Susan Galardi
DAN'S PAPERS, July 30, 2010 Page 31 www.danshamptons.com
Sag Honor Three Spots in Intimate Village Rely on Honor System By Susan M. Galardi Like any newcomer to any area who knows nothing about the ways of anybody, I decided the traffic situation in Sag Harbor had to be changed immediately. The octopus intersection near the wharf where Main, Wharf and Bay Streets converge needed to be at least a roundabout, if not festooned with a big honking traffic light. You drive through town on Main Street, heading to the wharf to fish or get ice cream, and right near the flag pole the road breaks into four lanes: Left-left; left; straight-right; right. Just heading into that spot, there are 10 directional arrows painted on the street and two stop signs. In the meantime, there are cars coming across Long Island Avenue (from the Post
Office) have to cut across Main Street and push into one of the lines you’re in if they want to go onto the wharf or east on Bay Street to 114. So there you are, sitting in one of those four lanes on Main Street. If want to go right toward Provisions, that’s pretty easy—unless a car coming off the bridge is going there too. Since that car has already stopped once and is going straight, it has the right of way, whatever the right of way is. If you want to go straight, onto the wharf, you still have to watch for the bridge traffic from the west as well as the cars from Bay Street on the east. Turning left out of town toward the bridge puts you into a friendly game of chicken. You have two more challenges: First, you have to stop again to yield to bridge traffic. Second, you
have to deal with cars coming off of the wharf from the north that may be going straight, left or right. Who will stop for whom? Heading into town from Bay Street and wanting to make a left on Main puts you in a similar situation. You have to stop twice—once at the sign in front of the Bay Street Theatre, and again about 30 yards later if you plan to turn into town. It really puts you on your toes, hoping and guessing that other drivers have positioned themselves in the right lane and are using the correct turn signal. And then there are pedestrians. When I was a visitor to Sag Harbor, I could put up with this mishegas. But once I moved there, driving through town at least twice a (continued on page 52 )
SCARY FARMERS MARKET THREATENED By Matthew Ianno A farmers market is about the least intimidating creation in the history of the civilization. Nothing within the innocuous title “Farmers Market” suggests any malignity or threat—in fact, the title suggests just the opposite. One will find fruit, vegetables, cheese, fish, shellfish, nuts, jellies, pies, bread, juices, wines, and other locally raised/created commodities at a farmers market. These markets are a pleasing and sometimes preferred alternative to large supermarkets and produce stores. Shopping at a farmers market means supporting the local economy and receiving fresh goods; a scenario that proves prudent for both parties involved. The farmers market in East Hampton is currently operating for its fifth straight year next to Nick & Toni’s restaurant on North
Main Street. The restaurant allows the market to run on its property for free as a form of public service. However, the East Hampton Town Board and Supervisor Bill Wilkinson announced last week that they were holding meetings to discuss the future of the market. It appears the board is concerned because the farmers market is operating on the restaurant’s grounds, which they say is not allowed because it is expanding the commercial use of the property; meaning a commercial program cannot operate on preexisting commercial grounds. But Farmers Market manager Kate Plumb told me, “The attorney said there’s no legal reason why we can’t continue on at Nick & Toni’s.” So if there’s no legal reason for the market to close according to an attorney, but the board is saying that the market is breaching
some sort of commercial code, what exactly is going on and why is the board so concerned with this market? It is a farmers market, not a head shop or a WalMart. It sells veggies and pies, not cocaine or guns. It benefits the community in every way, and the Board should feel blessed that the community has an asset like the market. Of course the board is adamant in vocalizing its support for the market and willingly attests to its importance, but they saw a potential legal matter, no matter how miniscule, so they began contemplating a shut down or a move. Two things seem to be operating here. One is the tremendous amount of free time the East Hampton Town Board must have to spend time on such issues in the face of more pressing issues; the other is (continued on next page)