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November 17, 1983 - On Open SpacesNovember IT, 1983 On Open Spaces By PAUL STOUTENBURGH Recently, Barbara and I went to see friends on one of the loveliest spots here on the North Fork. They live up on a bluff high above Peconic Bay. It was here I was to do a bit of photographing on an assignment well overdue. It was a sort of fun assignment and the payment was in strawberry shortcake and good com- 4oQ�� oW pany. We spent the afternoon lolling in the warm fall sun and reminiscing about old times after the assignment was over. These people live in a modest house on what is basically a small piece of land but what makes their home something spec- ial is the view they have to the west across shimmering Peconic Bay. There was no fancy landscaping nor huge house but the thing that was important was a large picture window that their lives re- volved in back of. This is what makes their spot on earth for them. The more I thought about this view the more I realized that everywhere here on the North Fork vistas of all sorts are one of the major reasons why people are attracted to this end of the island. Looking across the bay from any vantage point, whether it is from someone's living room or from the end of a black - topped road, a feeling of wonder grabs you as your eyes sweep across the sparkling water. No wonder I often see workers on their noon time break parked at the end of a road enjoying lunch and relaxing. This is why just about every piece of available land along our shores has been bought up. It's the view. It could be up at the end of a creek looking over a lush green salt marsh or down a glittering shallow creek where the marsh birds wade. If it's a water view, it's in demand. Waterfront Too Dear Once I wanted to live on the water but in those days, as is true today, the price scared me just to think about it. I settled for woods and pastures and vistas across farm fields and to many of us these are just as enjoyable as the views of our bays and creeks. More and more people are finding that visual sights are the key to their location when it comes to building. Some place along the way each is satisfied whether it is a backyard that is THIS WEEK'S FEATURE: • Advent Candle Wreaths • Advent & Gift Candles • Holiday Gift Tins • Christmas Decorating Ribbon in Plaids and Prints for Wreaths and Holiday Projects. The News - Review Page 11 Photo by Paul Stoutenburgh OPEN SPACE AND WIDE VISTAS - -If we lose the will have lost one of our major attractions on the views of our bays, creeks, farmlands and harbors, we East End. just right or a view across a field. Each person finds his place but the view is one of the key factors in selection. For many of us the great views across the Sound and across the bay come to us only as we ride about the island. The openness of our area and the views across the farms and waterways give us something special. I never tire of the broad open spaces that Orient has to offer, the country roads and views along the North Road and Sound Avenue heading to Riverhead or the little quiet road from New Suffolk to Mattituck along the bay. Each of us has our own special place and as the seasons change we renew our acquaintance with these areas. But then how does one protect these special areas of beauty we all enjoy? By the signing of a piece of paper much of our rural character can fade away in a simple sale. Then we wonder what is go- ing to happen and we all sit back and wait. Will the area we once knew be changed? Will the character of the land be changed? What can we do? Some Open Space Preserved Nature Conservancy, a national or- ganization for the preservation of land, has done some good work in this area of protection but like many organizations they can do just so much. Our local park districts have made great strides in holding areas open, particularly notable are the ones in Orient, Cutchogue -New Suffolk and Mattituck. The Village of Greenport with its Moores Woods holding to the north of Greenport and the great County parks of Riverhead are other examples of good thinking for our future generations. Yet with all this it is only a pittance compared to what is still left in private hands. How the private sector will use these areas that you and I take it ,qk ;: �[ i� IE �l •t )en: Tues. - Sat.$ 10 -5 Heirloom Coun ry Collectibles McDermott Ave. (Behind McCabes) 'Riverhead 727 - 5909 for granted is a great concern to many of US. Hard questions are going to come up in the near future. Does a person have an obligation to his community in trying to use his land so that it will be a credit rather than a detriment to the area? Will the town enact zoning regulations for various parts of the town to prevent losses of these irreplaceable visual gifts? When we look back, the west end had just as many nice views and areas as we do. There were farms and meadows, lakes and streams, bays and creeks. But then, what happened? There are a few parks left here and there and one or two lakes that haven't been filled. What is missing is that open space and to the people living there the memorable views that were once so dear to them. Hopefully through an insight into the future and proper town planning, our land will not be buried in concrete and asphalt. There is an excuse for those who blundered in the dark in the past but there can be no excuse for errors today when good planning and honest expecta- tions are set in motion. Mirabe//i to Speak AQUEBOGUE - -Time management expert Donna Mirabelli will speak at the next meeting of the East End Women's Network, scheduled for Nov. 30, 6 p.m. at Brasby's Restaurant. Ms. Mirabelli will focus her discussion on "Time Management for Women" with an exploration of the unique problems of those who must cope with households and careers. She will discuss how to identify priorities, time wasters, time savers and how to get more done in less time. All are invited. There is a $3 guest fee for non- members. For information, call 298 -9388. Turns your LONG woodburning stove into an efficient an- thracite coal burn- ing stove in just minutes. Burns either wood or an- thracite coal. WOODBURNING STOVES Industrial It Farm Equipment j xu,,, -A. _ e - - ROLLE BROS. ROUTE 58, P.O. BOX 358 RIVERHEAD, NEW YORK - Phone 727 -4383 Your Authorized Sperry -New Holland Dealer. November 17,1983 On Open Spaces By PAUL STOUTENBURGH Recently, Barbara and I went to see friends on one of the loveliest spots here on the North Fork. They live up on a bluff high above Peconic Bay. It was here I was to do a bit of photographing on an assignment well overdue. It was a sort of fun assignment and the payment was in strawberry shortcake and good com- 4oQgw) @Ufl MOT1519 pany. We spent the afternoon lolling in the warm fall sun and reminiscing about old times after the assignment was over. These people live in a modest house on what is basically a small piece of land but what makes their home something spec- ial is the view they have to the west across shimmering Peconic Bay. There was no fancy landscaping nor huge house but the thing that was important was a large picture window that their lives re- volved in back of. This is what makes their spot on earth for them. The more I thought about this view the more I realized that everywhere here on the North Fork vistas of all sorts are one of the major reasons why people are attracted to this end of the island. Looking across the bay from any vantage point, whether it is from someone's living room or from the end of a black - topped road, a feeling of wonder grabs you as your eyes sweep across the sparkling water. No wonder I often see workers on their noon time break parked at the end of a road enjoying lunch and relaxing. This is why just about every piece of available land along our shores has been bought up. It's the view. It could be up at the end of a creek looking over a lush green salt marsh or down a glittering shallow creek where the marsh birds wade. If it's a water view, it's in demand. Waterfront Too Dear Once I wanted to live on the water but in those days, as is true today, the price scared me just to think about it. I settled for woods and pastures and vistas across farm fields and to many of us these are just as enjoyable as the views of our bays and creeks. More and more people are finding that visual sights are the key to their location when it comes to building. Some place along the way each is satisfied whether it is a backyard that is THIS WEEK'S FEATURE: • Advent Candle Wreaths • Advent & Gift Candles • Holiday Gift Tins • Christmas Decorating Ribbon in Plaids and Prints for Wreaths and Holiday Projects. The Suffolk Times Page 19 Photo by Paul Stoutenburgh OPEN SPACE AND WIDE VISTAS - -If we lose the will have lost one of our major attractions on the views of our bays, creeks, farmlands and harbors, we East End. just right or a view across a field. Each person finds his place but the view is one of the key factors in selection. For many of us the great views across the Sound and across the bay come to us only as we ride about the island. The openness of our area and the views across the farms and waterways give us something special. I never tire of the broad open spaces that Orient has to offer, the country roads and views along the North Road and Sound Avenue heading to Riverhead or the little quiet road from New Suffolk to Mattituck along the bay. Each of us has our own special place and as the seasons change we renew our acquaintance with these areas. But then how does one protect these special areas of beauty we all enjoy? By the signing of a piece of paper much of our rural character can fade away in a simple sale. Then we wonder what is go- ing to happen and we all sit back and wait. Will the area we once knew be changed? Will the character of the land be changed? What can we do? Some Open Space Preserved Nature Conservancy, a national or- ganization for the preservation of land, has done some good work in this area of protection but like many organizations they can do just so much. Our local park districts have made great strides in holding areas open, particularly notable are the ones in Orient, Cutchogue -New Suffolk and Mattituck. The Village of Greenport with its Moores Woods holding to the north of Greenport and the great County parks of Riverhead are other examples of good thinking for our future generations. Yet with all this it is only a pittance compared to what is still left in private hands. How the private sector will use these areas that you and I take • tf 3: �r� Den: Tues. - sat.16K — 10 -5 Heirloom Coun r3 Collectibles McDermott Ave. (Behind McCabes) I Riverhead 727 - for granted is a great concern to many of us. Hard questions are going to come up in the near future. Does a person have an obligation to his community in trying to use his land so that it will be a credit rather than a detriment to the area? Will the town enact zoning regulations for various parts of the town to prevent losses of these irreplaceable visual gifts? When we look back, the west end had just as many nice views and areas as we do. There were farms and meadows, lakes and streams, bays and creeks. But then, what happened? There are a few parks left here and there and one or two lakes that haven't been filled. What is missing is that open space and to the people living there the memorable views that were once so dear to them. The town fathers have wisely chosen to have their sights for the future of the town reviewed and a new master plan is in the working. Hopefully this new plan will review our past and have an insight into the future so that their suggestions for a better town through planning will include ways to protect our land from being buried in concrete and asphalt. There is an excuse for those who blundered in the dark in the past but there can be no excuse for errors today when good planning and honest expecta- tions are set in motion. Coming November 23rd: Our Annual Gift Guide Turns your LONG woodburning stove into an efficient an- thracite coal burn- ing stove in just minutes. Burns either wood or an- thracite coal. - 1 WOODBURNING STOVES Industrial & Farm Equipment ROLLE BROS. ROUTE 58, P.O. BOX 358 RIVERHEAD, NEW YORK - ►horn 727 -4383 Your Authorized Snerry -New Holland Dealer.