Dan's Papers - October 6, 2006 -

Dear Dan,
On the afternoon of Saturday the 15th of July 2006, I was traveling down the sidewalk of Southampton town in my wheelchair. I was suddenly met with the misfortune of losing my left front tip-wheel causing an imbalance in my vehicle.
However, the fear of my plight was abated when a very kind passerby retrieved the nearest police and traffic control on my behalf.
To the town of Southampton, I would like to commend Officer Mike Horston and Lydia Andre for performing exemplary service and going above and beyond the call of duty to assist me.
Realizing my uncomfortable circumstance, they both escorted me safely to the Southampton train station from Main Street. Thank you Southampton for employing such heroes. The conveyance of concern for my safety and well being by your very finest representatives will not be forgotten. It was a blessing to find that kindness and good deeds are not lost. At least not in Southampton.

Kindness counts. -DR

Dear Dan:
I enjoyed reading "Neighbor: Katie Couric News Anchor" (Jerry Cimisi - September 15th) After watching new CBS Evening News anchor Katie Couric, I must observe that in the end she may not have any impact on the ratings for CBS Evening News.
Previous generations grew up around the television set, learning about events of the day. Everyone had their favorite: Douglas Edwards, Walter Cronkite, Roger Mudd, Dan Rather and recently Bob Schiefler (CBS); Chet Huntley and David Brinkley, Tom Brokaw and Brian Williams (NBC); and Frank Reynolds, Max Robinson, Howard K. Smith, Harry Reasoner, Barbara Walters, Peter Jennings and Charles Gibson (ABC).
Today's generation has many more alternatives to select from including all news radio, cable news stations such as CNBC, CNN and FOX, PBS, BBC, the Internet and bloggers. A growing population of new immigrants support their own television stations.
Local ABC, CBS and NBC affiliates have access to satellite broadcasts that duplicate many of the same stories carried by their national news broadcasts. Even local independent stations such as News Twelve, Fox 5, WOR 9 and WPIX 11 have access to satellite feed. Many local news stations sometimes send reporters to other parts of the nation and world for on the spot coverage.
Our view of the world has changed over time. This may be due to the Big Three Networks no longer having a monopoly on the news. New anchors be it male or female may not make a difference in who tunes in. Lucky for us, we are fortunate to live in a free society with a wealth of information news sources to select from including Dan's Papers!

Hooray for Dan's Papers - DR

Dear Dan,
This past Saturday, I was fortunate to participate in Sag Harbor's annual "Taste of Sag Harbor" festival at the Long Wharf. The weather was perfect, the booths of vendors were imaginative and filled with arts and crafts and delicious samples of food, and the crowds of visitors were enjoying all the sights, sounds and tastes that Sag Harbor has to offer.
In the midst of all of the activity, a woman approached my booth, which was stocked with our turkey chili, clam chowder; fresh baked cookies and my recently published cookbook. She perused through the cookbook and I heard her thinking out loud as she said, "the book might make a great gift for her friend who had been taking care of her since her husband was killed." At this point I could see the pain in her eyes and I went to her and briefly spoke with her about the book. But I had to ask, "How was your husband killed?" She told me how her husband of 19 years was a commander in a reconnaissance unit in Iraq, and was killed with 9 other Americans this past May and that he never got to see their daughter who was born shortly after the tragedy. As the music played and people filled their tummies with delicious clam chowder at the chowder competition or splashed around in the boats racing in the harbor, this poor widow was carrying around such a heavy burden of sorrow and grief, it cut right through all the activity around me and nearly brought me to tears.
I wrote a few kind words in one of my cookbooks and gave it to her as a gift and as she left I asked God to comfort her.
As Americans, we must never forget that there are those among us that have lost their loved ones either on September 11th or in the Afghan and Iraq wars that need our compassion, love, support and prayers. Whether we agree or disagree with the political decisions regarding war, we must never forget to be aware of those right here around us that are grieving. That reality was made clear to me on a beautiful, late summer afternoon on the Long Wharf in Sag Harbor.

Dear Dan,
From the same Springs family (C.E. Kings & Sons) that have installed your awnings and boat/yacht covers throughout the entire East End of Long Island since 1948, and, as the next in line of this creative generation, I would like to introduce my furniture design and custom woodwork company, Travis King Studio, for bath - kitchen - home.
Feel free to call or e-mail with any questions. For any installation, please call for pricing.