the extensive Awaythe for the Winter-INDY_Quogue Sinclair 10/19/11 1:28 PM Page 1 CONTINUED ON PAGE 31. documentation the state requires,

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THE INDEPENDENT Q Traveler Watchman

Airport Controversy

Just The Facts, Ma’am

By Rick Murphy

The Town of East Hampton and the East Hampton Aviation Association are pitted against the Quiet Skies Coalition and the Committee To Stop Airport Expansion in an escalating battle that has now

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-

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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 weaning ourselves from FAA now. The town and airport supporters maintain 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-

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ances expire.

Peter Kirsch, an aviation attorney 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.

FAA Fence Funding: Opponents Say Not Yet

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 December 6, just five days after a wellattended hearing on the concept.

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

Attorneys for the town, working with legal reps from the group “Save The Airport,” argued the petitioners failed to meet the standard for a TRO. The application for an FAA grant had already been submitted 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 “irreparable injury” if a TRO were not in place.

In a release lauding the judge’s decision to reject the request, airport 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 controversy 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 prospects for comprehensive management strategies that place a highvalue 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 CONTINUED ON PAGE 26.

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Pink Slip For Penny?

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

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.

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A slew of charges of insubordination, 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 “environmental 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-

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Independent / Kitty Merrill

Larry Penny, East Hampton Town Director of Natural Resources.

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

He was immediately directed to get rid of the unauthorized carcasses, 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 improper storage in chemicals, and failure to obtain and keep current proper permits and maintain proper 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,IndependentNovNORTHAd_18.pdf plus allowing the private 1 12/5/1 CONTINUED ON PAGE 31.

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THE INDEPENDENT Q Traveler Watchman

By Rick Murphy

RICK’S SPACE Filet Fish And Other Urban Myths There is a reason why I hate to go to restaurants – it’s because it is becoming increasingly more difficult to communicate 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 Riverhead. 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

back?” I’m glad you asked.

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

I’ve tried going inside and watching 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 container. I don’t want it on the mashed potatoes.”

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

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I looked at her, flabbergasted.

“Against the law?”

“That’s right sir, government regulations.”

How do you reply to that?

I went back for another try last Saturday, 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 confidently, ”One order mashed potatoes!”

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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 tremendous 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.”

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REAL ESTATE

The Matter Of The Airport There 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-ofthe-art municipal schoolyard. We are a small, resort town,

Independent VOICES

Held Accountable

Dear 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

THE INDEPENDENT Q Traveler Watchman

EDITORIAL

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 mindboggling 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

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

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December 14, 2011

13

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 everincreasing numbers of aircraft.

Inalienable Right Dear 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 Continued on page 14.

14

December 14, 2011

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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 Lined Dear 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

REAL ESTATE

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

JUST ASKING

IN THE NEWS

By Karen Fredericks

What are you most looking forward to this holiday season?

Beth Marte Spending the holiday with my family. That’s what I look forward more than anything else.

My brother. My nieces and nephews. My great nieces and great nephews. And my dad who is 92. Everyone shares the cooking. We all bring something. I love the holidays.

Kevin Noonan I remember being a child during the holidays and I remember how much I wanted the things I hoped for, or asked for at Christmas. So I hope all the children get what they ask for. I guess that’s what I’ll be looking forward to, or what I’ll be wishing for.

Abby Ruiz Getting to be with my family. We don’t all live in one place so on the holidays everyone is together. A lot of my cousins are really young and then there are my brother and sister. And they’re older and off on their own so I really like spending time with them.

Julie Sigler-Baum Being with friends and family. We all get together and the ages go from six to 76. For us, the holidays aren’t about gifts and material things. We want to do things to benefit the earth. They say we only have five years before the damage we’ve done is irreparable.

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 Confusing Dear 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 Jobs Dear 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 Continued on page 15.

IN THE NEWS

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Beach Driving Lawsuit

Town, Trustees Win Another Round

By Rick Murphy

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

Independent VOICES

Continued from page 14.

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

over the issue of unfettered beach access on a stretch of Amagansett’s oceanfront.

Last Wednesday Justice Melvyn

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

Burial Grounds Move Toward Protection “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 ThroneHolst, 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.

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

December 14, 2011

15

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

A group of beach-driving 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

“You can’t exclude the public. The people have the right.” - Anthony Tohill 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.

16

December 14, 2011

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REAL ESTATE

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

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THE INDEPENDENT

Real Estate

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

Source: Suffolk Research Service, Inc., Hampton Bays, NY 11946

East Hampton Town ZIPCODE 11930 - AMAGANSETT

ZIPCODE 11937 - EAST HAMPTON

ZIPCODE 11954 - MONTAUK

ZIPCODE 11963 - SAG HARBOR

Riverhead Town ZIPCODE 11792 - WADING RIVER

ZIPCODE 11901 - RIVERHEAD

ZIPCODE 11933 - CALVERTON

Shelter Island Town ZIPCODE 11964 - SHELTER ISLAND

Southampton Town ZIPCODE 11932 - BRIDGEHAMPTON

ZIPCODE 11942 - EAST QUOGUE

ZIPCODE 11946 - HAMPTON BAYS

ZIPCODE 11959 - QUOGUE

ZIPCODE 11962 - SAGAPONACK

ZIPCODE 11963 - SAG HARBOR

ZIPCODE 11968 - SOUTHAMPTON

ZIPCODE 11976 - WATER MILL

Southold Town ZIPCODE 11944 - GREENPORT

ZIPCODE 11952 - MATTITUCK

ZIPCODE 11971 - SOUTHOLD

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* -- Vacant Land

December 14, 2011

17

DEEDS

BUY

SELL

PRICE

LOCATION

Biase, N & L

Adler, F & Tenny, P

1,400,000

81 Hampton Lane

Moreno, J & M 32 OHL, LLC

Shuman, L Zimmerman,J&S Trusts

465,000 1,300,000

44 Harbor View Dr 32 Oak Hill Lane

Loeb, J & K Weil, L

O’Connor, D Choron, D

475,000 1,782,500

100 Deforest Rd 355 Old Montauk Hwy

Bethel, N

GravesRodriguez&Grav

420,000

33 Light House Lane

Lilimpakis, E Santoliquido, R

Rourke, D Birchwood at WR LLC

255,000 334,600

178 Cliff Rd W 178 Calverton Ct

Griffiths,R&G &RJr&C Yilmaz, J & M Carr, R & M Nelson, R & M

Surf & Turf Equities Buhler, C Bizzoco, B County of Suffolk

250,010* 168,000 50,000 50,000

44 Louise Ct 1075 Northville Tpke 741 East Ave Ext 314 East Ave

Sexton,J & Yardley,A

Haizlip,G &Theisen,L

205,500

199 Edwards Ave

Kamen, S

Lenox Jr, S by Exr

1,225,000

17D South Cartwright Rd

McCrum,M & Harden,C Cole, N & E Sag Harbor StorageCo

Hedges, M Brown, M & J BridgehamptonIndPark

650,000 8,035,000 1,622,984

7 Halsey St 29 West Pond Dr Tradesmans Path

Valinoti, R & C 19 Post Crossing LLC

Nolan, J & V Wetterau, D

300,000 305,000

12 Seashore Ave 19 Post Crossing

Robert,V Revoc Trust Korte, J & L Pad Construction LLC Pad Construction LLC Pad Construction LLC Swenson, C Vanbramer,G&Yoshwein

LaPenna, J Eberle, L Relyea French LC Relyea French LC Relyea French LC Chichester Realty Garson, A & Geiss, V

290,000* 320,000 107,000* 107,000* 106,000* 325,000 500,000

1 Channing Cross 5 Canal St 5 B Fanning Ave 7 Fanning Ave 9 Fanning Ave 9 N Westbury Rd 10 Glenmore Dr

91 Dune Road LLC 93 Dune Road LLC

Isaac, W & C Isaac, W

3,881,714 2,911,286

91 Dune Rd 93 Dune Rd

Saunders, A & C 320 Parsonage Lane

Johnides 1, LLC Wexler, P & C

1,000,000* 13,000,000

125 Greenleaf Ln 320 Parsonage Ln

Bernstein, J 17MadisonRestoration Johnson, H & B

Rizzi, J Krug,J &Knight Trust Bernstein, M

550,000 1,570,000 1,500,000

2390 Noyack Rd 17 Madison St 12 Latham St

Samelson, J & T BK At North Sea, LLC Norasteh, S 110 Post Lane LLC

Helbing, R & T MiddleLinePrps byRef Wachtel,R &DiFiore,T Gulija,G&M&Trimmer

650,000 638,145* 670,000* 2,300,000

17 Fern Rd 6,15&16 SouthamptonHills 135 Middle Pond Rd 110 Post Ln

Lusko&LuskoGunderman Forcina, V Panariello, R

Vulliez, C & A Pflaum, J & J Najjar, M & M

1,875,000 1,100,000 2,125,000

108 Middle Line Hwy 421 Edge Of Woods Rd 10 Wood Edge Ct

MapleStreetGreenport

Wells, JE

190,000

220 Maple St

Mello, C

Scheer, L

145,000

2490 Pike St

Searl, S & Casey, E Wolfgang, D & K Mazza, J & L

Salvatore, K Stanton, P & J Keitt Jr, J & P

295,000 934,500 2,557,500

670 Youngs Ave 302 Town Creek Ln 280 Basin Rd

Source: Suffolk Research Service, Inc., Hampton Bays, NY 11946

•

* -- Vacant Land

18

December 14, 2011

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THE INDEPENDENT Q Traveler Watchman

REAL ESTATE

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

IN THE NEWS

Push Ups For Pennies

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.

Read The Independent

Onlin

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On 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.

For more information or to donate visit www. hamptonskarate. com, call 631-7255425, or stop by Epics Martial ArtsEast located at 75 Main Street in Sag Harbor.

E.T.

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Whooping Cough CONTINUED FROM PAGE 7.

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

REAL ESTATE

THE INDEPENDENT Q Traveler Watchman

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

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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.

December 14, 2011

19

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. kmerrill@indyeastend.com

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December 14, 2011

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Delays On The Horizon For CR39

Independent / Emily Toy

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

By Emily Toy

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

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

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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 discussed 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.”

IN THE NEWS

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 Labor 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 Planning 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 CONTINUED ON PAGE 30.

IN THE NEWS

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

REAL ESTATE

THE INDEPENDENT Q Traveler Watchman

Eye On Education

By Dr. Dominic Annacone

Lowering College Tuition Costs 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 working 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 typical 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 teaching 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 teaching 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 activities such as doing research, filing grant papers, or personal enhancement 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?

One state’s answer was found in a report in Texas that said the following: “Preliminary data strongly suggests that the state of Texas could move towards making college more affordable by moderately increasing faculty emphasis on teaching.

Looking only at the UT Austin campus, 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-

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cated to tuition reduction, tuition could be cut more than half . . .“ Some universities and colleges brag about attracting high profile 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 attracting 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

December 14, 2011

21

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 become 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 escalating tuition costs.

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T PE of the Week

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 631833-0970 or visit www.rsvpinc.org and ask how you can help.

Parties Party for The Pantry Members 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.

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FAA Fence

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CONTINUED 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 interim 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

THE INDEPENDENT Q Traveler Watchman

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

Just The Facts CONTINUED 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 situation.

PK: New York City has never

REAL ESTATE

taken FAA money. Permanent assurances 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 curfews imposed should be upheld. The protection of the local residential community from undesirable heliport 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? Absolutely. Will they if we don’t take FAA money? No. JB: The aviation association has

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

Peters: East Hampton is a general 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 enjoin 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 ruling 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 operates under a state Department of Transportation license, but we can conduct safety audits whenever we want to make sure the infrastructure needed is sound. That’s why they apply for grants.

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FANTASY SP

By Skippy Brown

THE INDEPENDENT Q Traveler Watchman

REAL ESTATE

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

IN THE NEWS

RTS

From Heaven To Your Team 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 running 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

one slot, hoping to hit gold just when you need it most – the playoffs. It may not be sound strategy, though.

Here are a few rules to live by: 1. If your team is facing elimination and there are players on the waiver wire, grab them. There is tomorrow.

2. Generally speaking, use restraint 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 players from bad teams: a wide receiver can’t help you much if his quarterback 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.

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What supplements are available?

Finding it confusing?

Felix Jones

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 noticed, 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.

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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 handful 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 recruit, 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

Independent

MindedSports

By Pete Mundo

Change Of Tide Inside Red Storm 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 Tournament 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 bringing 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 indefinite 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 transferring 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 definitely 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

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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 Johnnies have problems luring talent that may other basketball powerhouses 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

December 14, 2011

29

Steve Lavin

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 Peterfmundo@gmail.com.

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Fridayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s session. Assistant Town Planning and Development Administrator Freda Eisenberg said the plan is to have a meeting again with the town board in January. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The issue is that County Road 39 is an established road,â&#x20AC;? she said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;One goal is to maintain highway businesses.â&#x20AC;?

Eisenberg recommended establishing further zoning restrictions on expansions if land uses continue to be grandfathered in. â&#x20AC;&#x153;If that continues, then youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re not going to be getting the change you want,â&#x20AC;? she said.

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be made quickly. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m starting to feel that time is ticking on this,â&#x20AC;? she said.

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 giantâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s economic responsibilities would increase due to the cost of paper bags exceeding the cost of plastic ones.

Last Friday afternoon, Sustainability Committee Chair Tip Brolin outlined the environmental advantages in banning plastic for the Southampton Town Board. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re proposing to ban single use plastic checkout bags,â&#x20AC;? Brolin said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re encouraging shoppers to bring reusable bags. There will be no ban on produce bags.â&#x20AC;?

A short film was shown at the boardâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;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 yesterdayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s resolution is approved, the hearing will be scheduled for December 22.

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Pink Slip

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 10. 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 perpetrated by the veteran department head have been a sort of standard operating procedure for the employee, 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. kmerrill@indyeastend.com

Commissioner CONTINUED 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 shelters as ugly barracks-type settings rife with drugs, crime and alcohol.

“We have a Zero Tolerance policy,“ he said. Individuals who violate the rules

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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 repeatedly to the role of politicians in Suffolk County’s state mandated effort to house homeless . . . or lack thereof.

Elected officials, he said, “Luxuriate in their exemption from the responsibility

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

Elected officials remain “resoundingly silent” when it comes to dispelling 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. Taking aim at a statement recently made

by Southampton Town Councilman Chris Nuzzi, who complained that Southampton was shouldering an unfair 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

December 14, 2011

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 “astronomical,” Blass said. Plus, finding viable 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. kmerrill@indyeastend.com

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