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September 05, 1985 - Fall Has Its Pluses, TooSeptember 5, 1985 The Suffolk Times Page 11A SUMMER BEACH - -The summer crowds have left and by tonce again Stoutenburgh our beaches are left to the gulls. Fall Has Its Pluses, Too By PAUL STOUTENBURGH The big Labor Day weekend is over. Years ago it meant many summer people would go back for good. Some still do, their summer rentals over, but the majority of them who have summer homes here will become weekend visitors. September and October can be two of the best months of the year. From here on in our southwest wind will gradually be replaced by our northwest wind, which will rid our homes of sticky doors and drawers we have to fight to open. The humidity of ocean air on our southwest winds will be replaced by dry air blown over the land from the northwest, but like so many things in life it's a tradeoff. Not only do we lose the warm southwest wind, but we now gain the cool, pollen- ridden air off the land. Sneezes and reddened eyes prove that all too well. These tiny bits of pollen, smaller than the eye can see, are at their peak now. The plants that bore them have ripened and are heavy with their seeds, the carriers of life. Each plant, from the giant sunflower to the tiniest weed, hopefully will drop its seed to be nourished again at another season, therefore completing the cycle. Somehow the system works despite the fact that the great majority of seeds never fulfill their end purpose. A field mouse scurrying at night finds the harvest of seeds. A bird migrating south must build its body fat for that long journey ahead and seeks out the seeds as a source of energy. Some are washed away by rain, while others for some unknown reason have all the ingredients for success but the moisture, temperature and nutrients were missing and therefore the seed fails. To overcome these tremendous odds against them, most plants produce seeds in huge quantities. Some do make it and carry on their heritage whether it's an unwanted dandelion in your lawn or an acorn that grows into a mighty oak. Away from the Crowds To get away from the hustle and bustle of the big weekend with all its last- minute madness, Barbara and I thought it best to retreat to our boat, where we can usually find a quiet place to watch the world go by. We had one of the great sails out of our bay eastward as a strong southwest wind drove us before it. We left the cove at 2:45 and in 15 minutes passed the old black can Focus on Nature buoy between New Suffolk and Robins Island. When I was just a boy growing up and venturing forth on our waters, that buoy way out in the bay was the end of the world to me. If you reached there, you were really adventurous. At 3:45, an hour later, we sped past Jessups' buoy, which tugged and turned at its mooring with the tide ripping at its side. This can be a wild and windy place. The seas build to deep troughs as they rebel against the tide to try to counteract their adversary, the wind. We passed the South Ferry between Shelter Island and North Haven in less than 30 minutes and sped on our way to Three Mile Harbor, where we dropped anchor for the night. Both of us were exhilarated at the wild and wonderful sail down and were ready for a good meal and then to sleep. The next day we spent exploring and enjoying the beauty and the luxury of relaxing without this or that to do. Unknowingly, we were being set up for a real test of our endurance the following day. We had arranged a ren- dezvous with some friends in Sag Har- bor, so at about nine in the morning we headed out with the strong southwest wind still blowing. It blew so strong we only used the big genny and literally flew westward. When we reached Cedar Point Light, the wind was really howling right down our throat and because of the tide coming in and the wind blowing out we had a situation of heavy choppy seas to fight against. Back and forth we tacked, the wind knocking us down every once in a while with huge gusts of fresh and turbulent air. We made it, of course, but it took a lot out of both of us and we were glad to anchor just in- side the breakwater at Sag Harbor. Here we waited to meet friends. High Winds and Blinding Rain At one time it rained so hard and blew so hard that the mixture of rain and sea became almost in- distinguishable. The rain beat down the waves that the wind tried to create and there was a fume in the air that (continued on next page) NORTH FORK EARLY LEARNING CENTER Mattituck, N.Y. Serving: Pre- schoolers Ages 2 - 5 Program: Child- centered, open classroom Morning, full day, afternoon and after school sessions. Now registering... for further information call: 298 -9573 or 477 -OOS 1 Quality Craftsmanship with a personal touch. One part of being in business is having the expertise and the skills necessary. Another part is the way you deal with your customers. Over the years we have built our business on quality work and personal service. So if you're planning on building a new home, adding a deck, or remodeling a kitchen count on Ron Morizzo Builder, Inc. Call us for a quotation, we'll be glad to talk to you. MORIZZO Bull 9INN—C. MAIN ROAD, SOUTHOLD, NY 765 -5772 Licensed & Insured • Decks • Sun Rooms • Kitchens • Bathrooms • Additions • Garages • Renovations • Restorations COMMERCIAL & RESIDENTIAL Page 12A The Suffolk Times September 5',-1,9,8'5' 75 Years Ao eptember 3, 1910 Post Office Points: When you hear the train whistle rush to the office, storm around there half an hour when you notice the carrier just delivers the mail. When you call at the office for your mail and the postmaster hands it out, ask him if that is all. If you ask for mail, and he tells you there is none, tell him there ought to be, then go home and send the rest of the family around at different times throughout the day. Don't bring your mail to the office until the mail closes, then abuse the postmaster for not opening the mail bag and putting your letter in. When you want a stamp on your let- ter, tell the postmaster to put it on; if he won't do it go for him. In case you put it on yourself soak it in your mouth long enough to remove the mucilage; it will then stick until dry. If you have a box, stand and drum on it until the postmaster hands out your mail; it makes him feel good, especially if he is waiting on somebody else. An Ounce of...: The Rev. H.S. Knabenschuh, who has a summer home at Indian Island, not far from Riverhead, thought he had better burn Let's Look Back the grass in the vicinity of his house in case a forest fire should start and de- stroy his property. He did so on Wednes- day. But somehow the house caught fire and with its contents was burned to the ground. Loss $5,000. 50 Years Ago September 6, 1935 Labor Day Crowds Break All Re- cords: The number of Labor Day vis- itors and the volume of traffic over the holiday on Eastern Long Island and especially in the vicinity of Greenport, far exceeded that of any previous year. On the Saturday before the holiday, so heavy was the motor car traffic over the Greenport and Shelter Island Ferry that the timetable schedule was forgot- ten and both ferry boats ran continu- ously between the Island and the main- land. At times the line of cars waiting for the ferry extended from the wharf at the foot of Main Street, up to and around the intersection of Front and Main Streets. Holiday travel over the Long Island Railroad from the Greenport sta- tion exceeded all previous records. On Sunday 310 passengers arrived on the special train for Greenport, and on Mon- day despite the threatening weather conditions, 200 excursionists visited Greenport. In addition to railroad and ferry traffic there was a steady line of automobiles passing through the vil- lage. Over the holiday weekend local hotels and boarding houses were filled to capacity and it was necessary in many cases to secure rooms for guests in private houses. Water Control Board Opposed: At a meeting of the Southold Town Board held at the office of Supervisor S. Wentworth Horton, Greenport, on Tuesday, resolutions were adopted ask- ing the members of the Suffolk County Water Authority to resign. The board also urged Supervisor Horton to con- tinue his efforts to prevent New York City from securing water from Suffolk County. AFFORDABLE- SEPTle 1-9 at the Citizens Center in Peconic FREE Refreshments 7PoMe HOUSING ANDYOU A PUBLIC SYMPOSIUM SPEAKERS PROFESSOR TAK TOW CHEN, SCCC,Selden "The Economics of Affordable Housing" JANETH A N S O N, Suftolk Housing Services "Zoning and the Mount Laurel Doctrine" JOHN COSTELLO, COSTELLO MARINE, Greenport "Affordable Housing and the Employer" DAVE B R U C K H E I M E R J R., CAAHS Director "Affordable Housing and Young Families" KATHLEEN CLAYTON, Ll Builders Institute "Building Affordable Housing" HERBERTM A N D E L, Hous ngn Advisory Committee "Case Study of a Development" Also FILM PRESENTATION: "Working Together for Affordable Housing" Sponsored by Citizens Action for Affordable Housing in Southold Inc. 765 -5290 Frank Dawson, of New Suffolk, re- commended for appointment as Truant Officer of the district schools of the Town to fill the unexpired term of Fred E. Booth, deceased. The resignation of Curtis W. Horton, of New Suffolk, as a constable of the Town, was received, and Henry Jacobs, of New Suffolk, was appointed in his place. 25 Years Ago September 9, 1960 Labor Day Visitors Exceed All Previous Records: All previous re- cords for holiday travel over the long Labor Day weekend in Greenport and the entire North Fork were broken as the 1960 summer season officially closed. On Saturday evening Green - port's waterfront presented a scene of yachting and boating activities that has never been equalled in the history of the community. The huge fleet of boats valued at approximately over a million dollars consisted of palatial yachts, cabin cruisers and auxiliary yachts. The total number of yachts on Saturday evening was 176, an increase of about 30 over the 1959 Labor Day weekend. 101 yachts were docked at Mitchell's Marina and the remainder were at Hayes', Claudio's, Preston's and Jones' wharves. Hotels, motels, rooming houses and eating places were crowded. Green - port's famous restaurants were jammed to capacity. School Opens: At the opening of the Greenport School for the 1960 -61 school year on Wednesday of this week the total attendance of pupils was 836 of which 66 were kindergarten children; 341 elementary students; 242 junior high school students and 187 senior high school students. Focus,,, (continued from previous page) brought the visibility down to less than 200 feet. We were in a world of swirling white water. On the marine weather station we heard that much of eastern Long Island was hit with this series of tempests such as we were experiencing, some even reporting tornadoes. It was good to be anchored in a harbor. All night long the wind tossed us around. I thought of my trusty plow anchor in the bottom below and how at each gust it dug a little deeper into the ooze of the harbor. During the night, the wind swung to the north and brought with it a chill of colder weather that told us fall was not too far away. By morning, when we looked out great grey clouds charged over us. It was Saturday and sup- posedly it was to clear but it never did. In between lulls, we went ashore and walked around the lovely village of Sag Harbor. Everyone had heavy sweaters on, some with parkas over their heads. We couldn't believe the change in tem- perature. What a difference a day makes! I'm afraid Sag Harbor is feeling the pressure of people. Both our North and South forks are under these same pressures. The charm and uniqueness draw like a magnet those who crave for that "breath of fresh air" we on the East End have to offer. This fills our roads and stores and beaches and, yes, our open spaces with people. The very thing they came out to see is slowly disappearing. The big problem, of course, is how to control this, but can we control it. The majority of people who have settled here cringe at the thought of what is ahead. There was a time when you could say you would go to Maine or Vermont, but the pressure is there also. Difficult decisions await us down the road.