Construction Project at “Way Way Yonder”
By Bradlee White
As the cold and blustery winds of April have given way to a more normal unpredictable May, Kismet has seen the arrival of increasing numbers of new and seasonal residents each week adding to the population of year-round residents and hearty weekend homeowners. In our “commercial” downtown, the Kismet Inn opened to a diverse crowd from all parts of the island in mid-May. Our hotel opened on a stormy Mother’s Day weekend. Bars hosted a smaller-than-usual Kentucky Derby crowd: The heavy east-northeast winds made boating as well as walking a test of endurance. Those that did make it got into the usual informal betting routine with Ken and Lorrie B. sharing the surprising Rich Strike win.
A group of early arrivals celebrated Kathy Decker’s birthday on an unusually warm mid-April weekend with a great barbecue prepared by her husband Artie. Kathy’s father, Don, a beloved Kismet handyman recently passed away at nearly 100 years old. As always there is lots of construction and renovation going on all over town from Gary and Dawn’s new house on West Lighthouse, to a new roof deck railing at “Sunset House” to impressive changes at “Happy Ours” and the old “Bananas” to finishing touches on 2021 renovations at “Crazy A,” “Big Bamboo” and the old Hollinger house. The former “Lyons Gate” on Seabay looks completely transformed while “Surf and Turf” is amazingly free of phragmites. The Whitney house was sold to Chris Knoth, a former weekend kid at “Ruts Hut” with his parents Linda and Russ.
There are two major fund-raising events set for this coming Memorial Day weekend. Kismet League for Animal Welfare (KLAW) will be holding its first Mini Flea Mart of 2022, Saturday and Sunday, May 28 and May 29, at “Avalon,” 91 Seabay Walk, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Also on the schedule the Kismet Fire Department Auxiliary (KFDA) is planning a plant and potting soil sale at the Fire House, Saturday and Sunday, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Back in wintry March, Linda Roundsman Knoth and a gang of Pine Walk homeowners came up with the fabulous idea of a New Year’s Party for everyone, to be held Saturday, June 4, at the playground. There will be music by Tommy (Duck) Sennes. Party goers are asked to bring champagne or other beverages (noting there are no public bathrooms), coolers, beach chairs and an appetizer/dessert to share.
On Feb. 1 we learned that Andy Whitney had sold the Kismet Market. The Whitney family had run the Market for over 50 years and was very much a part of Kismet. Andy, like his father Paul and his son Ben knew and never forgot the name of every Kismet regular, owner and group house share. Andy has happily retired with his wife Debra and cat, Kismet. The new owners, Brian Mahoney with partners Wes and Jason Little of Seaview Market and the aptly named Tommy Deli are primed to serve the community.
In early May, a joint team from the Suffolk County Urban Search and Rescue, the Fire Department of the City of New York (FDNY) Special Operations, and Dominick Bertucci, FDNY and former Kismet Fire Department captain helped coordinate the event centered on a tented headquarters at Robert Moses State Park. There were four days of rescue/recovery drills for a possible Category 4 Hurricane scenario on Fire Island. CBS2 in New York City captured a dramatic rescue boat moment which was posted on Facebook.
Fire Island National Seashore (FINS) held a Driving Civic Engagement with Zoom and in-person information and opinion gathering meetings in early May. To the disappointment of some homeowners it did not announce any off-season driving privileges for seasonal homemakers. There may be changes and standardization to the permitting processes to be announced later based on the three years of public “scoping.” For more detailed coverage of this issue check out the recent article by Shoshanna McCollum on the Fire Island News website.
