Dan's Papers - October 26, 2007 -

Dear Dan,
You tell a story well. It's a beautiful tribute you paid your mother, who read to have been an unusual person. Thank you for sharing her with us. There is so much finality to loss and you have made it noble and strong.
I send you all sympathy.

I received more than 100 condolence letters about my late mother. Thank you all. - DR

Dear Dan,
I graduated from Sacred Heart Academy in 1962, which has since been taken over by Pierson for the public school system. There was a small chapel with God inside on the property, which was taken down. I think God is still there, keep the school seal.

Dear Dan,
On a recent late afternoon stroll along the shoreline in Westhampton, I was offered the rare opportunity to put the real world behind me, allowing some precious moments to reflect on the past. As the last remaining rays of sunlight succumbed to the vastness of the night sky over the Atlantic Ocean, a sense of loss emerged. As a child growing up on Long Island, I can vividly remember walking along the beaches of the South Shore and being fascinated with the gentle rhythm of the surf pounding the pristine shoreline. Just as the breaking waves commanded my attention, I was provided solace with the almost magical atmosphere of the region. Whether it was Montauk or East Hampton, it didn't make a difference. Both offered a unique type of tranquility that could not be found anywhere else on the island. It's difficult to explain, but the South Shore felt like a safe haven where many of life's problems could be erased by the caressing rhythm of the surf. Although these cherished memories have withstood the test of time, I am disheartened by the course the South Shore has taken.
The abundant spaciousness and calmness, which exemplified the area is slowly fading. Change is inevitable we are told. That often overused phrase has more meaning now than ever before. Although I still enjoy visiting the South Shore and walking along its beaches, its impact continues to lose intensity. Where once stood countless acres of wooded vacant land along the dunes now stands a vast array of architectural designs. The gnarled trees that once blew behind the eroding dunes are mostly gone. They have been replaced with "Private Property" signs and barking canines. The gentle breezes that once whistled through the beach grass are fading. They have been replaced with the whine of circular saws and the pulse of hammers driving nails through two by fours. Some may call this progress; I call it a terrible mistake. Country roads are now overwhelmed with vehicles occupied by people still searching for that magic. As the South Shore continues to be assaulted with the desires of profit-hungry residential developers, a sense of despair takes hold. The magical attraction that once captivated visitors to the area has weakened. The unique character of the area, although still there, is losing its grip. The South Shore must be protected in order to retain its charm and unique historical background. More vigorous restrictions must be enacted to shelter its magical appeal.

Dear Dan,
Of course, I love to swim in the buff! It's a pleasure, however, that is not indigenous to the local people. Indeed, in our village there are probably more city people than villagers who indulge!
However, I do take all invasions of privacy seriously - as does (or did?) the Supreme Court. And the lawless Southampton Village zoning code, totally at odds with the "keep open spaces and small scale buildings" Master Plan of May 2000 violates our neighborhoods and our village residents' rights left and right, in addition to our rights to privacy. You did get absolutely right a piece of the corruption and conflicts of interest right in your article. That, of course, is what it's about.
And incidentally, I am Evelyn Konrad (with a K) as it is correctly spelled on my four degrees (AB and MA from Stanford U, JD and LLM from Cardozo Law School), and on the covers of books I have written, hundreds of articles bylined by me, often about malfeasance in big government and big business. But the greed and corruption I wrote about, including in a novel, is peanuts compared with our Southampton Village. Who knew?

P.S. Dan, I have not yet conducted a census to determine whether more local or more city people skinny-dip, but if you like I will design a brief opinion poll for your paper, so that we may lay this important question to rest once and for all.
P.P.S. Also, you may rest assured that this lawsuit "by a Southampton woman" is just the opening salvo of my anti-McMansion campaign to come! EK

Will you call it the Buffington Blog? - DR

Dear Dan,
Dear Joan,
My assistant tells me you have kindly offered to forward a message to Dan. My name is Jami Floyd and I was the recent subject of a Dan's Papers "Who's Here" column (Daniel Simone, September 7 2007). While I am often profiled in print, I simply have to send a note of thanks to Dan, and his wonderful Dan's Papers for such a lovely and generous profile.
My husband and I have long been fans of Dan's Papers, dating back to the 1990s and our first summer rental was in Amagansett. Now as residents, we look forward to each new issue. Dan's Papers is quite simply indispensable to our household - for news, general information about the East End and all-around good reading about the community we've come to love.
To be included with all the local luminaries profiled in Dan's, is an honor indeed - one with a special personal meaning for me and my family and friends.
So please do send my sincerest thanks to Dan for the considerable space, kind words and most of all, for the wonderful issues of Dan's Papers over the years.