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Could Sag Harbor be voted America’s Happiest Seaside town 2013

Sag Harbor, NY Greetings Hamptons Mouthpiece Readers….Coastal Living Magazine has nominated Sag Harbor as a TOP TEN finalist in their contest for America’s Happiest Seaside Town in 2013. The winning town will be featured in the June 2013 issue of Coastal Living Magazine. There is such tranquillity in living by the sea. Another place that encapsulates that feeling is Newport Beach. I mean, no one can deny that the California beaches are stunning, and it’s no wonder that so many people live there. With so many luxurious houses and apartments overlooking a variety of stunning Californian beaches, as seen on Reali, many are drawn to living there. However, there’s no saying that these are the happiest seaside towns though, no matter how beautiful the beaches there may be! There’s no denying that there’s a lot you can get up to in California; I hear that whale watching california is fantastic. However, I love the beautiful town of Sag Harbor and I think we’ve got a big chance of winning. I have been coming to Sag Harbor for the last 22 years. I have raised my two daughters in this town and made some of the most amazing friendships. Main Street is happening all the time, even in January it is hard to find a parking spot on Main Street on a Saturday afternoon. The beach is on Main Street and there are plenty of delicious places to eat. Love Live theater, then you would definitely want to visit Bay Street Theatre, there are many productions to choose from and something for all ages. There is so much to do in Sag Harbor, and if you have never visited, please come to HarborFrost in February..click here for more information. http://sagharborchamber.com/harborfrost/

vda_8649_hdr-panoramicHOW CAN YOU HELP?

Click here: http://www.coastalliving.com/travel/happiest-seaside-town-00414000077606/

Vote as often as you can- YOU CAN VOTE EVERY HOUR FROM NOW UNTIL FEBRUARY 28th.

GOOD LUCK SAG HARBOR, WE CAN DO IT TOGETHER!

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Good People doing amazing things

Rockaway destruction
Rockaway destruction

Greetings Hamptons Mouthpiece Readers, 2012 was an eventful year and I am so happy that it is over. There were so many eventful occurances for the year like Hurricane Sandy, the Presidential elections, Sandy Brook Elementary massacre and the Movie theater massacre. Soon after “Sandy” I visited Island Park an area in Long Beach New York that was hit hard by hurricane Sandy; our mission was to help a homeowner move stuff out of her home before mold took over. A member in the East End Cares group asked us to help her neighbor who had a boat stuck in her backyard and the owner of the boat refused to remove their boat. I saw the post on Sunday morning and was moved to help out, so I said I was available to travel to Island Park and got ready and prepared to go. I put on some clothes that I did not care about and was out the door in 10 mins….I met up with a member of the group and we drove into Long Beach. I was nervous because I did not know what to expect. When we got there Rannie the homeowner was on site and apparently this was her 1st official day walking through her once beautiful home.

Island Park
Island Park

The very first thing I did was just hug her and let her cry because it was increasingly overwhelming. We all see these images of complete devastation on television but we are emotionally disconnected because we are not there in person, we do not know the person. We all sit in our nice warm homes and say well they should be thankful that they are alive and well, but until you are experiencing what they are going through you can never truly understand the magnitude of the situation. Yes they are material things that can be replaced but for some of these people items that they have worked so hard for and they will probably never be replaced or even re-built. East End Cares is a filled with truly remarkable people who unselfishly and generously volunteer their time and financial support. My heart is warmed knowing that there are people like this in the world.
It is now 3 months later and many that are suffering are unfortunately the people from low-income communities better known as the projects. These people had no place to go, no family to stay with and they stayed in their wet, moldy homes. They were sleeping on wet beds, dealt with no elevator service, heat or hot water, respiratory problems from inhaling the mold, and loss of income. Some of them luckily had Long term disability insurance which allowed them to carry on claiming for loss of income due to the respiratory issues keeping them from staying in employment.

Volunteers like Claudia and Wendy Tarlow work endlesslessly volunteering their time to help these victims, there is always someone travelling to one of the devastated areas. I had the pleasure of visiting one of the warming centers in Rockaway in December with my friend Cindy Cobb McGowin and her friends. We played Santa Claus for the day, giving out gifts, delivering food…her car was filled to the top. Cindy was giving out envelopes filled with money to Hurricane victims. We spent the day serving lunch and it was one of the best days of my life. I was so moved I volunteered my time on Sunday and drove with both my girls and trays of desserts…thanks Jane, Joan, Laura, Helen, Cindy.

Friends these people are still in need of our support and prayers. My friend Cindy visited the Rockaway Beach area this week and wrote on her Facebook wall:

The Red Cross has pulled out of Rockaway Beach. They made their appearance and are now gone. First Congregational Church, 3200 Beach 94th Street, Rockaway Beach, is our new contact. This wonderful church is distributing a multitude of items 7 days a week and will soon have a soup kitchen. It will take months and months to recover, if ever, from the devastation. She added the items that they are still seeking: Rockaway wish list: sm.-med. sized bottles of bleach, pinesol, lysol, laundry detergent, dishwashing liquid, garbage bags, qt. sized zip-locs, toilet paper, paper towels, humidifiers, bath soap, reg.-travel sized shampoo/conditioner, deodorant, diapers. Adults need socks and underwear. Kids need book bags, notebooks, and pencils. Canned food. Any quantity. All very much appreciated.

Many of you may be thinking these items are available to purchase at stores, yes they are but these victims cannot afford to purchase these items. Many of them are homeless because they have no home and nowhere to go, many are staying in their mold infested homes because they would rather stay there then live on the street. Today was a victory for New York, New Jersey and Connecticut and many homeowners, but for some who were denied by FEMA because they did not live in flood zones this will take years to rebuild and some will never be able to rebuild. Without the love and support from the hundreds of volunteers many of these victims would be in worst conditions than they are. Thank you East End Cares for you’re tirelessly commitment to helping in areas like Island Park and Rockaway, we still have so much more to do.

Good People doing amazing things

Photo credit..Chris Fabris
Island Park visit DC 1/15/13 Photo credit..Chris Fabris
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Hurricane Sandy making a name for itself…..

Hamptons MouthPiece; Could Hurricane Sandy be the worst Hurricane to hit New York? The state of New York is gearing up and getting prepared for Hurricane Sandy….many areas have been declared a State of emergency, airline flights have been cancelled, all schools have been cancelled, all NYC subways, LIRR and the Metro North are closed today. Long Island is under a state of Emergency for the next 24 hours…In some areas in Long Island there are areas that are already experiencing flooding like Lindenhurst, Long Beach and Port Jefferson…There are mandatory evacuation in areas like Riverhead, Westhampton, Southampton…High Tide in Long Island is between 6a-11am and again 7pm-11pm….many homes on the water, you may to consider evacuating before it gets bad because if you wait out the storm someone may not be able to get to you.
It’s interesting I have heard on the news about many families having to evacuate their homes and you never really think that could be you, but it might be my family today and that is very scary. I however am a realist and I know when it is time to go and keep my family safe…It is not easy having to evacuate your home, so many things you want to take with you, but you can’t and you have to choose what is necessary and most important.The rain is the least of our problems in Long Island…our problem is the long period of strong easterly winds..record breaking storm surge tides 5-12 feet and beach erosion waves 15-25 feet

High Tide times for today in the East end.. Montauk Point 905am and 928pm…Moriches Inlet.. 704am and 725pm…Mattituk Inlet 1133am…stay tuned for updates throughout the day..Now until noon winds 25-35 G 40-60 Coastal flooding Noon until 8pm Hurricane wind gusts 75+ mph, power outages, coastal flooding and 8pm-6am Tuesday dangerous winds, severe flooding, beach erosion, power outages..

East Hampton Town will open an evacuation center at East Hampton High School, opened today at Monday at 8 a.m.??The East Hampton Village Emergency Operations Center will open at 3:30 p.m. this afternoon and can be reached by calling 324-0945.
  • Two shelter locations are available in Southampton Town, including at Hampton Bays High School at 88 Argonne Road and at Riverhead High School at 600 Harrison Avenue in Riverhead.??The eastern campus of Suffolk County Community College at 121 Speonk-Riverhead Road in Speonk is a pet friendly shelter in Southampton Town.??In Sag Harbor, the village does have shelter capability at the Pierson Middle-High School, and it is open for residents who needed to evacuate their homes.?Sag Harbor Mayor Gilbride urged people in low lying areas to evacuate to higher ground. Emergency service providers, he noted, will likely be overwhelmed with calls during the storm and would prefer if people made precautionary arrangements to seek safer ground before the storm becomes too severe.
  • ??If you are going to a shelter, you are advised to bring a blanket, pillow, medicine, snacks, bottled water, reading materials, flashlights, extra batteries and make sure someone knows where you are going.
Here is some Key information and storm kit
POWER OUTAGES
Outages should be reported by calling 800-490-0075, online at liaccount.com/outage/Report or by texting OUT to 695472.
NATIONAL GRID
Gas leaks on Long Island should be reported to 800-490-0045.
BEFORE THE STORM HITS
* Know the elevation level of your property and whether the land is flood-prone.
* Learn evacuation routes.
* Be sure trees and shrubs around your home are well trimmed so they are more wind resistant.
* Clear loose and clogged rain gutters and downspouts (with the assistance of companies similar to https://divisionkangaroof.com/).
* Cover your home’s windows, either with permanent storm shutters or marine plywood at least five-eighths of an inch thick.
* Plan to bring in all outdoor furniture, decorations, garbage cans and anything else that is not tied down.
FEMA recommends preparing a disaster kit that includes:
* Three-day supply of nonperishable food
* Three-day supply of water — 1 gallon of water per person per day
* Portable, battery-powered radio or television and extra batteries
* Flashlight and extra batteries
* Sanitation and hygiene items, such as moist towelettes and toilet paper
* Matches and waterproof container
* Whistle
* Extra clothing
* Kitchen accessories and cooking utensils, including a hand-operated can opener
* Photocopies of credit and identification cards
* Cash and coins
* Special-needs items, such as prescription medications, eyeglasses, contact lens solutions and hearing aid batteries
* Items for infants, such as formula, diapers, bottles and pacifiers
* Other items to meet your family’s needs
ALSO
* Fill up vehicles with fuel
* Listen to local officials
* Pick people to call who are on and off the Island in case you become separated from family members.
* Never use portable generators indoors, in garages or near open windows.
If the winds pick up 60-70 miles all bridges will be closed…
If you loose your power you can expect to loose power for 7-10 days…
LIPA Outages 800-490-0075

As of 2pm today 10/29/12 the Governor just announce that the Brooklyn Battery Tunnel and the Holland Tunnel will be closing.

Hope this helps…In the Hamptons currently we are experiencing high winds, but no flooding yet, but we are bracing ourselves for strong winds, strong gusts and high tides….My photographer husband went to Long Beach in Sag Harbor to take some photos and a small video guess he did not hear the Governor say you do not need to be going to the beach to take photos.. He came back saying I think we need to consider leaving because I have never seen Long Beach like this.

He said he was nearly knocked over by 50 mph wind and said it was crazy scary. The beach has been eroded and the tide is definitely high. The Hamptons is full of very tall trees and I fear these trees being knocked over and falling on power lines preventing you from evacuating your area. There are advantages living near the beach and ocean but in times like this it really is a disadvantage. My advice to you my readers if you live in low lying flood prone areas please do not risk it. If you can go some place safe then I would suggest you do. In the aftermath of the storm, it is expected that many homes will need repairing and some people are already seeking the help of professsionals. You can go to this page if you are looking for roofing services. Sometimes damage can be extensive, affecting other things as well as the roofing, like the plumbing and the electricity. Flood damage can mean you have to rewire your home if it’s that bad. Fortunately, it’s straightforward to find an electrician online at sites similar to https://hometeamelectric.com/city-page/yucca-valley/, where someone might be able to offer advice and a practical solution. As for problems like your plumbing, hopefully, flood damage wouldn’t be too extensive. However, the occasional pipe can burst and if you don’t get it fixed quickly, it could turn into a nightmare. You can take a look at an example of a plumbing repair service by clicking here.

As always Hamptons Mouthpiece keeping you in the know….Please be safe today, stay off the roads…The governor suggest that you not take this storm lightly, the surge will be bad. For news up to the minute in Long Island I recommend News 12…if you loose power you can get updates 646-273-1212 and they also stream online on your mobile devices…www.news12.com

(photo & video 1 courtsey Kurt. H. Leggard)

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Making your dorm room feel like home.

Hamptons MouthPiece..we do the talking for you….Greetings Friends..this has been a roller coaster year with college stuff…senior year of high school is an expensive year. College applications, visits, portfolios, senior dues and then of course the tuition… We are done with all of that and the decision has been made she is going to study Art at Purchase College….We were very pleased because the tuition at a state school are nearly $35,000 less than a private school. College students have no guarantee of getting employment once they graduate based on the state of the economy so it is important that students make good decisions from the very beginning.
So you’re in the school of your choice, deposit has been made, payments have been sent in, your room has been chosen, you have connected with your roommates, you’ve got the cheap Student Recipes that will see you through college and you have your schedule all you need to do is move into your room on move in day….But wait ….you are only provided with a bed, a desk, a chair, a dresser and a closet….So its time to go shopping for accessories for the room to make it feel like a place that you can call home for the next 9 months – the Office Monster website might be worth checking out if you’re looking to kit out your desk and workspace with office essentials that will put you in good stead when it comes to your studies….There is one tiny little detail your room is the size of your current bedroom at home and you are now sharing it with 2 other roommates….so its time to be creative in a small space. Whether you want to find some cool secondhand furniture on Shoppok or you want to spend a little more on something new, there are many options to make decorate room.
Dani and I went shopping yesterday for what she calls a boring shopping trip because this shopping day included no clothes only dorm room shopping….I loved it and it also made me sad, it felt so final and I was already starting to miss the presence of my daughter at home everyday. We set-off to get it the shopping done starting with TJ Maxx, we were unable to complete everything there and went to Kmart, unfortunately, they did not have everything we needed,. I was ready and prepared to go another day to Riverhead but Dani she just wanted to buy everything in 1 day and be done with it, so we drove to Riverhead and finished our shopping. When we visited the campus during orientation in July I was able to see the room so I had an understanding of the space that she had…Parents I implore you to seek this information on your own because your children think they know everything and yet they know NOTHING! Friends I will share with you my tips on how we took care of her entire list in one day and where you will be able to find your items if you live here in the Hamptons…
  1. Make a list of everything they will need..most times this list is provided to you on your child’s school website.
  2. Know the space in which you are working with, it should all be able to fit into your car…if it can’t then you probably have to much.
  3. have your child connect with their roommates to determine who is bringing what….the space is small so bringing 3 of everything is not practical..
  4. set a budget and try to stay within that budget.
  5. shop early, remember you are not the only one shopping and waiting for the last minute many things will be gone.
So here are my choices for where to shop to find everything you will need for a dorm room…
TJ Maxx: most reasonable and beautiful stuff…we bought all bedding, pillows, towels, hair dryer, hair products, hangers and other nick-knack items
Walmart (Riverhead): an entire College Dorm section…you can find everything you are looking for at a reasonable price…we picked up toiletries, laundry care, desk lamp, bowls, iron, iron board, mirror and storage containers…
Bed Bath and Beyond Parents and Students flying beware of airline fee’s for baggage outrageous fee’s…so you definitely may want to take advantage of Bed, bath and beyond college program…in addition they give College discounts (Riverhead): Perfect if you are traveling far and not by car….you can register there and schedule for a pick up at a location near the school. You can also consider other options for storing items until they arrive at their dorms (such as the https://www.boomboxstorage.com/pickup-delivery storage available that can drive the goods to your child’s dorm on that big day).
Staples: All school items…printers, computers, ink, school supplies. Memory sticks…make sure your students understand the importance of backing up information just in case something happens to the computer, they still have their documents…
Target: We picked up the comforter and shower caddy….they too have a huge dorm section…I love their bright bold colors…perfect colors for a dorm room..
I would normally promote smaller stores for shopping in the Hamptons, unfortunately, many smaller stores are more expensive for the items needed..However if money is no concern to you, the Down store in East Hamptons has beautiful bedding and some beautiful very warm comforters for the students going to extremely cold environments…
Never fear small businesses next article where to find necessary clothing items to take with you to school….want to take a bike with you….or a skateboard…how about weather boots, perfect book bag, cold weather items, jeans, shoes and much, much more….stay tuned for that article.
So at the end of the day I turned to Dani and asked her did it feel real and she said yes…Yesterday was our day where it felt final, she was really leaving in 2 weeks to start her journey as a woman. Making her own decisions, being responsible for her own actions. My daughter is an adult and I feel lonely but so incredibly proud of her. I posted this on her FB wall today and I would like to share with you how I feel about my daughter. “When I look at you! I see a remarkable woman with a kind and caring heart who is beautiful in every sense of the word. You are everything wonderful, and if I had just one wish it would be that you could see what I see when I look at you. “Elle Mastro”

Hamptons Mouthpiece, we do the talking for you!

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PULL OVER ….License and Registration!!!!!!!

PULL OVER ….License and Registration
THE MOST FEARED WORDS IN THE HAMPTONS…Well everyone knows that the nuisances of the Hamptons are the traffic on 27 and the parking on Main Street in the Villages…This year is no better and it is a real bummer to get a ticket…or having to show up in court for a speeding ticket…Let’s face it friends it has been a long winter and the towns look forward to making some income during the summer. I was contemplating is a lawyer worth it for speeding? It really does depend, if you’re bound to rights like me then take your punishment and pay your fine! Also, whatever they say you should do to help with the points on your license, do it! Because there is a possibility that next time your fine could be bigger and could include another charge, so it’s important to pay your fine the first time. However, if you’re adamant that you aren’t guilty of speeding, it might be worth getting in touch with a traffic infractions lawyer who could help fight for your innocence. Sometimes, defense lawyers can lower sentences and fines if their client isn’t guilty, so it might be worth pleading not guilty if you weren’t speeding. However, it’s normally easier to plead guilty if you were caught speeding. Following a speeding conviction, it’s important to avoid repeating that behavior. You can go online and take a driving class from sites such as https://www.myimprov.com/, building on your knowledge and helping you when on the roads. It’s also important to note that bigger vehicles need to take extra precaution on the roads. Drivers of trucks certainly don’t want to be speeding, as not only does that use up more fuel, but it can cause crashes. Fortunately, many business owned vehicles, including trucks, are now using things like fuel management systems from companies like Lytx which identifies those who are speeding or driving somewhat recklessly and therefore getting them the coaching they need. Nevertheless, no matter where you are, drive safely, but take extra precaution in the Hamptons.

Here are a couple of tips for visitors and summer people.

  1. Pay attention to the speed limits, you will get pulled over…NO LIE!
  2. Pay attention to parking signs you will get a ticket, the traffic police is out in full force.
  3. Make sure your registration and inspection are in order, if your registration is not and you get pulled over, you will be arrested and your car will be towed!
  4. Parking in the town of East Hampton on Main street is 1 hour, pay attention to your time…Southampton town is 2 hours
  5. Just because you may see cars parked does not make it legal, pay attention to Parking signs…I believe in the town of Southampton they will tow your car away.

I find it very interesting that the time that you can park in East Hampton has been reduced from 2 hours to 1 hour, so here are some tips for you my friends….Main Street parking is 1 hour, in the back parking lot that is a 2 hour time slot…near the YMCA is a 24 hour time slot and if you need to leave your car overnight, you must get a permit from the town…

The village strictly controls parking in village parking lots and on village streets. It has no jurisdiction over private parking lots owned by commercial businesses. Violation of village parking regulations can result in vehicle immobilization or towing and a mandatory fine of $60. Village regulated parking lots include:
• Reutershan Parking Lot. Located between Herrick Park and the stores on Main Street. Two-hour maximum from 8 am to 6 pm from April 1st until December 31st. You are required to take a free ticket at the entrance to the lot and display it on the driver’s side of your dashboard. Failure to display the entrance ticket may result in a mandatory fine of $60.

I have added some additional links to some of the towns for more information on those towns…

Montauk:
If you need anymore information don’t hesitate to reach out and ask the Hamptons Mouthpiece…also join my facebook page
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