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December 14, 1995 - Warm Welcome Follows a C-C-Cold OutingSA • *h*S SUMN Ti"V2 06'C i 1.4 t Warm Welcome Follows a CmCwCo'ld Outing Sunday was the coldest day of the year and my son had an appointment to have his boat hauled out. The appointment was for 1:30 at the ramp when the tide would be high. Seeing the boat had been sitting for quite a while, we thought it wise to start a little earlier "just in case." I'm sure all boat owners know what I mean. Luck seemed to be with us as far as the weather went for the previous day had been snow and sleet and today it was just cold and wind. We knew it had been cold during the night for the boat used to take us to the bigger boat was full of frozen ice from the previ- ous rain. Ever try standing in a tipsy aluminum row- boat with a mixture of ice and slush in the bottom? Once arrived, we started _ the two big engines and with the help of some starter fluid ( "bee- tle juice ") they were off and running. Just as we were about to cast off the last lines from the mooring, disaster struck! A slack line became entangled in the idling propeller. Normally during warmer weather this would have been no problem, either one of us would have gone over the side and untangled it, but today with the temperature in the teens and ice forming on everything, neither one of us was going overboard. Needless to say, a few choice phrases could be heard from the captain. We pulled and tugged, tried the boat hook approach, etc., but nothing worked. We even thought of just cutting the lines and letting them trail behind but that would involve the danger of the loose ends being caught in the other propeller. What to do? with temperatures in the teens and this combination was challenging the boat to stay on course. I tried slackening one of the fouled lines in hopes that it would give us better steerage and it did. Slowly we made our way out into the bay. Now we would travel slowly to our destina- tion. I usually go along on these expedi- tions for the company and the enjoyment I get out of being on the water. What a change had taken over. As we went out of the creek I noticed the tall marsh grass had lost its rich green color and taken on the color of win- ter — a washed -out, life- less light brown. The clar- ity of the water was unbe- lievable and bright, a far cry from the horror of the brown tide of summer. That alone made a big dif- ference in the overall look of the bay. Now with the strong winds manufactur- ing whitecaps, the whole vastness of the bay had a dark -green look to it. The spray froze on the hull as we went along. The wet mooring lines that were once wet and flexible now lay dead and stiff in a tangled mass on the deck. I tried to coil the line but the whole rigid mass moved as one frozen skeleton. I left my son on the bridge looking like a polar explorer in his bulky coat and knit- ted hat and face mask to steer across the bay while I snuck down below. Out of the Wind From my protected area below I could see oldsquaw ducks breaking out of the water and drifting off downwind as we approached. These are true winter visi- tors that stay with us in our bays no mat- ter what the weather. Only a frozen bay will move them. Small flocks of six or eight, one after another, would burst out of the water, their long tails behind them, giving them an elegant, stream- lined look. A pair popped up almost alongside the boat; evidently they'd been feeding below as we approached. They looked bewildered for a moment and then, like the others, took off, their feet hanging beneath them like landing gear of a plane. Then they drew their feet up un- Focus on Nature by Paul Stoutenburgh On Our Way Then we had the brilliant idea that all we had to do was tie the tangled line tightly to a cleat and use just one engine. We'd give that a try. As we let go our final mooring line to safety, we found another problem confronting us. The fouled line was hampering our steerage. With fingers crossed and everything else crossed we slowly started out the chan- nel. As you probably remember, there were fierce northwest winds blowing 75 Years Ago Dec. 109 1920 Choral Society Forms: We wish to announce that the Greenport Choral Society, recently organized, was start- ed with the sole purpose of promoting vocal music and sight - reading in this community. We cordially invite all singers to enroll with us and come to the rehearsal on Tuesday evening in the Olympia Hall at 7:30 o'clock. A nominal fee of 15 cents.per week is charged to defray the cost of maintenance and to purchase music. We have over 50 members enrolled at the present time and are desirous of bringing the number up to 100. 50 Years Ago Dec. 146 1945 Ferry Trouble: Dissatisfaction with the service ren- dered by the Greenport- Shelter Island Ferry Company was voiced at the December meeting of the Shelter Island Town Board Wednesday evening. A petition signed by more than 150 year -round residents of the island was presented, ask- ing that a special election be called for the purpose of vot- ing on the proposition of Shelter Island Town taking over and operating the ferry system. In presenting the petition, Mrs. Deborah Wagner enumer- ated the failures of the Shelter Island Heights Association, derneath them just as the plane would do, their speed increased and they dis- appeared from view. There were also small groups of scoters that moved from the water as we approached. These big, black winter diving ducks that also visit us from the north were slower flyers than the speedy oldsquaws but then they were twice the size. Outside of the sea ducks there were no gulls, no boats, only the newborn waves that sparkled all about us. We made our way into the ramp area and tied up. Even then the wind would not leave us alone. It blew us across the docking area, knowing full well we were crippled and ill - equipped to maneuver. At the appointed time the hauler came with his custom -made boat trailer and its modern hydraulics that moved at a fin- ger's touch and chocks and lifts that would keep the boat steady. Once on the cradle of the trailer, it was hauled out and we were away. Water ran down the slimy keel where barnacles had found a place to grow. In that short time as we stood around watching the hauler finish strapping down the boat, the dripping water froze in salty icicles from the keel. The icy cold was not giving up. Soon the boat, trailer and hauler were on their way and it was all over. To finish the day off I made a quick change and headed for the Hallockville rnoto uy raut otuutuiwuiy, 1 ORIENT POINT LIGHT —Even on these blustery cold days of winter some people are out on the water. Whether it's the rugged bayman or others, they endure whatever the weather brings. owners of the Greenport and Shelter Island ferry, in provid- ing adequate ferry service. The petition requested that the Town Board take all nec- essary steps to acquire all of the property of the ferry com- pany, including the franchise of the said company known as the North Ferry Franchise. That the Town of Shelter Island maintain and operate a ferry service between the Town of Shelter Island and the Village of Greenport. Supervisor Everett Tuthill accepted the petition, stating that the Town Board would take action. 25 Years Ago Dec. 11, 1970 County Acquires Southold Park: "There was substantial, well - articulated opposition at the Legislature meeting to the county acquisition of Pine Crest Dunes for a park site," Deputy County Executive Lawrence Kennedy said Wednesday, adding that it seemed to be predominantly from contiguous property owners. Acquisition of the 37 acres of property in Southold Town with 1,000 feet of sound frontage was passed by the legisla- tors on a 16-2 vote. The second parcel of Southold property, known as Inlet Pond, was also taken by the Legislature for the county in a separate vote at Tuesday's meeting. This area, which had recently been on the market for $160,000, is also 37 acres and has 1,000 feet of sound frontage. Museum Farm up on the North Road to experience the Victorian Christmas. As I walked into the Hudson House I was greeted by live Christmas music and the scent of spiced tea. Tables were set and groups, young and old, were enjoying the first part of this gala occasion in Mrs. Berg's Tea Room. Then, through the kitchen with its busy volunteers, I head- ed for the original Hallock homestead, where candles beckoned me from every window. And what a step back in time it was, particularly in its Christmas setting. A native cedar tree, cut from the nearby woods, was peri- od decorated in the living room. The spirit of Someone was Christmas playing the old upright piano. Surely had Christmas was in the air. The din- taken over ing room table at the was spread with cookies and Hallockville young people decorating them. homestead. There was an air of a grand family gathering going on. Upstairs visitors looked into bedrooms where dressy clothes were laid out for the coming occa- sion and Christmas packages sat around, about to be wrapped. Down in the kitchen the old cast -iron stove glowed red with mincemeat tarts cooking and hot cider steaming on the stove. My job wound up to be helping the volunteers in the big barn where craft people had their wares on display. Steaming hot chocolate was served and oh, how it was appreciated, for the wind whistled through the barn. Christmas and the Christmas spirit surely had taken over at the Hallockville homestead. Visitors by the hundreds, many with children, had come bundled up and drift- ed through the barns and buildings. We had all taken a step back in that wonder- ful time of Christmas.