Fog Horn - FishersIsland.net
Transcription
Fog Horn - FishersIsland.net
Fog Horn February 2012 Volume 8, Issue 2 Cabaret 2012 Often the question is posed to me: “What is so great about Fishers?” Although my list is long, “old chums” is always the top item. And this month’s Cabaret was proof! Before I rattle on about the oh so talented members of our community, let me first take a moment to say, “IT WAS A FULL HOUSE!” The support shown by our community continues to overwhelm me, and the audience deserves an applause of their own. To be honest, in the weeks approaching the Union Chapel’s big night, I wasn’t sure what to expect. But, as many of you know, I’m crazy about Sara Rafferty, so I figured what good is sitting alone in my room when I could just go hear the music play. And I was NOT disappointed! Of course, my table was waiting for the dinner before the show, and the roast was a great hit! Eliana’s cooking is usually enough to make any homebody sneak out for a bite. Some may not be aware that she had been away from the island on business, but she is so committed to Fishers and the Union Chapel that she returned specifically for the evening. After the wonderful meal, the audience began to filter into the pews anxiously waiting to see how this event, brought to us by Rosemary, would play out. The first act brought tears to our eyes as Nina Schmid and Tim Patterson reenacted Rosemary and Art’s infamous duet, I Remember it Well. I’m certain the Baue’s were watching and smiling down on them. With a most appropriate follow up to Nina and Tim, Sandy Towle encouraged audience participation with her beautiful tune, Wish You Were Here. Now, I am quite a fan of the children on Fishers, but they still amaze me with their talents and courage. As a cabaret promises, we need to hear the band and blow the horn. This year, Erick Spinola, and Devin Kuscera dazzled us with their skills– Erick, a one-man band on the piano and Devin with her clarinet. And Hunter Kuscera put down his knitting to juggle three balls for quite some time. This trio deserves a lot of credit considering many adults fear a prophet of doom and are not comfortable enough to be on the stage. These kids carried themselves with grace and pride. So, about that Mrs. Rafferty…she never met a song she couldn’t sing; and for us, she sang tMoonlight in Vermont. The lyrics of this song have been sung by some of the greats, such as Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong (to name just two), but I’m certain none of the artists were as beloved as our Sara! Diane Dexter was definitely not “on her own” Saturday night, but her brilliant voice resounded through the Chapel with On My Own from the Broadway musical “Les Miserables”. Although I kind of miss the ducky, Diane’s voice is cause to start celebrating, She is truly blessed. And the audience was truly blessed to hear the impressive, tongue-twisting performance of Happy Gaillard, “as only Happy can be…” She is entertaining in every capacity, but, for her act, she shared her mixed up stories, or should I say, “stixed up mories?” She even got her groove on dancing with the Raisinettes! Did I forget to mention the Raisinettes? Cued by the Motown sounds of Heard it Through the Grapevine, and flying boxes of Raisinet candies, they carried signs with amusing and encouraging messages for the talent. They also provided quite a lot of visual entertainment. It really does make the evening special. A heartfelt thanks goes to Laura Edwards who kept her hands VERY busy writing out all of those signs and Ann Banks who passed out the yummy candies! Nina Schmid may have opened the evening with a tribute to Rosemary and Art, but she ended the evening with a tribute of another sort. Dressed in a blonde wig and with….um…enhancements, Nina sang Happy Birthday wishes to audience members – Marilyn Monroe style! Nina seemed perfectly comfortable sporting her new...um...assets, but I bet some of those men are still blushing. A very important part of making this evening such a success is the musical accompaniment. Recognizing that Union Chapel is the off season home to many of its parishioners, St. John’s church Returning to the Cabaret this year was the very talented Jessica Scroxton. Her beautiful voice lit up the room once offered its support and provided the talents of Sandy Towle on the piano. Sandy helped our again. And following Jess, newcomer to the Cabaret singers rock this house! scene, Ryan Rodd, proved he too can light up a room. His first acoustical version of The Dock of the Bay, had the Last but not least, the behind the scenes “elves” were audience swaying and humming along. Because this one worth their weight in gold. Roberta Elwell, Louisa Evans, song wasn’t enough, he later brought two more songs to and Sarah Malinowski made set up and clean up look the stage. Ryan even launched his own fan club with reeffortless. Your time is very much appreciated. And quests to create some music videos! Vicki Rafferty stepped up to help with photography. Finally, although she may not accept the accolades, Sara Anyone who has been around the Chapel recently has Rafferty really made this Cabaret happen. Thank you for at least heard about Pastor Pam’s new passion, the all of your time and devotion to this community! harp. She has been diligently learning to use this gorgeous instrument for some time, and her talent became Put down your knitting, your book and your broom. From cradle to tomb, apparent with her rendition of Greensleeves. The gorlife is a cabaret! geous strumming was hypnotizing! And the little angel really rocked out when the music picked up. Senior Lunch All islanders over age 60 are invited. If you need to be added to the list, please let Heather Burnham know. 2011-2012 Dates Thursday, March 15, noon Thursday, April 19, noon Thursday, May 17, noon FI School Board Schedule of Regular Meetings 2011-2012 February 15, 2012 6:00 pm March 21, 2012 6:00 pm April 18, 2012 6:00 pm May 1, 2012 6:00 pm Budget Hearing May 15, 2012 6:00 pm Annual Mtg/Budget Vote June 20, 2012 6:00 pm Looking for entertainment ideas and volunteer chefs. Email beachplum@fishersisland.net or call Heather 788-7662 Public Participation Guidelines Members of the community are invited to speak on topics of interest and / or topics to be addressed in the agenda. The Board of Education may choose to interact with participants, but will not act upon topics that require further study before action is taken. The participation time will be limited to three (3) minutes per person and fifteen (15) minutes overall to guarantee efficient operation of the entire meeting. Employment Advertisement Fishers Island Ferry District – Assistant Manager The Fishers Island Ferry District is in search for an Assistant Manager to assist and coordinate functions of the Fishers Island Marine, Terminal, Elizabeth Field airport, Theatre operations and other rental properties. This employee acts for and in place of the Manager in his/her absence, and will physically spend time at both the Fishers Island and New London terminal locations. The Assistant Manager will oversee many business office functions including budget, financial and inventory controls, personnel, regulatory compliance, contracts and leases, and Commission Board Meetings as well as the Commission Election process. Candidates must possess a Bachelor’s Degree in finance, business administration or similar degree. Previous demonstrated experience with financial, budgetary, controls and process improvement, administration, personnel and facilities management is required. Interested candidates please e-mail your resume, cover letter and salary requirements to: manager@fishersisland.net This posting will be open until the position is filled. Information from the Fishers Island Fire District The Fishers Island Fire District and the Fishers Island Fire Department would like to remind all home owners of Town Code 280-109-c which states that ―a building or structure must ensure that access is at least 15 feet in width and at least 15 feet in height.‖ This clearance allows for emergency vehicles to safely access a property in the event of an emergency. We would appreciate if all homeowners would check with their contractor or landscaper to ensure that their property adheres to the Town Code. Also, as a reminder, it is the homeowner’s responsibility to arrange for snow removal so that emergency vehicles may gain access. Thank you in advance for your participation. Page 2 Ebb & Flow FISHERS ISLAND FERRY DISTRICT Births: Grayson Scott Fisher 12/19/11, Murray & Emily Fisher Clementine Andrews duPont 1-28-12, Reyn and Elizabeth duPont BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS MEETING SCHEDULE 2012 Tuesday March 6th, 4:30 pm Tuesday April 3rd, 1:45 pm New London Tuesday May 1st, 4:30 pm Tuesday June 5th, 4:30 pm Deaths: Serge Doyen November 22,2011 John Adams Rutledge, Jr., February 2, 2012 Tuesday July 3rd, 4:30 pm Tuesday August 7th, 4:30 pm Wednesday August 8th, Friday August 17th, 6:00 pm Town Fathers’ Day Annual Budget Mtg Tuesday September 6th, 4:30 pm Tuesday October 2nd, 1:45 pm New London Tuesday November 6th, 4:30 pm Tuesday December 4th, 4:30 pm IPP News: The 2011 Christmas Decoration Awards were as followed: Grand Prize: Aaron & Sue Lusker-"Children's Fantasy" 2nd Prize: Pyrite Peringer - "Over the Top" Other Prize winner: Marlin & Bill Bloethe- "Sparkles" St. Johns Church-"Classic" Gigi & Gordon Murphy-"Special Morale Award" Meetings are held at the Fishers Island Community Center, unless noted. FI Community Board Schedule of Regular Meetings: Tuesday March 13th 5:00 pm Tuesday April 10th, 5:00 pm Tuesday May 8th, 5:00 pm Saturday May 26th, TBA Ferguson Museum- "Most Inviting" Acknowledgments to whomever decorated the Fort Wright lampposts and Walsh Park for its festive atmosphere. All meetings are open to the public unless otherwise noted. Meetings are held at the Fishers Island Community Center unless noted. Making QuickBooks and Accounting Fun! Dawn W. Brolin, MSA (860)234-2059 Thank you to the island community for allowing me to help businesses and organizations on Fishers Island improve their accounting records and workflow. My relationship with you all means the world! dawnbrolin@gmail.com Page 3 Obituary: Serge Doyen Serge Doyen passed away on November 22. Serge was the last of three brothers whose family owned and ran Doyen’s Store in the village. Serge married his first wife Janice, a school teacher here on the island. They raised three children –Serge Jr., James and Debbie. After Janice passed away, over 20 years ago, he met and married his second wife, Jo Ann and moved to Mystic, CT., where Jo Ann still resides. Serge was a graduate of Kings Point Merchant Marine Academy. He was also a very active Fishers Island resident. He was a 60 year plus member of the Fire Dept. serving 20 years as a Fire Commissioner, a member of the School Board, the first manager of the Ferry District and served 20 years on the Southold Town Zoning Board. He was known to most as the local wine merchant and was a real expert on wines. Also a great talker and joke teller, he had the gift for gab, chatting with all – you always had to ask him to give you the short version! At his request, he did not want an obituary or service, and I’m sure that he would not be happy with this, but as an old friend, I wanted those who knew him to know that he has passed on and remind all that he served the island well. Our thoughts go out to Jo Ann and his children. -A Friend PS: Serge –I just gave the short version! John Adams Rutledge, Jr John Adams Rutledge, Jr., of East Haddam, CT, owner of Action Airlines, died February 2, 2012 while vacationing in Costa Rica. John flew more than 40,000 hours and, in 2009, received the Wright Brothers Award for 50 years of incident-free flying. On Sunday, February 26, 2012 at 1pm, his wife Ginger, family and friends will celebrate John’s life at Groton Airport, Columbia Air Service, 175 Tower Ave., Groton, CT. Memorial contributions may be made to Forgotten Felines, P.O. Box 734, Clinton, CT 06413. H.L. Ferguson Museum Christmas Bird Count 2011 For several years, the H L Ferguson Museum has participated in the Christmas Bird Count, a tradition initiated by our former curator, Ed Horning. Sponsored by the Audubon Society, the first Christmas Bird Count was held on Christmas Day of 1900 with 27observers in 25 locations across Canada and the United States. Since that time, the Count has grown to include well over 50,000 counters at 2000 locations each year from above the Arctic Circle to the waters of the Drake Passage off Tierra del Fuego. For this past year’s 112th count, held from December 14 through January 5, tens of thousands of volunteers throughout the Americas took part in the count providing the data collected in this longest-running wildlife census to assess the health of bird populations - and to help guide conservation action. The island is part of the New London count geographic area or ―circle,‖ thus birding is restricted to the western half of the island. We go as far as Middle Farms and tally both species and numbers of birds seen. The Fishers count is one of the latest and always occurs on the Saturday following Christmas day. This year, it was held on New Year’s eve and we were out birding from eight a.m. until dusk. Counters included Ken Edwards, Greg and Penni Sharp, Dick Baker, Jules Buck Jones and his brother Miles Jones. A total of 37 species of birds were recorded, down slightly from previous years. We were told that counts everywhere were down this year, perhaps due to the mild weather. Highlights included a sighting of a barred owl, 6 gannets, 8 horned larks, 1 horned grebe, and 1 Cooper’s hawk. Among the most numerous birds seen were common eider, bufflehead, and red-breasted merganser. Fishers Island recorded the only red-breasted nuthatch for the area as well as the only horned larks. At the end of the day, all birds are tallied up and called in to the count leader in New London. The Christmas Bird Count is the longest running Citizen Science survey in the world and provides critical data on population trends. Tens of thousands of participants know that it is also a lot of fun. Data from the over 2,000 circles will be entered over the coming months into mid-2012. Check the internet for the world-wide results. The Museum encourages any interested parties to participate next year. If you don’t want to brave the cold, data from bird feeders is also welcome. Next year’s count will occur on December 29th and all are welcome to join in the fun! Page 4 HAS A NEW WOLF RETURNED TO LONG ISLAND, NEW YORK? Written by: Frank Vincenti It has been nearly 400 yrs since wolf-like howls resonated on Long Island , an almost 100 mile stretch of land off the east coast and part of NY. In the early colonial period , British and Dutch settlers placed bounties, which in some old town records are still in print, and being separate from the mainland, the animals were quickly eradicated. The last 100 yrs has seen a new wolf-like canid colonize the east in the wake of the original wolf's absence, the Eastern coyote or coy wolf. An animal that the last remaining wolves hybridized with to a varying degree. This coy wolf has done well in human altered landscapes and has even adapted to the major metropolises having been officially documented in the NYC area as early as 1995. Coyotes are successfully breeding in the Borough of the Bronx , coming out in the wee hours of the morning and hunting rats and other rodents in alley ways and up people's driveways and returning to city parks as the sun comes up (Wild Dog Foundation). Occasionally young animals disperse into Manhattan, but are either removed or do not survive. The only land mass devoid of coy wolves is Long Island (including Queens and Brooklyn) which has ample habitat and potential food sources such as geese , rats ( the Wild Dog Foundation's personal observation), and abundant deer populations further on the east end. Being an island , this land mass poses some challenges for dispersing animals, though not an impossibility. Coyotes are good swimmers and could certainly swim the narrowest distance between the Bronx and Queens, or even island hop, from one to the next or brazen enough to traverse the bridges from the Bronx to Queens. Regardless , reliable photos of coyotes in the Borough of Queens and the fact that they have been documented on Fisher's Island (an island that is part of the Town of Southold) show that indeed they have made it to Long Island, and wolf-like animals again roam it's shores. It was my desire to reach out to the people of Fisher's Island after reading about their concern that coyotes were observed there and the belief that cats were apparently disappearing. I noticed on the ferry ride several islands dotting the sound in between Connecticut and Fisher's Island. Coyotes may be "island hopping" to get there, or as some residents explained swimming the narrowest distance with Connecticut on the eastern end of the island. But the sanctity that random islands provide after a prolonged swim seems more accurate. It is normal for young animals to disperse to find new territory to raise young and live out their lives. In regards to loss of a feral cat colony and possible disappearance of pets, coyotes can't be all to blame. Great horned owls prey on cats and residents have observed the birds more frequently. People unfortunately can poison cats, as they are blamed for the predation of song birds. Island populations are also vulnerable to disease such as feline leukemia, and AIDs that may have run through the population as summer residents bring pets seasonally and tragically leave them to perish on their own, sometimes they're sick and spread disease. Residents have said they saw pups as recent as September, so they have bred, and the concern for them over running the island (only 7 miles long and 1 mile wide) is unfounded as the island, due to residents observations, seem to be this sole packs territory , of which they patrol, but keep to the more private areas. Unfortunately an individual coyote may be observed several times by different people, the public inaccurately believing there to be many more individuals then there truly are. Since some years they have not been seen, they may return to Connecticut, the young may disperse off the island as food sources become limited, or stay with their parents offsetting further breeding, but future generations may leave anyway. Benefitting LI's ecology, by eating geese, rats and possibly lowering the risk of Lyme Disease by feeding on the White-footed mouse, coyotes may benefit Piping Plovers by reducing competitors that may prey on nests (cats, rats and raccoons) , though loose domestic dogs are sometimes the culprits and human vandalism. We cannot say for sure if they have been breeding consistently or if any subsequent generations will survive, but populations will always be low due to the difficulties of getting there. The whole reason I do these talks is not only because I have a passion for coyotes, but there’s the fact that coyotes can live in close proximity to us and that has some people unnerved. Sightings of coyotes in urban areas have inspired me to take a proactive approach to educate people about coexisting with the animals. Sharing a community with coyotes is not a bad thing as the animals have been living in urban areas for decades without much conflict. Firstly, coyotes should never be fed by humans. Normally coyotes keep to themselves, shying away from humans. Once they become used to handouts, they are as good as dead. Coyotes are wild animals. Like any other animal, they are best kept wild. Given that coyotes and dogs are similar creatures, coyotes become nervous in the presence of the domestic animals and may become territorial, especially if there are pups. If you come in contact while walking a pet, asserting dominance is an important factor when facing the coyote. Yell at them, stomp your foot at them, maybe even throw and object towards them. Don’t hit them, but certainly throw something towards them. Showing dominance and aggression (not lethal) through loud noises and running at them will instill fear in the coyote and teach it to stay away. Studies show that coyotes are more likely to subsist in local parks, cemeteries and golf courses. At night, they are known to hunt the city streets for rodents. My only concern is to show they can exist in close proximity to humans and with minimum impact and minimum conflict as long as simple common sense things are done. Page 5 The Chinese celebrated the Lunar New Year on January February Gardening Tips from Melie 23rd. This is the Year of the Dragon on their calendar and is supposed to be a lucky year. The Chinese calendar revolves around the Moon, where as in Western cultures the sun is the main influence on the calendar and the four solstices are celebrated. Living on an Island, one is very aware of both the sun and the moon and weather in general, but the way the moon affects the tides is especially interesting. I had heard a bit about ―Moon Gardening‖ and decided to do a bit of research. People, who practice moon gardening, believe that the phases of the moon affect the energy in plants. For example, when the moon is waxing (going from the new moon to the full moon) the energy in the earth is rising up due to the increasing light at night, so it is advantageous, at that time, to plant crops that grow upward. When the moon is waning (going from full moon to new moon) the light is decreasing; the energy is going down and that is the time to plant root crops. During the Waxing Phase of the Moon Do the Following: Sow seeds of plants that grow above ground (Tomatoes –lettuce – flowers). Repot and Groom Houseplants. Fertilize. Graft Fruit Trees. Plant Evergreens and Deciduous Shrubs. During the Waning Phase of the Moon Do the Following: Plant crops that grow below the ground (Beets – radishes – carrots). Plant Bulbs. Cultivate Weeds. Plant Biennials and Perennials because they need strong roots. Eliminate Slugs. Prune Trees and Shrubs because the sap is running down. I thought I would give it a try this gardening year, especially once I found that The Farmers Almanac also follows this method. There is a book ―In tune with the Moon 2012‖ by Michael Gros that I ordered from Amazon, which will tell you everything you would ever want to know about Moon Gardening - Happy Year of The Dragon! Senior Lunch January’s Senior Lunch was prepared by Chefs Marlin and Bill Bloethe, their helpers were Katherine Evans and Heather and Elma Burnham. Marlin and Bill served baked chicken with mushroom sauce, herbed rice pilaf, mesclun mix salad, fresh fruit salad & cheesecake bars for dessert Games of bingo were played and a good time was had by all! Stay tuned, the February luncheon will be held on Thursday February 16th, Deb Silva will be the chef and entertainment will be Allyn Donath, harpist. Thank you to Patty Faulkner for the great photos and a special thanks to Ann Banks and Ellen Picket for the table decorations. Page 6 Our Lady of Grace Update: Beginning on Saturday February 4th, and for the rest of the winter months, Our Lady of Grace Catholic church will have one mass each weekend, on Saturdays at 5:00 pm. If there are to be changes to this schedule they will be posted. page 7 Fall 2011 Classic Property East End Contemporary West End 7 BR, 11.4 A, Great views, Dock, Beach, Observatory, 2.5 Acres, Great Cond. Great views, beach, dock 4 BR, Indoor lap pool 6 yr old, 3,500 sq. ft, 4 BR $2,500,000 $2,100,000 $3,499,000 Barleyfield East End Isabella Beach Road East End, 4.9 Acres, 2 lots 2.9 Acres, 6 BR, private, pool, distant views 1.88 Acres, 3 BR, private 4 BR, Great water views $1,695,000 page 8 $1,800,000 Southern Exposure $925,000 In Town Near Town Winthrop Drive 1.47 Acres, Private, 5BR Main House 5-6 BR 5 BR, Near the Ferry on Great Character and yard Two additional Cottages .50 of an acre, winterized $775,000 $519,000 $650,000 East End Lots Two lots (2.22A & 2.77A) Darbie Cove Lot Brillig 3.89 Acres, Dock, Beach, water views Water views, new road $1,500,000 $1,295,000 If you have any questions about Fishers real estate in general or would like to look at any of these properties please give us a call. We also have several other exciting properties for sale of varying specifics. These are not on the public market, but are available to be seen and purchased by qualified buyers. Please contact us for more information. We are beginning to gear up for summer rentals and more information can be found on our website. www.mysticislerealty.com Bagley and Jim Reid 631.788.7882 page 9 From the HLFM Clipping Files “A Different February in 1977” by Pierce Rafferty In the midst of this long run of unseasonably warm weather, it seems safe to turn the clock back 35 years to a winter on Fishers Island that was far less hospitable. Late January and early February 1977 featured bonechilling temperatures that generated ice floes and solid ice packs on Long Island Sound. The thick, floating ice was so hazardous that it threatened to cut the Island off from deliveries of vital supplies. A report in the February 2nd issue of The Day stated: "Long Island Sound looked like an Arctic wasteland as the ferry Olinda battered and rammed its way to Fishers Island with a cargo of fresh food… Ferry Capt. Mark Easter began dodging huge chunks of ice about two miles off Fishers Island. Ten minutes later, the boat was surrounded by ice, and thunderous crashes pierced the air as Easter maneuvered it through the solid mass.‖ Capt. Easter was forced to abandon plans to dock at Silver Eel Cove and maneuvered the intrepid ferry into the Utility dock at West Harbor where the ice was less thick. The Day reported that Island resident Charles Morgan, a passenger on the trip, said: "It feels like we're on a pinball machine." Ferry employee Arnold Toivenen reflected: "The last time I saw conditions like this was when I was in Alaska.‖ Another passenger wondered: "How did the Vikings ever get through?" The immediate future of the supply route was so tentative that a committee was formed at the urging of island grocer Henry Walsh. Having experienced a similar freeze in 1934, he wanted to be prepared for a worst case scenario. Approximately 40 Fishers Island business, emergency response and political leaders met and were informed by Fishers Island Fire Department officials that "emergency helicopters and planes are available to island residents in an emergency." The clearing of Elizabeth Field's runways of snow was made a top priority. One committee member proposed: "if tankers which deliver oil to the island are unable to penetrate the ice, oil could be drawn from unoccupied homes with the owner's permission—and replaced in the spring." Luckily this ―nationalization‖ of the Island’s private oil reserves proved unnecessary as weather conditions improved and the ice began to melt. By February 8th, the MV Olinda was able to dock again at Silver Eel Cove, which, unlike West Harbor, had facilities for loading and unloading trucks and cars. Soon, all was back to normal. Fishers Island Library News: New books at the Library: "The Drop" Michael Connelly, "D.C. Dead" Stuart Woods, "Love in a Nutshell" Janet Evanovich, "Explosive Eighteen" Janet Evanovich, Private #1 Suspect" James Patterson, "Death Comes to Pemberley" PD James, "Why Read Moby Dick?" Nathaniel Philbrick, "Steve Job" Walter Isaacson, "Killing Lincoln" Bill O'Reilly, "Guinness World Records 2012", "Shelter" Harlan Coben (young adult), "Barefoot Books-World Atlas", and many more.... Books on order: "Home Front" Kristin Hanna, "Down the Darkest Road" Tami Hoag, "A Devil is Waiting" Jack Higgins, "Raylan" Elmore Leonard, "Lone Wolf" Jodi Picoult, "Catch Me" Lisa Gardner, many more... Many children's books too including: "Everything I Need to Know Before I'm Five" Valerie Fisher Page 10 Jonas and Mackie head to the Australian Open!!! Jonas Lundblad, Director of Fishers Island Tennis Club, travels down under with Mackenzie McDonald to the Australian Open. Jonas and Stacia Lundblad have known Mackie since he was 9 yrs old. Jonas began traveling with him to tournaments over the past years. Many of you may know Mackie since he came to Fishers Island to train last summer for 6 weeks. Mackie was excepted into the qualifying draw of the Australian Open. In order to qualify to the main draw (64 players) of the Australian Open, Mackie needed to win 3 matches. The qualifying is single elimination (once you lose you are out!). Mackie played very well and beat players from Australia, France and Croatia to advance to the main draw of the Australian Open which was the goal Mackie and Jonas had set for this trip. Mackie is 16 years old and was is competing in the 18 years and younger category. This was Mackie's first time to play the Australian Open. Both he and Jonas were excited he had qualified! His first round was against a player from Uzbekistan ranked #64 in the world. Mackie won 6-1, 7-6. His next matchup was against a guy from France, ranked #36 in the world. Another win for Mackie 6-1, 6-2. third round was against an Australian favorite ranked #7 in the world. They played on a big stadium court which held around 2000 people. This was the biggest court Mackie had ever played on. Great win for Mackie 6-3, 6-2. In the Quarterfinals, he beat a Czech player ranked #29 in the world. Mackie had an incredible comeback in the match. He was down 0-6, 0-4 and the guy was serving at 30-0. Somehow, Mackie came back and won the match 0-6, 6-4, 6-2......amazing comeback! In the semifinals, Mackie played the #5 player in the world from Canada. He lost this match 4-6, 4-6. Mackie played some great tennis during this tournament. It was an amazing experience and one he will never forget. After this performance, Mackie's ranking is now #55 in the world. FI School Judo Update: On Thursday January 26th the Judo program at the Fishers Island School resumed for its third 8 week session with 18 students participating. Led by Sensei Egnor and his assistants this round of sessions will be focused on self defense. FI School students in grades Pre-K -12 are welcome to attend. Page 11 JANUARY AT FISHERS ISLAND SCHOOL Art students of all ages collaborated on this piece, inspired by the work of Wassily Kandinsky. Girls’ basketball versus Grasso Tech. Boys’ basketball against Williams. MARINE SCHOLARS PROGRAM It is with great pride that we announce Junior Katie McCarthy’s acceptance into this competitive program. The purpose of this wonderful program is to provide area high school juniors the opportunity to enhance their exposure to Marine Sciences /Maritime Studies. This occurs in a collegiate learning environment through Avery Point faculty mentoring. Each recipient is eligible for a $1000 Marine Scholar Award should he/she decide to enroll in the Marine Sciences/Maritime Studies program at UCONN’s Avery Point branch campus. The Fishers Island School community congratulates Katie on this collegiate venture. Katie McCarthy accepted into the Avery Point Marine Scholars Program. page 12 Pre-K and Kindergarten students drew their self-portraits on a late-January costume day. See the newsletter for amazing drawings by every student. ISLAND SKATING RINK UNDER CONSTRUCTION The FIce (no, that’s not a flea-lice hybrid, that’s ―FI Ice‖!) rink is slowly taking shape. Mr. Matzdorff (FI School Mathematics) and students are turning one of the tennis courts by the community center into what will hopefully be an ice rink for student and community skating. The project has provided the students involved with a chance to use and develop critical thinking, mathematics, engineering, budgeting, and construction skills in a ―real-world‖ scenario that benefits not only the students, but the larger community as well. Bringing in the lumber for the rink’s perimeter. FOR ADDITIONAL NEWS, SIGN UP FOR THE SCHOOL NEWSLETTER ON OUR WEBSITE. The rink itself should be completed by the middle of February. Whether or not there will be ice for skating this year remains to be seen. The weather has not been prime for freezing water, so we will hope for a late cold-snap to provide some ice. Even if we do not get ice this year, all of the materials used to build the rink can be reused for years to come! Check the main page and/or the ―Announcements‖ tab on the FI School website for updates on and pictures of the construction process, and status reports on the ice (or lack thereof!). page 13 Hours of Operation Gold N Silver Shop Trunk Show Vendors Separate Entrance, AC, Heat, Available year round. P/F# NJ 1-201-288-1157 Email joannegold06390@verizon.net P# FI 1-631-788-7267 Bike rentals, Antiques, Brass, FI Souvenirs. page 14 Beach Plum Closed until Easter Bike Shop 8:00-4:30 7 days a week Compost Facility: M-F 7:30-12:00, 12:30-4:30 Sat. 8:00-12:00 Community Center Office: M-F 9:00 - 4:00 Doctor’s Office: Mon 3:00- 6:00 pm Tu, Thu, Fri 9:00 am - Noon Wed CLOSED ALL DAY Drink N’ Vessel: M - F 3:30-5:30 Sat 10-12 & 3-5 Ferry Reservations: M-Sat 9:00 to 1:00 Ferry Freight Office: M-F 7:45 to 4:45 Sat at boat time F.I. Museum: Call for appt. 788-7239 F.I. Library: M & F 1-5; W 1-6; Sa 9-12 F.I. Utility Co: M-F 8:00-4:00 Island Hardware: M-F 8:00-3:45, Sat. 8:00-12:00 Island Service: (formerly Mobil Station) M-F 8:00-4:30, Sat/Sun. 8:00- 12:00 Our Lady of Grace: Sat 5:00 pm and Sun 10:00am Pickett Fence Closed for the season Post Office: window hours: M-F 8:00-5:00, Sat. 8:00-12:00 M-F 8:00-1:00, 2:15-5:00 Sat. 8am-11:15am Shutters & Sails Real Estate: M-F 9:00-1:00 or call 788-7921 Toppers: Closed for the season, Ice Cream avail at Drinkn Vessel Transfer Station: Mon, Wed, Fri, Sat, Sun 7:30am -12:30pm, Union Chapel: Sun 10am Worship and Sunday School Village Market M-Sat 7:30-1 & 3-5:30 Sun 8-12;30 Z & S Fuel & Service M-F 8:00 - 4:15 Island Community Center News Keep your eyes peeled this Fall/Winter for exciting programs coming to the Center. Events will be posted on the Fishers Island Events calendar and in the Fog Horn. Don't forget to buy your gym memberships!! Six month Family = $450.00 Six Month Adult = $250.00 Six Month Youth = $150.00 Six Month Senior= $170.00 THE BEACH PLUM is open Online all year long!! Six Month Sr. Couple = $300.00 Www.thebeachplum.com Fishers Island Community Calendar Any Organization or Group wishing to have information included on the Community Calendar or interested in booking a room at the Community Center please email me at: fishersislandevents@gmail.com Please Include: Name of Event/Meeting/Program Location or Room desired Date(s) and Start & End Time Any additional relevant information about the event. You can also write up your request & drop it off for me at the Community Center. Monthly Calendars will be posted on the Post Office Bulletin Board the 1st of each month with all information to date. The calendar is updated daily and is available on the FishersIsland.net website. An iPhone application is also available at iTunes. Thank you, Sarah Porter Calendar Manager A Reminder from the FI Post Office Don’t forget that you can order your stamps from the Fishers Island Post office. Send a check for the amount you want, be sure to include your name and where you would like them shipped, send this information to the FI Post Office care of Post Master PO Box 9998. If you have any questions please call the post office at 631-788-7385. Veterinarian on Island Dr. Christopher Otka has taken over Dr. Sminkeys practice. Dr. Otka will continue to come out to the island for veterinary check ups, for more information or to schedule an appointment please contact Jennifer Sanger 788-7632 or 860-209-0130 page 15 Doctor’s Office Information In October and November, the Office staff will be busy converting all of our patient’s charts over to electronic medical records (EMR), bringing Fishers Island truly into the 21 st Century! In order to realize the benefits of a new paperless world, the Office will no longer take patients on a walk-in basis. Beginning October 1st, anyone who wants to see the doctor will have to call ahead to make an appointment. This will allow us to get all of the patient’s paperwork and insurance information registered before they actually see the doctor. We also hope that it will significantly reduce the amount of waiting time that many patients are currently experiencing, particularly in the summer months. The Office phones will be manned to take appointments every weekday morning from 9.00 to 12.00 and anyone with an urgent care need will be seen by the doctor on the same day. Although the Office will be closed for appointments on Wednesdays (Dr Ingram will be working at L&M, or Pequot.) As in the past, Dr Ingram will continue to be “on-call” outside of office hours for patients with emergencies that are not serious enough to require calling the ambulance. Fall/winter hours below. Monday 3:00 pm 6:00 pm Tuesday Wednesday 9:00 am Noon CLOSED ALL DAY Thursday 9:00 am Noon Friday 9:00 am Noon NOTE TO ALL OUR PATIENTS WITH OXFORD INSURANCE: If your policy requires you to designate a Primary Care Physician, please consider calling Oxford immediately (tel. no. on the back of your insurance card) to change your PCP designation to Dr Ingram. His Oxford Provider Number: P3904126 If your policy is an HMO, your insurance will NOT cover a visit to our office unless you first designate Dr Ingram as your PCP, or you get a referral to Dr Ingram faxed from your already designated Primary Care Provider (before you see Dr Ingram!). REMEMBER: The Doctor’s Office is changing over to an appointment-only system. PLEASE call ahead to make your appointment! LOOK FOR ANY UPDATES ON THE POST OFFICE BULLETIN BOARD Fog Horn Entries: ADVERTISING Fees for the Fog Horn Size Monthly 6 Months 12 Months 1 page $100 $500 $900 ½ page $50 $250 $450 ¼ page $25 $125 $225 Bus Card $15 $75 $135 All ads need to be camera ready – either a word document or a jpeg. Please, no pdf's – the images don’t translate well in publisher. Ads are offered on a first come, first serve basis and we have the right to limit ad space each month. We also reserve the right to approve any ad copy or content. All ads must be paid for in advance – either by check or credit card (please call the Community Center 788-7683). Send your photos, announcements, articles and other submissions to ficommunityboard@gmail.com or you can mail them to: FI Community Center P.O. Box 464, Fishers Island, NY 06390 You can also drop them off at the Island Community Center or call 788-7990 and leave a message and someone will get back to you.. Submissions are due by the 7th of the month.