Despite torrential rains battering the East End Sunday morning, an annual boat party and concert went off without a hitch in the Inner Cove, although according to Sag Harbor Village Harbor Master Bob Bori the event attracted between 150 to 200 vessels, half of the boats it attracted last year.

And for some Sag Harbor residents, that wasn’t a bad thing.

The event has been coined different names during its 20-year existence – The Sag Harbor Boat Party, Barcelona Fest, Barcelona Point Boat Party or simply, The Barge Party in reference to the barge organizers set up for live music. It has also boasted a number of venues from its original home off Barcelona Point in Northwest, East Hampton to Major’s Harbor in Shelter Island when Sean Scanlon was at the helm of festivities. Starting in 2010, when Charlie Canavan began leading efforts to organize the event, it was moved to the Inner Cove of Sag Harbor for the first time.

According to Canavan, the location was supported by local officials, including Bori, as it was safer than hosting the party in open waters, and was a more controlled environment for law enforcement to monitor.

Another reason the event has moved so often in its history is due to complaints from neighbors, as well as eventual permit requirements by the towns of East Hampton and Shelter Island. According to Sag Harbor Mayor Brian Gilbride after having the party for two years straight in the Inner Cove, village officials will begin working with Southampton Town Trustees and the Village of North Haven to draft legislation requiring a permit to host a mass gathering event like the boat party in their waters.

“Right now, a lot of the waterfront is considered ‘no man’s land’ and there is nothing we can do about it,” said Gilbride. “My goal is not to discourage it, but if I need to put extra officers out there to keep everyone safe, I am going to do it.”

According to Bori, last year the party drew between 350 to 400 vessels, but very few complaints. However, this year, the complaints began weeks before the event was scheduled.

“Last year, when it occurred people did ask us why it didn’t need a permit, and after being in touch with the town trustees we discovered there was nothing that regulates it to date,” said Bori. “We are hoping to hash something out before next year.”

Gilbride said the main goal was to ensure that taxpayers do not have to foot the bill for the boat party, which is free for boaters, but does cost the village and surrounding municipalities money in terms of staff from the harbors and docks department and police to ensure the event is held safely.

This year, in addition to the Coast Guard, Southampton Town Trustees and bay constables, there were marine patrols on hand from Sag Harbor, East Hampton, Southampton, Shelter Island and even East Quogue.

Not a single “boating while intoxicated” charge or speeding ticket was levied, according to Bori, although there were some tickets issued for minor violations like expired registrations.

Landward, if someone applies for a mass gathering permit for an event that requires extra police presence to handle traffic control or other issues, event organizers, not village residents, carry that expense.

During a Harbor Committee meeting on Monday night, resident Cam Gleason raised the issue of the village having involvement in the planning of the boat party. Gleason said she was not against the event, but was against the location, citing its environmental significance.

“It is a very fragile environment in the Inner Cove,” agreed committee chairman Bruce Tait.

“I like a party as much as anyone, but I don’t like a party that trashes the environment, trashes the neighborhood and uses my tax dollars to fund it,” said Gayle Pickering, architect and wife of Ship Ashore marina owner Rick Pickering.

Pickering said that last year, the boat yard was “trashed” as a result of the event. Her husband grows oysters off his marina, which also makes the family concerned about water quality after a large scale party like that is held.

Pickering acknowledged this year was better, but attributed that to the rain in the morning, which kept many boaters at bay.

On Tuesday, Canavan noted the event has never been advertised, is insured, held for free and this year collected charitable donations to benefit Mick Hargreaves, a Southampton musician brutally assaulted with a crowbar last month outside of a Bayport bar after a performance.

Canavan added that the event was family friendly, boasting people of all ages from seven-year-olds to grandparents and everyone in between.

“I wish people would lighten up and attend the next party,” he said. “Everyone was well behaved, there were no arrests, it was a beautiful summer day and the music was great.”

Canavan added he personally policed the waters for trash after the event was over and that all officials on hard “were very professional, kind, considerate and courteous.”

“I told everyone we were surrounded by friends out there,” said Canavan. “And I want to thank them for doing such a great job.”

Canavan said he would like to continue to have the event in the Inner Cove, but questioned if that could happen under restrictions by the village and town.

“This is a nice event with people singing and dancing, and I would welcome comments on how it could be done better or comments thanking me for bringing commerce into town for a terrific waterborne event,” said Canavan.

Popularity: 4% [?]

On Tuesday night, Sag Harbor resident Mare Dianora sat in the front row of the Sag Harbor Village Board of Trustees meeting with a virtual library of books on raising chickens and building coops in her lap. Her young son Finny, came into the board room clutching a stuffed chicken he has brought to some four meetings to wish his mother luck on the approval of a proposed law she has championed to make it legal for residents to raise and keep chickens in Sag Harbor.

Neither Finny nor Dianora left disappointed.

With only one resident questioning aspects of the law, although supportive of the measure overall, the Sag Harbor Village Board of Trustees officially made it legal. Residents can now raise and keep chickens and bantams, a small variety of poultry, on their properties.

The law allows people in the residential districts of the village to keep up to six chickens per 20,000 square-feet of lot area, or just shy of a half acre of land. Residents will not be able to have more than 18 chickens on their property, regardless of its size, and the sale of any poultry items, including eggs is prohibited.

The intent of the law is to allow families like Dianora’s the ability to raise their own poultry for fresh eggs and fertilizer.

As trustee Robby Stein illustrated with a large plastic figure of a rooster and smaller version of a chicken, roosters are expressly forbidden under the new law, which has been lauded by the board with little protest from residents since Dianora proposed the legislation in April.

The law allows the keeping of poultry as a special exception use — meaning residents will have to apply to the building department and will need approval from the village planning board before they can start raising their broods. Coops or any structures used to house the animals are limited to 100 square-feet or 10 feet in height and must be kept in the rear yard. A coop must also meet a 20-foot setback to the property line and any outdoor pen must meet the standard for an accessory structure, keeping a distance of 10-feet from the property line – an issue clarified by the board at the questioning of resident Peter Price.

According to Sag Harbor Village Attorney Fred W. Thiele, Jr., the legislation is nearly identical to a law adopted in North Haven Village last year, after Brett and Kristin Morgan successfully lobbied that village board for the right to keep chickens on their property.

After the meeting, Dianora said she planned to apply for her coop and chickens through the village building department as soon as possible, meaning Finny will soon have more than a stuffed chicken to cuddle.

Dianora added that throughout the process she was actually surprised more members of the public didn’t come forward in opposition to the law, but that it spoke of the community’s commitment.

“I felt there was a great deal of support from the community in the people I have spoken to along the way,” she said. “We are very excited and hope to be taking care of chickens very shortly.”

Popularity: 2% [?]

Current North Haven Village Trustees Jeff Sander and Jim Smyth will maintain their seats on the village board after beating out newcomer Lawrence LaRose on Tuesday, June 21.

The village saw a marked turnout of voters this year with 191 total ballots cast (12 absentee). According to Mayor Laura Nolan, last year’s election only had 63 voters. In all, Sander and Smyth each received an equal 125 votes, while LaRose earned 73.

Popularity: 1% [?]

A democracy by definition is a government for the people, by the people.

In the Village of North Haven, this concept was practically all but forgotten until just last month, when resident Lawrence LaRose got out, rallied his neighbors, raised some noise and — after appealing to the village board to rescind a newly passed law allowing for a 140-foot tall cell phone tower on village property — was the cause of great change.

The village complied with his wishes and rescinded the law.

LaRose is one of three candidates on next Tuesday’s ballot for North Haven Village Board of Trustees. There are two seats open and while La Rose won’t be receiving our endorsement this time around, it’s not because we aren’t pleased by his efforts to engage in local government and better his community. Even if the cell tower debacle seemingly prompted his foray into public service, LaRose didn’t take his campaign lightly. He did his homework and proved a vested member of the North Haven community with numerous ideas on how to make it better.

But a successful government is a two-way street. And last month, North Haven Village was witness to democracy in its purest form. Because when the people spoke, the village listened.

So we endorse current village board members Jim Smyth and Jeff Sander because they listened to what the community had to say, and put great effort into doing what the people said was right.

What’s more, until this heated election season, Smyth and Sander have served on a board that has worked hard to ensure property taxes remain level, and controversies remain at a distance.

Though we couldn’t see a reason to toss either Smyth and Sander out of their seats in favor of LaRose, we hope he continues to be a vocal part of the North Haven community and are glad for the spark he added to a somewhat quiet spit of land in recent days. We would love to see LaRose get a seat on one of the village’s appointed boards in the meantime where he can really delve into the inner-workings of this municipality. We would encourage others to do the same. Because, if there’s anything residents of North Haven can learn from what transpired this election season it’s this: you do have a voice.

Popularity: 1% [?]

By Claire Walla

The possibility of a cell phone tower being constructed in the middle of North Haven has thrown many residents into a tizzy.

Trustee Jeff Sander said the issue was pursued late last year to address the village’s spotty cell phone reception, which Sander explained “has been a common complaint for many years.”

Plus, he said the village would be able to profit from a tower, which would potentially reduce village taxes by about 10 percent.

“Those are the two motivating factors to see whether this makes any sense at all,” Sander explained in an interview along with his fellow trustee Jim Smythe. “It’s not for me and Jim, it’s for the citizens of North Haven.”

Though not everyone appreciates the favor.

“It just goes against everything North Haven stands for,” said resident Susan Lamontagne.

She is one of several community members spearheading an effort to oppose any hint of a cell phone tower in North Haven — a group that includes her husband, Lawrence LaRose, who is running for a position on the North Haven Village Board based largely on his opposition to the wireless structure.

“I’m not against trying to improve people’s cell phone service,” Lamontagne continued. “But what I don’t understand is why the board didn’t look at other options.”

At a village board meeting at the beginning of this year, town trustees heard from officials on behalf of a company calling itself Suffolk Wireless, LLC, which was asked by North Haven Village Mayor Laura Nolan to present a comprehensive plan for a 140-foot tall monopole to be placed on village property.

According to the presentation, the proposed structure — which could carry signals for up to seven service providers — would be painted a tan color on bottom and pale blue above the tree line to blend in with the natural surroundings as best as possible.

The proposal was discussed among village trustees, most of whom looked favorably upon the plan, though Suffolk Wireless, LLC has yet to actually submit an application to the village. Last month, however, the village passed a local law laying out the ground rules for potentially implementing wireless devices in the village. Trustee Diane Skilbred, who would have a view of the proposed tower from her home, was the only board member to oppose the law.

Though the village ran legal announcements in The Sag Harbor Express giving public notice prior to board meetings in which cell phone tower issues were to be addressed, some residents are upset that they hadn’t heard about the issue until after the board voted the legislation into law.

“I don’t think the actions taken to date are the ones that necessarily require a bull horn [to announce it to the public],” Sander continued. “We haven’t even discussed a site application. There isn’t even any plan or proposal to construct a tower.”

Sander and Smythe said that the Suffolk Wireless, LLC presentation at the beginning of the year is not a plan that has been submitted to the board for approval.

Plus, Smythe clarified that the board “wouldn’t even be able to entertain the good, the bad, or any other wireless options” without the local law being added to the village code book.

Initially worried about the potential health risks associated with the proposed structure, Lamontagne first addressed the issue by bringing it to the community. After talking to neighbors near her home on West Drive, Lamontagne found that many North Haven residents were concerned about the notion of putting a cell tower in the village — and many didn’t know about it. Most notably, residents worried about aesthetics and property values.

“The number one thing that we hear is that a 140-foot tower does not belong in North Haven,” she said, adding that this height is just 12 feet shorter than the Statue of Liberty.

This is of particular concern to Brian Ehrlich, who said his home on Stock Farm Lane would look directly onto the tower proposed by Suffolk Wireless, LLC.

“In my case, I’ve got a beautiful view of the creek and the wetlands — without humanity,” Ehrlich said. He noted that he’s also currently in the process of undergoing a $1 million renovation on the back deck of his home to enhance this view.

Ehrlich said he met with mayor Nolan last week to express his concerns, and learned that the proposed tax break from the tower would save him about $80 a year on his village tax bill.

In other words, he continued, “for a savings of $80 a year, I get to see a cell tower.”

“It just doesn’t add up economically,” he continued. “I appreciate the fact that [Mayor Nolan] is trying to save money for the village, but saving 10 percent of a $1 million operating budget doesn’t make sense” for a relatively wealthy village, he said.

Though Sander confirmed that village taxes haven’t rising in the last five years, he and Smythe expressed concern that finances might not stay so level in the future, given the shaky economy.

Overall, Sander emphasized that the village is not yet poised to make any decisions regarding the implementation of a cell tower.

In fact, he added, the board has begun to look at other options in an attempt to address the issue of poor cell service.

“We’re still looking at the Distributed Antenna System [DAS],” Sander said of the system proposed in an editorial last week written by LaRose. DAS claims to distribute cell signals more evenly via nodes placed on top of existing telephone poles, which decreases the amount of radiation sent out, versus what a cell tower would emit. “That’s the one alternative [to a tower] that looks most promising.”

“There might be a superior solution for everyone … I don’t know yet,” he continued. “We’ve had a presentation from [Suffolk Wireless], but we’re looking at alternatives. There will be opportunities for the public to participate, because the public has raised concerned. And maybe we have to do much more than just a notice in the paper. But, once we have public debate, and the benefit of public input, we as a board will figure out what we decide to do.”

Popularity: 2% [?]

By Claire Walla

On Monday, May 16 members of the Democratic Party of Southampton Town gathered to announce the names of the candidates it would endorse for the 2011-2012 election this November.

Current Southampton Town Supervisor Anna Throne-Holst (Ind.) will seek her second term, and current board member Bridget Fleming (Dem.) who was voted into office mid-election cycle last June, will seek her first full-term in office. Added to the mix will be newcomer Brad Bender (Ind.) who has his sights on the third seat that will open up on the board.

Nancy Graboski (Rep.) has announced she will retire from Southampton Town Council when her term is up in November. So, should Throne-Holst and Fleming maintain hold of their seats, and should Bender secure a seat in his first official foray into town politics, this would shift the dynamics of the now-republican-majority board.

Since being elected to a town board position in 2008, Throne-Holst has made the town’s finances her main focus. Then a board member, she initiated efforts to bring on a forensic audit, which ultimately revealed overspending within the town, which had resulted in multi-million dollar deficits.

Anna Throne-Holst

Throne-Holst, who was elected supervisor in 2009, has called herself a “natural consensus-builder” who is “committed to working transparently.”

Most significantly, she points to her effort to transform Planned Development District (PDD) legislation, a process she referred to in a press release as “easily the most significant planning initiative from a town-wide perspective.”

The supervisor also highlights her efforts to instigate a planning study for County Road 39, and says she remains committed to reevaluating the current system for evaluating tax assessments, a process that, she noted, could save tax payers money in the long run.

Overall, Throne-Holst highlights her “determination to put public service over politics,” which has “fueled her many accomplishments and won her public praise, despite being a minority leader on a politically divided town board.”

Bridget Fleming

A Noyac resident who owns a private law practice next to Provisions on Main Street in Sag Harbor, Fleming joined the Southampton Town Board in March of last year, during a special, mid-term election.

“I’m happy to say I feel as though I’ve gotten a lot done in a short time,” she said. “And I’m in the minority, I’m the only Democrat on the board.”

(Though Throne-Holst has garnered support from the Democratic Party, she is a registered Independent.)

Briefly listing what she’s accomplished in the past year, Fleming mentioned four main initiatives: adopting legislation to remove all damaged double utility poles from the town’s roadways, legislation to provide health insurance for volunteer firefighters and ambulance workers, a project called Farm Fresh Foods (which would start-up a farmers market in Riverhead) and her efforts to create a Local Waterfront Revitalization Plan for the town.

“What I would like to continue to focus on is three main priorities: economic opportunities for everyone, environmental stewardship, and continued efforts to achieve financial responsibility,” Fleming said.

Brad Bender
Though new to politics at the town-wide level, Brad Bender a resident of Northampton (an area near Riverhead) has been active on the local level for the past five years as a board member, vice president and now president of the Flanders/Riverside/Northampton Community Association.

“We’re kind of a drive-by community,” Bender said. In an effort to build the community’s aesthetic appeal, Bender headed two major beautification projects. With help from the county and the town, he replanted the flowerbeds and restored the flagpole at the traffic circle at the end of Route 24, and recently spearheaded an effort to post “Welcome To” signs throughout the community to orient unknown passersby and give the community a sense of place.

“My whole campaign is to continue to bring open and transparent government to the town of Southampton, in order to protect the small-town, rural feel” he said. “The big thing is to bring responsibility [to the town board].”

Popularity: 1% [?]

By Claire Walla

Finalizing the first phase the cell-tower debate, the Village of North Haven voted 4-1 to pass a resolution adopting a local law that would allow for a cell phone tower to be built in North Haven.

This meeting, Tuesday, May 3, was the second part of a public hearing on the local law, which was held over in anticipation of a SEQRA environmental report, which mayor Laura Nolan announced “recommends a negative declaration.”

In other words, village clerk Georgia Welch explained, SEQRA determined there is no environmental impact.

Trustee Dianne Skilbred was the only board member to oppose the law, saying “I think it’s too industrial for North Haven Village.”

Her thoughts were echoed by some who attended the Tuesday meeting.
During the public comment session, North Haven resident Susan Lamontagne presented the board with a petition signed by over 30 residents (most from North Haven, some from the greater Sag Harbor area) opposing the cell tower, citing health issues as a major concern.

Village attorney Anthony Tohill said the Federal Communications Act of 1996 bars local governments from rejecting or denying a cell phone tower application for health reasons, as there are no scientifically known health risks at this time.

However, Lamontagne said “the government has often been late to the game on health issues,” citing cigarettes as an example.

Resident Susan Galardi raised objections as well, but took more issue with the visual problems associated with the proposed structure. In an attempt to quell her concerns, Nolan brought out photographs of a simulated mono-pole as seen from various vantage points throughout the village. (The images are available to the public at the village office.)

Village trustee Jim Smythe added that the pole will be painted light brown on bottom, and blue-grey above the tree-line so as to blend in with the surrounding area as best as possible.

“There’s absolutely no comparison to the cell tower on Millstone [Road],” Nolan continued.

Some in the audience praised the new law.

“I brought up the subject that we should have a cell tower a number of years ago,” said resident Jim Morrissey. “I live on Ferry Road and I have no [cell phone] signal. I think it’s a safety issue.”

Popularity: 1% [?]

By Kathryn G. Menu

With village elections in both Sag Harbor and North Haven slated for June 21, both villages currently are looking at uncontested races, although with just less than two weeks before nominating petitions are due, it is possible a dark horse candidate could enter either race.

Sag Harbor Village previously reported a May 5 deadline for nominating petitions. But on Tuesday Sag Harbor Village Clerk Beth Kamper confirmed that the actual earliest date a candidate can file a petition is May 10. The deadline to file a petition is a week later, on Tuesday, May 17. This is true for North Haven as well.

In Sag Harbor, despite rumors about former village mayor Pierce Hance and former village board candidate Ryan Horn, Jr. throwing their hats into the ring, as of Tuesday afternoon only incumbent mayor Brian Gilbride, trustee Ed Gregory, trustee Tim Culver and village justice Andrea Schiavoni had picked up petitions for re-election under the Sag Harbor Party banner.

Similarly, in North Haven Village, incumbent trustees Jim Smyth and Jeff Sander — on the North Haven Party ticket — are the only candidates to pick up petitions to run for election. There is no mayoral race in that village this year.

In other election news, the East Hampton Town Republican Committee announced this week that it has nominated Jill Massa for Town Assessor and Lisa Rana — the acting village justice in Sag Harbor — for town justice.

The remainder of the Republican Committee nominees will be announced after the May 11 nominating convention. The East Hampton Democratic Committee will convene its nominating convention on May 16.

Thiele Aims to Combat Gas Prices

New York State Assemblyman Fred W. Thiele, Jr. announced last week that he has co-sponsored two new bills in the state assembly to combat the rising cost of gas on Long Island as prices have soared locally to over $4.50 at some stations.

In the short term, Thiele has introduced legislation that would suspend three different state taxes on motor fuel during the four-day Memorial Day, Fourth of July and Labor Day weekends.

The three taxes are an $0.08 cent excise tax, a 4.25 percent sales tax above $2 per gallon and the $0.17 cent petroleum business tax. According to Thiele, these taxes currently cost motorists about $0.34 cents per gallon, which at $5 per galloon could save motorists about $0.38 cents a gallon or about $5.70 on a 15-gallon fill-up.

According to Thiele, New York State currently ranks sixth in the nation for gas prices at an average of $4.07 and is second only to Connecticut on the Northeast.

“The Eastern Long Island economy is highly dependent on tourism and vacation homes,” said Thiele. “Nearly 60 percent of homes east of the Shinnecock Canal are vacation homes. Small businesses in our region generate a disproportionate amount of their revenues during these holiday periods.”

“This legislation would not only make it more affordable to get here, it would make the region more attractive than many other states in the Northeast for vacations,” continued Thiele. “This is a win-win-win for motorists, small business, and the state, which will more than make up for the loss of gas tax revenue through increased sales tax revenue from shopping, restaurants, hotels, and more.”

While the short-term solution is helpful to motorists, Thiele said this week it is imperative the state do more.

“While motorists need short-term relief, in the long run it is imperative the state reduce its dependence on expensive foreign fossil fuels,” he said. “Since the 1970’s, we have pledged action to pursue alternative energy, only to revert back to gas guzzling ways after the crisis has passed. This time must be different.”

The second bill Thiele has introduced would create an “Alternative Fuel Incentive Fund.”

Currently, state sales tax on gasoline is capped so that there is no tax above $2 per gallon. Thiele’s bill would take the state sales tax from  motor and diesel fuel priced between $1 and $2 per gallon and deposit it into a dedicated fund. That fund would then be used towards a personal income tax and corporate franchise tax credit equal to $500 for every hybrid or fuel flexible vehicle purchased. It would also provide a rebate for 30 percent of the cost to install an alternative fueling station or convert an existing gas station to allow for the sale of alternative fuels.

In addition, $30 million would go towards research and development of fuel diversification and energy efficiency and $27 million to provide the travel plazas on the New York State Thruway with fueling stations for alternative fuels.

“Investment in the research and development for alternative energy, creating green jobs, protecting the environment, and reducing dependence on foreign oil would all be enhanced by this fund,” said Thiele.

CR 39 Ceremony Set in Honor of Edwin “Buzz” Schwenk

On Friday, May 6 at 11 a.m. County Road 39 will be named in memory of Southampton businessman Edwin M. “Buzz” Schwenk in a public dedication ceremony organized by Suffolk County Legislator Jay Schneiderman.

The ceremony will be held at the intersection of County Road 39 and the northwest corner of David White’s Lane in Southampton.

Schwenk passed away on December 17, 2009 at the age of 86.

A Southampton native, Schwenk was not just a businessman, but an accomplished military officer who took on civic causes during the course of his life. He was involved in the creation of the 1993 Long Island Pine Barrens Protection Act and helped bring about the passage of the Peconic Bay Region Community Preservation Fund.

In November of 2010, Schneiderman introduced legislation to name County Road 39 in Schwenk’s memory. His legislation followed a July veto by then-Governor David Paterson of a measure sponsored by State Assemblyman Fred W. Thiele, Jr. and State Senator Ken LaValle. That measure would have renamed 154 acres of state land north of the Francis Gabreski Airport in Westhampton the “Edwin M. Schwenk Memorial Nature Preserve.” The legislation was vetoed because only the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation had jurisdiction to rename the acreage.

In December of 2010, Schneiderman gained unanimous Suffolk County Legislature approval to rename County Road 39 in Schwenk’s memory — a tribute he said was fitting as Schwenk long fought for the expansion of the road.

Popularity: 1% [?]

By Karl Grossman

At long last, the Federal Aviation Administration has agreed to take steps to do something about the racket made by helicopters taking people from Manhattan to the Hamptons and back again. But its plan is just a start.

U.S.  Senator Charles Schumer announced Friday that the FAA will set a minimum cruising altitude of 2,500 feet for the choppers and also “mandatory flight patterns.” These would bar them after leaving Manhattan from flying over North Shore communities and, instead, have them take an over-water route a mile out over the Long Island Sound. Then they’d be required to travel south over “least populated” areas to get to Francis Gabreski Airport in Westhampton, the Southampton Village helipad and East Hampton Airport. Returning to Manhattan, they’d do the reverse.

The plan is “a step in the right direction—but only the beginning,” says Suffolk Legislator Edward Romaine. Mr. Romaine, Senator Schumer, Congressman Tim Bishop, and others, including Shelter Island Supervisor Jim Dougherty, the Noyac Civic Council and a group organized by Shelter Islanders have been in the lead battling the chopper noise.

Mr. Romaine, despite stiff opposition from helicopter operators and the FAA, got a county law enacted last year classifying low-flying chopper operation here as a “careless and reckless” and thus illegal. Mr. Schumer considers Mr. Romaine’s work pivotal.

He and Congressman Bishop then challenged the FAA’s contention that it was not empowered to regulate helicopter flight beyond the airspace of FAA-approved control towers. They called on FAA Administrator Randy Babbitt to impose “regulations that will set a minimum flying altitude and a mandatory flight path for helicopters over Long Island…and that you do so in time for the 2010 summer season.”

The new FAA regulations are to take effect July 1.

Far more needs to be done. Mr. Romaine wants a truly over-water route taking the helicopters over the Atlantic from and back to Manhattan. A short hop over Georgica would be made in getting in and out of the East Hampton Airport, the field with the most chopper traffic. This was also the demand of the group put together by Shelter Islanders Ken Winston and Mike Loriz.

Mr. Romaine says the FAA has rejected this, maintaining the air space south of Kennedy is too busy. Mr. Loriz, a commercial airline pilot who flies regularly in and out of Kennedy  has—including at a meeting last July involving FAA officials—emphasized that that this is a feasible route. The “real reason” helicopter operators don’t want it, he says, are several extra minutes of flying time.

Mr. Romaine is vexed that there would still be under the FAA plan continued frequent chopper traffic over a number of communities, including North Sea, Noyac, Sag Harbor and North Haven, although the 2,500-foot minimum altitude will help..

State Assemblyman Marc Alessi is calling for “multiple” points of entry and exit for the helicopters and a requirement that these points “only be accessed during certain times of the day.”

The FAA has arranged a 30-day period for public comments on its plan.

The FAA has, at least, finally acknowledged it can regulate the Hamptons  helicopter traffic. Yet another issue: will it enforce its proposed regulations? A central problem: the FAA has a mission in conflict of interest—to boost air travel and at the same time regulate it. That’s similar to other federal agencies like the Mineral Management Service of the Interior Department, a cheerleader and regulator of offshore oil drilling—the unfolding Gulf of Mexico catastrophe tragically demonstrates its conflict—and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

For all these agencies, making rules means little because they don’t want to enforce them and interfere with the industries they are so busy promoting. How much of a difference will the new FAA rules make? 

Popularity: 2% [?]

When Brett and Kirstin Morgan moved from New York City to the East End they were ready to embrace a sustainable and organic lifestyle. After settling into a home in North Haven in 2008, the couple started a small vegetable garden. The planting led to composting and composting soon led the Morgans to investigate raising backyard chickens. By August 2009, the Morgan family was the proud owner of six day-old hens and one year later the brood has flourished.
Regulations in North Haven Village, though, threaten to put the kibosh on the Morgan’s coop. Hoping to act preemptively, Brett implored the village board on Monday to put chicken friendly laws on the books. Hundreds of municipalities across the country, and a few on Long Island, have legalized residential poultry operations or are in the midst of crafting such legislation. In Huntington, locals are allowed to house up to eight chickens behind their homes. The pens must be cleaned daily and the eggs cannot be sold. Greenport Village Trustee Michael Osinski is pushing for a similar bill. Most regulations prohibit the presence of roosters, known for insidiously crowing at the break of dawn.
For Brett, the issue isn’t merely a vote for an environmentally conscious lifestyle, but is also a campaign to save the newest additions to his family. Aurora, Ariel, Daylight, Brownie, Sunshine and Midnight — as the youngest Morgans, daughters Mackenzie, 4-and-three-quarters, and Piper, 3, have named them — are now more pets than farm fowl.
“Whether collecting eggs, or chasing them around the yard, it’s amazing what joy chickens can bring to a youngster’s face,” wrote Brett in a letter to the village board.
Brett and Kirstin talk animatedly about their bird’s habits, preferences and even appearance. Kirstin points out the bright red wattle and comb on her Easter Egger, the scarlet coloring is an indication of good health, as it lays an egg in the turquoise shingled coop. She has no qualms about petting her “babies” like any domesticated animal and even Mackenzie and Piper are adept at chasing them around the yard to pick them up. A peck on the hand doesn’t ruffle Piper’s feathers as she gives a look of shock instead of sobbing.
Though Brett grew up on a Sagaponack private farm, he wasn’t the Morgan driving the family’s plucky purchase. Instead, it was Kirstin who hungered for a hatch to call her own. Though Kirstin was raised in a developed part of New Jersey, she fondly remembers visiting a friend’s farm in Pennsylvania.
“They had chickens. We grabbed all the eggs and the mom made us something,” Kirstin recalled. “I’ve always had this desire.”

The Morgan’s poultry is truly free-range. Every afternoon, the gang of six are let out of the coop and allowed to roam the property and sometimes the neighborhood. Although most neighbors enjoy the company — and the eggs — this freedom has also landed the Morgans in a bit of hot water with the village. According to Brett and Kirstin, North Haven Village Building Inspector Al Daniels said an adjacent property owner called him to complain that the birds had trespassed on their lawn.
At a village board meeting on Monday, Brett lobbied for an amendment and extolled the benefits of keeping hens. He pointed out that they provide pest control by mainly subsisting on bugs, ticks and grubs from around the yard. This also reduces the family’s chances of contracting a tick-borne illness. Their manure and eggshells are folded back into compost used for the garden. Every day the chickens lay around six eggs, and the Morgans give the excess to neighbors and friends. The eggs come in all hues, ranging from light green to dark brown, and taste richer than the store bought variety, Kirstin added.
Friend Chuck Seltzer, who is also a North Haven resident, attended the meeting to lend support. He vouched for the deliciousness of the eggs, saying “it would have been smart to bring samples.”
After a few questions posed by board members on the height chickens can jump — around eight feet if they are spooked — and noise, though another friend says the hens produce no more sound than a leaf blower, village mayor Laura Nolan said the board would more thoroughly consider crafting a law.
“We will take a look at what the other communities have done,” she said. “We will discuss this with our village attorney and take it from there.”

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