First there was a moment of sweet anticipation, as a representative of the Foundation thanked the children of Sag Harbor Elementary for adopting Shadow, and making his return to the wild possible. Then, Shadow was carried in his transport cage from the foundation’s van down to a spot near the water’s edge. One of the students was called upon to help open the cage door. As the door began to open, Shadow first stuck his nose out and then cautiously emerged from his temporary shelter. Looking a bit confused, he headed for the water, then changed his mind and tried to reverse direction and return to the safety of his cage. Apparently prepared for this eventuality, volunteers from RFMRP (as the foundation is awkwardly known), used large plywood squares to block his way, gently encouraging the seal to move seaward again, which he quickly agreed to do. A few minutes later Shadow was in the water. After swimming a few quick circles in the immediate vicinity of the beach, with just one quick backward glance, he was gone.

I’m not sure if Shadow was entirely happy about this turn of events — after all, he will now have to catch his own meals, after being hand-fed for many months — but we humans at least could bask in the happy feeling of having participated in a small worthwhile act of kindness and community. For us, it really doesn’t get any better than this.

Enjoy the photos.

Carrying Shadow to the water's edge.

A student helps to open the cage door

Shadow pokes his nose out.

Taking a look around.

Heading for the sea.

A bit reluctant, but almost there.

On his way.

A quick look back, and then he's gone.

Many say that Sag Harbor has entered a period of unprecedented change that may irredeemably alter its character forever. Others, with perhaps a more long-range view, understand that there has never been a quintessential Sag Harbor. This village is not frozen in time. It evolves to meet the needs of its inhabitants. Looking back, or ahead, we may not recognize those inhabitants, but it was, and will be their village, not ours. Ours is the Village that we have today: historic, funky, upscale, charming, nautical, artistic, resorty and small-town. It’s the culmination of all that came before, and the root from which the Sag Harbor of tomorrow is sprouting even as we watch.

To help us reflect upon these changes and consider how the village will continue to evolve and adapt, a few members of the 300th anniversary organizing committee, led by Benito Vila, have put together a workshop which will be held on Saturday, October 13th at the Methodist Church on Madison Street, to celebrate the character and legacy of Sag Harbor. This workshop, which looks to be a lot of fun, will begin with a presentation and discussion led by experienced preservationists and local artists, after which everyone will head out into the streets to “catalogue” in photos, sketches, or what have you, various aspects of the village’s public and private spaces. Once the cataloging has concluded, the collected materials will become the basis for one or more collaborative projects. One such project might be an online “wiki” where digital photos and digitized sketches are stored, tagged as to content, and commented on by participants, and later by others who view the wiki. The John Jermain Memorial Library has offered the use of its computers to facilitate the creation of the wiki, or other online project, and will make the results available to the public through its website. Other projects may also be developed based on ideas brought forward by participants.

Everyone is invited to participate. At the very least we hope to enjoy an afternoon with friends and neighbors celebrating together the place we live. At best we will create a time capsule of sorts, recording images of the village, documenting what is currently here, and identifying the qualities we hope to retain and encourage for the future. Given the proposed commercial development of existing properties and parcels throughout the village, there will be much to compare and contrast. The effect of those initiatives will be an important consideration as we observe Sag Harbor continuing to make history.
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Currently listening to: Our Little Town by Greg Brown.

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Meanwhile, here’s the good:

1. Sag Harbor Mayor Greg Ferraris and Trustee Tiffany Scarlatto have been working diligently on a plan to encourage affordable workforce housing in the Village of Sag Harbor. They’ve recently shown a draft of the plan to the other Trustees, and the press. I’ve seen a copy of the document and I believe that it is well intentioned, well reasoned and has a good chance of actually achieving the results at which it is aiming. Three cheers for local leaders who are not afraid to tackle the tough issues.
2. The Planning Department of the Town of Southampton has agreed to undertake a study of the area along both sides of the Bridgehampton-Sag Harbor Turnpike between Sag Harbor Industries and the Village Line. They agreed to this study due to the sudden onslaught of development in this area, and the potential for a great deal more. If development is left unchecked, Sag Harbor could find itself with an unplanned, and unappealing commercial strip at the southern gateway to the village. Neither Mayor Ferraris nor Southampton Supervisor Heaney see this as a desirable outcome, and so both are committing some resources to a study that hopefully will result in somewhat less development in this area than would be allowed under current zoning.
3. The two “building” subcommittees of the John Jermain Memorial Library’s Library Development Committee (LDC) met with Southampton Public Transportation and Safety Director Tom Neely in a proactive attempt to tackle potential problems related to traffic, parking, safety, pedestrian and bicycle access and mass transit at the proposed site of the new library building at Mashashimuet Park. Mr. Neely was quick to point out that the library location is at the southern gateway to Sag Harbor (yes, we’re talking about the same gateway), and that appropriate development of gateways between less developed and more developed areas is one of the key concepts of the recently completed SEEDS (Sustainable East End Development Strategies) study. As such, he reasoned, State and or other grant monies ought to be available for studies of and subsequent improvements to the gateway area. He’s going to take it up with the East End Transportation Council, which is anxious to put the SEEDS recommendations to the test. This could be a win-win for the library, the park, Sag Harbor and the entire East End.
4. Speaking of the library, the work of the LDC continues to move ahead with due deliberation. An RFP (Request for Proposal) has been written by the multi-talented Alison Cornish (with help from others), to enable the Library Trustees to choose an architect specializing in preservation and restoration of historic buildings. This architect will be charged with coming up with a plan that will encompass both the restoration of the library’s existing building, and the updating of its systems, allowing it to function as both a community centerpiece and a usable public building well into the future.
5. The intrepid Bryan Boyhan, editor and publisher of the Sag Harbor Express has made it his business to ensure that Sag Harbor has a proper 300th anniversary celebration in 2007. (I know the date is in dispute; get over it) He’s organized  a large committee consisting of representatives from almost all of Sag Harbor’s community organizations, and he’s pushing them mercilessly to put together a five-month long program of events, exhibits and performances commemorating Sag Harbor’s multi-faceted history. If all goes as planned, 2007 will be a fun year indeed, for residents and visitors alike.
6. The holiday light-up on Main Street looks better than ever this year. (Sorry, my camera’s broken, or there’d be a photo.)

So, that’s the list, or most of it. I’m sure there’s more, but this post is getting rather lengthy, so I’ll stop for now. I’m feeling better anyway. It’s always good to remember some of the things we have to be thankful for. The feelings of good cheer thus engendered should carry me through the holidays. Time enough then to think about why things may not all be quite so rosy as they at first seem.

In the meantime, have a very happy and safe holiday season!

Which I don’t. I believe libraries matter, but don’t worry, I’m not going to preach at you. Here’s the thing, though, if you also believe that libraries matter, it’s now time to start getting involved. Here are two very important things you can do that are virtually painless.

1. The first one is a two-parter:
• attend the Meet the Candidates Night Monday, September 11^th at 7:00 p.m. (6:30 if you also want to hear about next year’s library budget), in the auditorium at Pierson High School* and then
• vote in the Library Trustee Election on Tuesday, September 19^th anytime between 9:00 a.m. and to 8:00 p.m. at the Library.
2. The second thing you can do is to support the restoration of the 96-year old John Jermain building that is the current home of the library. You can do this very easily by buying a ticket or two for the “One For the Books,” fundraiser which will entitle you to pick an author you like and have dinner in a private home thrown by and in the company of other people who also like that author. That’s happening on October 14^th and 21^st. Tickets cost $100.00; eighty dollars of which will be used to help refurbish the Library’s historic home. Invitations can be picked up at either of the library’s circulation desks, or you may have even received one in mail. More details are available by clicking here.

(If you’d like to catch up on what’s been going on with regard to the library expansion, you can read the full report of the Community Library Committee by clicking here.)

* If you do go to the Meet the Candidates Night, please make sure that each candidate is asked if they will support the conclusions and recommendations of the Community Library Committee. At this late date, anyone who is not prepared to support those recommendations (which have already been accepted by the Library Board), and work for their implementation, should not be elected as a trustee. That battle has already been fought. It’s over. What the community needs now are trustees who are willing to work hard to make the CLC’s recommendations a reality.