In addition to the usual updates on municipal intricacies and complaints from concerned citizens at recent village board and homeowners meetings, the fact the Fire Island Association (FIA) met in the Fire Island Pines at the same time the Ocean Beach Association (OBA) gathered on July 18 was a source of contention.
 “I’m really annoyed,” Ocean Beach Mayor Joseph Loeffler, Jr., said as he noted his village is the FIA’s largest member community—and its residents give the FIA the most money. “All they had to do was give a call to the village office to find out that OBA had set the date back in March.”
Prior to this declaration, the meeting started off with news the Ocean Beach Fire Department (OBFD) elected Jonathan Buchsbaum as its new chief. Loeffler presented the service award to ex-mayor, former trustee and OBFD chief Ed Coppola. He was unable to attend the meeting because he was in the hospital, but his wife Ann Marie accepted the award on his behalf.
Loeffler then gave his annual State of the Village address. The beach scraping project will begin at the end of this month or in the beginning of August between Cottage Walk and Surf Road to build the dune up another two feet. The beach itself should be settled in another six to 12 months, he added, and there is a planting project scheduled for the dunes in the fall with a “surprise” for the volunteers.
Loeffler warned beachgoers should keep an eye out for World War II-era machine gun shells that have washed ashore. Although the shells are not live, he stressed he feels residents should still be careful.
The rip currents are even more worrisome. Shifting winds have caused significant undertows this season. Lifeguards flew red flags on the day the mayor made the announcement. And a 22-year-old Queens man drowned off Cherry Grove a few hours after the OBA meeting concluded.
As for infrastructure, repairs to sewer mains will be made in certain parts of the village where
the ageing system has caused problems. The mayor cautioned, however, additional measures to update older homes that are closer to or on the ground may need to take place at homeowners’ expense. The village is also in the process of preparing to re-paint the water tower, probably gray.
Additionally, the village has applied for and received various grants for maintenance projects and upgrades. Officials have yet to hear whether they will receive a Federal Emergency Management Agency [FEMA] grant for the fire house, a Clean Water Act grant for the waste water management facility and a Community Development grant for the village’s employee house. The New York State Unified Court system has extended funds to Ocean Beach to repair the courthouse and streamline filing paperwork with the state online, which would allow the court to operate with one clerk instead of two. The village also received a grant for body armor for the police officers.
In other police news, Loeffler noted there are two more officers than last year that are designated to patrol the back streets. The police also acquired two new bikes and even had certain officers trained in police protocol for apprehending suspects while the officer is on a bicycle. He added there has been a slight uptick in the number of summonses issued compared to last year.
Some police news not mentioned in Loeffler’s address was the fact one of the lawsuits against the village alleging police misconduct was settled following the July 11 village board meeting in which the trustees voted to approve the terms of the deal, one of which being that the details not be publicly disclosed. The lawsuit involved attorney Jesse Prisco who claimed that former Ocean Beach Police Department Acting Chief George Hesse and another officer raided his house in search of drugs without a warrant. Prisco had sought $20 million.
Loeffler instead focused on enforcement issues.
“We will continue to enforce the law on unruly houses here without reservation for who owns the house,” he said as he addressed ongoing complaints about noise in the village. “Everyone in this village has a right to peace and quiet.”
David Mendelsohn, chair of the village Environmental Commission, took the issue a step further. He announced his group will sample levels of noise throughout the village with decibel readers the village bought in preparation of updating the 30-year-old noise ordinance at the September board meeting.
Aside from loud parties and noise in downtown, pool and hot tub pumps as well as air conditioners, heating units and generators have inhibited one of biggest draws here: the ability to hear the ocean from bed, according to Mendelsohn. The “quiet response” and “low ambient noise levels” cited in the current village code were as big of an issue when the law was passed in 1979.
Speaking of annoying sounds, Loeffler took issue at the July 11 village board meeting with phone calls at home during odd hours of night from residents complaining about backed-up toilets, bicyclists without lights at night and water issues. Someone once called his elderly mother at 11 p.m. looking for him.
“I don’t want anyone calling my house,” Loeffler announced at the start of the board meeting. “We have all tried to make ourselves available to the public. I will draw the line at my personal life.”
At the board meeting, Loeffler urged residents to discourage another annoyance: mosquitoes. “People need to look around their yards,” he said. (Mosquitos breed in standing water.)
The mayor added the village has reach out to Suffolk County’s vector control department, which handles mosquito spraying, to find the best method to eradicate those pesky pests. Loeffler hoped to find something other than aerial spraying.
“While it’s an acceptable method to utilize, it does affect the marine life,” he said.
The village board passed legislation required by FEMA in order for the village to continue to administer flood insurance to homeowners under the national flood insurance program--something required by all municipalities in flood zones.The new regulation will require some homeowners bring their structures—mostly decks—up to the new code.
The passage sparked conversation about overall flood preparations and the updated flood maps that will be adopted in September.
“We probably have the lowest payout in the flood insurance program,” Loeffler said as he compared the region to New Orleans and Florida.
The final portion of both meetings -–the public portion–included some sordid revelations about a few troubles in the village. An intoxicated senior cart driver with up to eight children on it kept it busy while a 93-year-old woman waited. (Loeffler said the issue was addressed.) Fireworks mortars washed up on the beach after July 4. And children who repeatedly steal from the candy store have prompted its owners to potentially close it.

 

 

The village also plans to start calling Child Protective Services on parents who repeatedly leave their children unattended. Loeffler said some of these children curse at business owners when they confront them—one child reportedly threatened them with a rock.
The OBA meeting concluded with the usual complaints: noisy bars on Saturday night, the 1 a.m. ferry, big wagons cluttering the ferry terminal and young people sitting in ferry’s senior waiting area. The next village board meeting is Aug. 8.
OB Settles Two Police Suits: Two of the three lawsuits that had emerged in recent years against the Ocean Beach Police Department have been settled, both with agreements that few to no details be released as a condition.
In the first of the two cases to be settled, the lawsuit involving attorney Jesse Prisco, who claimed that then-Acting Chief George Hesse and another officer raided his house searching for drugs without a warrant, was settled for an undisclosed amount. Prisco had sought $20 million.
His attorney, D. Carl Lustig, declined to comment further aside from confirming the settlement, which first came to light at the July 11 Village of Ocean Beach board meeting. The board had to approve the terms of the agreement. Mayor Loeffler declined to comment on the case.
In the second case—and by now the most infamous—the village settled for $600,000 in the lawsuit filed by Samuel Gilberd, the tourist who alleged that he was beaten by Hesse on Aug. 28, 2005. A Suffolk County jury found Hesse and his co-defendant, former officer Arnold Hardman, not guilty on charges of a  cover-up and official misconduct earlier this year.
But the civil suit was still pending up until mid-July, when Lustig, who also represents Gilberd, said the agreement was reached.
“The size of the award is indicative of the fact that my client was injured,” Lustig said, adding that his clent was pleased with the outcome. The former New Jersey man, now living in California, will likely not be visiting anytime soon.
The third lawsuit involving four former officers who claimed Hesse operated a reign of crooked police work—from befriending drug dealers, drinking on the job and sex on the job—has yet to be settled.
The Official Beer of the Summer is our very own  Fire Island Lighthouse Ale, so honored by NBC New York last month. Fire Island Lighthouse Ale, the first of many offerings from Fire Island Beer Company, is exceeding sales expectations all over, according to the owners. The Ale will be one of the featured taps at the North Fork Craft Beer BBQ & Wine Festival at Martha Clara Vineyards in Jamesport on Saturday, Aug. 8. Cheers to brothers Tom and Bert Fernandez, and their cousin Jeff Glassman.
Congrats to our fantastic lifeguards! Despite stinging rain and strong winds at the 23rd annual East Hampton Main Beach Lifeguard Tournament, the Fire Island A team won four of the seven events. Events won included  both the distance swim and distance run, the sprint relay and the run-swim-run relay.
In the men’s competition, the guards from Fire Island’s A team took first place with a total of 68 points followed by the Smith Point team, which finished with 58 points.
Please check out the events page and Fire Island News Facebook for Ocean Beach doings this month!

 

Tightly-Knit Neighbors

Do you know your neighbor? Ocean Beach may have looked a bit sad and soggy this June, but did you know that this town has been a fav of local media? From Laura Smith of Fire Island Homes, the real estate company featured on New York 1 to Peter Fazio at Bocce on cable TV describing the restaurants specials and the Ocean Beach history of the ‘rocket fuel” drink. Everyone’s a star!
My Other Fire Island: Most community members know Arlene Jaffe, as an active member of the OB Community Fund, or perhaps as an associate broker with Fire Island Homes. Some even know that her beautiful year-round tan is thanks to summers on Fire Island and winters in Mexico. However, did you know that she is as busy giving back south of the border as she is up north?
Arlene has spent quite a few winters in Acapulco, Mexico, which she always referred to as “my winter Fire Island.” After some time, she realized she wanted to get involved with the local community. There were already many organizations in existence, however there was nothing going on dealing with the issues of HIV/AIDS. The first incidence of AIDS occurred in Acapulco in 1990.
It was at this time, Arlene and a group of concerned citizens, started meeting weekly to discuss the possible ways to educate people about HIV/AIDS. These weekly discussions led to more people becoming more interested and concerned. Then they felt it was time to bring it to another level.
“As you are aware, Mexico is a Catholic country, so the task that was before us was not an easy one. However the seriousness of this disease needed to be acknowledged. We were very dedicated,” Arlene said.
It took six years of hard work and dealing with governmental and civil society partners to be able to form  Grupo de Amigos con VIH, AC-Mexico (GAVIH) in 1996. The non-profit organization advocates for the human rights of children living with HIV and their integration into society. The group also bought land and constructed VILLA SARITA, a home for orphaned children and children from low income families, with a full medical staff, materials and medical supplies to help deal with HIV. The organization holds several fundraising events and counts on sponsors from all over the world.
“We are totally committed to providing support to children orphaned by AIDS and other vulnerable children,” Arlene said. “We will continue to promote HIV prevention programs and services by providing access to treatment, supporting people living with HIV, empowering women and girls and addressing gender inequalities that fuel the spread of HIV.”
It is for those very reasons, that in Dec. 2008, GAVIH was presented The Red Ribbon Award by the First Lady of Mexico on the grounds of Los Pinos, the Mexican White House. It is the highest award Mexico offers.
“So, perhaps some of you can come and feel ‘the warmth of Mexico.’ This is a very special country and it needs our support. I want to thank the many Fire Islanders who have through the years helped us out with their kind support and donations. How lucky I am to have found my other Fire Island,” said Arlene.
A Tight-Knit Group: Under the gazebo in Ocean Beach, 11 women from across the beach celebrated Worldwide Knitting in Public Day earlier this month.
World Wide Knitting in Public Day is a global event that draws knitters from Union Square in Manhattan to Berlin out of their homes on June 13. This group of knitters meets year-round on Fire Island. No more than five meet during the winter, but the group’s numbers nearly triple to up to 15 in the summer.

Mayor Phil Dors receives a painting of his father by Lani Auerbach

Terry Wissun, a Robbins Rest resident who has lived on the beach year-round for 11 years said most of the knitters live in Ocean Beach. Meeting weekly, members usually bring some food—blueberries and strawberries during their World Wide Knitting in Public Day outing. They sit in a circle, chit-chat, gossip and of course help each other with their projects.
The knitters’ goal on this “out” day was to create several pieces for an afghan they hope to donate to a local charity. The group eventually settled upon the Sloan-Kettering Foundation’s Chemotherapy Unit in Manhattan because patients who undergo radiation often get cold.
Member Valerie McGannon even taught this eager News columnist how to knit. She even patiently fixed her stitches when said reporter would repeatedly drop them. “You see, you dropped a stitch,” McGannon explained before she handed the needles back to yours truly.
Bull’s Eye! Once the weekend sports scene sets on Sunday and the softball teams, lacross players and tennis courts have gone silent, the mid-island area comes alive on Monday nights with the hugely popular and competitive dart night.
Going strong since Mike “The Surf” at The Albatross started it in 1981, Foz, the chef at Bocce Beach, has been running the league since 1983—and has eight championship dart boards to prove it. The 12 teams of 10 players compete mainly for bragging rights, but “no one brags more than us,” Foz said, pointing to the wall that bares the titles he is defending while plotting out where to make space for the next one.
Although the season started in mid-June and teams are mostly bar-employees, some teams include customers and anyone can come down to watch the high stakes drama. The June 29 match between The Schooner Inn and Bocce with Foz’s team having home field advantage should be the latest in what is said to be among the liveliest rivalries going.
But with games going every week starting at 11 p.m. and the playoffs at the end of August, there is plenty of time to follow your favorite players before what is described as “The Super Bowl for Fire Island.”

Reporter Timothy Bolger contributed to this column.