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| Issue #24, September 8, 2006 |
Letters
CATCH A FALLING STAR
Dear Dan,
I am terribly heartbroken, as I lost my pet cockatiel Star, last week in Southampton. We were staying at The Enclave Inn in Southampton. He flew out of the little cage, which I did not close, I opened the door and he tried to land on me, although startled he went up in the air into the night upon a tree.
Can you post this in the paper about him? Hopefully someone will find him.
Maybe you have an idea of what else to do.
If anyone finds him, please call 917-576-7716 or my husband’s cell 917-923-1736.
Thanks.
Marguerita
New York City
Via e-mail
Hope this helps. –DR
PLOVER SAFETY CONSIDERATIONS
Dear Dan,
I read with interest the referenced article and was absolutely dumbfounded that nobody else had ever reported an attack on humans by Plovers. Aggressive behavior against humans by Plovers is common place on the beach on Dune Road in Westhampton. In fact, there were many times during the summer that my family and guests were forced to cover our heads with hats, towels and chairs while we ventured across the beach to and from the public access alongside the designated nesting areas. Plovers routinely acted in packs swooping down upon the heads of humans until they were satisfied that folks were far enough away from the fencing, even though no trespassing through their nesting areas had occurred. The mere thought of crossing the beach was scary for my kids, especially my younger boy. We all witnessed a more serious attack of a man by a pack of Plovers. The man was literally running away from the pack with a chair over his head until he fell backward on the beach. Alfred Hitchcock couldn’t have choreographed a more frightening scene.
It is astonishing to me that Chief Reynolds seems to doubt the story of the parents and there is a clear implication in the article that the humans were doubted and the poor innocent Plovers were wrongly accused. Frankly, that kind of thinking is offensive and naive, especially to many of us that frequent the beaches and know better. It is Mr. McGintee that in fact has the right idea on this matter. It is clear, at least in our neighborhood on Dune Road in Westhampton, that there are literally hundreds of Plovers clearly visible on a small stretch of beach here and, as such, the job of preserving this species has been well done over the years.
Isn’t it time that the humans that inhabit our beaches, especially those that have invested their life savings for the right to occupy their place in the sand and have as much legal right to do so as the Plover? Ironically, the late summer relocation of the fencing around our public access has provided a welcome relief to those of us who frequent the beach on this stretch of Dune Road.
My family can actually rest easy when it is time to go across the street rather than preparing to pass through a battle zone in order to build their sand castles. The zealots truly need to take a step back and respect members of their own breed as much as they revere their feathered friends.
Dave B.
Via e-mail
Jerry Cohen called to say the deer are battling the plovers on Shelter Island. –DR
FAB FRIDAYS AT FIVE
Dear Dan,
Dear Julia,
I am so grateful for your review of E.L. Doctorow. I have, since that Friday, been paraphrasing much of the exchanges between author and audience and doing a pretty poor job. Your verbatim quotes afford the necessary substantiation for a very interesting and articulate afternoon.
Too bad we don’t have more like him. I am back to reading the March 2, picked up many months ago and was so alarmed by its contents, had to set it aside. But it’s the kind of carnage that should be confronted – in order to direct ourselves to find ways to settle disputes. Like he said, “Like lambs.” – so, with his voice now associated with what I read, I’m back to it.
You have a fine way with words yourself. Keep at it.
Lee Foster
Sagaponack
Kudos to Julia. –DR
STAR BRIGHT
Dear Dan,
The Stargazer Sculpture on Route 111, Eastern Suffolk County, has once again been rescued by a substantial solar lighting system. I have decided to have the Stargazer, already a symbol of the “connection of the above to the below” www.lindascott.org <http://www.lindascott.org> to represent alternate energy ,our responsible effort to maintain our universe.
The former donation of solar lights donated by Gary Minnick of GO SOLAR were stolen. Jamie Minnick of Energy Systems of the East End team have come forward and placed a safe solar system, a state of the art donation to represent truly responsible choices for our planet.
As you know the Stargazer has been an ongoing work and project.
Thank you again for your support. Great thanks to my solar friends.
“We are made of star stuff.” Einstein.
Best.
Linda Scott
Via e-mail
Thank you for a great sculpture. –DR
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