KISMET: Across the Bay with MJ
By Marijane VoltzThe Kismet Market is open! I stopped in to get my iced coffee and say hello to Andy Whitney, owner of the Market. Andy is a happy man for this past December, while on a cruise with his family, he proposed to his girlfriend, Debora Vitale-Huckstadt. It was during karaoke hour, when “Single Ladies, Put a Ring on it” played. Getting down on one knee, Andy asked Deb for her hand in marriage. Overcome with joy, she too, got on her knees and said “yes.” Congratulations on such wonderful news.A big welcome to Owen Lambert Cole and Tom Mennella, our new dock masters for the Kismet Inn’s boat basin. Brian Kahler, our past dock master, has retired his lines in order to pursue his career with Kahler Contracting Ltd. Good luck to Brian!Spectators gathered at the Inn on May 16, to watch as American Pharaoh won the Preakness. Now with the Derby and the Preakness under his belt, American Pharoah will compete for the Triple Crown at Belmont, on June 6. Get your hats ready and place your bets; it’s going to be a good one!It was a rough start to Memorial Day weekend for one of our Kismet residents. An incident occurred when an elderly woman allegedly drove her car into a fence while parking at the ferry terminal on Maple Avenue. The force of the car may have caused the fence to fall against a boat, which then produced a chain reaction of unfortunate damage.When the police arrived on the scene, they discovered the woman aboard the ferry. With the woman refusing to disembark, and causing major delays, the police were perplexed. The ferry captain, who knows the suspect, vouched for her character, an incident report was filled out and the suspect was free to go. It was a great job by the police, for handling this situation with compassion and decency and to the passengers on board, for their patience.With the Inn and the Out up and running, the Market as busy as can be, the Pizza Shack flipping pies and scooping ice scream, Beach and Vine Wines and Spirits alive and kicking and The Red Wagon Emporium open for business, it was clear that our town was back to running like a well oiled machine.As the ferries pulled in with excited weekenders and private boaters arriving with their families and freight, the weekend was underway. From the distance you could see Rick and Susie Imbert approaching on the “Defiance,” while Dusty and Mike had already docked the “Dusty Ann.” With everyone accounted for, Memorial Weekend was off and running.Saturday, May 23, the Inn was a force to be reckoned with, as the Reckoning, a seven-piece acoustic band, filled the Inn with sounds from the Grateful Dead. Neighbors and friends took delight in dancing to the continuous beat of the band, while attempting to unwind from the stresses of the week.The next morning Kisminites were off to the beach. Although it was a beautiful and sunny day, the temperatures of the Atlantic were frigid. This did not prevent fearless members of our community from going in for a swim. With lifeguards not on duty for another three weeks, parents kept a closer eye than usual on their children. Wouldn’t it be great if the lifeguards started on Memorial Day weekend?After a day at the beach, people ventured over to the Surf’s Out, to listen to the sounds of Tradewinds. While friends settled in for a drink and a bite to eat, the band broke into a chorus of “Happy Birthday,” to ring in Lou Romanzi’s 60th birthday. During the celebration, fire alarms went off and without hesitation our fire fighters were off to put out the fire. When that alarm “sounds off,” it is no joke. We are lucky to have such dedicated men and women.On Memorial Day, if you weren’t on the ocean watching the air show, or on the mainland observing the parade, then the Paint and Pour at the Surf’s Out was the place to be. For $65, guests painted beautiful pictures while enjoying appetizers and sipping their favorite cocktail. The next Paint and Pour is scheduled for July 13, at the Out.Congratulations are in order for Nick Licari, son of Tom and Cheryl Licari, who graduated with his business management degree from Florida Atlantic University on April 30. Nick, purposefully being the last graduate to accept his diploma, turned his back to the crowd of graduates and captured the ultimate “selfie” – himself and the FAU class of 2015.Good wishes go out to Samantha Whitney, daughter of Andy and Sandy Whitney, who graduated with a BS in exercise science from Adelphi University. Sam is now living in Boston and playing for the reserve team of the Boston Breakers with the National Women’s Soccer League. Sam will continue her studies as she earns her masters from Bridgewater State University. Her father said, “Soccer has always been her passion and it has afforded her these wonderful opportunities.”Save the date, Tuesday, Aug. 4, the 1st Annual Pirate Festival benefiting LIJ Southside Hospital will take place in Kismet. The festival will gather mixologists from all over Fire Island and the South Shore, to compete and be crowned as the first Fire Island Rum Runner. There will be activities for the younger pirates too, so don’t miss it! Contact: Kaitlin B. Wojnar at 631-968-3478 for more information.E-mail news, events or exciting Kismet happenings to kismet@fireisland-news.com.
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