Sunday, November 11, 2012

Fair Harbor Aftermath 1993 Nor'easters1993 was the beginning of our face fury of the winter Noreasters. Here is one image from Newsday of FH and another is a contact sheet I hope you can zoom in and see the beach. I seem to recall that these storms occurred during the winter so not many people were there but if you remember please add the details. The damage was so much more apparent and I think that the breach on Dune Road was also created.Our community became acutely aware of the potential continued devastation and intelligently put together people and Dune Districts to deal with the on going problem. Without the dunes of October who knows what the damage may have been.To zoom on contact sheet, right click on that image then you can use + tool.

1993 was the beginning of our generation facing fury of the winter #Noreasters and hurricanes. Here is one image from Newsday of #FairHarbor and another is a contact sheet I hope you can zoom in and see the beach devastated by couple of severe winter storms that year.I seem to recall that these storms occurred during the winter so not many people were there but if you remember please add the details. The damage was so much more apparent and I think that the breach on Dune Road was also created.Our community became acutely aware of the potential continued devastation and intelligently put together people and Dune Districts to deal with the on going problem. The following summer was very weird going to the beach and sitting under shadows of houses teetering on stilts 20-30 overhead. There were no #dunes to further protect the island and we were all in a state of near panic with every approaching bad storm. It took years, much community actiivity, politicing, awareness generation and working and pressing local, FEMA, EPA, DEC and Islip bureaucracy to forge a partnership to deal with this devastation. #FireIsland acts as a buffer between the ocean and Great South Bay protecting the south shore of Long Island from direct hits.Even with the assumption of financing by the various communities to build and maintain beach it still takes a major effort to obtain additional permits to rebuild the beach.
Fast forward to today, Hurricane/Frankenstorm Sandy made an almost direct hit on Long Island and fragile Fire Island. Years of beach nourishment had left us with a very wide and high beach with great developing dunes and abundant beach grass. Now all that is again gone. Without the dunes of October who knows what the damage may have been. Our actions over the years have made a difference. Many thanks to the volunteer Fire Dept and responders who have worked hard to bring some normalcy back to the island. Thanks to other residents who are contributing info daily to keep owners aware of progress and the hopeful return to the island this coming week to review property.To zoom on contact sheet, right click on that image then you can use + tool.

Monday, October 15, 2012

Gulls Must be Crazy

Ah, the melancholy feeling of the end of the summer season quickly coming upon us. You all know the feeling-deserted walks, no 6ish, and worst of all having to nudge the heat a bit. Hard to believe when we were all experiencing the intense heat this summer.
So we make do and do more before closing down.
I was able top go out with a couple of male friends for the weekend. Too cold for my wife and daughters, just us guys reveling in the camping type conditions. Two of us are avid surf casters and the other us currently in process of marriage separation.  Not sure what that has to do with this blog, but it lent to great conversations. While I cannot remember details I can assure you that if we had a video cam recording the time we spent around the table, couch and beach recounting and sharing views on women, marriage, and personal views you would be howling with laughter, and surprised at the honesty.
We took advantage of the late good weather and sat on the beach, watched the waves for signs of striped bass or bluefish. Saturday was pretty chilly and we casted without success. We woke up Sunday to what felt like tropical strength winds. Getting to the beach we experienced such strong winds, amazing curling white caps and the seas all jumbled up in all directions. A small cliff had been gouged out and we had to deal with waves splashing against this wall as we tried to get a lure beyond the close churning waters. We casted against the strong wind and waves for over half an hour being almost blown over or swept out to sea in the process. Exhilarating! The sun was out, the temps has risen from the previous day, and it was just great to be out there in the elements doing the primal hunt thing.

After getting beat up enough by the elements we went back for a breakfast of flagels, scrambled eggs with feta cheese and good coffee.
The back to the beach for the fish watch. The wind had not dropped so we found ourselves pelted by whipping sand. The only choice was to get closer to the water and avoid loose sand. That worked well and the three of us sat, watched, exchanged more silly stories, and wondered when the fish would appear. And we sat. Then casted, Then sat, then went back for lunch then sat, then casted again. Unfortunately not one fish nor small bait fish.
Which leads me to this anecdote. Fair Harbor is full of these short personal vignettes.
We were taking the 4:30 ferry back when I ran into Warren. Many of you know Warren from the Youtube videos I did the past couple of years for garbage day. Anyway he shared this story which I hope you will enjoy. WARNING-the video is terrible, Little did I know that the wind would wash out the sound. But funny to watch Warren's gestures anyway.
We did not catch fish, but he did! 
Here is the Youtube link. Be sure to lower the sound. To read the story, scroll down under the video and :Read More".
Enjoy.
Hope to see a few more of you out there the next couple of weeks before the season totally ends!

http://youtu.be/-8GHN2h20SI

Tuesday, May 15, 2012

Great Beach House for Rent-July, August and Weeks

  We have a wonderful house for rent  for the months of July and August, or weeks in Fair Harbor,
Fire Island. If you are looking for a staycation, this is the place. Only a little over an hour from Manhattan, it is
total relaxation, amazing natural beauty and a lot more reasonable price than the Hamptons.
This is a 3BR/1Bath located 700 feet from the bay or ocean.
Charming, comfortable house complete with bikes to explore the nearby communities,boogie boards, lounge chairs, outdoor dining table, lanai,outdoor shower and outdoor grilling, Internet, Direct TV.
The roof deck is a great place to watch fireworks from the mainland or just lie back and count the stars at night.
It is steps away from the small commercial area that has a general store, liquor store, great local restaurant, and
grocery store.
Around 6pm every weather permitting Saturday evening lots of people are found milling around the ferry dock area, drinks in hand
to watch the fantastic sunset. Is is a Key West, laid back social scene that is so typical of Fair Harbor.
There are no cars, just bikes and wagons for moving food and belongings around.
The ferry ride is from Bayshore, and it is an amazing 30 minute calming ride from life to fantasy island.
For more information, email yapaspace@gmail.com and I will send over photos.
Rental is for families, mature couples or professional singles. Call for availability and pricing ,516-425-4645, Thanks


Wednesday, February 8, 2012

Sunday, November 20, 2011

Hello All:

I am embarrassed to say that I have been "Commenting" on my original post since Sept 2008, not actually "Posting."
For the rest of you who do not understand the difference, Posting is a new item from the blog owner, and comments refer to that item and generally made by other followers or readers.
Only the Owner of the blog can Post, the rest comment.
I did not totally get this difference when I started the blog with being more interested in content than function. Duh.
I had stayed signed in under another of my wonderful email addresses which did not allow me to POST but to comment.creating Russian insert doll conundrum.

So, with the aid of my totally socially networked daughter Lauren, I am "Posting" this to make amends and get the blog record straight.

I have "posted" or actually commented several times over the past few years so if you are interested in my previous
thoughts, muses and observations about Fair Harbor, its residents, deceased or life here, check back on the comments.

Now, however I have turned a new leaf and will properly present myself, in terms of function, but not necessarily
subject matter when it comes to the blog. All is Fair Harbor game except personal attacks or blatant lies. But we all know there are not many of these. More mis-information that anything else.

About the same time I started the blog I had an indeea that we situate a year-round weather proof beach-camera on a roof by the ocean. I figured that so many of us are not there 8 months of the year that it would be cool to see the ocean, and changing beach during the off-season. It would also be awesome to watch huge storms from a bird's eye view. Lastly we could archive this information and use as a knowledge base for beach nourishment or augmentation in future years.
It would cost about $15k to get going and require some maintenance if case of damage. But I would think we could enlist the help of a ear-round resident with the bribe of some nominal reward to do the basic repair.

What do you think?

As a place special to so many of us, having the ability to go online for a live-beach cam would be a type of very quick virtualk vacation in addition to a concession to the human need to want to know what is going on in this space.

Thanks for reading, and hope you have a great set of holidays coming up. Maybe our paths will cross as we make that
journey to our places during the next few months.
See you on the beach. Jeff

Thursday, September 25, 2008

New Blog for Fair Harbor


Hello:
I figured a blog for Fair Harbor is due.
Many of us have no way to contribute out thoughts and now we can have a say--to do what remains to be seen.
This is a great way to post whatever events,news or opinions on Fair Harbor and our culture.
Feel free to post anything of possible interest to the community. Use your gut to determine the content, tone and language so as not to offend anyone.

THIS SITE DOESN'T ALL COMMENTORS TO UPLOAD IMAGES SO

IF YOU WOULD LIKE A PHOTO POSTED EMAIL IT TO ME AS AN ATTACHMENT TO FAIRHARBOR@GMAIL AND I WILL POST IT RIGHT AFTER YOUR COMMENT OR CLOSE TO IT AND ATTRIBUTE YOUR NAME AND A TITLE AS YOU STATE.

To comment, click on "comments". You can post anonymous, or use your gmail name if you have one.

Enjoy and participate.



Enjoy
Jeff