Dan's Papers - September 12, 2008

Dear Dan,
I was so upset to hear about the Hideaway closing due to the towns' ordinances. The owners of the restaurant are the kindest people you want to serve you food. The meals are great the view is fabulous and the locals who hang out there are the best of Montauk people. We have so much fun with the people who we met there. They had celebrity's come to the restaurant and rave about their food. They welcome every one with open arms and help you out with their knowledge of boating, fishing mechanics, etc. I can't even say most of the good things they have done for their town. I will be sad and upset until they can open again. Summer, winter, fall, and spring are the best times there and it will be missed by a lot of people.
Thank you from a good costumer.

Good food, good friends, what else matters?- DR

Dear Dan,
Would like to respond to your article in Dan's Papers, Sept. 5, 2008 Sarah Palin: Why the Dems Got Trouble
In the article you state that you want us to "just pay attention to this joke." Let us, just for fun, pay attention to some truth.
Sarah Palin is a hard-working and sincere politician standing up for all, including persons with special needs. She is a proven and relentless reformer regarding old politics, lobbyists, special interest groups, big oil companies and power brokers. She is an ethics reformer and controller or big spending such as vetoing almost one half billion dollars wasteful spending in Alaska (sounds like a hefty tax relief). She champions American sources of resources, what a novel idea!
To paraphrase Sarah Palin, some people talk about doing great things, others actually do great things.
Dan, did Sarah Palin's impressive and auspicious debut worry you? How about some unbiased information instead of a patronizing joke? Dan, are you up to the task?

I'm withholding my judgment until she's allowed to be interviewed.- DR

Dear Dan,
T.J. Clemente's Montauk Downs article on Aug. 15 was interesting, informative and descriptive... "The variations of the green colors, the different lengths of grass have on the fairways roughs and putting surfaces is a mesmerizing sight." However, the "mesmerizing sights" for me have been the distant views of the pond tucked away in the bend of the dog-leg of the 7th hole visible from both the 2nd and the 7th hole greens.
One's first view is from the green of the Par 3 short 2nd hole green surrounded by tall grass and a bunker. Most golfers are too busy to turn to the left and look down to be mesmerized by the dramatic view of the pond. They are either searching for their balls in the high grass or, if their ball is on the green from their tee stroke, anxious to putt and break par.
Montauk Downs is scenically forgiving in that pond, a panoramic scenic delicacy, suddenly comes into view, approximately 100 yards after teeing off from Hole 7 (Par 4). The pond, just in front of the green, is an inviting challenge for good golfers. For me and my wife Elaine, rather than feed the pond with ball, we choose to aim for the expansive green grass "elbow" of the dog-leg, and then stroke for the green. After putting, we relax and look west for our last view of the pond and head for the eight hole.

Golf is a walk in the woods ruined - but maybe not in Montauk.- DR

Dear Dan,
I have to respond on my last visit in July to Westhampton Beach.
I arrived in WHB in 1935 at the age of five years old with my parents. I lived there until 1996 and moved to Florida.
I was wonderful to see some of my friends that I grew up and worked with. This time my childhood friend, Senta Larson Cutler, who I stayed with went to see our gym teacher, Christine Ehlers, my third grade gym teacher at Six Corner School.
We also had her in high school until 1942, when she joined the Army. When she left the service, she was a Major and settled in Remsenburg.
Senta and I went to visit Major Ehlers. It was a thrill to talk to her. She knew us and will turn 100 years old soon.
The best were her words to me and said, "I can still see you playing soccer." That was the best thing that happened to Senta, and also to me who had a class reunion in 1984 at my home and Christine Ehylers came and so did John Comha, a teacher also in WHB. John is 92 and I sent him a picture of him and Christine together. I talked to him and he was thrilled.
I'm sure there are not many who can say they saw their teacher from school who will be turning 100 years old.
Major Ehlers is a wonderful person and a privilege to have known her. That was Senta's and my highlight of the day.
I still correspond with some of my classmates of 1944 - out of twenty-five, eleven are left.
As I end this story, I have to say, I had the best of WHB years ago.