Montauk Pioneer - March 20, 2009 -

I woke up from my beach shack on the ocean at the Montauk Shores Condominiums (The Ditch Plains Trailer Park), and there was snow everywhere. The whole park was blanketed in it, and I could see that all of my neighbors, whoses cars were stuck underneath a foot or more of snow, were going to wait it out.

What do you do when it snows in Montauk? Do you go to the beach? TJ Clemente, a Montauk Pioneer writer and good friend, was fired up to go for a hike and to cross country ski on the beach. He was slapping on boots, putting on a full ski uniform, and armed himself with goggles, gloves and a hat. The rumble of his boots crashed through the room as he bartered with me to go for a hike with him.

We set out into a different world. A world of nearly pure quiet and stillness, except for the infinite crashing of the ocean. TJ, who is on an unbelievably strict diet (to date he has lost over 30 pounds) was embracing the cold as we walked towards the beach while his skis were in hand. It was like discovering a whole new world. Ditch Plains is really just so unbelievably beautiful. The beach, dressed in all white, favored the daring as a few people, here and there, braved the weather and walked a dog or went surfing.

At Ditch Plains, you experience a culture unlike any other place that I know of (and I've been a lot of places). The salty New England air brings a fairy tale into your mind as we hiked.

We weren't about to end this hike on the beach however, and hit Camp Hero as well, reminding ourselves of what it must have been like during World War II, as residents of Montauk stood watch under the cover of machine gun nests, fearful of a Nazi attack. Soldiering through Camp Hero is about as close as you can get to a time machine.

The day ended with an unbelievable cup of hot chocolate and a hell of a story to tell.

Then a few weeks went buy and it was still freaking cold in Montauk! It's the middle of March, and we have been spoiled by the last couple of winters because by my recollection of last year and even the year before that, we enjoyed 50 degree, even 60 degree weather.

Regardless, however, the road to summer marches on as the festivities building up to the Montauk St. Patty's Day parade have been expertly organized and executed. Even in the worst recession any of us has ever seen, Montauk still feels like Montauk and its the people that keep it that way. People like Grand Marshal Fran Ecker, whose service to her community and commitment to others makes Montauk residents all feel like a part of her family. People like the members of the Montauk Friends Of Erin and the Montauk Chamber of Commerce, who like soldiers, never tire to make sure that tourists come to Montauk during St. Patrick's Day and spend money locally during a time of year where most businesses wonder if the dead of winter will ever end.

Yes it's still cold, but with each day passing, it only gets more and more exciting that the beginning of summer is coming. And looking forward to something in the beginning is a lot more fun than looking forward to something at the end if you think about it.

Without a doubt, the local commitment that I see year after year in this little village is striking, and the world could learn a thing or two from the community effort and follow through that takes place here. The selfless acts of giving back for the greater good and the do-it-yourself, self reliance attitude that defines Montauk is the reason why we have, by far, the best St. Patrick's Day parade on the planet.