Dedicated Swimmers
East Hampton
October 19, 2008
Dear Editor:
The title of last week’s article highlighting our incredibly talented swimmers insinuated that we suffered a loss last week. More false it could not be. To further describe these mental errors as negating our strong performance is equally misleading.
Our team was superb and performed with a skilled discipline beyond their young years. Skye Marigold and the rest of the team did exactly what they should be doing at this stage in their training. These disqualifications are something new swimmers are supposed to experience. It’s part of the training process and part of the fun. It’s also necessary — that’s how we learn.
This most definitely does not diminish the strength of our performance. If anything, it highlights it. The beauty of our team is that we are in its infancy, with endless opportunities and potential. I am quite proud of every one of these dedicated swimmers and I look forward to many more exciting swim meets in the future.
TOM COHILL
Head Swim Coach
Y.M.C.A. East Hampton Recenter
Saved His Life
Springs
October 1, 2008
Dear Mr. Rattray,
I am writing to you in an effort to express to our close-knit community the value and importance of the Child Development Center of the Hamptons to my son and to my family. First let me start by saying that my son, Jonathan, had a wonderful experience at C.D.C.H.’s preschool program from 2003 to 2005.
Upon his graduation from the preschool program, we enrolled him in our school district’s public elementary school, the Springs School. He had an acceptable year there for kindergarten, but in first grade it became evident that the school was unable to meet his needs. Although he is not classified as a special needs student, the school was still unable to cope with some small issues that he had.
I turned to the C.D.C.H. community in our need, and they welcomed us with warm, open arms. I believe that the act of moving my son from the Springs public school to the C.D.C.H. saved his life.
The C.D.C.H. has dealt with my son in the most loving, positive, and accepting manner that I could hope for. He has gone from being an extremely depressed child, crying every day at the thought of going to school, to a happy and eager-to-go-to-school little guy.
He is still himself, still has some of the same small issues that Springs was unable to cope with, but the C.D.C.H. has found a way to lovingly and masterfully guide my son through some of the rough spots. I am indebted to this school; I adore the community atmosphere, and am thrilled with the academic incentives and opportunities that are given to my son.
I look forward to enjoying my son’s entire elementary experience at C.D.C.H. and plan to keep my daughter in the C.D.C.H. preschool program and enroll her in its charter school when it is her turn to enter kindergarten. I do not feel that I could ask for a better program.
Thank you to everyone at the C.D.C.H. You’ve saved my son’s life, restored happiness to our family, and given us a very bright outlook for the future.
Sincerely,
GAIL ANN SIMONS
Ever Bigger Fish
Greenport
October 20, 2008
Dear David,
A man’s life can only be understood when it is measured within the context of his times. It’s been over a month now since my father, Frank Mundus, passed away, and I’ve thought over what was posthumously written about him, ranging from the tabloids to The Economist magazine. If he wasn’t the public topic of conversation locally, I wouldn’t ask Star readers to indulge me. But I have one thing to add: A summary of his life can most easily be described as two distinct lives: pre-“Jaws” and post-“Jaws.”
Taking the tiger, or in his case, the mako, by the tail as a young man was probably motivated by a close brush with childhood mortality. He didn’t just live life, he seized it. He persuaded my mother, Janet, who today is still vibrant and living in Springs, to leave the farm where she was raised. She climbed onto the back of a big Harley-Davidson hard-tail in 1947 and joined the outrageous ride that was Frank Mundus’s life.
It was rough going, both physically and metaphorically, in the beginning of their life together. When they first arrived in Montauk in 1951, my parents lived with a child onboard the Cricket II. They, like many other boat owners, were recruited to move their charter operation to Montauk because there was a shortage of fishing boats catering to the Long Island Rail Road’s Fisherman’s Special. My mother and my 3-year-old sister, Barbara, left the boat each early morning to occupy themselves ashore while my father and the boat went out fishing. When the customers left in the evening, they’d return to the boat — day after day.
Frank Mundus was fortunate to discover his fishing gift early on, and he was equally fortunate that Red Stuart, a professional sportsman, noticed. My father went to Florida to fish with Mr. Stuart in the off-season; my mother waited tables there to make ends meet.
In the early years in Montauk, my father really found his groove on the boat and on the dock. My mother, working, too, in Montauk, held the business end of things together.
My father was passionate about his lifelong pursuit of ever bigger fish, and, using his monster-fishing concept, found a way to pursue his hunter’s aptitude and use his passion to feed his family. “Throw ’em on the dock” became his mantra, by which he meant the proof is in the pudding. His cut-the-crap posturing and no-holds-barred marketing gimmicks were his way of distinguishing his prowess. It was the difference between Montauk’s fish tails and its fish tales — to lure charter parties to fish with him rather than the competition. Ah, the odd esoteric history of Montauk.
You have to admit, politically correct or not, in that context his was an effective scheme. My father always said, “If my customers ever have more fun on the boat than I do, I’ll stop.”
We should all be so lucky to love our job. And it really says something about him, that at 82 with a known heart condition and a bad back, he came back to fish. He was wrestling with a blue shark — literally — only days before he flew back to his farm in Hawaii. In the end, he was true to his promise. He had so much fun on the boat; he didn’t quite make it home.
Not much needs to be said about the “Jaws” effect. Readers of this paper already know that story. There’s the ongoing talk about that big white shark (4,500 pounds and harpooned in 1964 when I was 7 years old). There’s the dialogue about Montauk’s own — the notoriety, the endless dialogue about whether Quint was or wasn’t Frank Mundus — and the origins of Peter Benchley’s tale, the author having fished with my father on the Cricket II. That’s the post-“Jaws” reality of the last three decades.
I’m no philosopher, but I do know that when a man starts spending all his time talking about what he is or what he isn’t, he’s not really “it” anymore. Your paper had it right when Rusty Drumm described him as having the ability to chum people as well as sharks. Simply put, he enjoyed the hunt. That would be other fishermen, scientists, journalists, writers, filmmakers, photographers, weirdos, and curiosity-seekers alike.
So, it’s no surprise that a group in Montauk would like to see the Cricket II used as a museum or anglers’ center. I’m all for it, especially if it encourages the use of circle hooks to ensure that the catch-and-release program actually releases fish that will swim away to live. My father was adamant about this and he was using his notoriety to promote this type of gear right to the end.
So, to anyone inquiring about the boat and its fate, I recommend contacting the Monster Man’s second wife and his approved biographer, Jeanette Mundus (refer to the Oct. 9 letters to the editor), or contact her designee in Montauk, Bob Rando.
As ever,
PAT MUNDUS
Inspirational Content
Springs
October 19, 2008
Dear Editor,
After a most inspiring weekend, I wanted to thank and congratulate all those who were involved in bringing another great Hamptons International Film Festival to the community. Each year I have spent more time at the festival, and this year was a record. I saw over 20 films and continued to be amazed by the quality and inspirational content.
My husband and I focused on the documentaries and we were laughing and crying through a range of subjects: “Harvard Beats Yale 29-29,” “Valentino, the Last Emperor,” “Nursery University,” and “Kennedy: A President to Remember,” to name just a few, which I am still pondering.
The question-and-answer session after each showing with the directors and often the participants added a dimension that provided insight and context. We are already looking forward to next year’s program. As a teacher, I encourage more parents to take their children in the future. It is an unparalleled opportunity.
Sincerely,
SUE ELLEN MARDER-O’CONNOR
‘Bad’ Lighting
Springs
October 20, 2008
Dear David,
Last week a letter was submitted by a reader who was decrying the lack of an outdoor lighting code in East Hampton. As you know, both East Hampton Town and Village have enacted lighting codes. In fact, the town has had restrictions since the 1970s about exposed, bare lightbulbs, which, unfortunately, were not enforced.
Ironically, “good” night lighting is not as evident as “bad.” When lighting is well designed, you only see what is lit, not the glare of a lightbulb. So, the writer’s distress is understandable.
Specific complaints are necessary to clean up bad lighting. While we have a good town code enforcement officer who deals well with complaints, complaints are needed to help clean up bad lighting.
The town planning board and the village design review board are doing a good job, for the most part, in requiring good lighting plans. The town has a deadline of October 2010 for all commercial properties to adhere to the lighting code. Most of the fixtures that need to be changed were installed in violation of the laws which were already on the books.
The Planning Department has made it easy to comply, and I recommend that all property and business owners work with them to bring their lighting up to code for the sake of their neighbors, their own customers’ safety, energy conservation, and to preserve our town’s character and night sky.
For all the good reasons to use better lighting, see the November National Geographic magazine. A good guideline: Avoid excess and turn off lights when you are not outside.
SUSAN HARDER
Director
New York International Dark
Sky Association
Artistic Heritage
East Hampton
October 19, 2008
To the Editor:
As a resident of Springs and a frequent traveler around East Hampton, Amagansett, and Springs neighborhoods, I was dismayed to hear about the proposed commercial development of 132 North Main Street. This location is directly across from the historic and recently preserved Silah Lester house.
Judging by the sketch of the proposed structure, this is not the kind of building we need in this town. This intersection is the gateway to Springs; the name itself suggests pastoral views and tranquillity, and, of course, embodies a long natural and artistic heritage.
Please reconsider the plan for this building so that it will be a better representation of our wonderful neighborhood.
NORA KLEPS
Dismayed, Discouraged
East Hampton
October 19, 2008
Dear David Rattray,
Thank you for the editorial last week supporting the 500-plus opponents of the hulking commercial development proposed for 132 North Main Street. I used to live just off North Main and still visit friends on Willow Lane often. I shop on North Main — as does the rest of my family — and I pass 132 at least twice a day.
Many of us local people are dismayed and discouraged by the changes and overdevelopment in our area, too discouraged to object much anymore. But we need to speak up. North Main is a little, local, friendly shopping area, a street, not a highway, much less a ravaged UpIsland highway or suburb. I dread seeing what happened to the Wainscott strip happen to North Main.
At a recent work session of the town planning board, opponents were shocked and angered by an arrogant member who stated his belief that those who signed a petition opposing this development didn’t know what they were signing. So you unenlightened ignoramuses who were duped into signing, let your town authorities know that you are fully competent and stand by your signature. There will be another public hearing. Don’t miss it.
Sincerely,
LOREN MERRILL
Still Makes Sense
Amagansett
October 16, 2008
Dear David,
I support the town's renovation of the old Lester house on North Main Street, and urge people to be patient. It is a great project. The town bought the property for a fair price — it is at a highly visible location and will make a lovely small park when it is finished and a fine addition to North Main Street as that area continues to be revitalized.
The community preservation fund manager and staff, responsible for a multimillion-dollar budget and hundreds of acres of land, operate out of a decrepit trailer. Why not reuse the historic house as office space for their functions? Is the renovation being done in a responsible manner? As the work is being done by talented town employees, I would bet that the taxpayers are getting a first-class job by local workers, for a great deal less money than an UpIsland company would charge.
The East Hampton Town Board appointed a committee to structure a public review process for just this kind of project on C.P.F. properties, which I was honored to work on. It is my hope that the town board will have adopted the recommended procedures and scheduled a hearing on the 2009 projects before the end of this year.
A final point: It still makes sense to borrow against future C.P.F. revenues, to buy important properties as they become available. There is a caveat though: We live in dangerous economic times.
No one knows what the future holds for the real estate market and C.P.F. revenues, when the only fixed cost is C.P.F. debt service. The town board should assume the worst-case scenario — a continuing decline in C.P.F. revenues for the next few years.
There is pent-up capital sitting in low-interest-paying accounts, and if Wall Streeters still have jobs and get bonuses in the next few years, it will come our way again. But that won't happen in a major way until the buyers see a real estate market bottom. That could take several years. Until then, caution is the word.
Respectfully yours,
JOB POTTER
Nonessential Purchase
East Hampton
October 20, 2008
To the Editor,
In “Harbor Vote Delayed” (Oct. 2), Mr. McGintee expressed “ire” at anyone questioning the amount of the Boys Harbor purchase, and said it would be a “win-win” for the town and county. Our analysis of the value of the property suggests a number of about half what the town and Suffolk are paying. We requested the appraisals guiding the town under the Freedom of Information Act, but the town refused to provide the information.
Who wins from this purchase? The net costs for repairs, maintenance, insurance, and supervision by the town will most likely exceed $300,000 per year, for a nonessential purchase. In these trying financial times shouldn’t we focus only on essential projects? The town has been put on notice that there is an inherent danger in the access roads that may cause accidents for which the town may be liable under applicable case law. A number of fatalities have already occurred on the road that would be used for access.
Under the Freedom of Information Act, we requested a report in the town’s possession regarding traffic dangers on these access roads, but again we were refused this information.
A bond is now being floated to finance this purchase. With real estate sales going down, what are the chances that transfer tax funds will be able to support this bond, and guess who will have to foot the shortfall? The taxpayer — and out of regular tax dollars, not the community preservation fund.
JON KORN
Dodging Deer
Montauk
October 19, 2008
Dear Editor:
Your editorial “Dodging Deer” (Oct. 16) overlooked the role of hunting in the seasonal increase in deer vehicle collisions. The Erie Insurance Company, which uses 10 years of deer claims to perform an analysis of deer-vehicle collisions every year, recently reported that hunting increases deer-car collisions.
The East Hampton Group for Wildlife, a nonprofit group that is concerned about our wildlife and our citizens’ enjoyment of the beauty of East Hampton, paid for roadside reflectors and had them installed along Stephen Hand’s Path. The town has shown no interest in expanding the installation despite data suggesting that the reflectors decrease deer-vehicle collisions.
We urge other groups or residents to contact us (easthamptongroupforwild life.org) if you would like to sponsor installation of reflectors along a segment of East Hampton town roads and take positive action to help our fellow drivers as well as the deer who live here with us.
Sincerely,
ELLEN F. CRAIN
What a Pity
Montauk
October 20, 2008
Dear Mr. Rattray:
It’s a shame and a waste of in-place resources that the East Hampton town Youth Court has been stricken from next year’s budget.
Youth Courts throughout the nation are official state courts run by high school students to handle certain nonviolent crimes or school offenses. East Hampton Youth Court handles real cases, including vandalism, weapons, drugs, assaults, car theft, graffiti, and shoplifting.
Our Youth Court is approaching its 10th year and apparently will not be continued because of the town’s budget crisis. What a pity. East Hampton now has about 35 students on standby who have already completed an intense three-month training program. Twenty more recruits have just signed up for training to replace team members lost to graduation. These students are all volunteers who joined for experience in law, law enforcement, and the criminal justice system.
The Youth Court’s annual budget of approximately $17,000 covers the part-time salary of one person, plus supplies and instruction manuals. Training takes place at the East Hampton Town police headquarters and the East Hampton Town Justice Court.
The student volunteers come from East Hampton High School, the Ross School, and Pierson High School. They are trained by the paid, part-time coordinator and receive additional volunteer instruction from correction officers from the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Department, the Suffolk County attorney (about reform school), East Hampton Justice Catherine Cahill, assistant Suffolk County district attorneys, and local attorneys and police officers. Last spring the East Hampton Youth Court team entered the Suffolk County Mock Trial Competition and won first place.
The heavy lifting has been done. The volunteer instructors are ready to start training. A theft case has just come in. Each case involves a minimum of 12 student volunteers as judge, jury, bailiff, prosecutors, and defense attorneys. Too bad all this training, experience, and expertise will be squandered. Cases that would normally go to Youth Court will be referred back to regular adult criminal court, family court, the schools, or the Probation Department, increasing the burden on those agencies. East Hampton Youth Court has graduated over 200 students over the years and handled over 50 real cases.
Surely our town can find a way to maintain a well-established, award-winning, youth-oriented, volunteer-based, police-and-school-supported community service and education program that is open to all. I am hoping concerned parents and disappointed students will contact the town board and urge support for the East Hampton Youth Court.
If not, say goodbye to one more year-round activity for the kids. Guess they can always go to the Y.M.C.A. Oops, it may be cut off, too.
Respectfully yours,
GORDON G. RYAN
No Volunteers
East Hampton
October 20, 2008
To the Editor:
It is no news that we currently face the greatest fiscal crisis to ever hit the Town of East Hampton. A $12 million, or more, deficit lurks in the background. The current budget proposal put forth by our supervisor calls for 20 and 30-percent tax increases, respectively, for town and village residents. How then can our supervisor and town board be talking about pay raises for elected officials and department heads?
In the current economic atmosphere, people are lucky to keep their jobs. Should anyone seriously expect a raise?
I have, on several occasions, expressed my view that since the supervisor and board got us into this mess they should voluntarily forgo their salaries while they attempt to undo the fiscal chaos they created. Of course, there have been no volunteers.
Now they tell us that simply because union employees have a contract that awards them a raise, apparently no matter what the economic circumstances existing in the town, a whole host of other non-union employees, department heads, and elected officials are also somehow entitled to an increase in their weekly pay. (The board finally did back down on their own raises after many negative comments from the public.)
Under Supervisor Bill McGintee’s “my hands are tied when it comes to raises” scenario, one thought keeps going round and round in my head: Ted Hults, as budget officer and head of the budget office, thanks only to Mr. McGintee, is entitled to a raise!
Is our town board really so mindless that they would follow Mr. McGintee’s mantra that unearned, automatic raises are a fiscally responsible way for East Hampton to spend taxpayer dollars? What is the message? Show up, keep breathing, and your paycheck will increase, after all, it’s only the taxpayers’ money and they have deep pockets?
Come on. How far will this insanity go before someone on the board yells, “Enough”?
BEVERLY BOND
Policy of Indifference
East Hampton
October 16, 2008
To the Editor:
The recent disclosure of Supervisor McGintee’s proposed astronomical tax hike concurrent with a salary increase for himself and the other members of the town board should come as no surprise to the residents and taxpayers of East Hampton.
As a threshold matter, I hope the fools who voted for this incompetent, arrogant, and imperious excuse for a supervisor are happy with their choice. They had a choice between an experienced and superlatively qualified candidate, Bill Wilkinson, who was a top executive at the Disney corporation for years, and who ran on a platform which included respect for the taxpayers, the real stakeholders in this town, and fiscal responsibility, pledging to run the Town of East Hampton as a business, which is what any municipality is, and maintaining the incompetent status quo. Well, those who voted the McGintee line got what they deserve.
Supervisor McGintee’s first time of office was underscored by a policy of indifference to the needs of the people of this community, arrogance, and a “let-them-eat-cake” mindset. One only need look at the ludicrous array of rotting hulks of so-called historical houses that now are no more than eyesores sitting atop the site where our former Town Hall used to be to understand the convoluted thought process of Mr. McGintee. Of course, his response, predictably, would be that they were donated, and how convenient, for the former owner of these eyesores that buildings that should have been razed at his cost, to have them removed at taxpayer cost.
Just because a building is old does not mean that it has any historical value. The cost of renovating these buildings will surely far exceed the cost of having built new structures. One only need look at the beautiful building that is the Village Hall on Main Street to see that modern construction techniques can replicate a historical look, and not compromise the appearance of the community.
But Mr. McGintee’s bizarre plan now leaves the Town of East Hampton with several piles of junk on the site, with the uncertain liability to pay for what are sure to be considerable and wasteful outlays of money, that is, of course, if the town can afford it at all.
And then let’s examine the many programs that will suffer total cuts in funding: the East Hampton Y.M.C.A. RECenter, the Animal Rescue Fund of the Hamptons, the Women’s Breast Health Coalition (hardly important at all, considering that the East End has the dubious distinction of having the highest breast cancer rate on Long Island and indeed throughout the country, right, Mr. McGintee?), the Youth Court, and, of course, where we also boast the equally dubious distinction of having one of the highest rates of domestic abuse in the nation, the Retreat, just to name a few. And this man dares to call himself the fiscal manager of our town?
Mr. McGintee’s lackey and consummate “yes man,” Brad Loewen, is pleased with the raise. But do not be fooled by Pat Mansir’s statement that she would be “okay” with a salary freeze, or Pete Hammerle’s echoing the same sentiment. They are trying to play it both ways. For years they, too, have been part of the McGintee goon squad, giving the imprimatur of approval to virtually anything that this supervisor-gone-mad has proposed. The only board member with the courage to stand up to his royal highness McGintee has been Julia Prince, and she should be commended for her guts to stand up to this tyrant. With the singular exception of Ms. Prince, this entire board, including its so-called leader, William McGintee, should be replaced.
When Rhoda Bation queried Mr. McGintee about this proposed tax increase and salary increase, his response was typically arrogant and insulting: “No comment.” This, as stated above, has been the hallmark of the McGintee tenure, and it is time to remove this incompetent from office, along with all of his henchmen, with the sole exception of Ms. Prince.
The priorities of this town board have shifted from the interest of the people and taxpayers of East Hampton, to whom they are accountable, to their own greed and indifferent agenda. Throw these bums out, and this time replace them with citizens who will be sensitive to the needs of this community during these difficult financial times, with, I fear, still worse economic downturn to follow.
As I am sure that Mr. McGintee does not read this section of The Star, since this is one venue where the people of East Hampton can express their views, perhaps when one of Mr. McGintee’s henchmen make him aware of this letter, I hope he tries to sue this lawyer for defamation. Remember, Mr. McGintee, under New York State’s law of defamation, truth is an absolute defense.
Most respectfully and sincerely submitted,
JOHN J. EBEL
Conflict of Interest
Montauk
October 17, 2008
Dear Editor,
It is not only a right, but a responsibility for me, a citizen, to question the actions of a publicly elected official mostly when the questioning is directed toward his activities while he is working in a official manner.
At the Thursday East Hampton Town Board meeting I basically questioned Councilman Brad Loewen’s motivation in changing the dog park to a park that everyone can use, and stated that he must recuse himself from the vote on this matter. You see, Mr. Loewen as a lawmaker is not allowed to take part in making laws that have a conflict of interest or even a perceived conflict of interest when making laws that directly financially benefit him, his family, or people he is closely associated with. And I feel that is what might be going on.
Let me explain, Mr. Loewen has had a house for sale for some time now only 300 feet from the dog park. And I know that if I were looking for a house to buy, I would not want a bunch of barking dogs in my backyard. And that I would pay more money for the same house in a quieter neighborhood even one street over as I think anyone would. That being said, I believe Mr. Loewen might be interested more in his personal immediate financial gain and not be voting to change the use of the dog park out of the goodness of his heart.
When I basically questioned Mr. Loewen on his motivation to change the dog park, one of his rude responses was, I quote, “It is none of your damn business why I am trying to sell my house.” And he was also pointing his pen at me in what I perceived to be a threatening manner. To which, in turn, I put up my defenses and responded in a more aggressive manner, amongst other things that for the brevity of this letter I will not get into right now.
But let me remind Mr. Loewen that it sure is my business what he does when he sits in that chair, and that he is a public servant answerable to the public (basically, the public is his boss). And it is his responsibility to calmly answer my questions and not interrupt me while I am speaking, as I am a member of the public with concerns that $200,000 of taxpayer money might be being used to benefit him directly.
Let me make one thing clear: I am all for leaving the dog park as it is for two reasons. The first one being the town is broke and the second one is, as Pat Mansir admitted when she said something like, “It is the only thing that is not broken in this town.”
What I have written are my opinions. But if followed, I believe the town will save approximately $200,000 of money we don’t have to spend and Mr. Loewen might save himself a bunch of legal trouble.
All the Best,
JOE LOFFRENO
Valuable Resource
East Hampton
October 20, 2008
David,
Last Thursday night the Town of East Hampton held a public hearing on a community preservation fund management plan for Springs Park. There was a large (overflowing into the halls) turnout of speakers in support of leaving Springs Park alone.
The town board graciously listened to everyone describe the joy they get from the public use of this property. Most of the sentiment was that this was a valuable resource for people, and dogs get some exercise too. We are pleased to have the support of the majority of the town board in not reducing the size of the fenced-in area of Springs Park.
The speakers’ grace, eloquence, and humor regarding their use of the park has not been lost on the hard-working C.P.F. managers and we look forward to working with them to finalize a plan for Springs Park. I think that everyone can be proud to know that their voices can be heard through the democratic process.
We again thank Scott King (for fixing the access road to the park), Scott Wilson, for working with the community to create the future of this space, and the East Hampton Town Board, for listening and responding positively to the community.
I think we can all be proud of Springs Park now and in the future. I personally would like to thank everyone for coming and voicing their opinion.
FRAN DONOVAN
Friends of Springs Park
Love It
Springs
October 17, 2008
Dear David,
Last night, I attended the town board meeting. Many, many users of Springs Park pleaded with the board to understand that the park is pretty beautiful as it is, the dogs love it, and the people who walk it love it. It gives all an enclosed safe place to run and exercise, and no one wants fences and or autos driving through the park and new parking areas with divisions and partitions.
We are so grateful to the town for making a proper, crushed-cement access road. This park is probably the most-used park on a daily basis year round. We hope the town understands that less is better, and natural is beautiful.
Thank you,
BETSY RUTH
A Happy Dog
East Hampton
October 20, 2008
Dear David,
I want to thank and congratulate the more than 100 people who turned out for the public hearing on Springs Park last Thursday night. Included among them were some gifted orators, unexpected comedians, and so many people who genuinely care not only about dogs but about the sense of community that has developed at and because of Springs Park.
A special thanks to Sarah Alward, D.V.M., Sara Davison (executive director of the Animal Rescue Fund), and Dianne Le Verrier (a land-use attorney) for their professional support and assistance; and to Fran Donovan, Lynn Gimpel, Randy Handwerger, Carol Tsao, and Jim Zajac for their research, organization, and presentation of information.
The details of the meeting will undoubtedly be reported elsewhere in your paper, and subsequent events may cause us to temper our sense of accomplishment. But those Friends of Springs Park who couldn’t be there should feel confident that the strongest possible case was made for keeping all 22 fenced-in acres of Springs Park available for off-leash activity and the sense of community that comes with it.
Dogs need to be able to do what they were meant to do — run free — without endangering themselves or the people around them. As one of us so ably put it, “A tired dog is a happy dog and a trainable dog.”
The future of Springs Park and the rights of dog owners all over East Hampton now rest in the hands of the town board, which has been given more than enough reason not only to preserve the park more or less as is but to ensure that dogs owners all over town never have to feel like second-class citizens.
Sincerely,
PETER A. WADSWORTH
Friends of Springs Park
Great Restaurant
East Hampton
October 20, 2008
Dear David,
I was so surprised to read the “East End Eats” review of Babette’s. I’ve been dining at Babette’s since the day it opened, and while I don’t have a problem with the reviewer not liking the food, I do have a problem with the way that dislike was expressed.
For example, the description of the Creole Casbah, referring to it twice as “prison food” — or that something looked like “cat food.” Or that the prices at Della Femina, the Palm, and the 1770 House are more appropriately high; that Babette’s shouldn’t charge as much because it doesn’t serve “huge, dry-aged porterhouse steak. . . .” I don’t ever recall reading an “East End Eats” where, when the reviewer didn’t particularly like a dish, she said, “I was so embarrassed about not being able to eat much of it. . . .” Did that embarrassment turn into some sort of anger which then became the review?
For over 13 years Babette’s has been feeding me and most of the people I know. There aren’t many restaurants who have such a long and admirable track record and following. Babette’s is a great restaurant. For a vegetarian, there are choices, several of them. Vegetarian and vegan dishes are not afterthoughts to a menu. There’s variety at Babette’s for everyone, except those, of course, who want that huge, dry-aged porterhouse steak to clog up their arteries.
ADRIENNE KITAEFF
Fine Dining Moments
East Hampton
October 20, 2008
Dear Editor,
I have eaten at Babette’s on numerous occasions since its opening and have found the food consistently fresh, delicious, beautifully presented, and appropriately priced. The review is inconsistent with my many fine dining moments at Babette’s.
R. ABRAMSON
Angry Piece
Montauk
October 20, 2008
Dear Mr. Rattray:
Wiping up the vitriol that slid off the pages onto my desk (Laura Donnelly, “East End Eats,” Oct. 16) took a minute or two, but then the old question of my youth took over: Why?
I went back, reread the piece, and found only sticker shock and oily tofu as possible excuses. As to the former, take a stroll down “Rodeo Drive East,” i.e., Main Street-Newtown Lane, East Hampton. Look in the windows or check any one of the local menus. Babette’s prices are so within range one doesn’t even bring it up.
As to the later, the food itself, one of the dishes Ms. Donnelly describes as “prison food” she had not even tasted, but, she conceded, “sounded enticing and tasty and healthy.” Although the bread was delicious, “rather like Indian naam bread, but softer and with some sautéed onions on top,” and its accompanying “concoction” was “delicious,” it looked like cat food. Except for the oil on the tofu, the entire review was strewn with words like delicious, delicate, fresh and well balanced, dainty, crunchy, crisp goat cheese dumpling, superb, big portion, nicely caramelized, rich (sauce), the pear was good, topping tasty and crunchy. It has to have been emotionally wrenching to have written such an angry piece for a restaurant in which she was presented with such delicious food.
Now I will jump down to Ms. Donnelly’s parting slash: The “flawed service” was “brisk, helpful, and knowledgeable.” Help me. Does this description not sound schizophrenic? At best confused?
Having left Manhattan and its restaurants for the wilds of the Hamptons and Montauk some 30 plus years ago, I have watched many restaurants come and go, the bad ones and, alas, some of the good ones. I have found dinner (and any meal) at Babette’s to be a delight. The food is, as described above, great. The photographs covering the walls only hint at the proprietress’s intriguing life, pre-Hamptons. If public opinion and word of mouth are any indication, the 2009 season will be an even more exciting season.
Yours very truly,
BONNIE ARCHER
Unprofessional
Amagansett
October 20, 2008
To the Editor,
I love the food at Babette’s. I found Laura Donnelly’s review strange, and in many instances unprofessional. The food is some of most delicious and at the same time healthiest to be found in East Hampton. Why Ms. Donnelly chose to attack so personally in this review makes me wonder.
I hope the editor will look into this matter to see if there were not alternative motives to this attack. This is one of the most wonderful and caring restaurants we have in East Hampton, and is very popular by result. In this charged political election season and challenging economic conditions, I have to wonder why such an unprofessional review (I prefer attack) was published.
Sincerely,
RANDOLPH HUDSON
Comparable Prices
Bridgehampton
October 20, 2008
To the Editor:
Does Laura Donnelly have a bone to pick with Babette’s? Her opinion is so off, we had to write in.
After living here for 16 years, Babette’s is one of the few restaurants in the Hamptons we frequently go to, not the Palm, not Della Femina’s, nor the 1770 House. The atmosphere is casual, airy, and inviting for day and evening dining, both inside and out. All are greeted in a warm and friendly manner and assisted by a fine staff. The aforementioned is all well and good; however, the most important factor of the restaurant, any restaurant, is the food.
Expecting a health-oriented menu using first-quality organic produce and uncommon ingredients to be inexpensive is unrealistic, particularly here. Manhattan is in the Hamptons, and local businesses are paying comparable prices to exist.
Ms. Donnelly’s snide “cat food” reference notwithstanding, that particular dish is a perfect accompaniment to Babette’s special bread. Although snarkiness may be very au courant, Ms Donnelly’s so-called review is unconstructive and immature. The starter husband she refers to may be lucky to have gotten away.
Visit this favorite eatery of ours. We would starve if we relied on The Star’s restaurant reviews by Ms. Donnelly and our fellow locals and visitors alike would miss out on a special place.
MICHELLE and SAUL FEIGER
Malicious
East Hampton
October 20, 2008
To the Editor,
As a faithful local customer for over a decade, I ask, why the malicious review?
It would truly be a shame if this critique has dissuaded anyone from coming in. They’ll be missing out on quality, taste, character, people, and substance impossible to find anywhere else.
I know and trust that Babette’s will stand on its own merit despite Laura Donnelly’s unjustifiably meanspirited words. It always has.
Best,
JENN BUBKA
Totally Inappropriate
East Hampton
October 20, 2008
David,
The recent restaurant review of Babette’s was totally inappropriate. There . . . I said it. Shouldn’t the review be structured in a way that provides the restaurant with constructive feedback that they can use — if they choose — for the improvement of the establishment? After all, it impacts many people . . . not only the owner but the chef, servers, and kitchen help, too. This is their livelihood. They are a part of our community. To make it personal (which is how it came across) is unprofessional, unnecessary, and unwarranted.
A review is subjective for the most part. For example, I have always been happy with my dining experience at Babette’s. That’s my opinion. The writer should give the review and save the clever adjectives for their next novel. They are hurtful. These are real, hardworking people she is writing about . . . let’s show some respect. We expect nothing less from The Star.
MICHAEL D. CLARK
A Bitter Taste
East Hampton
October 19, 2008
To the Editor,
As a reader of The Star I was surprised and dismayed at the recent review of Babette’s restaurant. With what seemed a very bitter taste in her mouth it is easy to understand how the writer failed to appreciate what many of us in town love . . . a comfortable and cool environment where I know I can count on an exceptional meal, and I have never been disappointed. Ms. Donnelly’s injection of her personal life (her failed marriage) into the review was startling and her awkward attempts at humor cruel. Babette’s is known as a local business that generously supports many local causes. It is upsetting that The Star provides a platform for someone to use the kind of rhetoric contained in this review.
MICHAEL WEISKOPF
Low Opinions
East Hampton
October 20, 2008
To the Editor,
Given experience in a business where one should expect journalistic criticism, it is paramount to absorb and use critiques objectively. To appreciate and promote the positives and address the negatives.
Some might argue that the critic has no responsibilities to subject or reader except her or his own opinions. But when the ABC’s are given with complete disregard to accuracy, consistency, and temperance, when the continuity and grammar would suggest the verse was little more than a rant scribbled late [at] night on the back of the bag the bottle came in. . . .
Well, let’s say it’s been a long time since I have found reason to be quite so subjective of a review.
Ms. Donnelly’s uppermost objection is that “Babette’s is flipping expensive.” A fair assessment. Our prices have risen in the last three years quite a bit. But so have costs. The other choices are to lower the quality of the products we use and the quality of preparation. She goes on to say our pricing is in line with Della Femina or 1770 House. Perhaps she has not been to these establishments in a while. As stated in her article, our entrees run $19 to $32. At Della Femina they run $27 to $43; 1770 House, $30 to $48. So, not a fair or accurate assessment.
She also cites their prices as being justified in part by serving steak. I love a good steak. We’ll get back to the steak later.
The beginning of her closing statement contradicts her price objections: “It’s hard enough to be critical of a restaurant that tries hard, is friendly, and offers a good value” — [but] it then “behooves” her to have it simply turn back on itself.
Now, perhaps if Ms. Donnelly were not “semi-retired” as a pastry chef she would understand the pricing for the quality and care of food we present. She would see the price of organic flour has quintupled, dairy products have tripled, most products across the board have simply skyrocketed.
Perhaps if she had checked her facts as a journalist she would gain entitlement to her editorial opinions as a reviewer. The “ganache” she refers to on the Chocolate Spelt Brownie is nonexistent. There is a chocolate sauce on the plate; however, in our kitchen, a mixture of chocolate and cream (which any “semi-retired” pastry chef knows is the basis of ganache) would simply not do on a vegan dessert. The banh trang wrappers for spring rolls, which she remarks she prefers to what we use, are exactly what we use. The preserved lemon vinaigrette contains no tahini, no sesame products, or anything remotely similar.
This lack of professionalism paired with a lack of temperance is evident not just in the review of Babette’s but in many of her reviews. Gratuitous malfeasance seems nearly a trademark of hers.
In her review of Robert’s, she extols the quality and execution of Natalie Byrnes’s cooking. Yet when she receives an unfortunate order of fresh roasted artichokes that are not to her liking she doesn’t just say so and perhaps relate why, leaving it at that. She feels it is necessary to infer the chef and the restaurant are misrepresenting their food and attempting to deceive her as a customer by actually serving her vacuum-packed artichokes with a “distinct citric acid preservative taste.”
She also finds it necessary to mention (as she had with Babette’s) that the dining room is almost empty. This is an unnecessary observation which she knows can only bring negative connotations for the reader. As someone whose family has been here for generations and has spent a long time in the restaurant business, she would know, one might think, that nights in the off season are never predictable and often not profitable. That for numerous restaurants, staying open for all or most off the off season is a service to the community, their employees, and the families they support. Here she also complains about the price of the steak at Robert’s and the price of steak in restaurants on the East End in general. Interesting.
Another way she seems to arm herself for a review is making heavy presuppositions before ever setting foot in a restaurant. With Babette’s, although one might think it a compliment, an early conclusion she draws is that “Babette’s offers healthy but sophisticated-sounding dishes, so I wouldn’t classify it as a health food restaurant.” This would indicate her approaching this review embedded with low opinions and expectations of any restaurant reputed to offer its clientele healthy selections.
In her review of Suki Zuki, which she titles “Not-So-Serene Japanese,” Ms. Donnelly is disappointed that they do not live up to her preconceived, highly prejudicial idea of what the atmosphere in a “traditional Japanese restaurant” should be. Rather than say the buzz and activity in this popular local hangout is active and lively, perhaps a bit overly for her taste, she feels the need to make the statement that it is “more akin to the atmosphere at Chuck E. Cheese.”
It would seem her need to inject meanspirited convictions, even when a review is good, may serve her by overshadowing her inability to add adequate flourish to the positive. Her continual use of Scooby-Doo expletives (“flipping expensive,” “oh dear,” “wowzers,” “poo-poo green”) is no different from an overuse of their more base four-letter counterparts and indicative of no less a lack of one’s command of the language and ability to express themselves.
So I suppose I should regain my objectivity and not take the perception of a personal attack but rather wonder how these inaccuracies, inconsistencies, prejudgments, inappropriate statements, lack of prosaic skill and journalistic integrity, which would not make it past a high school newspaper editor, have found a home at The East Hampton Star.
Thanks for helping bring out the best in me,
MICHAEL STOKES
Executive Chef, Babette’s
Cooking and Food
East Hampton
October 12, 2008
To the Editor,
I read with interest the article “Tucking Into Duck” in the Oct. 9 issue of The Star. The Craig Claiborne recipe of the grilled lemon duck is from my cookbook, “Oriental Barbecues,” published in 1974 by Macmillan Publishing Company. That year, the Thursday before Labor Day weekend, Craig wrote a barbecue article based on recipes from my book. I still remember how excited I was when he called and said he had just finished reading my new cookbook and was using my recipes for his much-read Thursday food column.
I moved to East Hampton in 1991. Craig was already semi-retired them, but I remember his cooking sessions on Saturday with chefs from all over the country in the 1970s, and I was lucky to be invited to spend a Saturday watching him and the chefs testing and refining recipes for his articles. Those were the days when we all cooked and shared.
Paula Wolfert was my downstairs neighbor in New York City. She tested her first Moroccan cookbook entirely on food stamps as she was raising two kids by herself in a one-bedroom apartment. Gail Greene was her best friend and she would come and taste Paula’s dishes, and we would all give our opinions on whether the seasonings were correct.
Paula and I went to Eli Zabar when he was opening Eats and suggested giving cooking lessons there, which we both did at the beginning. One day a woman who identified herself as Ruth Spear called me and asked if I would give her some suggestions on a fish cookbook she was writing. We had a few phone conversations, then, three years later, I was at a Derby party here and we shook hands and introduced ourselves. She paused and asked, “Are you the May Wong Trent I spoke to a long time ago?”
That is how small the world is. One time in the 1980s, Paula took me to a Four Seasons luncheon, which was an ongoing weekly lunch with other food writers, and Barbara Kafka at that time was the top food person to go to. Ms. Kafka turned to me at one point and said she would be glad to help me with my food projects any time by introducing me to the right source. This sharing, caring attitude was so true when the food business was not as cutthroat as now.
I have enjoyed reading your food columns, very sensible and family-oriented, a great way to introduce cooking and food to the next generation.
Sincerely,
MAY WONG TRENT