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November 07, 1996 - A Fond Goodbye to a Faithful Friend6A • The Suffolk Times • November 7, 1996 A Fond Goodbye to a Faithful Friend Back in 1982 we went to our local an- imal shelter to look for a cat. Now, cats were never my kind of pet. We had al- ways had dogs as part of our family and besides, cats and birds don't make good bedfellows. But this cat was just with us for a short time, as he was really for our son, who was then living in a house that had its fair share of mice. Most of us experience these little creatures each fall when they come in from the cold to find their wintering quarters in our garages, cel- lars or even our kitchen cabi- nets. But what my son was experiencing was an inva- sion; they were everywhere. What was most aggravating was there were some that ran up and down in between the partitions at night. His was a unique situation, for the little house was in the woods and I suspect every woodland mouse in the area head- ed for this domain to get out of the cold and perhaps find some extra food. With this invasion of the "little people of the woods" in mind, he thought he needed a cat and we decided to get one for him. Time went on with the cat around to help, but she proved to be no mouser and a more deliberate approach to the prob- lem seemed to do more good than the cat — mainly baited traps. The end result was that since the cat was not making her keep she was returned to us and from that day on we had the companionship of Nuthatch. For one who wasn't too excit- ed about a cat, I must say this one went a long way in swinging my vote for cats. Good Animal Shelter Cat She was never a problem as far as kit- tens went for she had been spayed before we took her from the shelter, and as far as being housebroken her litter box worked perfectly at home or away from home. Whenever we went on extended cruises on our sailboat, the SeaWind, she and her litter box went along and a fine sailor she was. Once under way, she'd find a secluded spot to curl up and stay there until we anchored and things were secure. Once when we had gone to Newport, R.I., to see the America's Cup Challenge she "jumped ship." (You've heard this story before.) Usually we anchor off but this time we tied up to a dock, then someone left a hatch open and she went ashore. There's a long story here but two days later we found her. It was a trying two days. Then, while strolling around one of Connecticut's picturesque seaports, we poked our heads into a fragrant little shop that specialized in herbs. We were so taken by the array of fragrances and exciting herbs we just had to buy some- thing. Then we spotted catnip. We'd heard cats love it so, being novices abut such things, we bought some and took it back to the boat to treat Nuthatch. Little did we know what was in store for us. Our quiet, demure little cat became a wild thing that leaped, ran, jumped and spun around as if in a fit. It was as if someone had just zapped her with 1,200 volts of electricity. Needless to say, we quickly swept up our catnip and threw it overboard! Often when we were anchored we'd go ashore in our dinghy, only to come back in the evening to be greeted by her "Meow" as she walked around the decks and greeted us. Our only precaution in all our travels at sea was a crab net just in case she fell overboard, which she never did. Focus on Mature by Paul Stoutenburgh MATTITUCK SANITATION EAST END ECOLOGY LTD. 800 WICKHAM AVE. MATTI-FUCK, NY John DiVello & Sons RESIDENTIAL .V i COMMERCIAL GARBOLOGISTS Container Service 1 yd. through 8 yd. Roll -Off Service 15 yd. through 30 yd. 298 -8888 Serving Riverhead & Southold Township A Good Camper After our boating years, we put a camper on our pickup and traveled around the country. This she also enjoyed without any problems. Her litter box was under the bunk. We traveled 14,000 miles from the east coast to the west coast and she was with us all the time. There's only one problem traveling with pets, and that is there are certain parks about a that will not allow you in with a pet, but then that's a small price to pay to have part of your family with you. Last year we took her to Florida with us for three months while we watched and pho- tographed the endangered manatees at the Locks at Ortona for the Army Corps of Engineers. Once again she became lost. How she got out we still are not sure, but she was missing, that we knew. Once again we put up a frantic search, for just a short time before Barbara had photographed a big bobcat right in our backyard and a six -foot alligator under the camper. Could she have fallen prey to Suffolk Times photo by Barbara Stoutenburgh OUR CAT — Resting comfortably over the ice chest on a hot day aboard SeaWind during one of tier many summer cruises, Nuthatch was always a great companion whether on land or at sea. one of Florida's many predators? Once again the story is long and you've heard that, too, but in the end she was found and all went well from there on. At home she'd spend most of her time loafing around the house and in the evening would often be curled up in Barbara's lap, but as time went on she seemed to lose interest in everything, even eating and keeping herself groomed. We then noticed a few com- eat, this plications sneaking in and old age really taking over our once - perfect family member. Then one day it was all over. I buried her beside the most perfect of all pets, Hickory, our golden retriever, and Dusty, the kids' pony, that like the rest had just gotten too old. Those were teary days and rightfully so, for we had lost a true member of our family. No longer will we walk down in the bedroom to find someone curled up con- tent on the warmest piece of clothing or fluffiest pillow, paying little attention to us. No longer on those cold wintry nights will we see that gray- and -black ball of `For one who wasn't too excited one went a long way in swinging my vote for cats.' i ww'= fur curled up under the wood stove absorbing its warmth. We'll miss her companionship as we watch TV, for she'd survey all, including the TV, from the top of the couch as if she was enjoy- ing every moment of it. For some reason she had a liking for my big easy chair and night after night I'd have to ask her to "git" as she'd leave, half sulkily, and give me what amounted to a scornful cat look. Our cat did have one bad habit and that was she'd walk across my desk or Barbara's where papers always seemed to be piled high. There was no malice intended but her deliberate steps soon had piles of paper sliding and flying. If you saw her approaching the papers you could never tell her to get off, for that would only scare her and we'd have a double bunch of papers flying. Our litter box, combs, water and food dishes and extra cat food all went to the reusable section of the landfill. Hopefully someone will have a new cat and be able to use them to good advantage and hope- fully they'll have as much pleasure out of their cat as we have had for the past 15 years with ours. And that's from a per- son who wasn't too keen on cats to start with. 75 Years Ago cream parlor on Main Street, Greenport, of which Jack Nov. 4, 1921 Moran and Peter Bondarchuk are the proprietors, opened on Community House Proposed: At the last meeting Saturday of last week. The new store, with its modern equip - of the Greenport Ladies' Village Improvement Society it was ment, presents a most attractive appearance. The walls are urged that the ladies stand together and urge others to unite in covered with World War souvenirs, which are especially purchasing and maintaining a Community House. The Terry interesting to the young people. property just north of the Presbyterian Church was suggested 25 Years Ago as a possible and suitable location. Nov. 4, 1971 Many others, who felt that the village needed a public waterfront, spoke of Mrs. J. Evans Brown's property at the GOP Tidal Wave: Republican Albert Martocchia foot of Bay Avenue. This is an ideal location and offers took more votes than all his opponents combined in the first time, four -way race for Supervisor of Southold. While vot- bathing, boating, a playground, Community House and an excellent location for a Village Hall. ers in other towns kicked like donkeys or conservatively cast Mrs. Brown, who was present, said "she would like to dis- their ballots, Southold Town went to the polls and resound - ingly endorsed the incumbents, Republicans one and all. pose of the property for such an ideal purpose." 50 Years Ago g Greenport Passes Zoning Ordinance: Greenport Village has touched a new milestone with the Nov. 8, 1946 adoption of zoning ordinances to match its Comprehensive Methodists Eye Camp Quinipet: At a special Development Plan. The Village Trustees passed the ordi- session of the New York East Conference of the Methodist nances last Thursday night at a special meeting in the Church held on Monday, it was voted to purchase the camp Village Hall. The new laws, which have been seven years in site on Shelter Island known as Camp Quinipet. This proper- the making with shuttling back and forth from Village Board ty, which last summer was known as the Holiday Club, will to Planning Board as new criticism impelled changes, will be used by the church conference in its young people's work. become effective 10 days after publication in this issue of New Ice Cream Parlor: Pete and Jack's new ice The Suffolk Times.