Sag Hampton

So, Where Do We Put the Affordable Housing, Take Two

Eric C. Cohen — Fri, 12 Oct 2007 20:40:55 -0400

Transportation issues are on everyone's mind again even though the worst of the summer season is over. (So, you're thinking, "what's that got to do with affordable housing? -- wait, I'll get there.) The much hyped South Fork Commuter Connection (SFCC), comprised of extra Long Island Railroad trains between Speonk and Montauk, and feeder buses to take commuters from the ...

Sag Harbor: Still Making History

Eric C. Cohen — Mon, 08 Oct 2007 22:20:44 -0400

What's the one constant in Sag Harbor's 300 year history? Change. Starting as the port for the farmers in Sagaponack, Sag Harbor went on to become a bustling center of trade, home to one of the country's largest whaling fleets, and an industrial center producing everything from watchcases to parts for the lunar landing module. As you walk the village, ...

Saving Sag Harbor

Eric C. Cohen — Tue, 28 Aug 2007 12:49:47 -0400

There's a new and very active group in our community calling itself Save Sag Harbor. Its primary mission is to preserve Main Street's traditional look and business mix -- mostly small locally-owned stores and restaurants -- by preventing national chains and big box stores like CVS from moving in and driving up commercial rents to the point where they are ...

Where am I?

Eric C. Cohen — Mon, 20 Aug 2007 21:56:22 -0400

This post is only about Sag Harbor and the Hamptons in the most tenuous of ways. It's certainly obvious that our region is under a lot of stress right now. Most folks I talk to either say we're rapidly approaching, or have just passed a tipping point, and that the very natures of our communities are, or will soon be, irreversibly changed...and not for the better. Community groups are working overtime, to try to stave off this undesirable future. Politicians, and would-be politicians are promising to change things if only we help them get elected. New committees are forming every day, and I applaud (and often join) them. Save Sag Harbor! Stop CVS! Stop LIPA! Stop the condos! Support affordable housing! Support open space! Fix the traffic, goddammit! Anyway, that's not what I'm writing about. I'm writing about me, and how all that has affected me.

A Tale of Two Sundays

Eric C. Cohen — Mon, 16 Jul 2007 23:49:00 -0400

Two Sundays ago my wife and I were in Richmond, a city of approximately 200,000 people, and the capital of the State of Virginia. We were visiting friends, and as it was our first time in the city, they offered to take us on a quick tour of some of the main attractions. We soon discovered three things about Richmond: ...

So Where Were We?

Eric C. Cohen — Fri, 13 Jul 2007 18:55:11 -0400

I've been on vacation, but now I'm back. So where were we? Oh, yes...the Town of Southampton has approved a study, to be conducted by its planning department, of the gateway to Sag Harbor along the Bridgehampton-Sag Harbor Turnpike. This has been a little slow getting off the ground, but in the interim, local hero Priscilla Ciccariello has spearheaded an effort by a group she calls "the coalition" to prepare a comprehensive document detailing the reasons the study needs to be done, what specifically needs to be studied, the areas of concern for the surrounding community, the hoped-for outcomes of the study, and the reasoning behind those hopes. It's an amazing document

Where are the Japanese/Korean Car Dealers?

Eric C. Cohen — Sun, 10 Jun 2007 22:40:34 -0400

This is an actual and honest question. If anyone knows the answer, please let the rest of us know by posting a comment.

The question is: Why are there no Toyota, Honda, Subaru, Nissan, Mazda, Mitsubishi or Hyundai dealers anywhere in Sag Hampton? Don't tell me they're in Riverhead, that's 50 minutes away when there's no traffic. We have Ford, ...

Summer's Here, Grumble, Grumble

Eric C. Cohen — Thu, 07 Jun 2007 21:22:18 -0400

Besides the longer days, warmer weather, and flowering trees, I have noticed a few other harbingers of the summer season. The very first sign occurred at work about a month ago. I work in a public library. Generally speaking, our patrons (people who use the library's services) are a wonderful group of people. We, the library staff, and the public ...

Our First Year: Taking Stock

Eric C. Cohen — Sun, 20 May 2007 23:12:26 -0400

It's hard to believe, but I've been writing this blog for a year now. The first post was published on Saturday, May 20, 2006. Since then I've published 82 articles and received 101 reader comments. As near as I can tell, on average, about 15 people a day stop by. Some days, usually after an article has been republished in ...

Is This the Land of No?

Eric C. Cohen — Mon, 14 May 2007 23:32:26 -0400

Sometime it feels like we're living in the Land of No. There are quite a few things in recent memory to which one or another Sag Hampton group has said (or tried to say) NO!

Many folks said no to the NYS Department of Transportation a few years ago when they proposed a roundabout at the wharf end of Main ...

What I Learned About Love Today

Eric C. Cohen — Sun, 06 May 2007 23:06:39 -0400

Today, May 6th, 2007, is my wife's, Bobbie, and my 35th wedding anniversary. Over that period of time, my wife has taught me how to love. How to love her, how to love myself, how to love humankind. She's that kind of person. It's been a long haul -- for her -- but I think I'm finally getting the hang of it. ...

Sorry, Sorry, Sorry

Eric C. Cohen — Sun, 06 May 2007 21:31:47 -0400

I haven't written anything in weeks. My apologies to my one or two regular readers (who clearly can no longer be called regular readers) and anyone else who stopped by looking for something that they obviously didn't find. My only excuse is that my daughter Corinne, her friend Andre and I have been working hard on a website for the Riverhead (NY) Free Library, and that this, along with my regular 9-5 job, and attendance at a business conference in Arlington, VA has left me with virtually no time to write. The website is pretty much done now, and will go live in a few days, (I'll add a link when it does) so I'll try to get back to blogging on a more regular basis. Please accept my apologies for my absence from these pages.

5/8/07 Update: Here's the link to the Riverhead Free Library's new website that Corinne, Andre and I created.

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Currently listening to: I Will Survive by the Puppini Sisters

OMG, I forgot Conca d'Oro

Eric C. Cohen — Wed, 11 Apr 2007 01:04:21 -0400

A few weeks ago when I was praising the small mom & pop businesses that are such a vital part of Sag Harbor's personality, I accidentally left the Conca D'oro Restaurant and Pizzeria off the list. Ouch! Considering that I eat at least one meal there every week, that's quite an oversight on my part. My apologies to the owners ...

The Atlantic Ocean, Briefly

Eric C. Cohen — Mon, 09 Apr 2007 21:41:27 -0400

My blogger friend, Jennifer, wrote a thoughtful post about the ocean on her blog Goodness Graciousness. Since I had a little video of the Atlantic Ocean shot at Sagg Main Beach a month ago, I couldn't resist posting a bit of it here to complement her thoughts.

For all of you Sag Hamptonites who love the ocean as much as Jennifer, feel free to return here for a taste of the Atlantic, anytime you're away from the ocean and missing it.
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Currently listening to: Beyond the Horizon by Bob Dylan

What’s in a Name?—a silly rumination on possible permutations of the Sag Hampton blog

Bobbie Cohen — Tue, 03 Apr 2007 20:32:46 -0400

One of the perks of being married to the local blogger is that you have writing privileges if you choose to indulge them. For reasons unbeknownst to me I’m taking advantage of that right with some pure silliness.

The other day I was thinking of what an unusual name Sag Hampton is and how it must come across to ...

Can You Hear Us Now?

Eric C. Cohen — Mon, 02 Apr 2007 23:22:23 -0400

Last Tuesday, a little jet-lagged, yet clear of purpose, I attended a public meeting called by the Planning Board of the Village of Sag Harbor to hear public comments on the proposed condominium project at the old Bulova watchcase factory. I went to speak, or more accurately, to lobby for the inclusion of some affordable units among the 81 condominiums proposed for this site. I figured that I would be one of two or three speakers to bring up this issue, and that I already knew who else would speak on this topic. Never assume... ...

Pierson Gets It Right

Eric C. Cohen — Tue, 27 Mar 2007 23:06:06 -0400

Pierson High School in Sag Harbor comes in for a fair amount of criticism from the Sag Hampton community, some justified. Standardized test scores aren't always what they might be, per-student costs are very high, course offerings are sometimes too limited for the brightest students, and questionable administrative decisions are known to have been made from time to time. But, often Pierson does things right. I want to tell you about one of its successes for which I am personally grateful. ...

The Five Things I Like Best About Sag Harbor, and the Five I Like Least

Eric C. Cohen — Sun, 18 Mar 2007 19:24:35 -0400

I Like

The Community. Sag Harbor is still largely a community of people who live here year-round and care about the town, its institutions and each other. There are lots of groups and organizations to get involved with -- school, fire department, historical society, library, theater, museums, chamber of commerce, churches, synagogue and more. And, whether you choose to get involved ...

A Small Contribution to the Immigration Discussion

Eric C. Cohen — Sat, 10 Mar 2007 01:52:01 -0500

Sometimes the simplest advice is the best.

"If you want others to be happy, practice compassion. If you want to be happy, practice compassion." ~ Dalai Lama

We all need to have a little compassion for each other when looking for solutions to complex problems.

Thanks to Jennifer, author of the great inspirational blog Goodness Graciousness for bringing this quote to my attention.

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Currently listening to: The Christians and the Pagans by Dar Williams

The Importance of Historic Preservation

Eric C. Cohen — Wed, 07 Mar 2007 23:22:57 -0500

Sometimes I read something and am so struck by its "rightness," that I just have to share it with everyone I know. That happened today when I read a column in the March 1, 2007 edition of The Southampton Press by Anne Surchin, a Sag Hampton-based architect and writer. Ms. Surchin used the Press' s architecture column to discourse on ...

Library Conundrum

Eric C. Cohen — Sun, 04 Mar 2007 20:20:18 -0500

I was in Montauk yesterday, and, as always, was impressed by what a unique and lovely place it is. I wanted to write about that today -- y'know, something upbeat and charming. Unfortunately, after reading yet another ill-informed opinion piece about the John Jermain Memorial Library's expansion plans in last Thursday's Sag Harbor Express, I just can't do charming. It's not that Lorraine Dusky's viewpoint was unreasonable -- in fact, I agree with her main point, about it being our responsibility to protect the character of our community -- it's just that when talking about the library, she reiterates a few old arguments that I thought were long ago laid to rest.

They Won!

Eric C. Cohen — Thu, 01 Mar 2007 22:34:29 -0500

3/5/07 Update: You can now see the winning film at http://www.freshfilms-portland.com.

Sag Hampton native, Alec Cohen (my son), and his friends and fellow students at the Art Institute of Portland, Uli Beutter and Kurt Nishimura, won the $10,000 first prize (and a year's supply of OJ) in the Tropicana Fresh Take Film Contest for their short film Splash. The results of the on-line voting (which counted for 40%) and the judges’ decision (60%) were announced today. To add to the excitement, Kurt also won the Re-Animate The Decemberists Contest sponsored by Capitol Records. His winning video, O, Valencia, will air on MTVu on Monday morning (3/5/07). In addition, all three filmmakers will graduate from AIP on March 23rd, and, happily, my wife Bobbie and I will be able to celebrate with them in Portland. Looking ahead to more projects, the trio has formed a production company: SandyMontana. You can view some of their work at the SandyMontana website.

A big thank you to all who saw my earlier post and took the time to vote for Splash.

For background on the Tropicana contest see my original post: Local Boy Makes Good (With Your Help) from February 16th.
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Currently listening to: Shine So Bright by Teddy Thompson

What Sag Harbor Can Learn From Brooklyn's Atlantic Yards

Eric C. Cohen — Sun, 25 Feb 2007 23:33:22 -0500

Ordinarily, you wouldn't expect to find a lot of similarities between Sag Harbor and Brooklyn. But while reading an Op-Ed piece in Saturday's New York Times by Jennifer Egan (author of the novel The Keep), about the proposed Atlantic Yards development in Brooklyn, I was surprised at just how many parallels exist between Brooklyn's struggle with that project, and our own issues

In Praise of Listening

Eric C. Cohen — Sun, 18 Feb 2007 15:31:37 -0500

I once worked for a company that wasted a lot of time in meetings. It wasn't that the meetings themselves were a bad idea, it was just that the meetings never seemed to achieve the intended results. Ultimately, the company hired a consultant, who, after observing one of our meetings for about fifteen minutes, told us why our meetings failed. ...

Local Boy Makes Good (With Your Help)

Eric C. Cohen — Fri, 16 Feb 2007 23:41:45 -0500

Usually when I ask my readers (all three of you) to do something, it's for the benefit of the Sag Hampton community in one way or another, whether it's a reminder to attend a meeting, or an entreaty to write to our public officials about the issue du jour. But this post...this is shamless family promotion. Don't let that stop you, though...please read on.

Sag Hampton native, Alec Cohen and two of his friends and fellow students at the Art Institute of Portland, Uli Beutter and Kurt Nishimura, created a short film to enter in the Tropicana "Fresh Take on Portland" short film competition. From among many entries, their film was selected as one of the three finalists in the competition. Now you can help determine the grand prize winner by viewing the three short films and voting for the one you think is best. (Hint: it's named Splash.)

Here's a link to the films and voting: http://www.freshfilms-portland.com/voting

Each film is less than two minutes long, and is themed around the quintessential Portland (Oregon) morning.

Why should you vote? Well, for one thing you'll be helping three young and talented filmmakers get a little closer to their dream with the help of the contest's $10,000 first prize. If that's not enough, do it 'cause you like this blog. You do like the blog, don't you?

Voting starts today, Friday, February 16, 2007 and continues until midnight Thursday, February 22, 2007. You can vote once each day for each e-mail address you have. Now you know what to do. So, what are you still doing here? Click on the link above and vote (for Splash)!

If you like Splash, and I'm sure you will, you can see more of Alec, Uli and Kurt's work at their website, Sandymontana.com
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Currently listening to: Twin Cinema by The New Pornographers

That Didn't Take Long

Eric C. Cohen — Tue, 13 Feb 2007 01:00:00 -0500

No sooner had I posted the story about the proposed ski-resort in Riverhead, than the whole thing started to unravel. Anthony of the Ozone blog drew my attention to this Newsday article, (thanks Anthony) in which the paper quotes Riverhead Town Supervisor Phil Cardinale as saying, "I would expect him to be chairman, because that's how he signs his letters," ...

Unbelievable

Eric C. Cohen — Mon, 12 Feb 2007 13:00:00 -0500

File this under "Development/Crazy." My jaw is on the floor. Could this be for real? The blog Ozone quotes from the Long Island Traveler-Watchman (part of the Independent chain of newspapers) that a 500 ft. tall ski resort is planned for Riverhead, and that Riverhead's supervisor Phil Cardinale is already salivating over the prospect. The Traveler-Watchman quotes Cardinale as saying, ...

The Ghost in the House

Eric C. Cohen — Sun, 11 Feb 2007 02:05:29 -0500

Our house sits on a half-acre lot, in a neighborhood of half-acre lots located just south of the Village line. It's a modest neighborhood by Sag Hampton standards. It's not in the historic district, in fact the neighborhood is so not historic that it didn't even exist before 1987, give or take a year. Before then it was just woods. ...

What We (May) Have Here Is a Failure to Communicate

Eric C. Cohen — Mon, 29 Jan 2007 23:35:19 -0500

A few days ago, a Sag Hampton resident I've known for years said to me, "The Long Island Railroad should be running shuttle trains in the Hamptons. There should be a train at least every half hour." I started to tell him about Five Towns Rural Transit (5TRT) and the East End Transportation Council (EETC), and the $400,000 grant from the State that those organizations got to study that very situation, but he interrupted me. "Study? What a waste of money. Why doesn't the railroad do it? It'd be a great thing, and they'd get a lot more people using the trains out here that way." ...

98.6 miles

Eric C. Cohen — Sat, 20 Jan 2007 16:54:14 -0500

Google Maps says it's 98.6 miles from the library in the middle of Sag Harbor to the Empire State Building, which I think of as being the metaphorical middle of New York City. Interesting...take the temperature of any healthy person in Sag Harbor, and you come up with the distance we live from Manhattan. I'm sure there's a correlation there. Maybe the key word is "healthy," in that our health is somehow tied to living almost 100 miles from one of, if not the, greatest city in the world.