As the editor of fishersisland.net and the Fog Horn and a member of our island community, I receive information about our neighbors and milestones of interest that I want to ensure does not get missed in the fast-changing newsfeed. So, I created this log of notes you can check from time to time. (The idea is c/o If You Lived Here, I’d Know Your Name by Heather Lende). If you have something you would like added to the log, please contact me. I can be reached by email at finyinfo@gmail.com. And remember, everything in blue text is a link with more to tell.
Jane T. Ahrens
January 13, 2026
So, fun morning (not). I was hacked – the bad guys sent a bogus email from me to over 400 emails and cell numbers about 7:15AM. They used Paperless Post as a ruse, but the company is not connected. Please mark that invitation from me as SPAM, JUNK, and TRASH. Google suggests changing your email password. As one friend said, “This is the time we live in.” I’m very sorry for any inconvenience!
December 18-20
The Buoy Tree tipped over – not by its self, but with the help of winds out of the south gusts topping 60MPH the evening and into the morning of December 18-19. This is only remarkable because the tree has never tipped over in the last 4.5 years, mainly because the builder Tom Kexel magaged to secure a big Plymouth Rock size bolder inside the base of the wood and chicken wire form. Islanders to the rescue. The Burnham family was rallied by David and before most could get to the spot, Charlie and Eliza Van Voorhis had rescued the sad, fallen, still lit, approximately 11+’ tall tree. Thank you to all!
December 31, 2025
As I sit at my desk this morning, finishing up the January 2026 Fog Horn issue, I’m thinking about how New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day always mark the end of one chapter and the beginning of another. It is a very tidy moment in time when we seem to say good riddance and so long to some things, and look forward to the future. We could do that anytime of year, but it seems to be more heartfelt when intertwined with the winter holidays. On Fishers, we’ve said goodbye to some old friends this year while welcoming new babies, new neighbors, and new colleagues.
In fact, there is a lot of ‘NEW’. The school has a new library media specialist, FIDCO and the utility company have a new general manager and president, and we have two new district commissioners. As we thank Louisa for her 32 years of service, we have a new Southold representative. And then there are the little things – we have some new sidewalks. We have new photos on our ferry cards. We have new buoys on the buoy tree, and we have a new McDonald’s moving in across from the ballfield (just kidding)…
So as we ring in the New Year of 2026 tonight, we can say goodbye to a few things, be grateful for so many things, and look forward to the joys and precious moments with family and friends that are to come in the months ahead.
HAPPY NEW YEAR to all 💕
PS We will be celebrating the coming of the New Year with The Netherlands at 6:00 PM tonight (here) as it is highly unlikely we won’t see the NYC ball drop until the morning news – just before the Rose Bowl Parade!
November 30, 2025
The ‘Nantucket Sleigh Ride’ ferry trips started on October 31 and have continued off and on throughout the month – hence the November Fog Horn masthead photo choice, A Rough Ride captured by Marlin Bloethe.
This month, the School celebrated a major milestone with its Ribbon Cutting, marking the completion of an ambitious eight-year renovation project. The journey included everything from the initial architect’s plans and a pause for COVID to the selection of contractors and the extensive work done both inside and outside the building. Wonderful additions include a new playground in memory of Alice McCance, and a beautiful bench built by students and dedicated to Carol Doherty for her many years of dedicated service to Fishers Island School. The bench now graces the refurbished atrium at the center of the building.
Be sure to check out the articles about Eco-Moorings, a new mooring type that can help protect the seagrass. East End Beacon and the Fishers Island Seagrass Coalition have shed light on the innovative options.
The rest of the month flew by with a flurry of events, including the recent election (see 11/5/25 below). Lighthouse Works and the Library co-hosted Anna Noyes, who interviewed author Yaa Gyasi about her books, including Homegoing, which was followed by a wonderful discussion at the Library’s Book Club a week later. Other highlights included the School’s musical production of 13 Jr. at the theater, and the Senior Lunch crowd being treated to a delicious meal featuring hand-made pierogi by the Ski family cooks in celebration of Mary Ski’s ’69th’ birthday.
Today is the last day of a fun-filled Thanksgiving weekend! Extra ferries brought carloads of families, friends, and dogs back to the island for a windy and chilly weekend. It was packed with activity, including paddle tennis and pies, the Turkey Trot, trail clearing, bowling, and library visits, and many happy reunions.
Now we look forward to all the holiday festivities and decorations. One favorite of mine is the Buoy Tree that so many community members helped to fill by sharing their creativity! My cohort on the tree project, Beth Arsenault, and I would like to especially thank the FI Conservancy (support), Race Rock Garden Co. (moving), and the Burnhams (storage) to help this project along. Look for it to be lit up in the coming days.
November 5, 2025
A sincere thank you to Stephanie Hall and Kate Stevens for running, and congratulations to Kate for winning this election as Southold Town Board Member and Fishers Island Justice.
Thank you to all who came out and voted yesterday and to all the volunteer poll workers. Please find all the local results for the General Election, November 4, 2025, HERE.
October 31, 2025
My intention with this column was to write more often, but that has not really been the case lately. Something to work on. I did write a silly little poem earlier this week, in an attempt to thank four gentlemen who helped me out of the sticky wicket of a flat tire, in what seemed like the middle of nowhere, SE Connecticut. I don’t know all their names, but Charlie, Dave, (our) Joe Perry, and Ben were instrumental in helping. I am so grateful!
Halloween was a Blast! Tonight – inspite of the wind – Mere and her volunteer crew arranged a hay ride with a scavenger tie in, movies for all ages, Halloween games including hanging donuts, chili, a fire pit for the big kids, and Trunk or Treat in the Theater lot. So Fun!
Living here and having this job has introduced me to some things I never thought I would experience, like tagging horseshoe crabs, digging for ‘brick’ clay with the mosquitoes and a LW fellow in the pit. Mid-October, I learned more about stained glass and came to appreciate the art and technique of making it and caring for it. St. John’s stained glass window was made by Tiffany Glass and Decorating Company, and in spite of several efforts to protect it, the window is in great need of repair. I spent a Tuesday at the church with Mark Andrews, Will Fiske, and the true professionals in the field, Brie, Patrick, Eric, Tommy, and Joe. They have taken the window, all 450+ pounds of it, to New Jersey for a winter of restoration. You can learn about the history, the window, and their work HERE.
On the Island, we have a lot to look forward to in the weeks ahead. Yes, there is Thanksgiving to anticipate with the Community Center’s Turkey Trot and the Museum’s Trail Clearing. Before that, we have to Fall Back on Sunday and remember how to change the clock in the car! An important election is on Tuesday for our next representative on the Town Board. At School, we have a Ribbon Cutting to celebrate the completion of the Capital Project – I have to think most of the teachers like the closets and the classroom doors they gained, among all the other upgrades! And 17 of the kids are presenting 13, Jr., their fall musical, at the Theater – great music, great fun! And we have one, if not two, authors visiting with us to talk about their books. Check the calendar and Programs & Events for all the happenings that get added all the time. Happy Halloween!
October 3, 2025
We have turned the page to Fall, but the days have been beautiful. Many people think is the best time to be on island, and we have broad choices of events coming up over the long weekend! The FishersIsland.net home page section Programs & Events has them highlighted in cronological order. And, check the calendar for all the options and details! Two highlights for the long weekend are the Legion’s LobsterFest, authentic seafood cooking in the seaweed on Saturday, right after everyone explores the Union Chapel’s Fall Fair and the Rummage & Beach Plum shopping opportunities! Have fun everyone!
September 1, 2025
Happy Labor Day! It’s feeling like Fall showed up this morning, right on time, but hopefully we will get a few more weeks of our favorite September weather when the water is still warmed by the sun, the leaves are still on the trees, and a little calm comes over the Island. There is still a lot to do and many interesting and joyous activities to attend. Just check back often as items are added on the calendars for September and October. If you are leaving for the season, we wish you safe travels until you return again. Be sure to subscribe to the Fog Horn newsletter, follow us on Instagram @FINYinfo06390, (you will find lots of links at the bottom of each page), and stay in touch!
August 25, 2025
This column was inspired by writer and reporter Heather Lende who lives in a small town in Alaska. Sunday, she posted this, which resonated with me and made me smile so I thought you might like it. Visit Sunday’s Thought at heatherlende.com
July 31, 2025
Can someone tell me where July went? Rain, heat, kids, and visitors. The fun flew by as usual! And August is proving to be equally as busy. So many fun and interesting events. Please check the calendar daily for updates and additions — on the FishersIsland.net home page, the calendar, and the Programs & Events! There are elections, and so many events! Remember, everything on the website in blue text has more information to share. Just click on it.
Save the Date, August 5, for the Annual Southold Town Board Meeting on Fishers at 1:30.
Organizations want to hear from you – yes, you – seasonal and year-rounders.
The Southold Zoning Advisory really wants to know what you think of the cell service on Fishers. HERE you will find the Wireless Plan and the Cell Service Poll, where you can share you opinion and preferences by August 13.
Fishers Island School is looking for people who are interested in serving on the advisory committee for the school’s long-range Growth Plan. Learn more HERE and volunteer by August 15.
And, I would appreciate anyone would like to volunteer as a blood donor or a host for the donors at the Blood Drive on Wednesday, August 13. Blood donated on Fishers is used to serve the hospitals in Connecticut and Rhode Island that we all rely on. You can find all the details and make an appointment to donate HERE.
July 1, 2025
Summer is here! We have so little time and so many amazing opportunities and activities on this island this summer. Interesting walks and talks, classes, books to read, beaches to sit on, golf courses to conquer, and friends and family to spend time with.
There are a few things that we should each do as island community members to stay involved, and other ways we can make contributions of our valuable time.
The ‘should do’ items include:
Completing the IHP community health survey; reviewing Southold‘s proposed zoning updates by studying the maps and giving your feedback; and signing up for the 2 alert systems, the Island’s non-emergency notification One Call Now and the Island emergency alert RAVE/Smart911.
The ‘can do’ opportunities include:
Volunteering to host at a house or garden for IPP’s fundraiser July 12; donating dry cat food to waste management & conservancy’s program to control the feral cat population; and being a donor or volunteer to help with the August 13 Blood Drive.
I added links for each — just click on the blue text of any of these opportunities and you will find more information or ways to sign up.
June 1, 2025
First, I hope all who are able will sign up for the Blood Drive on Wednesday, June 4. Take a look at the article on it and you will find that all the blood donations directly serve the hospitals we rely on in Connecticut and Rhode Island. If you miss this one or want to donate again in 8 weeks, there is another on August 13 that you can make an appointment for today.
The kids have been very busy, and not just with finishing up the school year! The FIFD Junior firefighters built a very patriotic float for the Memorial Day celebration parade. A whole slew of students including the FIS Golf Team helped pick up driving range golf balls after the Middle Farms controlled burn. How many do you think they found? Click Here to find out! After their baptism and 1st communion on Easter, three children from Our Lady of Grace crowned a recently refurbished Mary statue in a lovely ceremony. The school’s Student Council is hosting the Prom at Hay Harbor this month with a Mardi Gras theme. Congratulations to Dylan Doyen who graduated from St. Bernard School in May. Everyone is invited to FI School’s Graduation at the theater on June 27. Pete Malinowski will be the commencement speaker!
Be sure to review the proposed zoning update maps and tune in to the Southold Zoning Update’s Public Forum specifically for Fishers Island on June 28. They want your feedback. Maps can be viewed at the Community Center and online at the blue Zoning link just above.
You are also asked to give feedback on the USCG proposal to remove some navigational aids, from local water. A group is working to engage community members in the Career Connect project with the School. And, at June’s end, add the Museum Opening June 28 to your calendar. The new exhibits look very interesting!
MAY 1, 2025
The Island is in bloom! That is for sure! And with May flowers come a lot more activity including many congratulations. We welcome Kristen Ahman and Jay Sharma, the new co-owners of the West End Cafe; Charlie Enright is the new CEO of US Sailing, the governing body for the sport; and a new endowment for the Lighthouse Works visiting artist program by the McCance Foundation honoring Harry Parker.
Easter weekend was hopping 😉 with volunteer activities to combat the invasives, clearing paths, and the non-stop job of gathering marine debris from our shores.
More opportunities to pitch in are coming up. There is still time to help with the Woodcock Singing Survey, and of course, Dave Denison has the Peter Sanger Marathon, the major fundraiser for the Sea Stretcher, ready to roll Sunday, May 25 of Memorial Day weekend. You can fill out the registration forms and collect your walk/run sponsors all month long! The Memorial Day Parade will follow with our volunteer FIFD members. Four volunteers have stepped forward to run for the two Fishers Island School BOE seats so be sure to cast your vote on May 20. Please also save the dates for the two Blood Drives on Island on June 4 and August 13 – plenty of spots to help with that important effort.
Southold’s Zoning Advisory is ready to have you take a look and give your feedback on the rezoning draft. It includes very comprehensive maps that show the proposed zoning changes and they are holding two presentations to share the proposal.
Last week IPP sponsored a field trip for the Island seniors (not the ones graduating from FIS in only eight weeks!) It was a glorious day in America, visiting the museum, a delicious lunch, and a summer-like ferry trip back. Looking toward summer for the kids – don’t forget to check the Classifieds for many job opportunities, and IPP’s Morning Program enrollment starts today! And the photo ops — Fishers at Augusta National, raccoon on a dolphin, and, oh, the US Coast Guard came and fetched the 24’ x 8’ #4 red buoy off the rocks at the end of the runway yesterday! Quite a feat!
APRIL 1, 2025
Spring has finally sprung – no April Fools here! The pussy willow trees are making a mess, green sprouts are coming out of hibernation, osprey are arriving, the new ferry schedule will include more runs/day, the Oyster Farm has Jumbos, and FIS Spring Break is in sight as the construction winds down!
Summer work positions – jobs and internships – are being posted! New volunteer opportunities are popping up too — Conservancy’s Pre-fencing Day, April 9, to protect the shorebirds’ nesting grounds; Battle of the Invasives, April 19, a joint effort of the Conservancy and Museum to tackle the Buckthorn & Bittersweet; and the on-island Blood Drives in June and August. Check the Volunteer section on the homepage as more are added.
Easter weekend is late this year and will be a busy one. Two highlights are on Saturday with the IPP Easter Egg fun in the morning, and the OLOG Vigil Mass in the evening, when three island children will be celebrated.
And there is more! IPP is kindly treating the Island Seniors (as in age 60+) to a day off at the Florence Griswold Museum with lunch at the Old Lyme Inn. How fun! And, the Island skies will be a bit quieter in May as Elizabeth Field OB8 will be closed for major runway work and resurfacing per the FAA.
MARCH 5, 2025
The Lazy Days in winter – someone I know quite well calls them Ground Hog Day(s), again and again, as the same routine, in the same weather (mostly) rolls on from January thru February into March.
As people are coming and going, recently on winter break, family visits and winter vacations, things are moving along here, too. Amy Harris, who is getting her masters degree in art therapy at Albertus Magnus College, is leading us in a Intuitive Collage time; Mere Doyen has created a monthly Juke Box Saturday Night with music appreciation at its core; Tracy Pisano has programs humming at the Library – the recent wine tasting with Nici and Robin, and more coming up; and Robin is keeping us well fed with weekly meal menus.
Meanwhile the contractors are working full steam ahead – finishing up projects and starting new ones all over the place – including the interior work on the new FIC staff housing. All can notice house exteriors morphing into their planned design and EVERYONE is waiting to see something GREEN. Grass, a crocus, a forsythia bud – enough already, enough Ground Hog Days!
FEBRUARY 2025
-Library’s Salty Stories mention by Tracy Picano
“We were fortunate to hear wonderful Island stories from Pierce, Gordon, and Ellen, followed by many others who contributed their family stories and experiences on the island. Everyone participated in some way, making it a truly communal experience.
“I learned so much about this beautiful island that I am fortunate to call home. Many guests shared how much they enjoyed the evening and thanked me for organizing it. They were also grateful for the opportunity to explore the library while savoring the stories and snacks.”
There were several requests for a “Salty Stories” Part 2 in April or May when the weather is warmer.
DECEMBER 31, 2024
The Fishers Island Fire Department’s call for volunteers was answered! The Sea Stretcher has three brand-new captains who took a grueling and comprehensive course over many weekends and passed the final exam! Congratulations to Chris Aiello, Beth Arsenault, and Nate Malinowski! The Department also has six new members participating in an EMT certification course. Thank you from this whole community to everyone who serves and all the new members who have stepped forward. FIFD welcomes new members all year round. Please reach out to Rod or any member or commissioner and they will be happy to assist.
Volunteering can be a fulfilling part of a life’s contribution. Helen Scott Reed shared this wonderful news, which I hope you will take a minute to read about. The Garden Club of America has created a new National Medal to honor “Trailblazing Environmental Activist Ellie Kelly.”
I wrote in a recent post titled Holiday Happiness, “at the end of a long year, good things often happen. They come together as a collection, bunched up in one month, like the best surprises at the bottom of a long, full Christmas stocking”. Fishers Island has so many treasured holiday traditions that we all look forward to. Even a tired soul gets a boost with the sounds of music, twinkling of lights and smells of the season. And when we visit with family and dear friends on or off the Island, or receive a year end message from someone we haven’t seen in so long, we need to take a moment to realize just how lucky we are. Here is a toast on this New Year’s Eve to a Happy, Healthy, Thoughtful, and Peaceful New Year.
NOVEMBER 25, 2024
As we gear up for Thanksgiving this week and all the quality time we are blessed to have with family and friends, the Island is humming along, and Geb Cook has set out on his cross-Atlantic sailing race. Among the important notes are that the Market and Beach Plum are open all week except, of course, on ’the day’. Gussie is opening The Studio and shop for four days. The FICC is hosting the Turkey Trot on Thursday, so register online NOW for your new long-sleeved t-shirts! The Museum looks forward to your assistance with their Friday trail clearing and beach cleanup. A lovely gathering is planned for our Dee — her family welcomes everyone at the Legion Friday afternoon. A favorite Classic Movie, Planes Trains, and Automobiles is playing Friday night at the FICC, followed Saturday by the Rummage being open and the LW Artists and Writers Open Studio. And the weekend ends Sunday on an exceptionally high note with an Island celebration for the Skis — Mary’s birthday and her and John’s wedding anniversary!
NOVEMBER 20, 2024
It is now late November and as we are still enjoying nice weather, we are still waiting for the rain — hopefully tonight! As everyone sets their Thanksgiving plans, including placing their On-Island Oyster orders for the feast, the BBC has published a comprehensive article on ‘rewilding’ the oyster population in NYC. Featuring our own Murray Fisher and Pete Malinowski, they discuss the history, progress, monitoring, and prospects of reaching the goal of “restoring the city’s coastal habitat, improving water quality, and educating the public”. An anonymous quote, “Counting wild oysters is as challenging as herding cats“, is a good description of this huge undertaking.
OCTOBER 24, 2024
Late October and sunny weather means the sugar maple and burning bush are aglow in the warm side of the color wheel! Aaron Rice’s photo of the morning dew at Middle Farms at sunrise is so very typical ‘Fishers Fall,’ but most of us aren’t up and about early enough to experience that view.
A bit of rain would be helpful, especially at night so we can still enjoy these nice fall days outside. According to the NYC news, it has rained a total of 0” this month (as of 23OCT24). Speaking of fall days, the FICC is hosting the 14th Turkey Trot Thanksgiving morning. Register ahead for a nice discount, and your selected shirt sizes will be ready for you at the event.
SEPTEMBER 25, 2024
We always think everything will slow down after Labor Day when lots of golf clubs begin getting shipped off on the Ferry, the sunsets come earlier and the air is a little crisper for sleeping. The weather is so nice and many consider September their favorite month on island! And this year the busy summer trickled into September with more dips in the sea, dinner with friends and we officially welcomed fall on Sunday.
While the kids might be back at school their parents and grandparents are keeping busy. Best examples: Our FIYC champion sailors. The IOD summer series might be finished but the competitors were not! Our ladies, Isabelle Farrar and her team of Fishers Island sailors, Beth Scholle, Meris Enright, Jennifer Parsons, Erin Maxwell, and Megan Raymond, won the 1st all women IOD International Regatta at Marblehead. And another team of John Burnham and Reed Baer with their teammates Rachel Burnham, Matt Buechner and Pete Schott, won their fourth Shields National Championship at Larchmont!
SEPTEMBER 20, 2024
It took until late-month to find the time to revise an old photo gallery called Everything Comes and Goes on the Ferry. It was started around 2016 with a collection of accumulated photos on Fishers Island Ferry’s FaceBook page. This long-term to-do list item has now been put it back together as a FishersIsland.net gallery. Contributed photos are most welcome of course.
SEPTEMBER 16, 2024
For certain I did not inherit my mother’s green thumb but I do appreciate all the hard work that goes into propagating a lovely flower garden, creating an attractive and interesting landscape, and tending to a vegetable patch.
Everyone will agree after last summer’s dismal display of hydrangea, the island came alive in June and July with a colorful abundance of hydrangea in every corner! With all the spring rain, the gardens grew and the bounty was plentiful! The Community Garden was brimming with vegetables of all kinds and celebrated their efforts with their annual Evening in the Garden in late summer.
Lighthouse Works hosted a seated dinner at the Annex to welcome fellowship Session 60 in early September. LW chef Eliza Schmidt and LW alum Leah Guadagnoli created a unique menu with ingredients foraged on Island. Eliza wrote, “Some of the favorite ingredients to work with include; stag horn sumac from the Matty Matthiesson trails, Rosa rugosa hips from Chocomount, and beach plums.”
AUGUST 13, 2024
The Blood Drive on June 4th was such a success the CT Blood Center (CTBC) came back on Monday, August 12, for their 4th visit in 3 years. 42 donors presented, and 35 collections were made in just 5 hours. Those donations of whole blood will each help 3 people for a total of 105 patients benefiting from the effort today. The CTBC is so appreciative of the volunteers on Fishers who assist and come to donate at these visits. We are all grateful to the Ferry for helping with transportation, FI School and, most recently, the Community Center for opening their spaces for the day, and Islanders for Islanders for assisting with the CTBC staff lunch! The CTBC and affiliate RIBC supply blood directly to the hospitals Fishers Islanders are most likely to receive care from, the Yale-New Haven system, including L&M, Westerly Hospital, and Hartford Health facilities.
AUGUST 11, 2024
What a special treat at St. John’s Church last night, with organist Peter Krasinski on the Bingham Bigelow Opus 42 Organ. WOW. Rogers & Hammerstein’s Broadway Tunes Sing-Along with lyric-coloratura Halle Rosemond leading us on. The Sound of Music’s My Favorite Things and Do Re Mi; The King and I’s Getting to Know You; South Pacific’s I’m Gonna Wash That Man Right Outa My Hair, and There’s Nothing Like a Dame; You’ll Never Walk Alone from Carousel and of course Oklahoma! All the attendees are looking forward to another such evening in 2025!
AUGUST 3, 2024
George Horning shared this news about his daughter Sarah and a wonderful new app that assists the blind in navigating her favorite ballpark. Sarah attended Fishers Island School, where she enjoys being an honored alum, and graduated from Perkins School for the Blind before attending Mitchell College. Sarah and her husband, Randy, work with the Maine chapter of the National Federation of the Blind (NFB). They travel to the state and national conventions, conduct fundraiser events, etc. Big baseball fans Sarah and Randy were recently featured in this WMTW ABC 8 News story, New APP Assists Visually Impaired Sea Dogs Fans. The app Area Visual Interpretation, available at the Sea Dogs stadium in Hadlock, ME, assists visually impaired visitors in getting around the ballpark. This lovely couple will be on Island later this month when they visit George and Nirapa.
AUGUST 1, 2024
This month, everyone has an opportunity to ‘warm up’ their voting skills and their ‘right to vote’. The ICB elected representatives — one candidate running for seasonal and one for year-round — have their election online August 5-8. Everyone age 18+ is eligible to vote in the ICB Election and will self select if they are seasonal or year-round residents and vote for that representative candidate. A week later, from 2-6:00 on Tuesday, August 13, the Fishers Island Ferry District Election has a candidate running to fill a soon-to-be vacant seat. Everyone registered with Suffolk County to vote on Fishers may vote, as well as property owners (per the guidelines). Just check out the details, come down to the community center, and make a point to vote.
JULY 31, 2024
So let’s compare the first two weeks in July to the second half! We kept the “speed dating going! There were 42 ‘featured’ events and ‘only’ 89 events one could choose to attend on the calendar! It is wonderful to have so many extra-ordinary options of things to do and learn about on this little rock. – Be sure to take a look at all that is planned for August.
JULY 16, 2024
Have we all been “speed dating’ lately? It seems like we have. Which event(s) do we want to fit in today? So many choices and so little time! Between July 1 and yesterday there were 37 ‘featured’ events to attend for a total of 91 on the calendar! This doesn’t even include lessons or ‘play dates’, family and friends gatherings on the beach or the dinner table, regular shopping opportunities, nights out, fishing trips, or dare I say, work, meetings and other commitments – Wow! Yesterday, for a few moments, I found myself counting bunnies in the backyard – so happy they are back – and then it was time to cheer on the annual IPP Cardboard Regatta competitors! Hold on to your hats, we’re on to the 1/2 half of July!
JUNE 26, 2024
The Democratic Primary results are in from yesterday’s election. In the only contest on the ballot in Suffolk County’s Polling Place #1 on Fishers Island, John Avlon beat Nancy Goroff 14 to 11* for the 1st Congressional District Democratic seat. With the results from across the county, he will challenge incumbent Rep. Nick LaLota in the November 5th general election. John’s godmother, Elaine Petersen, is particularly pleased with his primary success! *A total of 26 voters yesterday, including one affidavit.
JUNE 25, 2024
We have a new Chief of Police. The Southold Town Board announced that temporary police chief Captain Steven Grattan succeeds Chief Martin Flatley as head of the town police department following Flatley’s retirement on June 24. Before passing the resolution on June 18 accepting his retirement, each board member thanked Chief Flatley for his service to the town. Town Supervisor Al Krupski said Capt. Grattan’s life-long connection to Southold was a key factor in the board’s decision.
JUNE 24, 2024
A huge shout out to Donny Beck and his Big Club crew for all their hard work bringing the ball field diamond back to its former glory! Hours of weeding followed by spreading the newly delivered sand to a perfect level prepared it for play this summer. IPP is so grateful to the crew, the Noyes Foundation, and additional donors for this field’s significant improvement!
JUNE 21, 2024
Choices, Choices. Master Electrician Chris LaFlesche had an appointment concerning a water heater at a summer cottage Thursday morning when he received a frantic call from a business owner with a huge issue. Not one but both AC compressors, responsible for helping refrigeration units keep consumable goods very cold, failed on the same 80° day. Chris chose to look into that call first. Luckily, he did, and the matter was repaired by his crew after a full day’s work on the premises. Janio is so relieved, and everyone agrees that Chris made the right choice! Ice Cream still frozen, wine still chilled vs. hot water shower (which was resolved the next day).
JUNE 6, 2024
Tonight, we celebrated Courtney Allan as being cancer-free for one year! A bevy of friends, family, and supporters marked the occasion with a party at the American Legion!
JUNE 4, 2024
The Fishers Island Fire Department’s Emergency Management Team* participated in a disaster drill today held by FEMA in partnership with Millstone. When asked what the most significant takeaway from Tuesday’s drill was, FI Emergency Management Director John Bergquist said simply, “I most appreciated that everyone showed up! I know they all have busy lives, jobs, and obligations. However, our Fishers Island Fire Department EMO Team of volunteers all came to the task Tuesday morning.” Everyone came to practice managing this crisis should a disaster or catastrophic event occur. The team passed this biennial test with flying colors! *John Bergquist with Ken Ahman, Andrew Ahrens, Chris Aiello, Courtney Allan, Joe Brock, Tracy Brock, Matt Edwards, Harrison Hall, Dirk Harris, George Horning, Bruce Hubert, Porfirio Rodriguez, Ian Tirabassi, and Patty Walker.
JUNE 4, 2024
The Blood Drive was a big success, according to the CT Blood Center staff, who came for the 3rd time in as many years. Forty-three people participated and 38 donors successfully gave. Each pint can help three individuals, or in this collection, 114 people. The next blood drive will be held on Island Monday, August 12, from 9-2. Make your appointments here. Thank you to the Ferry, the School and Islanders for Islanders, and our community members for their help in making this event possible.
May 25, 2024
Sea turtle at East Harbor? Almost!
“Dear Editor, This morning, my brother John and I took our first trip of 2024 to East Harbor. While walking on the beach, I saw a turtle coming out of the dune grass. Over the next hour, she (I think she must have laid eggs?) walked and rested on the sand. Then she went over the dry eel grass as the tide went out and swam away. We are both observers of nature in our 70s and I would like to know if this is a sea turtle and a common sighting. Thanks for your help”. Joy Merrill, Waterford, CT. In receipt of this very interesting email with a photo of a very large turtle, I passed it on to our FI Conservancy. Stephanie Hall worked with the FIC team to get signage on the beach to alert folks to avoid disturbing the eggs. Tom Sargent identified it as a snapping turtle, and Adam Mitchell confirmed, “Definitely a common snapping turtle. They have been reported to inhabit brackish waters, provided there is enough nearby vegetation. So a positive note for our wildlife making use of the eelgrass.”
MAY 25, 2024
WEST POINT, N.Y. – Cadet David Sean Shillo, son of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Shillo of Fishers Island, N.Y., graduated from the U.S. Military Academy on Saturday, May 25, 2024. Shillo graduated from Fishers Island School in 2020. While at West Point, he concentrated his studies in History: Military (BS). David was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army within the Field Artillery branch and will report to The 101st Airborne Division at Fort Campbell, Ky., for his first assignment.
May 23, 2024
Harvard Business School honored Peter Crisp with the School’s highest honor, the Alumni Achievement Award, as a “role model of outstanding leadership for HBS’s graduating students.” Peter’s “career began with a choice to diverge from the conventional career arc pursued by his peers. Inspired by an article on Laurance Rockefeller’s innovative investments, Crisp wrote directly to Rockefeller and started an extraordinary relationship that spanned 45 years. His tenure as a co-founder, managing partner, president, and chairman at Venrock Associates included early investments in transformative companies like Intel and Apple, shaping the technology landscape as we know it today.” – HBS
MAY 20, 2024
Devastating storms in the last decade could be merely a prelude for what’s to come. The seas are rising, and the pace is accelerating. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the ocean along U.S. coastlines has risen about a foot in the past century. According to the state Department of Environmental Conservation, over the next 25 years, sea levels around Long Island are expected to rise 13 to 25 inches and as much as 69 inches by the end of the century. The rising levels are expected to reshape the contours of the coasts, disrupt basic infrastructure, and compel communities to prepare for a much wetter future.
May 16, 2024
Thor Thors, Jr. received the American-Scandinavian Foundation’s Niels Paulson Award, recognizing Thors’s outstanding dedication and service by an ASF Board member. Thor came to the US with his family in 1940, traveling on an Icelandic ship that was later bombed, and has “spent most of his life strengthening the bonds between Iceland and the US”. Thor is one of ASF’s longest-standing trustees, giving his time, knowledge, and expertise to support the foundation’s mission. “A career banker, he has spent most of his life strengthening the bonds between Iceland and the United States. He is the vice-chair of the Icelandic Mission to the United Nations.” – ASF
May 15, 2024
Two Southold police officers were returning to their living quarters on Fishers Island when they said they heard machine gun fire coming from the area near the Fishers Island ferry. They observed four boats pursuing another boat and the sound of machine gun fire and police sirens. An officer contacted police headquarters, which contacted the U.S. Coast Guard. Someone from the Coast Guard said that “the U.S. Navy was conducting gunnery training in the area.” Longtime island residents said they had never experienced a similar event. – Suffolk Times Police Blotter
