By Andrew Rudansky

On April 17, a male gray seal was found lying stranded on the beach in Hampton Bays, the local authorities were called and the Riverhead Foundation for Marine Research’s Marine Mammal & Sea Turtle Rescue Program rescued the seal, bringing it back to the Riverhead Foundation’s hospital facility for further life saving treatment.

The seal, affectionately named Shadow by the students and teachers at the Sag Harbor Elementary School, was vastly underweight when it was taken in for a medical examination, and after several tests it was revealed that the seal was suffering from a respiratory infection as well as anemia. Shadow received treatment for these ailments and went on to make a full recovery.

Almost two months later this Monday at 2 p.m., after intensive rehabilitation, the seal was released into the Peconic Bay from Havens Beach in Sag Harbor. Close to two hundred people were in attendance to watch the seal being released, including grades kindergarten through four from the Sag Harbor Elementary School.

When the seal first arrived at the hospital facility it refused to eat, but after several days of force-feeding the seal began to eat without the cajoling of Riverhead Foundation workers. By the time Shadow was released he had gained 36 pounds, weighing a much healthier 75 pounds.

The Marine Mammal and Sea Turtle Rescue Program has a lot of experience with this such situation, having handled over 4000 animals since the creation of the program in 1980.  

The primary mission of the Riverhead Foundation for Marine Research and Preservation is to preserve and protect our marine environment through education, rehabilitation, and research. The group is in the middle of a study where they are tracking the number of sea turtles and marine mammals around the coast of New York State. The Riverhead Foundation says that this study can help aid the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation and the National Marine Fisheries Service.   

Before the Riverhead Foundation for Marine Research released Shadow, they first attached a Satellite Splash tag to his body. The tag will allow researchers and marine biologists at the Riverhead Foundation to collect data about the animal’s behavior and movement patterns in the water.  This tag also helps the Riverhead Foundation with their population study.

The Riverhead Foundation for Marine Research and Preservation is holding several upcoming events to benefit further marine research and rescue operations. There will be another seal releasing this July 18, from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Quogue Beach Village Pavilion. This October 24 the Riverhead Foundation will hold its 12th Annual 5K Run for the Ridley, and throughout the winter the Riverhead Foundation charters “Seal Cruises” out of Hempstead Bay. For more information on any of these upcoming events call 369-9840.

As the teenage girls lined the stage dancing in traditional costumes of fringed buckskin or brightly colored dresses with attached conical bells, it was clear the 2009 Junior Teen and Teen Shinnecock Beauty Pageant was unlike the typical beauty pageants broadcast on TV. The Shinnecock event included all of the components found in these televised pageants, such as an evening wear and a talent portion, but whereas these beauty pageants are often ridiculed for being superficial, the Shinnecock Beauty Pageant highlighted the contestants’ Native American ancestry and cultural identity.

Throughout the pageant, held on Friday at the Southampton Inn, the young girls — ranging from grades 6 through 12 — seamlessly showcased both their traditional Shinnecock persona and their main stream one. In preparation for the main event, the girls studied not only ballroom dancing, etiquette and how to walk with a book on their heads, but also the history, language and culture of their people.

“This event shows how these young girls cross between two worlds: the modern world and the traditional one,” said Shinnecock trustee Frederick Bess. “When these girls learn how to talk they learn how to sing [the traditional songs]. When they learn how to walk they learn how to dance [the traditional dances].”

The event has been on a 13-year hiatus, but was brought back this year by the 1996 Miss Teen Shinnecock winner Nishwe Williams, whose deceased aunt Vanessa Williams started the competition in 1988.

“This is definitely not a beauty pageant. They are judged on their creativity and how they present themselves,” said Williams. “It emphasizes building self-esteem and pride in their culture.”

The girls’ sense of dual cultural identity was emphasized during the talent portion of the competition. Nadonis Tarrant, 17, displayed her painting titled “The Urban Indian” to the judges, including U.S. Congressman Tim Bishop and former tribal chairman Lance Gumbs. The large work showed an anonymous face, painted in white and black, surrounded by renderings of traditional Native American fabrics, painted in brilliant colors.

“When the Indian and [the modern world] collides … they make the urban Indian,” said Tarrant.

Other contestants chose to highlight either their traditional roots or popular culture. For her talent, Junior Teen winner Mattah Wright, 13, did a “fancy” Shinnecock dance, as the name refers to the type of dance and attire which is an updated take on the classic blanket dance. Wright waved an exuberantly colored shawl in the air as she did intricate footwork across the stage, while her father, Shinnecock trustee Gordell Wright, sang on the sidelines. Nasha Hill, 13, who competed in the Junior Teen pageant, opted instead to sing a blues ballad, “All I Could Do Was Cry” by Etta James and wore a 1940s-style outfit and pinned her long black hair into a wavy bun. Much of the make up and contemporary wear the girls wore was donated by local companies.

The evening, however, wasn’t solely dedicated to demonstrating various talents or modeling evening gowns. Instead, the event began with each girl dancing on stage in traditional costume. Some girls donned buckskin floor-length dresses while doing the slow, contemplative “blanket” dance. Others bounced up and down, jingling the tiny sliver bells affixed to their gowns. While others stretched out their brightly colored shawls, sweeping them from side to side, doing the “fancy” dance.

The first portion of the competition was dedicated to a question and answer session on Shinnecock history and each girl introduced herself in the native language. Younger girls were asked to list three important aspects of traditional culture, and many cited the Shinnecock Labor Day Pow Wow and the importance of family ties on the reservation. Older girls were asked what Shinnecock traditions could be imbued onto the surrounding community. Miss Teen Shinnecock winner Autumn Rose Williams said the Shinnecocks helped sustain the European colonists when they first arrived to the East End, by showing them how to cultivate the land. Williams added, however, that the Shinnecocks had a tradition of respecting the land and said current residents of both Southampton and the Shinnecock reservation needed to “protect the land for future generations.” 

“I didn’t realize how lucky it is to live on the land that our ancestors lived and died on,” said Seneca Smith, 15, of the Shinnecock reservation, which unlike federally owned reservations, is owned by the Shinnecock community.

While some contestants said they effortlessly transition between their life on the reservation and their life outside, others say they find it difficult.

“It isn’t that much different. I know I am a Shinnecock Indian, that is just what I am,” said Hill.

Cholena Smith, 16, the first runner-up in the teen category, reported having a difficult time crossing between these two worlds.

“I find it hard, especially this year. What we learn in school is so different than what we learn on the reservation. In school, we are learning about evolution and existentialism  … I feel like I am living in two worlds and always feel like I need to explain myself,” opined Smith. “That is why in every school project I make sure to include something about my heritage.”

Smith, an upcoming senior at the Ross School, plans to create a DVD book written in both English and Shinnecock for the school to use in a Native American education program.

As winners, Wright and Williams will act as representatives of the Shinnecock Nation at several “Pow Wows, held in New England and New York, throughout the summer and their travel expenses will be paid for by the Alternatives Counseling Center.

Nishwe Williams said girls are already signing up to compete in next year’s pageant, which is a welcome change since the pageant went on hiatus in 1996 because not enough girls were willing to join.

“The year I was in it we were down to six girls … Now there is a new generation and they want to do things like this,” said Williams. “I think they were waiting for something like this.”

By Andrew Rudansky

Coach Meg Preiss stands feet from the pool, arms crossed, analyzing and dissecting each and every movement of the three swimmers in the water. Occasionally Priess tells the girls to straighten their arms, or keep up with the timing. She asks for near perfection.

In the water Shaina Preiss, Catherine Musnicki and Keriann Fitzpatrick and Audrey Sinclair, all members of the East Hampton Synchronized Swimming Team, practice diligently for their upcoming meet. A classical composition plays in the background as the swimmers display their aquatic acrobatics. Musnicki, age 15, a Sag Harbor native, says of the team that they are “not at a professional level yet, but they are definitely getting better all the time.” 

The three girls were practicing for the Synchronized Swimming East Zone Championships held last weekend at Salem University. This is not the first competition the “Synchro-Swans” have competed in; far from it, they have travelled across the country to places like Ohio, Indiana, Connecticut, New Jersey, New York and Washington. Later in the month they will be heading to Gainesville, Florida to compete in nationals.

Musnicki says that they are “hoping to place in the top four” at the East Zone Championships at Salem. Not all the girls are as certain as Musnicki however. Fitzpatrick, age 14, also a Sag Harbor native said, “It is very, very nerve racking.”

The synchronized swimming competition the team was heading to was adjudicated over by five judges. The judges sit on all sides of the pool and look for difficulty, timing and synchronism, deducting points for mistakes and touching the bottom or sides of the pool. The individual judges give a rough score out of 10, and after all the scores are compiled and averaged out, a final score of up to 100 is given for the performance.

“It’s probably a bit harder than a regular swimming race, because of the different personalities involved,” said Preiss. The swimmers not only have to be athletically competent but they need to swim in perfect synch; and to be a successful team, each of the members need to really know the other members of the team. Preiss said that team dynamics need to be pitch perfect to win.

Despite the pressure of the competition the team seems generally relaxed. They break into laughter when they talk about Knox. Knox is a hair gel used by the team to keep their hair from getting in the way while they perform. Fitzpatrick calls the gel “unflavored Jell-O,” and said that all the swimmers in competition use it. She laments that it is hard to get out of your hair but says it is worth it since it is “pretty much waterproof.”

Preiss has been coaching the synchronized swimming since the East Hampton YMCA RECenter opened in 2000, and in the past nine years she has seen the team evolve. The synchronized swim program was the first recreational program at the East Hampton YMCA RECenter and the coach said the program has seen “its ups and downs.”

Preiss has her team practice six days in preparation for competition.

“Effort? I couldn’t ask for more from these girls…I am very proud of my girls.” Beaming, Preiss says that any of the swimmers on her team who want to go to nationals have made it into the competition.

At Salem University the “Synchro-Swans” competed in both solo and team performances. Preiss said she is perhaps the most nervous of the group, adding, “We are a judged sport…and we need to ask ourselves after every performance ‘did I swim my personal best?’”

At last weekend’s event Keriann Fitzpatrick placed third in the solo competition, and sixth in figures. Catherine Musnicki and Audrey Sinclair placed fourth in the duet, and in the trio competition Fitzpatrick, Musnicki and Sinclair placed third.

Preiss said of the results, “They still have a lot of room for improvement before they swim at Gainesville, Florida at the end of the month.”

 

There were few questions from members of the Noyac Civic Council Tuesday night about the proposed renovation at the John Jermain Memorial Library. A notable exception was Jim Posner, a resident of Noyac and former member of the committee designed to plan an expansion of the library, who is at odds with the most recent proposal for the library.

As presented by library director Cathy Creedon at Tuesday night’s meeting of the NCC, the current proposal is to expand off the back of the historic building with a more modern design of steel and glass. The three-story addition would add about 7,000 square feet to the building, doubling its size.

Among the features in the new library would be an elevator — which the library does not have at present — a community room with a separate entrance so it can be used after hours, an expanded children’s section plus more room for the regular collection, a plaza for outdoor programs, a climate-controlled space for archives and a business center which will offer such things as computer and copier services for the public.

The library also hired a traffic planner, who has made a proposal for one of the stickier problems: finding parking. As planned, six parking spots, including handicapped, would be dedicated on the north side of Jefferson Street, in front of the library’s handicap entrance. The planner also proposes striping parking on the streets immediately surrounding the library.

Parking was one of the key issues for promoting a second library building to be constructed adjacent to Mashashimuet Park; a proposal Posner championed two years ago. That plan has been scrapped.

“In 1923 they noted the inadequacies of parking at this library, and thought they may have to put up parking limit signs,” Posner told the membership. “It’s the same streets, with the same amount of parking. It doesn’t do anything for Noyac.”

He noted the last bond the library tried to pass, for $8.5 million, failed two-to-one.

“And now they’re asking for $10 million,” he said.

He also criticized the appearance of a steel and glass addition “wrapped around” the historic building, calling it “ungainly,” and criticized the efforts of the current library administration to significantly raise money for the project.

“This committee has done practically nothing,” charged Posner, adding that “it is largely dominated by downtown interests.”

“Sixty-one percent of the people who voted in the last general election were from outside the village,” claimed Posner. “The (library) board doesn’t reflect anyone from beyond downtown.”

Creedon challenged Posner, saying, she too, was from beyond the village limits, as were four members of the board.

She also said the renovation has a lot to offer Noyac residents, not the least of which would be a leak-proof and well-heated building.

The library has also actively been seeking outside funding for the renovation, with potential donors for the archive space and children’s room already lined up. Beyond the $10 million bond, Creedon said she has promised the board she would raise another $2 million from private sources.

As for parking, she said the designers have already created several new spaces, and early presentations to village boards have been well received.

“Parking is not just a library issue,” she said, “but it’s a concern for the whole community.” She said there was no architectural design for the addition, and couldn’t be until the referendum had passed.

Civic council treasurer Nick Metz asked what would happen with the property the library bought adjacent to the park.

“We could sell it for affordable housing, or may hold on to it for the period of construction as a temporary facility,” said Creedon, “or use it later on for some library purpose.”

“What happens if the referendum doesn’t pass,” asked Metz.

“I’d go home and have a stiff cup of coffee and make plans for what to do next,” said Creedon.

According to Southampton Town Police, three young women attempted to steal approximately $3,000 worth of merchandise from a Bridgehampton antiques store on Saturday, June 6. The victim told police that two of the women had visited the store last week to possibly scout out the location. On Saturday, they returned with a girl of around 13 years of age. One women tried to distract the victim while the other women handed items to the young girl. All three women attempted to leave in a vehicle driven by a male. The victim ran out and confronted the women as they hopped into the van. The victim told them that he had called the police and had given them their license plate number. Police say they still haven’t positively identified the criminals. The items stolen included a Chinese Porcelain Dog, worth $750, a Turkish pot, worth $950, and a Chinese carving, worth $1,125.
Daniel Barrantes, 27, of Hampton Bays was arrested by Sag Harbor Village police on Saturday, June 6. According to police, Barrantes was arrested for an open bench warrant out of Sag Harbor, through Southampton Town Police, for failing to pay a fine, a misdemeanor.

According to Sag Harbor Village Police reports, a local resident found their front windshield broken after returning to the parked car on Meadow Street on Tuesday, June 2.

On Wednesday, June 3, a pager was allegedly lifted from a parked car on Bay Street, says Sag Harbor Village Police reports. Although the report didn’t specify whether or not the car was unlocked.

According to Southampton Town Police reports, a North Haven home on Actors Colony Road was broken into on Monday, June 1. Police report that the trespassers stole a six-pack of Corona beer. A truck on the premises was spray painted in black lettering. “DNK” and “BYES” were painted on the sides of the vehicle. Police say there are still no suspects in this case.

A Southampton resident reported to Southampton Town Police on Tuesday, June 2, that she saw a speeding car make a sharp turn and strike a tree on Ocean Road in Bridgehampton. The witness told police the driver attempted to hide the vehicle behind some hedges in a field near Hildreth Lane. Police say they learned the driver possibly lived on Sagg Road in Bridgehampton. When police arrived at the driver’s residence and knocked on the door, the alleged driver ran from the front door to the back of the house. Police say they weren’t able to locate the driver.
According to a resident of Elm Street in Sag Harbor, her home was damaged by a car on Wednesday, June 3. The victim told Southampton Town Police that the driver also hit two small trees on the street, before leaving the scene of the accident. After an investigation, police say they located the vehicle at the Getty Gas Station on Main Street. Apparently, the damage to the vehicle matched the damage to the residence.

A Sag Harbor resident’s wallet was allegedly stolen from her locked vehicle on Saturday, June 6. The victim spent the day at Ocean Road Beach in Bridgehampton and told Southampton Town Police she left her car keys on the tire in the wheel well. The wallet was valued at $300. The victim said $100 in cash and seven other credit cards, in the wallet, were also stolen.
Johnathan Wintjen, 47, undomiciled was charged with driving while intoxicated and aggravated unlicensed operation in the third degree, both misdemeanors, by Southampton Town Police on Wednesday, June 3. Police say Wintjen struck a parked vehicle at the Starbucks in Bridgehampton, damaging the car. According to police, Wintjen had glassy eyes, his speech was slurred and his breath smelled strongly of alcohol. Wintjen allegedly refused to submit to a sobriety test. Wintjen’s license had also been suspended for failing to pay child support.

Southampton Town Police stopped Anibal Urgiles, 28, of East Quogue on Bricklin Road in Sag Harbor on Saturday, June 6. Police say Urgiles was pulled over for a stop sign violation, but a DMV check showed that Urgiles’ license was suspended. Urgiles faces charges of aggravated unlicensed operation in the third degree, a misdemeanor.

Gilberto Gallardo, 18, of Sag Harbor, was stopped by Southampton Town Police on Thursday, June 4, in Southampton. Police say Gallardo was stopped for having a sub-standard left rear tire/wheel. A DMV check showed that Gallardo was unlicensed and didn’t have insurance for his vehicle. Gallardo faces charges of unlicensed operator, a violation.

“Landscape Pleasures,” the Parrish Art Museum’s annual two-day horticulture event and fund-raiser, will explore the use of color in the garden, fashion and the world around you. Scheduled for Saturday, June 13, and Sunday, June 14, the program will kick off with a morning symposium, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., featuring a conversation between renowned designers Isaac Mizrahi and Charlotte Moss, as well as talks by landscape historian and author Judith B. Tankard and garden designer Dan Pearson.

Self-guided tours of six private Southampton village gardens — those of Bruce and Maria Bockmann, Mr. and Mrs. Brownlee Currey, Juergen and Anke Friedrich, Parker and Gail Gilbert, David and Simone Levinson, and Betty and Virgil Sherrill—will round out the program on Sunday.

Judith Tankard will start off the symposium with a lecture on the color theories of influential female gardeners including Gertrude Jekyll, Beatrix Farrand and Ellen Biddle Shipman. Tankard received her M.A. in art history from New York University and has been teaching at the Landscape Institute, Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University since 1987.

Dan Pearson will discuss the importance of color in his extensive garden designs, which include an Italian garden where white is the predominant color, and his own London garden. One of Britain’s foremost garden experts, Pearson has created and starred in several popular British television series on gardening. He is on the editorial board of Gardens Illustrated magazine and is a weekly gardening columnist for The Observer.

Keynote Speaker Isaac Mizrahi will take the stage with celebrated interior designer Charlotte Moss for a lively conversation about color. A leader in the fashion business for almost twenty years, Isaac Mizrahi is Creative Director for the Liz Claiborne brand, has been awarded four CFDA awards, written the book “How to Have Style,” created costumes for movies, theater, dance, and opera. A Parrish trustee since 2002 and co-chair of Landscape Pleasures, Charlotte Moss is founder of Charlotte Moss Interior Design, the author of six books, and the designer of houses throughout the United States and Canada. Her design work has been featured in numerous publications.

Sag Harbor

Candidates Lobby for Support

With elections for Sag Harbor Village mayor just around the corner, on Tuesday, June 16, this week candidates Michael Bromberg, Brian Gilbride and Jim Henry worked the campaign trail, visiting constituent groups, talking to residents, announcing endorsements and hosting a press conference in an effort to take the helm of Sag Harbor’s Board of Trustees.

Bromberg, the current chairman of the zoning board of appeals, was a guest at Friday’s Sag Harbor Citizens Advisory Committee meeting, talking to the group about some of the issues he sees the village coming in the next two years.

Bromberg sees himself as representative of both the old and new Sag Harbor, and said he would like to see a village government elected that is interested in reaching out to the myriad of people in Sag Harbor who can aid government in accomplishing their goals. He said he was also concerned that an affordable housing trust, created during the approval process for luxury condos at the former Bulova Watchcase Factory, had yet to get off the ground, something he would like to see changed. Bromberg has also suggested the village could consider building both additional parking and affordable housing over the current village lot behind Main Street.

On Saturday morning, with roughly half a dozen residents in attendance, Henry threw a press conference at Havens Beach, stating a need for a village government willing to address a storm water runoff issue at the bathing beach and calling for the creation of a dog park. Henry, an attorney and economist, said while village officials “may be proud of a tight budget” projects like the $500,000 Cashin plan, proposed years ago to create a bio-filtration system for the Havens Beach drainage ditch have gone unfunded.

Henry also announced the endorsement of Congressman Tim Bishop, who on Tuesday withdrew his endorsement.

“As a Southampton Village resident, I understand that village politics occupy a special place, free of outside interests,” said Bishop in a statement. “As a rule, I do not insert myself into village politics. I recently made a snap decision and broke that longstanding rule. Upon reflection and with apologies, I withdraw any endorsements I have made in village races and I look forward to working with Sag Harbor’s next mayor.”

On Tuesday, Henry did pick up the endorsement of Southampton Village Mayor Mark Epley, who called Henry a “person who puts community first and exhibits sound decision making.”

On Monday, Brian Gilbride said he had been sticking to a basic campaign strategy of knocking on doors and visiting with residents to share his goals for the village, which center around maintaining a fiscally conservative budget, he said. In addition to residents, Gilbride hoped to reach out to members of the business community as well as local not-for-profits.
Sag Harbor

Column Award
A column by Karl Grossman, published in the Sag Harbor Express last June, was chosen last week in the annual competition of the Press Club of Long Island as the best general interest column published in a weekly newspaper on Long Island in 2008.

The column — titled “Legally Corrupt” — concerned the selection of “official” county newspapers. It noted how each year the Suffolk County Legislature — and because of New York State law, governing bodies throughout the state — pick two “official” newspapers, one “representing the principles of the Democratic Party,” the other “representing the principles of the Republican Party.” These are then paid to publish legal advertising.

This “selection explicitly based on politics is a throwback to an era in American journalism when newspapers were avidly partisan, indeed many declared that in their names,” the column noted. It pointed to such “newspapers (still) called the Tallahassee Democrat (in Florida), Democrat and Chronicle (in upstate Rochester), Star-Democrat (in Easton, Maryland), The Republican (in Springfield, Massachusetts).”

It continued: “Change came to journalism in the late 19th and early 20th centuries as many and then most newspapers sought to report the news objectively.”

The column stated that this selection of “official” newspapers “based on their ‘representing the principles’ of the major parties is antiquated—and corrupting to journalism.” It questioned whether a paper “would get such a designation if it offended” the politicians who do the choosing and declared: “Independent journalism is sacrificed by this system.”

In an acceptance speech upon receiving the award Thursday in Woodbury, Grossman, professor of journalism at the State University of New York College at Old Westbury, said the system should be changed.

Sagaponack

Road Repairs
After years of drainage issues, Sagg Dune Court is creeping into a disheveled state, said members of the Sagaponack Village Board of Trustees, and is in need of repair. Mayor Don Louchheim reported driving on the road last week and said it was in a “horrendous” condition. However, Louchheim added that the village wasn’t looking to invest in a major road construction project, but did want to solve the underlying drainage issues at the site. Drew Bennett, a consulting engineer for the village, presented the board with three separate plans varying in cost and construction intensity. Bennett also noted that only 26 percent of the road was in fair condition, with the rest of it being in poor to very poor condition.

Trustee Lisa Duryea Thayer suggested the board explore going out for a bond for general road construction throughout the town not just at Sagg Dune Court.

“We could get some kind of statement from [village attorney] Anthony Tohill on if we can acquire performance bonds for not just here but for the whole village,” said Louchheim.

East Hampton

Muskets, Militia and More

History lovers of all ages are invited to experience an historic reenactment with the 3rd New York Regiment or the Brigade of the American Revolution and revolutionary encampment at Mulford Farm on James Lane in East Hampton Village.

Visitors will have the chance to meet the “Colonial Kids” between 10 a.m. and Noon, try on 18th century costumes, take part in butter-churning and play colonial games.

Free, half-hour guided tours of the Mulford Farm House restoration will be given at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. and will offer clues to the 350-year history of the house. From 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and again between 3 and 5 p.m., costumed interpreters will demonstrate traditional methods of spinning yarn with a drop spindle, weaving on the historic barn beam loom and basket making using age-old techniques.

The farm will reopen for a candlelight tour of the Revolutionary encampment at 7:30 p.m., and contra dance and refreshments in the colonial barn. Music will be provided by “Dance All Night.” The group features Larry Moser on hammered dulcimer, Mary Nagin and Jack Dillon on fiddle, and dance caller Chart Guthrie. All are members of the Long Island Traditional Music Association and have a wide repertoire of fun and easy dances for all ages.

For more information, please call 324-6850.

Shinnecock

D.C. Meeting

Southampton Town Supervisor Linda Kabot and leaders of the Shinnecock Indian Nation met in Washington, D.C., on June 3 with representatives from the Office of Federal Acknowledgment (OFA) to participate in the process to secure recognition from the federal government for the tribe. The session was an integral part of the time line agreed to in a court-ordered settlement arising from litigation the tribe launched against the U.S. Department of the Interior.

The forum was hosted by the Department of the Interior in order to provide an opportunity for the Shinnecocks and other interested parties to present additional background on the documents submitted in response to OFA’s March 16 letter to the Shinnecocks. The letter, which was circulated to interested parties, identified records known to OFA that were not part of the information submitted with the Shinnecock petition. The petition seeking federal acknowledgment comprises over 500 pages, with 40,000 pages of additional documentation.

The settlement reached between the Shinnecocks and the federal government provides for expeditious review of the tribe’s original petition and its more recent submissions, as well as that provided by the interested parties. OFA sought materials from Southampton Town and New York State that were used in the earlier lawsuit over the Westwoods property, a 79-acre parcel in Hampton Bays which the tribe had began clearing for a casino. Additional records sought included expert reports from New York State’s genealogical researchers and a trove of historical documents from town clerk Sundy Schermeyer containing Indian lands, deeds and statistics.

Since first applying for recognition in 1978 and more formally in 1998, the Shinnecocks have litigated over what the tribe has called the Bureau of Indian Affairs “unreasonable delay.” With the agreement reached May 26 that led to the June 3 gathering, the Department of Interior must issue a preliminary decision on recognition by December 15.

“As town supervisor, I attended in order to represent the town board and show our support for the settlement with the Department of Interior, and to obtain a better understanding of the rigorous standards the Shinnecocks must meet to become federally acknowledged,” said Kabot, who was accompanied by the town’s legal adviser, Michael Cohen.

The meeting was moderated by OFA Specialist George Roth and attended by representatives of the U.S. Solicitor and U.S. Attorney General. Several representatives of the Shinnecock Indian Nation were also present, including Tribal Trustees Randall King, Gordell Wright and Frederick Bess, as well as their attorneys and research team.

Another purpose of the meeting was for federal researchers to explain the process, methodology, and general status of evaluating a petition. The OFA research team is comprised of historian Francis Flavin, anthropologist Holly Reckord and genealogist Alycon Pierce. There are seven mandatory criteria that must be met under federal regulations to establish that an American Indian group exists as a tribe. Questions posed to the Shinnecocks focused on membership lists, their functioning as a single autonomous political entity, while explaining how evidence is reviewed to determine parentage and descent to establish family histories.

“The Town of Southampton appreciates that the OFA will be completing a thorough, objective review of current and historic documents,” said Kabot. “We have fully cooperated with the requests of OFA for town documents. The Town of Southampton did not engage any researchers as part of this federal acknowledgment process sought by the Shinnecocks, nor do we intend to do so, and therefore we did not pose any questions on the submissions made by the Shinnecocks. Our relationship with the Shinnecocks is not an adversarial one. We are friends and neighbors.”

According to Kabot, Shinnecock Tribal Chairman Randall King requested an opportunity to convey remarks and “spoke eloquently about the need for the federal government to humanize the process, rather than making repeated requests for more documentation.” She also described the meeting as “exciting and interesting, but highly technical,” as it focused on federal criteria mandating extensive research, a peer review process and lengthy comment periods to raise inquiries and objections.

“At the end of the day, the Shinnecocks have long-awaited a decision on federal recognition,” concluded Kabot. “This meeting brings them one step closer to realizing their vision of sustaining their culture and enhancing the prosperity of their people.”

By Andrew Rudansky

Aries Cooks, a student at Bridgehampton middle school, leans over to her grandfather, William Richard, and places a penny on his numbered bingo sheet. They are but two of the 70-plus in attendance at the 6th annual Senior Citizens Luncheon in the Bridgehampton High School this past Friday, June 5.

The occasion, hosted by the Bridgehampton middle school, invited members of the Bridgehampton Senior Center to a free afternoon of food and entertainment. Mary Johnsen, teacher and director of the luncheon, says that this annual luncheon is just one more way to give back to the senior citizens, “It’s about saying thank you.”

The students have much to thank the seniors for; the two groups have been involved in what Johnsen calls an “intergenerational exchange.”

Johnsen explains how this relationship between the middle school and the senior center has expanded. Originally the seniors approached the school offering to read and share stories with the Preschoolers. Eventually this small link blossomed into a strong bond. Current projects include students doing landscaping work at the senior center, and seniors coming to class to share stories with the students. On the growing bond Principal Jack Pryor said, “On a purely service basis we need to reach out to the community…we need to get a more direct relationship with the people.”

All the money used for the Senior Citizens Luncheon was raised by the students in a highly successful car wash. 

For the first five luncheons only the seventh and eight graders were involved, but because of the success of the program and the increased size of the program the school decided to incorporate fifth and sixth graders as well.

Johnsen is a ball of energy at the luncheon, overseeing every detail from food preparation to organizing the entertainment. But Johnsen takes little credit for the event, “these young kids are working their butts off to make this a special day.”

The students at the event did everything from cook the food, decorate the room, set the tables, act as waiters, provide entertainment and when it started to rain they even went to greet the senior citizens in the parking lot with umbrellas. Johnsen said that the entire day was orchestrated and directed by the students.           

Pryor emphasized the educational component of the relationship. He points out that when the seniors come to the school they share their “oral history, histories from this older generation.”

Johnsen agrees with Pryor, pointing out how the senior citizens have come to classes in the middle school and shared stories of World War II and local history. “There is a curriculum link as well,” said Johnsen.

Johnsen is exited about the luncheon next year, which is already on the calendar. She says that because of the success of the luncheon that next year’s event will take place in a larger venue, such as the high school gymnasium. 

The event, said Johnsen, allows the student to learn from the past, and “that’s what we should be doing.”

 

On the day before April vacation ended, fifth grade teachers George Kneeland and Kelly Hornung learned one of their students, Katy Stewart, was diagnosed with liver cancer. On Wednesday, the day school reopened, Hornung and Kneeland sat down with their students to explain the news.
“I had asked Katy what she wanted us to say and one of her biggest concerns was about her hair because she would most likely lose it,” said Hornung. “Her hair was so long and it had kind of become her trademark.”
In the weeks after Kneeland and Hornung explained the effects of chemotherapy treatment to Katy’s fellow classmates, eight boys from her class decided to shave their heads in support of Katy and her recovery.
“The boys said to me, ‘Mr. Kneeland, I didn’t want Katy to be alone.’ I think they didn’t want her to feel like she was on an island,” Kneeland recalled.
Kneeland says most of his fifth grade students are on the cusp of adolescence, and are starting to become more aware of their appearance.
“I think the kids have a truer understanding of what that embarrassment feels like,” said Kneeland of Katy’s experience of losing her hair.
Student Harrison Yardley was one of the first boys to shave his head.
“The school nurse recommended it to a lot of people. The day Katy lost her hair, I got mine shaved,” remembered Harrison. “I think it will help her because now she isn’t the only one who will have a shaved head.”
After Harrison buzzed off his hair, fellow students slowly followed suit. At first, Jaime Cantrell’s son, Otis Eames, was reluctant to shave his head.
“I told him that it would be a nice thing to do and he said, ‘Mommy do you know how embarrassing that would be?’,” Cantrell recalled. “But I told him that Katy is a girl and she would probably be very embarrassed. A week later when we found out that Katy had lost her hair, he came home and said that he had decided to do it.”
“I did it so that she wouldn’t feel left out,” said Otis. “The class is really small so everyone is friends with everyone.”
Both Kneeland and Hornung believe their students share a special kinship with one another, which has helped them deal with Katy’s diagnosis and help her through it.
“Even though the kids have a school family, we are their class family. We have a very close knit environment. Not everyone is best friends, but they all respect each other and they all know how to rally around each other and be there for one another,” said Kneeland.
The students continue to confirm Kneeland’s observations as Katy proceeds with her treatment. Students write on a webpage created for Katy through the website CaringBridge at www.caringbridge.org/visit/katystewart. Hornung says the children have also worked on several projects for Katy, including compiling a scrap book complete with letters they have written to Katy. Hornung said Katy often reads the scrapbook during her chemotherapy treatments.
Because of her medication, Katy is only able to come to school once or twice a week, but she has already seen the boys’ new hairdos.
“At first I don’t think she knew how to react. I think she is really appreciative, but she doesn’t have the words to articulate it,” added Hornung. “But she said to me that she thinks it is pretty cool.”
Teaching assistant Mary Schiavoni and another female student also recently snipped off their tresses and donated the hair to the not-for-profit Locks of Love.
Externally, the students continue to find ways to support Katy, but internally Hornung believes her illness has had a deeper effect on the children’s outlook on life.
“I think this is a good lessen for the students. It shows them the little problems here and there are nothing compared to what Katy has had to go through,” opined Hornung. “They are starting to appreciate the little things in life, when they see her going through something so serious and she still has a positive outlook.”
For now, Katy’s treatment appears to be going well and Hornung and Kneeland say they are continually surprised by the class’ solidarity in helping Katy through this difficult time.
“It has been a pretty emotional ride, but it has been really nice to see how mature her classmates have been,” noted Hornung.
“I couldn’t be prouder of how the class has handled this,” Kneeland declared. “They have been really encouraging.”

On Saturday, June 6 from 4:30 to 7 p.m. the Maidstone Club in East Hampton will host a gospel benefit for the Bridgehampton Child Care and Recreational Center. Making its first appearance on the East End, “Songs of Solomon,” the award-winning inspirational choral youth ensemble based in Harlem, will perform at the benefit. The world-renowned group, created and led by Chantel Renee Wright, herself an award-winning choral conductor from Chicago, has performed all over the United States and in South Africa. It was at the Gospel Music Workshop of America three years ago that Bonnie Cannon, Executive Director of the Bridgehampton Child Care Center, first heard them.

“They blew me away,” she says. “I knew right then that someday I’d get them out here.”

The high energy group, whose repertoire ranges from gospel and spirituals to jazz and classical music (they sang the Bach Magnificat in D at Carnegie Hall) has performed with such artists as Elton John, Gladys Knight, Earth Wind and Fire and Aretha Franklin.

Chairing the benefit is U.S. Congressman Tim Bishop, who served on the board of the Bridgehampton Child Care Center for five years and remains a member of the advisory board.

“The programs at the Center play a vital role in the lives of so many of our lower income and immigrant families,” he says. “The Center serves what is often an invisible population and I’m grateful to the Maidstone Club for supporting our mission.”

The Bridgehampton Child Care and Recreational Center was born out of tragedy in 1949 when a house fire killed the untended children of migrant farm workers. The shocked community rallied to found the first, community-based migrant child care center in the country. The Center continues to serve the less fortunate on the East End and offers after-school programs, a low cost summer camp, youth programs and adult development services such as ESL and GED. It also hosts Head Start for preschoolers from as far away as Montauk and Westhampton.

For reservations to hear “Songs of Solomon,” call 537-0616. There will also be cocktails, hors-d’oeuvres and a silent auction. Tickets are $150 per person. Seating is limited.

Southampton
Dems Pick Candidates

On Friday evening, May 29, the Southampton Town Democratic Committee nominated its candidates for 2009 during their nomination convention at the Southampton Inn. Councilwoman Anna Throne-Holst, a Sag Harbor resident, was unanimously nominated for the position of Southampton Town Supervisor. The unity theme was echoed as incumbent councilwoman Sally Pope was nominated to run for a full term. Pope won a special election for her post last November. Bridget Fleming, a Noyac resident and attorney, was also selected to run for the open council seat. The Dems candidate for town highway superintendent is Alex Gregor of Hampton Bays who is the Southampton Town Independence leader.

Sitting Southampton Town Justices Deborah Kooperstein and Barbara Wilson were nominated to continue in their judicial roles. Selected as town trustee candidates by the Democrats were Southampton Town bayman and oyster farmer Bill Pell and Chris Garvey, a Hampton Bays resident and member of the Hampton Bays School Board.

Southampton Town

Board Honors EMS Staff

During last week’s Southampton Town Board meeting, held on Tuesday, May 26, supervisor Linda Kabot honored the town’s emergency medical service workers.

“These individuals truly embody the citizen service has been a cornerstone of our nation’s prosperity since the days of its founding,” said Kabot of the assembled group. “They are among the countless Americans who have stepped forward throughout history to assist others, and they have strengthened their communities in the process. EMS volunteers are a critical asset in every community. They provide care at the scene and on the way to the hospital, which dramatically improves survival and recovery rates.”

Kabot added that the town’s eight different EMS agencies responded to over 5,000 medical calls in 2008. The Sag Harbor Volunteer Ambulance responded to 620 calls last year, and Bridgehampton Volunteer Ambulance responded to 116.

From May 17 through May 23, the town celebrated EMS week, with the theme being “EMS: A Proud Partner of Your Community.” Initiated by President Richard Nixon in 1973, National Emergency Medical Services Week has been celebrated each year to recognize the accomplishments of those who dedicate themselves to saving others.

Hampton Bays

Video Game Tournament

Two Hampton Bays High School students have organized a Video Game Tournament to be held on Sunday, June 7. The event is open to anyone over the age of 13. In order to compete, participants under 18 must bring a signed permission slip from a parent or guardian. The evening is a fundraiser for the Hampton Bays High School Class of 2010, though a portion of the proceeds from the evening will be donated to a local hospital or charity, yet to be determined. The evening consists of three games: Halo 3 as a team and doubles, Super Smash Brothers Melee and Super Smash Brothers Brawl. Each game costs $4. The event will be held at the Hampton Bays Middle School and begins at 10 a.m. For more information call (631) 525-1825.

Peconic Bay

MTA Tax Exemption

New York State Assemblyman Fred Thiele, Jr., has introduced legislation that would exempt all employers within the towns of East Hampton, Southampton, Riverhead, Shelter Island, Southampton and Southold from the provisions of the 0.34 percent payroll tax recently enacted in the 12 county MTA (Metropolitan Transportation Authority) region, as part of the financial bailout of the MTA. Despite the increased taxes and fees in the MTA region, fares on the Long Island Railroad were still increased an average of 10 percent.

The payroll tax will raise an additional $1.5 billion in annual revenue for the MTA. The MTA region has a population of more than 13.1 million people. The Peconic Bay Region has a population of approximately 140,000 or about 1.1 percent of the region.

“The MTA is a bloated bureaucracy that has a demonstrated record of fiscal shortcomings,” Thiele stated. “To throw more money at the MTA without true reform is irresponsible. To increase taxes and fees during a period of deep recession is even more foolhardy. As for the Peconic Bay Region, our year-round residents get minimal service, at best, with just a few trains a day. Further, we already pay an additional [a portion of our] sales tax and a mortgage tax to subsidize the MTA. We will also pay the new fare hikes for their declining service.”

“It has been estimated that as part of the Volpe Study on improved rail/bus service for the East End that we already pay $40 million to $60 million more than we receive in service from the MTA on an annual basis,” continued Thiele. “In short, we pay way too much for way too little. The East End simply does not have the same level of NYC commuters, yet we pay the same as everyone else. The only fair solution is to exempt the East End from the new tax.”

Thiele stated that in addition, he will continue to pursue the option of the establishment of a Peconic Bay Regional Transportation Authority separate from the MTA to provide for the East End’s transportation needs.

NY State Assembly

Clean Act

A broad coalition spanning business, economic development, labor, and environmental groups called on the state last week to place a $5 billion Clean Water, Clean Air and Green Jobs Bond Act on the November 2009 ballot. New York State Assembly Environmental Conservation Committee Chair Robert Sweeney convened a hearing in Albany to discuss the merits of the draft legislation that would place the measure on the ballot.

State officials say the measure will invest in long-term improvements to waste water infrastructure, energy efficiency, transit, public health protection and economic development projects; and is expected to provide opportunities for “green-collar” jobs.

Bond act supporters noted the long term benefits of investing in bonding funds. A recent study shows that a $1 billion investment in water and waste water infrastructure creates $3 billion in economic activity and supports up to 26,000 new jobs with an average salary of $50,000. Each $1 billion invested generates $82.4 million in state and local tax revenue.

“Even a conservative view of this bond act suggests that it would create over 100,000 new jobs for New Yorkers. These would be good-paying jobs in management, construction, and innovative industries,” said Jim Melius, administrator NYS Laborers Tri-Funds.

“The last Clean Water and Clean Air Bond Act, which passed in 1996, has been spent down yet the challenges of climate change continue to grow,” added Marcia Bystryn, president of the New York League of Conservation Voters. “The Clean Water, Clean Air & Green Jobs Bond Act of 2009 will help meet those challenges, while putting New Yorkers back to work and creating permanent taxpayer savings.” ?

Over her 20 year tenure at the Sag Harbor Elementary School, principal Joan Frisicano has amassed a collection of kid-friendly items in her first floor office. Glass dishes filled with lollipops and candy lay atop her conference table. Her floor to ceiling bookcases are lined with children’s books and student artwork decorates her walls.
Last fall, after Frisicano announced she would retire in January 2009, students taped color-paper renderings of Frisicano’s favorite insect, the lady bug, on her office windows. Even though Frisicano rescinded her decision in November, almost one week after her announcement, the lady bugs have stayed up.
But come September, the lady bugs along with the rest of Frisicano’s office belongings will be packed up as she will retire before the new school year begins.
“When I resigned back in the fall, it was a hasty decision. The reaction that I got from the community and teachers had a negative appearance and that wasn’t my intent. I didn’t want [my leaving] to be disruptive to the school,” said Frisicano of her first retirement announcement.
Frisicano added that she also decided to stay with the school through an uncertain budget year. With the possibility of program cuts if the school budget didn’t pass, Frisicano said she wanted to stay at the helm of the school and lend her experience if cuts had to be made.
Frisicano first came to the school in 1989. Under her leadership Sag Harbor Elementary flourished into a Blue Ribbon school, recognized by the U.S. Department of Education for its excellence.
“The school is a place where children are valued and they are eager to learn. We have a staff that is willing and equipped to provide outstanding instruction,” opined Frisicano. She added that offerings like “Morning Program” help create the feeling of a “school family,” a concept Frisicano has championed during her tenure.
“With Joan it is all about the kids,” said assistant principal Matt Malone.
Although retiring from her role as a Sag Harbor school administrator, Frisicano said she will likely pursue another position or different career.
“I started looking at where I am age-wise and I think I have one more step to go in my career, but I haven’t put my finger on it yet. All my thoughts right now are about leaving everything at the school in a good place,” Frisicano remarked. “I know I am not moving away. I can’t imagine any place better to live.”
The position of Bridgehampton School Superintendent will be up for grabs in the next year when current superintendent Dr. Dianne Youngblood retires, but Frisicano said she doesn’t have any intention of pursuing this post at the moment.
“I haven’t applied for that job. I am very happy with what I am doing here. I want to work through the summer and make sure that it is a smooth opening for next year,” remarked Frisicano.
As of yet, Frisicano hasn’t handed in her official letter of resignation to the board of education. Once the letter is submitted, the school will begin the search for a new candidate, said superintendent Dr. John Gratto. Dr. Gratto added, though, that the school is already eying a Sag Harbor administrator to fill Frisicano’s shoes.
“Typically, we would do a search to find the best candidate, but I believe that we already have the best candidate – Matt Malone. He understands the culture of the community,” said Dr. Gratto. “Joan has been thinking about retirement for over a year now and she has done an excellent job of grooming [him] for that position.”
Malone has been a member of the Sag Harbor School community for almost 14 years. For roughly four years, he has worked as assistant principal.
Of his candidacy for the position, Malone said “I love being a part of the Sag Harbor district. It has been an absolute pleasure working here. Working under Joan, I gained the knowledge and experience to be a solid candidate.”
Though Frisicano didn’t name Malone as a potential contender for the job, she did say the incoming principal should “be themselves.”
“I don’t believe in people trying to replicate somebody else. They should be their own thinkers,” remarked Frisicano.
Frisicano added she is excited to embark on the next phase of her career, but her exit from the school is bittersweet.
“A lot of who I am and who I identify myself as is [wrapped up in] this school,” lamented Frisicano. “I think September will come and I will probably be in shock.”