Lifeguards Were Tops Springs September 2, 2014 Dear Editor, Spent this whole summer on Atlantic Beach in Amagansett. I must say the young men and women who were the lifeguards at the beach were tops! Always on guard and ready when the call for duty was needed. I felt very secure swimming, knowing that they were watching. On Friday, Aug. 29, I overheard one of the women say that there were 15 rescues that day. This was due to the rips from the passing storm that was nearby. Great job this year and keep up the good work! STEPHEN R. PELOSA Quick Response Montauk September 3, 2014 To the Editor, I called Steve Lynch of our Highway Department last week to alert him to the foliage growing on the south side of Montauk Highway just west of Lincoln Road, which blocked the western view of drivers trying to turn onto the highway from Lincoln. Two days later the growth was cut back. Congratulations to him for his usual quick response in serving our town. JOHN WINSTON Loss of Perspective? Amagansett September 6, 2014 To the Editor: I understand East Hampton has put aside $30,000 for a nonlethal attempt to decrease the deer population starting in January (as reported in Field & Stream). Others are attempting to raise another $70,000, at a cost per deer of about $1,000. Spend money to tranquilize a deer, get it to a vet, remove its ovaries, and release it. I hope it’s not just me wondering if that’s a loss of perspective, in view of our problems with homelessness, inadequate or too-expensive health coverage, etc. They’ll likely shoot a celibate deer to boot. GERALD LUTZER Toxic Insecticides East Hampton September 3, 2014 To the Editor, Yes, Faith Popcorn and the Nature Conservancy have it right. Is there any question that our local water systems and related ecology are being stressed and compromised by the use of pesticides to beautify our properties in what was once called the most beautiful village in America? As I ride my bike to Georgica Beach, I am pained to see gateway after gateway posted with the small yellow signs indicating the introduction and spraying of pesticides on the properties. These signs are warnings that humans and animals should exercise caution for 24 hours after application. Before spraying I have received notices from neighboring landscapers for property spraying which lists all the toxins and the recommended precautions. Does anyone wonder where all those dispersed toxins and poisonous chemicals go? Perhaps the property owners are just going with the recommendations of the landscapers, along with more expensive bids, without giving it a second thought. As attested by The Star’s recent article “Is the Pond Dying?” so are the local waters in our inlets, harbors, bays, estuaries, and wetland marshes, which act as breeding and filter resources for marine life. As neighbors in our village and the East End, we need to individually and collectively ask ourselves if the arbitrary introduction of toxic insecticides and pesticides into our environment and water systems is necessary. If we don’t rally around the flag and address this trend, there will be that much less to be thankful for in our community. PETER MINNICK Backhoe Is Needed East Hampton September 6, 2014 To the Editor, Has anyone looked at Town Pond lately? It’s ugly. In the early years of the 1930-’40s the total depth was measured in many feet. Today it is merely inches. A backhoe is urgently needed to restore its pristine beauty. Our village fathers ought to take action before our pond morphs into a bog. DON McDONALD Discouraging People East Hampton September 8, 2014 To the Editor, The East Hampton School Board has decided to fill the vacancy created by Patricia Hope’s resignation. It has indicated that it will give a preference to individuals with a finance background. This says to me that the members of the board feel deficient in this area or that they don’t have complete faith in the staff or other hires responsible for financial matters. This is strange because school budgets have passed for many years. The most negative aspect of this determination is that this board is discouraging people from applying to fill the vacancy if they don’t have a background in finance. I don’t believe they meant to do this but that is how it appears on its face. I believe that anyone with a real interest in seeing that our students get the best education should apply. This should be the most important qualification. STEPHEN A. GROSSMAN School Lunch East Hampton September 4, 2014 Dear Editor: With the new school year, parents’ attention is turning to school lunches. Traditionally, the U.S. Department of Agriculture had used the National School Lunch Program as a dumping ground for surplus meat and dairy commodities. Children consumed animal fat and sugary drinks, to the point where one third became overweight or obese. Their early dietary flaws became lifelong addictions, raising their risk of diabetes, heart disease, and stroke. In recent years, several state legislatures asked their schools to offer daily vegetarian options, and 64 percent of U.S. school districts now do. Moreover, hundreds of schools and school districts, including Baltimore, Buffalo, Detroit, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami-Dade, Oakland, Philadelphia, and San Diego have implemented meatless Mondays. A New York City school went all vegetarian last year. Current U.S.D.A. school lunch guidelines, mandated by the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010, require doubling the servings of fruits and vegetables, more whole grains, less sodium and fat, and meat-free breakfast. The challenge is to get students to eat the healthier foods. Parents should work with school cafeteria managers to encourage consumption of healthy foods. Initiatives could include student recipe or poster contests, student gardens, and/or meatless Mondays. Detailed guidance is available at schoolnutrition.org/schoolmeals; fns. usda.gov/cnd; pcrm.org/health/ healthyschool-lunches, and vrg.org/ family. Sincerely, ELIJAH HANNESBURG A Special Thanks Springs August 25, 2014 Dear David, The Heart of Springs evening held on the green at Ashawagh Hall last evening became more of a “Thank goodness we were there!” event than Wendy Hall and her truly wondrous committee of exhausted workers ever thought it would. Throughout the event I heard over and over, people asking, “Why didn’t we ever do this before?” I’m sure many, many thank-you letters will be sent to the long list of folks who made it possible, but I wanted to send a special thanks to Dee Raley and Jeremy Seaton for providing an array of hors d’oeuvres that left me thinking about Roman banquets and sheer decadence. Sincerely, H. DAVID WILT It Was Disappointing Springs September 8, 2014 Dear Editor, As a longtime resident and Star subscriber, I have enjoyed your many stories on dog walks, occasional turtle discoveries, and beached-whale sightings, so it was disappointing not to read anything about a gathering of over 100 people at the Heart of Springs benefit on the Ashawagh Hall Green last month. If there is ever another, will you cover it if people bring their dogs? MARY ANN SIEGFRIED Heart of Springs Springs September 3, 2014 To the Editor, I eagerly scanned The Star’s Aug. 28 edition to read about the Heart of Springs gala on Aug. 24 to benefit the preservation, repair, and maintenance of buildings and grounds at the heart of the hamlet. Nothing! Not a word or photo of the event! I put down the scissors I planned to use to cut out news of this event to send to my kids. The Star covered a pet-philanthropy circle party, Guild Hall’s garden and art tour, and an author’s new book was feted. However, the Springs event, where 200 people gathered with music, wine, and food to celebrate this lovely place, was ignored. I am not alone in disappointment with The Star for neglecting to acknowledge this event. JEAN STAFFORD Inaccurate Statement Valley Stream September 3, 2014 Dear Mr. Rattray: I am the attorney for Paddle Diva L.L.C., a New York limited liability company operating in East Hampton, N.Y. (“Paddle Diva”). I am writing on behalf of Paddle Diva in connection with recent statements published in The Star. On Aug. 28, The Star published a story titled “East Deck Owner is Named,” in which it is stated that “. . . Lars Svenberg of Main Beach Surf and Sports and Scott Bradley of Paddle Diva have been the public faces of the corporation.” The “corporation” referred to is an entity known as ED40, which is currently the subject of considerable controversy in East Hampton. Please be advised that Scott Bradley is not an owner, officer, or manager of Paddle Diva. Paddle Diva is a women-owned standup paddleboarding company focused on providing paddleboarding instruction and equipment, and fitness inspiration, to women. The Star’s inaccurate statement implies that Paddle Diva is somehow connected with ED40, which is entirely untrue. The result of the implication includes the publication of several inaccurate statements on social media sites and subsequent comments demanding the boycott of Paddle Diva by members of the community. A single call to Paddle Diva, or a search of the New York State Division of Corporation’s website, would have clarified the name of the sole owner, member, and manager of Paddle Diva and the absence of any affiliation between Paddle Diva and ED40. Thus, it is clear that your reporter and/or fact-checkers did not properly research the information provided by their source. Paddle Diva is requesting that The Star print a correction of the inaccurate statement and provide assurances that future reporting involving Paddle Diva will be properly fact-checked to avoid any defamatory statements against the company. Thank you for your prompt attention to this matter. Sincerely, PATRICIA M. PASTOR Scott Bradley is listed on the Paddle Diva website as a team rider. His wife, Gina, is described as an instructor and its founder. Ed. Hideous Proposal Montauk September 7, 2014 Dear David, The ED40 development represents a massive threat to the essential nature of Ditch Plain. It will forever negatively impact the neighborhood, the environment, the beach community, and the local inclusive surfing tradition I have been part of since 1964. Those who, according to various press reports, are responsible for this hideous proposal (J. Darius Bikoff, Lars Svenberg, and Scott Bradley) should reconsider or, better yet, abandon their plan. As proposed, ED40 rips the heart out of Ditch. BILL AKIN Intrusion on Magic East Hampton September 8, 2014 Dear David, The news reported in the Sept. 4 edition of The East Hampton Star about the proposed development of a resort on Ditch Plain is chilling. As most Easthamptoners know, Ditch Plain is a mecca for surfers who come from near and far to enjoy the unique waves that form there. The surfers create a magic that is part of Montauk by virtue of their devotion to this compelling sport. Any intrusion on that magic would be very sad and a great loss to the surfers and to our community at large. Although not a surfer myself, I have experienced the magic watching my grandsons surf those waves at Ditch Plain, and experienced as well the congregation of the large numbers of surfers who come there to surf and watch the surfers. It is a wonderful scene to behold — people of all ages hanging out on Ditch Plain Beach. On Sept. 17, the East Hampton Town Planning Board will consider the application of the developer, and hopefully will require an environmental impact statement to examine the consequences of a development that would, according to the article, create a private club for up to 179 members and their guests. It is clear the impact would be huge, as the proposed resort would include a restaurant, spa, game room, Olympic-size pool, below-grade parking, and a septic system that could accommodate the waste of up to 537 daily visitors and the addition of 3,661 yards of fill to elevate the site. An environmental impact statement would also evaluate the amount of vehicular traffic that would be generated by 537 daily visitors. We already know that traffic leading into and in Montauk is problematical at best. My sense is that this development would not only obliterate the magic of which I speak but would also create adverse environmental impacts that are unacceptable. Having said that, I appreciate that legal procedures in the form of an environmental impact study are required in order to reach the conclusion I have drawn. I trust that the East Hampton Town Planning Board will do the right thing and require such a study. DAVID J. WEINSTEIN The Right Questions Springs September 4, 2014 To the Editor: Regarding the proposed development of the old East Deck Motel at Ditch Plains by ED40, Ditch Plains is a beach I’ve been going to for 50 years and it really hasn’t changed all that much (all things considered) over time. We need to ask the right questions now and make sure the answers we get are real. How will the beach (including environmental considerations) and access to the beach be impacted by the proposed development? Mistakes are frequently made because, instead of hard provisions in perpetuity, legally mandated by the community, people sometimes settle for soft “promises,” and that should never be the case. Beaches are generally a public resource (unless someone is fortunate enough to own an island), and stewardship of such a resource should include making sure that future generations can enjoy that resource without paying a membership fee. Beach access (not to mention the bespoiling of beaches) is a national issue, and all the high-powered P.R. and law firms in the world can be countered by a passionate and involved public. JOHN HAVLICEK A Negative Element East Hampton September 2, 2014 Dear David, As a longtime resident of East Hampton, there is no need to go over the negative elements of the summer season that come in like a lion, increase in intensity as the summer progresses, and finally go out like a lamb. Club Sienna, on the corner of Three Mile Harbor Road and Jackson Street (in the middle of a residential area), is a prime example of a negative element that continues to plague our summer solace. An article in the New York Post’s Page 6 today (“Celeb chef quits restaurant after partners hire stripper staff,” see link below) clearly demonstrates the level of entertainment and noise that doesn’t belong in East Hampton. My problem with the club has always been the noise level — a booming bass that goes on until 4 a.m. and keeps me up during opening hours. Based on the Post article, it’s not surprising to find out exactly what the typical entertainment is inside. As the article states, the celebrity chef Donatella Arpaia terminated her association with Sienna after discovering that the club was going in “a different direction in food service” by hiring strippers as waitresses. I can only hope the club will head in a different direction — preferably, about 104 miles west. pagesix.com/2014/09/02/celeb-chef-quits-restaurant-after-partners-hire-stripper-staff/ NANCY BRODY Enough Diddling Springs September 6, 2014 To the Editor, Much has been said by this administration and our local newspapers re busts in Montauk by code enforcement, regarding short-term greed and outrageous summer rentals through Airbnb and other online rental scammers. These busts are to be applauded. I am a weary resident of Springs. I am just shaking my head, wondering where the outrage is concerning illegal renting in my neighborhood. Where are the headlines, editorials, or press releases regarding the naming and fining of landlords who illegitimately rent long-term to multiple unrelated persons and/or multiple families? Reasonable residents of the hamlet have been documenting the problem for years. We have illegal renting too, you know — zoned single-family homes that house multiple unrelated persons all year round, every day, through the summer and throughout the school year. Not to mention the consequence of a school that is constructing another building and is overcrowded with 800 students and requires more teacher hiring. We also have commercial enterprises and trucks and trailers all over the residential place, and there are many in Springs who have businesses that are operating de facto illegally. Contractors have announced they should be able to have three trucks up to 16,000 pounds parked on their residential property — this along with two boats, one utility or boat trailer, a house trailer, R.V. or mobile home, and one dead unregistered car and unlimited residential vehicles. What I have just described in a residential area of half-acre lots is a dump, a vehicle depot, a parking lot — nothing attractive, and not respectful to other residents and neighbors. These trucks are offensive, noisy, intrusive, dangerous, and a property-value killer. I ask you, who wants this next door? Remember Adam Osterwald? It took him 10 months to get an illegal contracting company to justice court. Ten months of hell! I have a suggestion regarding number and size of vehicles in a residential zone. We have had the theater-of-the-absurd town board meeting of July 17, and then the psychodrama meeting of the Springs Citizens Advisory Committee on July 28, and the frivolous and clearly unacceptable suggestion of three 16,000-pound trucks on a residential property now on the table by a special appointed committee? I suggest an independent entity be consulted to discuss these zoning, parking, and business issues. A town planner who has knowledge of zoning and hamlet needs. No other town or municipality in Suffolk County, not Riverhead, not Southampton, Islip, Southold, even Smithtown and Huntington, allow what is being proposed for East Hampton. With an independent knowledgeable entity involved, we will not have prejudiced interested parties writing law to suit a lifestyle that may have been suitable 30 years ago, but clearly is not an option for the most overpopulated hamlet in East Hampton. Enough diddling around. It is time to fish or cut bait. BETSY RUTH A Pretty Fix Indeed East Hampton September 3, 2014 To the Editor: The town board’s Aug. 28 hearing on airport noise opened with a cautionary statement from the board, emphasizing that the town’s power to take actions to address the noise issue is very limited and will remain limited, at least for several years, whether or not the town accepts further Federal Aviation Administration grant money. In substance the town is saying, “We know there’s a problem, and yes, we own the facility, however, folks, we’re sorry to tell you that our ability to fix the problem is pretty restricted.” It seems that over the years the town and its citizens have allowed the town’s powers with respect to a facility that it owns, operates, bonds, and maintains, to erode. Now that airport use has expanded to include jets and helicopters as well as greatly increased volume, the town finds that it lacks the power to address the grievances of its citizens that arise from this expanded usage. That’s a pretty fix indeed for the town to be in. I think the position the town finds itself in raises an issue of governance that transcends noise or any other immediate problem. Whatever else it does, the town should take back control of the airport so it can meet the needs of its citizens and its neighbors in the future. Who knows what problems the airport may give rise to 5, 10, and 25 years from now? Most immediately, that means not accepting further F.A.A. grants. I commend Councilwoman Burke-Gonzale–z for the steps that she has taken in this direction. Looking further down the road, retaining local control should be a primary concern for any future commitments the board makes at the airport with regard to funding, operations, leases, etc. Former Secretary of State Colin Powell famously said: “If you break it, you own it.” The corollary is that if you own it you had better be able to fix it. Sincerely, BOB HOGUET Genghis Khan Himself East Hampton September 3, 2014 To the Editor: I urge everyone who lives here who remains neutral about the way PSEG is treating our town and villages to take a drive through Wainscott, where crews have been clearing branches from anywhere within about 10 feet of the power lines. Here’s an easy loop that will show you the recent work there: turn south off of 27 on Town Line Road, continue south to Wainscott Main. Drive (or, better yet to get the full impact, cycle) east until you can return to 27 on Wainscott Stone Road. Some lovely roads are simply no longer lovely, though so far the village center seems to have been spared. I suppose from the point of view of PSEG the most important thing on those roads is the power lines. Here is proof that we will never be able to expect any sensitivity toward our town and our traditions from this organization. Ghengis Khan himself could not have done a more thorough job of despoiling those lanes! Cordially, FRED KOLO Counting Insect Bites East Hampton September 3, 2014 To the Editor, It all started harmlessly. We both reached for the last package of antibiotic ointment. He had a grip on one end. I had the other end. We decided to resolve this maturely. So, five minutes later, we were both on the floor with our shoes and socks off. We started counting our red bumps to see who had the most. He beat me 148 bumps to my 137 bumps. He wouldn’t consider that some of mine were bigger than his. And since we didn’t go over the rules of counting insect bites, he left with the ointment. Next time the bigger bumps count double. FRANK ACKLEY P.S. What the heck is driving us all to the pharmacy? It’s an epidemic out here. Pray and Remember Montauk September 5, 2014 Dear David: This is the 13th anniversary of that terrible day, Sept. 11, 2001. There has been no letting up on the attacks against Christians and Jews around the world. Let us be reminded of the attacks in Benghazi two years ago on Sept. 11 with the murders of our Ambassador Stevens, Glen Doherty, Sean Smith, and Tyrone Woods. Let us keep in our prayers those Chaldean Catholics who are being tortured and murdered today. For the first time in 1,600 years there has been no Sunday Mass in Mosul, Iraq. Let us pray and remember James Foley and Steven Sotloff who were recently beheaded. With 11 planes missing from Libya, one wonders and hopes we can be safe this Sept. 11. As I have in the past, I would like to submit the prayer found in Fr. Mychal Judge’s pocket when he died giving last rites at the World Trade Center on 9-11-01: Send me where You want me to go. Let me meet whom You want me to meet. Tell me what You want me to say, And keep me out of Your way. May God Bless America. Sincerely, PAT FLYNN Tim Bishop Amagansett September 8, 2014 Dear David: Most of my letters over the years have been addressed to the general public regardless of gender, political affiliation, age, or ethnicity. This one is clearly different; it is addressed to Democrats, Independents, and undecideds from ages of 18 to infinity and its clear aim is to re-elect our congressman, Tim Bishop. There are over 20,000 more registered Republicans than Democrats in our Congressional district and this fact combined with both the tendency to have a smaller-than-usual turnout in a nonpresidential election year and a large $2 million-funded campaign from out-of-state sources make it critical that those of us who believe we have a true hard-working, involved congressman in Washington have to get out in November and vote. You should urge your like-minded friends to do so. Those of you who vote in the city must consider where the issues are more important. Tim Bishop’s seat has been selected by the national Republican leadership to be vulnerable and that explains the funding of the upcoming campaign. It is up to us to prevent this raid on our world, whose aim is to further support and endorse the most nonproductive House of Representatives in recent history. Tim Bishop’s opponent, Lee Zeldin, is clearly a Tea Party candidate and is proud to say so. A weak turnout is the major way that we can lose the benefit of a truly effective representative whose admirable record of concern for local as well as national issues speaks for itself. IRVING HIRSCHBERG Affordable Care East Hampton September 5, 2014 Dear Editor, Do you all out there remember the Affordable Care Act? Have you lived, with me, the most expensive, repetitive, negative, and cynical attempt by conservatives and Repuglicans and just plain sychophantic blowhards to destroy the country’s first positive steps to attempt to join the other countries in the world and give Americans universal health care? Have you been listening to the lies, obfuscations, phony statistics, false dire predictions, fostered fear-mongering, all in an effort to destroy the first baby steps toward that health care? As millions of Americans leaped at the opportunity to have a doctor whose name they knew treat their illness, as millions of families had insurance for the very first time at affordable premiums, did you listen to the continued reprehensible downgrading of the Act and its facilitator, Barack Obama? If the A.C.A. was so horrible, wouldn’t it fall of its own failures? Why was it necessary to have the entire Repuglican Party line up against one piece of legislation? Why did they have 50 votes in the Congress to repeal it? Why did these so-called conservatives pile up the propaganda against the bill? Was there nothing in it that they could support? Wasn’t it good for the uninsured? After all, it was their idea in the first place. I’ll tell you why! Because they thought no one would notice their failure to govern, they believed that the sole purpose of disrupting and destroying the president and his party would bring them back to power. So what happened along the way? They shut down the government, found the deficit issue inconsequential, couldn’t muster or discover a scandal worth anything. They found themselves on the unpopular end of every major issue, but they plodded on, not governing but still negatively trying to destroy the Affordable Care Act while it grew in popularity. And now, when, lo and behold, it has proven to be more and more a winner, and the truth will out, they are dead in the water on the issue. Democrats are trumpeting their accomplishment, states are accepting credit for insuring their populations. Oh my, what a revoltin’ development this is. Ten million have signed up, premium increases are highly manageable, the public likes the bill and they vote, we better rethink this thing just like we are rethinking Benghazi. Now maybe, if we can only find some scandal at the I.R.S., maybe we can salvage something, maybe not. And you, purveyors of fear and lies, you lose and America gains. RICHARD P. HIGER His Own Numbers East Hampton September 5, 2014 Dear Editor, The funny thing about statistics is that you can put your head in an oven and your feet in an icebox and on the average you should feel like a day at the beach. Despite the factual statistics I presented in my letter to The Star of Aug. 28, Mr. Higer has presented his own numbers from recent news articles that support his own point of view. These are good numbers that show the economy is improving, which is undeniable, but they are not where they could be or should be, and in fact the improved performance is from a very low bar that was set by the Great Recession. Consider this: This current expansion has registered only 2.1 percent annual growth, the absolute lowest since World War II, a rate that is one-half the historical averages. The U-6 labor rate (unemployed) increased slightly in July to 12.2 percent. This rate includes the disenchanted labor force that has stopped looking for work or is working part-time but would like full-time employment. Obamacare’s mandate to provide health care to employees working over 30 hours per week has accelerated part-time job openings at the expense of full-time job openings and has dampened business hiring and the economy as a whole. The U-6 labor rate is the rate that is so closely followed by Janet Yellen, our Fed chairperson, and the one that really matters, not the U-3 rate cited by Mr. Higer. In 2007 the U-6 rate was 8.3 percent, so we can do better. Real median-weekly income is down by 3 percent since 2009. More than 11 million workers quit looking for jobs and 11 million went on food stamps, while 3 million fell into poverty. At the same time, gas prices are up 40 percent and electricity costs have risen dramatically. Does this really sound like these people are doing better? These are not the people who care a tick about what the Dow Jones Industrial Average is doing; to them it is irrelevant. As for the budget deficit cited by Mr. Higer, I submit from the Economic Report of the president dated February 2012, read in Forbes “The Facts About Budget Deficits: How the Presidents Truly Rank” (Aug. 8). Ratios of deficit to gross domestic product for the past five presidents: Ronald Reagan, average 4.2 percent; George H.W. Bush, average 4.2 percent; Bill Clinton, average 0.5 percent, George W. Bush, average 2.7 percent, Barack Obama through 2012, average 8.9 percent. Obama’s ratio of deficit to G.D.P. is more than double Reagan and Bush Sr. in his first term alone! The Sept. 3 issue of Investor’s Business Daily gave results for its “economic optimism” poll from June and July, and Obama’s approval rating on the economy was 31 percent, on the budget 29 percent, on economic growth 34 percent. Furthermore, on the ISIL crisis his approval rating is 31 percent, on immigration 25 percent, on the Israel-Gaza conflict 26 percent, on the Veterans Administration scandal 29 percent. Does this sound like a resounding endorsement of President Obama’s policies to you? I think not. I could go on, but for what reason? Mr. Higer, we should at this point agree to disagree. I have responded to your comments and thank you for the reason to voice my views. I simply do not find the picture as rosy as you seem to see it and certainly do not see Obama as one of the top 10 presidents, as you recently declared. I drank the Obama Kool-Aid in his first election. It was a bad trip and I was sadly and sorely disappointed, though it seemed like a no-brainer after the Bush-Cheney years. I believe our government is broken and dysfunctional, and blind party loyalty and partisanship is the main reason for this. The world is on fire now, and Obama’s Russian reset has simply stoked the flames. We desperately need someone with a strategy and the fortitude to see it through, and I don’t give a hoot what party he or she is from as long as it isn’t Hillary. Respectfully, JOHN PORTA
Published 4 years ago
Last updated 4 years ago
Letters to the Editor: 09.11.14
September 10, 2014