INSIDE WESTHAMPTON PINES

Where Only The Nicest People Live
December 2007
Volume 1, Issue 7
INSIDE WESTHAMPTON PINES
INTRODUCTIONS
by Wendy Chaikin
Please welcome our new neighbors:
Noel & Vincent Ciolino of Riverhead, L. I.
....................#70 Samantha Circle
Joan Fontanetta of Port Washington, L. I.
.....................#69 Samantha Circle
Marsha & Harvey Singer of East Meadow,
L. I. ............#67 Samantha Circle
Janet & Thomas Cara of Medford, L. I.
.........................#64 Samantha Circle
WHAT’S HAPPENING WHP
by Wendy Chaikin
How can it be nearly winter? Wasn’t it
just yesterday we were riding bikes, going
to the beach and hanging out at the pool?
A quick drive through the property brings
you up to date….the annual flowers have
been pulled up, the trees wrapped for
winter protection, the outdoor pool
covered, the tennis nets tied down. What
you cannot see are several hundred
daffodil bulbs that have been planted at
the front entrance, the first circle, the
sales office and around the clubhouse.
We are smarter this year….daffodils only
(Narcissus family). No more tasty tulip
treats for the deer. And by the time you
read this issue the beautification
committee will have done their holiday
magic in the clubhouse.
Now
that
we
have
reluctantly
acknowledged the end of summer and
fall, think about New Year’s Eve. Several
of us are planning to party together at
Tierra Mar/Atlantica on Dune Road. For
$75.00 per person pre-paid ($100.00 at
the door). They offer an evening of
celebration with food, drinks, music and
dancing. Check out their website for
more details and I hope to see you
there….www.ontheatlantic.com.
Sales are slowing as expected this time
of year. However, Mitch and I are really
pleased with the 2007 sales results. As
of this writing we have exceeded the plan
in what is being hailed as the worst
housing market ever.
Pulte’s price
adjustments and standard feature
improvements coupled with increased
and targeted advertising in the NY Times
and Dan’s Papers kept quality traffic
coming to the sales office. Once here
they saw what you already know…this is
a great place to live.
Happy and Healthy Holidays to all! And
don’t forget to drop into the sales office
Saturday mornings for bagels, coffee and
schmoozing with your neighbors.
December 2007
Page 2
Inside
Westhampton
Pines
INSIDE THIS ISSUE:
INTRODUCTIONS
WHAT’S HAPPENING
WHP
HI NEIGHBORS
SPOTLIGHT ON….
MUSINGS ---IN AND AROUND
A FESTIVE NOTE
1
1
2
4
6
10
4
CONTRIBUTORS:
•
•
•
•
•
•
Stu Agranoff
Donna Buonomo
Wendy Chaikin
Barbara Kroner
Toby Libert
Carol Reeth
Editor: Tom Franza
A Special note of thanks goes out to our
Beautification Committee and Pulte for our
decorations. But most importantly to Doreen
Barry whose Herculean efforts provided us with a
wonderfully decorated Club Room.
HI NEIGHBORS!
NEIGHBORS!
by Barbara Kroner
Let's get together!!
I'd like to propose a pot-luck supper party on New Year's Eve.
Whoever comes brings a dish. I'll be happy to coordinate it. If you would rather we can order
some hero sandwiches from one of the deli's. It would be held, of course, at the clubhouse and
would be very casual. We could bring a CD player for music. Anyone interested can e-mail me
at the following e-mail
address: [email protected] or call me at my Oyster Bay phone #:
516-922-9036 or my Westhampton #: 631-288-2440.
Inside Westhampton Pines
Page 3
“SPOTLIGHT ON“…
by Carol Reeth
“LAST
LAST MINUTE, LATE HOUR GIFTS”
GIFTS”
- LOCAL TREASURE FINDS.
You’re loading the car with all the holiday
gifts you’ve purchased and wrapped for
the trip to your (insert assorted
relative/friend here) house!
Horror of
Horrors! You forgot to buy something for
Blanche, Jack or their son, daughter,
grandchild! What to do? Stick some
cash in an envelope? Slice up that home
made fruitcake and add a few cookies
and a bow? Nah - you’d rather die. But,
seriously, you have to get on the road,
and a trip to Tanger or Riverhead to mess
with all those mad, last-minute shoppers
is out of the question. You could go into
Westhampton Beach and spend the
equivalent of another mortgage payment
on a present purchased from their
specialty ladies’ or gent’s shops - ca
ching, ca ching! You want something
nice, not costing an arm and a leg but,
most importantly, FAST! Offered below
are a few suggestions for quick and
convenient buys that won’t break the
bank but will look like you put some time
and effort into choosing them.
CHILDREN
“Creative Designs” - 495 Montauk
Highway, Eastport 325-2811
(Infant to about 2 or 3 years of age)
Yes, it is a manicure/pedicure shop. BUT
the whole front of the shop is dedicated to
lovely and unusual baby gifts very
reasonably priced.
Beautiful baby
garments, blankets, plush animals, etc.
They also have hand-made items which
they sell on consignment from local
talented ladies who knit and crochet
beautifully. On a recent visit, I found the
most beautifully handmade baby blanket
with matching hat, booties and mittens
priced at $45.00. Just beautiful.
They handle the unusual also - one item I
loved was a tailor-made teeny, tiny dress
shirt guaranteed to make a one or two
year old little guy look like an exact replica
of his dad going off to catch the 7:10 into
Penn Station….pricey but bound to
impress. Their baby duds are not the run
of the mill and are guaranteed to produce
oohs and ahs.
They also have a limited amount of fine
costume jewelry, most of which comes
from the jewelry store in Westhampton
Beach…..again, different pieces and
To page 4
December 2007
SPOTLIGHT……
Page 4
(from p. 3)
reasonably priced.
No gift wrapping, so bring along a box to
wrap your gift in the car if you are in a
hurry.
“The Open Book”- 135 Main Street Westhampton Beach 288-2120
Has a great children’s book section and
they have been offering free wrapping.
has a dedicated Baby Section with lovely
gifts for newborns and small toys.
Birthday candles that will celebrate the
child’s
birthday
up
to
age
18,
grandparents’ brag books, and silverplated utensils and rattles are just some of
the items they carry. Very reasonably
priced and the ladies who own it are very
helpful in their suggestions. They were gift
wrapping the last time I visited.
LADIES
“Gianfranco Hair Studio” - 505 E. Main
Street, Eastport 325-2002
HOUSE AND HOSTESS GIFTS
“Forget Me Not Keepsakes” - 128
Montauk Highway, Eastport 678-6393
This little store has candles (scented and
non-scented), knick knacks,
some
collectibles, sachets and other small and
very pretty objects that can be purchased
at very low prices. The back of the store
In the back of the hair salon is a great
assortment of handbags in every shape,
size and color. Very good prices and they
have some quirky new designers. No
boxes but throw a holiday shopping bag
with some tissue in the car, pop that
handbag in there, and you’re good to go!
MEN
“Rico’s Clothing” - 16 Railroad Ave.,
Center Moriches - 878-1022
This is the only local place I’ve found
To page 5
Inside Westhampton Pines
SPOTLIGHT……
Page 5
(from p. 4)
locally so far to purchase a clothing gift for
a man other than in Westhampton Beach.
They specialize in hard to fit sizes. It’s also
the place to go to rent a tux (just a little
aside).
credit card, and the restaurant will send
you confirmation instantly along with a
hard copy. Take an old fork (or even a
plastic one), wrap it up and attach the gift
certificate. I recently did this as a wedding
gift for a couple who were honeymooning
in Hawaii. It was a second marriage for
both, combining two households, and they
really didn’t need any more silver or glass
items. I did not want to give them an
“envelope” so this was perfect. It was a
very expensive restaurant which they may
not have gone to without the cushion of a
gift certificate and they loved it. It took me
about 10 minutes and it was a done deal.
TEENS
“True Value Hardware” - 133 Montauk
Highway, Westhampton Beach 288-1544
Get him a gift certificate! This is for when
you are truly desperate and don’t want to
give that guy a bottle of wine or liquor.
Wouldn’t be my idea of a great holiday gift
but men seem to have a different take on
this. Just make sure it can be used at any
True Value store.
Men are always a problem! If you get
really desperate you can go to Rite-Aid and
get some after shave.
ON LINE GIFT CERTIFICATES FOR
RESTAURANTS
I think this is a really nice gift. If you know
of the person’s favorite restaurant, call
them and ask if they have gift certificates.
If they have a website, and most better
restaurants do, you can pay for it with your
The worst to buy for! Whatever you
purchase you can bet will be out of style
by the time you give it to them. I
purchased gift certificates to “EPIC” at
Tanger Outlet - a store my sister-in-law
swore was the new favorite of my
teenaged nephews - only to learn it was
now “out.” Just what this store did to ruffle
the boys feathers is unknown, but my gift
certificate became my personal “My Bad”
of this season!
Save yourself a lot of trouble and give
them a non-store specific gift certificate
they can use wherever they want. Just be
careful not to give Gift Cards that have
fees and/or limited time periods for use.
Speaking of Tanger Outlet - although the
prices are usually great, be sure to ask if
the item is returnable at any and all of
their regular retail stores. Speaking from
experience, it’s a real pain when the store
will not accept returns at a full price store
from one of their outlet stores.
December 2007
Page 6
MUSINGS FROM
FROM THE MID LIFE, FOR WOMEN
ONLY
by Toby Libert
The 1969 World’s Fair celebrated the dawn of the space age. The fair's themes were "Man in a
Shrinking Globe,” “An Expanding Universe,” and “A Millennium of Progress.” The Unisphere
signified the hope of world peace and global unity to some, but to me it will always be a symbol
of a giant step toward adulthood.
My Aunt Rosella, Uncle Monty, and my 15-year-old cousin Richie were coming from California
to see the World’s Fair. They would be arriving at the newly renamed Idlewild Airport.
Mom and I went to pick them up. Uncle Monty lumbered down the steps wearing a ten-gallon
Stetson hat and silver-toed cowboy boots. In his beefy hand, he had a cigar the size of a small
salami. Aunt Rosella in a flowered dress and finally Richie emerged from the plane.
My 13-year-old hormones were out of control. I was prepared for a huge crush on Richie. There
he stood my dream boy. He was tall and lanky with big feet and hands. His brown hair fell
forward almost covering brown eyes. Obvious Clearasil touch ups covered his teen-age acne.
“Hey.” He said.
“Hey.” I said.
That night I couldn’t sleep. Maybe Richie would hold my hand maybe we might kiss. What to
wear cut off Wrangler jeans? No, I decided to wear my new pink shorts and matching stripped
polo shirt.
The first thing we saw was the Unisphere. ‘Wow, look at it. Isn’t it neat?” I directed every word
to him.
“Yeah,” he said.
“Here’s the plan,” Monty said with authority. “The kids can go off on their own. We can meet at
the Unisphere at two.”
Wow, three whole hours with Richie, all to myself.
We waited on the line to see the GE “Carousel of Progress,” then went next door to the Dupont
“Wonderful World of Chemistry.”
We walked and I talked. “Did you like the GE ride?”
“Yeah,” he said.
“How about the Chemistry one?”
To page 7
(to page 8)
Inside Westhampton Pines
MUSINGS
Page 7
(from p. 6)
“Yeah.” He said.
We waited at the Unisphere for our
parents to arrive. Sitting on the edge my
pants felt wet. Looking down I saw a
brownish stain on my pink shorts. Uh oh,
where was Mom?
I stayed glued on the ledge of the
reflecting pool. It was called the “Fountain
of the Continents.” I didn’t want anyone to
see the stain. I was embarrassed. Finally, I
saw my mom walking toward me. She
said, “Get off that ledge; you’ll dirty your
new shorts.”
“You need to come here, Mom.” I pleaded
my eyes wide open imploring her to come.
IN AND AROUND THE
AREA
by Tom Franza
As the sign at our front gate suggests, the
folks living here are not of a sedentary
nature. Keeping in mind that being active is
one of the best ways to stay warm during the
winter months, a quick search of the internet
turned up the following information. A word
to the wise; double check on dates, prices.
and availability before venturing out.
(Anyone who has ever relied on internet info
can attest that accuracy is sometimes a
relative term.)
When she came over, she saw the
spreading stain. “Stay here” she
commanded, and strode off in the direction
of a thatched hut on the Boulevard of
Nations. A few minutes later, she returned
with a large rectangular cloth in hand. It
had African design in tans, browns, and
black. She wrapped it around my waist,
and we went in search for a bathroom.
After that, we left the fair, and went home.
I was crushed, I couldn’t face Richie again.
I stayed in my room. They left early the
next morning.
The Unisphere still stands. The hope of
world peace and global unity are still out of
reach. Often, when driving past the old fair
grounds on the Grand Central Parkway I
recall 1964. The year the Beatles invaded
the USA, the year Cassius Clay beat
Sonny Liston. The year we began
bombing Vietnam. The year I took a small
step toward adulthood.
Dec. 15 --- “Polar Bear Plunge” - 10am Cooper’s Beach - Dune Road, Southampton
Village. To benefit Human Resources of the
Hamptons (HRH). All Polar Bears will need to
be at Cooper’s Beach to turn in donations
and register at 9:30 am. For information,
directions, to donate or sign up contact
www.hrhamptons.org (283-6415)
Dec. 15 --- “Live Nativity in Church Garden” 5:00pm - Complete with live animals. First
Presbyterian Church, 2 Main Street,
Southampton, Free. (283-1296)
To page 8
December 2007
IN AND AROUND
Page 8
(from p. 7)
Dec. 15 --- Annual Holiday House Tour --A selection of lovely Orient and East
Marion houses, many decorated for the
holidays. Along with private houses, the
Oysterponds
Historical
Society's
eighteenth-century
Webb
House,
resplendent with Christmas decorations,
will be on view. 11 a.m. - 4:30 pm
Oysterponds Historical Society 1555
Village Lane Orient (323-2480) Admission
$20
Dec. 15 and 16 --- "Seussical (the
Musical)," - Presented by Stages: A
Children's Theatre Workshop, at the Bay
Street Theatre, on Long Wharf (at the
corner of Bay Street) in Sag Harbor.
Performances Dec. 15th at 2pm and 8pm,
and Dec. 16th at 2pm. $15 for adults and
$12 for children age 12 and under. For
more info or tickets, call 725-9500 or visit
www.baystreet.org.
Patchogue Theatre For The Performing
Arts, 71 E Main Street, (207-1313)
www.patchoguetheatre.com Call for times
and prices.
Now thru Dec. 23 --- Winter Wonderland
Holiday Light Show - Dusk - 9, 10 on Fri &
Sat. Travel a mile long trail through the
picturesque woodlands on the Sans Souci
lakes in Bayport, viewing themed
attractions, colorful lights and holiday
displays. A Holiday Village, featuring food,
photo opportunities and a holiday gift shop
will be open weekends. (472-1625) Call for
prices.
Now thru Dec. 28 --- Candlelight Holiday
Tea - Robinson's Tea Room will be
hosting
Candlelight
Holiday
Teas.
Reservations are necessary. Robinson's
Tea Room, 97 E. Main St., Stony Brook.
(751-1232) Call for times and prices.
Dec. 16 --- Holiday Entertaining 101 - Join
quest chefs and designers for this Holiday
Entertaining primer. 1:00 pm Martha Clara
Vineyards,
6025
Sound
Avenue,
Riverhead
(298-0075)
www.marthaclaravineyards.com. Call for
prices.
Dec. 28 --- Trails Center Special - Start the
weekend early with a walk from the Trails
Information Center in Manorville to Wading
River and back. Bring water. Rain cancels.
Trails Information Center, 11 Lane Rd.,
Manorville. Greenbelt Trail Conference
(360-0753) Call for time and prices.
Dec. 16 --- Sunday Brunch With Santa - A
festive buffet of breakfast and lunch items
featuring Santa himself and Christmas
Carolers singing the songs of the season.
9 am - 2 pm. The Spa at East Wind, 5720
Route 25 A, Wading River (929-6585) Call
for prices.
Dec. 29 --- Reading from "Tipperary" by
Irish writer Frank Delaney. Canio's Books,
290 Main Street, 6:00 pm. The event is
free and open to the public, but seating is
limited to first come, first served. For more
information, call Maryann Calendrill or
Kathryn Szoka
(725-4926) or visit
www.caniosbooks.com
Dec 21 – Dec. 23 --- Meet Me in St. Louis A big hearted old-fashioned musical
including the well known Trolley Song, The
Boy Next Door, Have Yourself a Merry
Little Christmas, Under the Bamboo Tree,
and of course Meet Me In St. Louis.
Dec. 29 – 31 --- Cirque Le Masque
Carnivale - Patchogue Theatre For The
Performing Arts - 71 E Main Street (2071313) www.patchoguetheatre.com Call for
times and prices.
(to page 9)
Inside Westhampton Pines
IN AND AROUND
Page 9
(from p. 8)
Jan. 1 --- New Year’s Day Annual C.O.N.P.O.S.H. Open House - The Community of
Neighborhoods for the Preservation of Sag Harbor. 2pm-6pm (725-5257) Call for time and
price.
Now thru Jan. 5 --- “December's Past & Present" - Exhibit highlighting the Polish American
Community with many other ethnic groups in Southampton. Come and sample foods from
around the globe and see a Polish youth group dance in costume. 1:00 – 4:00 pm.
Southampton Historical Museums and Research Center, Rogers Mansion, 17 Meeting
House Lane, Southampton. (283-2494) www.southamptonhistoricalmuseum.org Call for
exact dates and prices.
Now thru Jan. 5 (Fri, Sat, and Sun.) --- Sunday Drive: Roadside Scenes of Southampton Paintings by Sharen Dykeman". 11:00 am - 4:00 pm. Rogers Mansion, 17 Meeting House
Lane, Southampton. (283-2494) Free for members Adults: $4 Children17 and under: Free.
Now thru Jan. 6 --- Home for the Holidays with Ethel Merman - Relive the holiday season in
a tribute to Ethel Merman. A career spanning decades, Ethel Merman's brassy voice and
knock-'em-dead style made her a favorite with Broadway audiences. 11:30 am. Ward
Melville Heritage Organization, 111 Main Street, Stony Brook. (751-2244) Adults: $40
Seniors: $38. www.wmho.org
Jan 6 - Jan 27 The Bayard Cutting Arboretum Presents the Winter Concert Series 2:00 PM.
Bayard Cutting Arboretum State Park, Oakdale, (581-1002) www.nysparks.state.ny.us Call
for dates and prices.
Now thru Jan. 27 --- Norman Rockwell's 323 Saturday Evening Post Covers This exhibition contains original tear sheets, arranged chronologically, of all 323 covers that
Rockwell created for the publication throughout the first half of the 20th Century. The Long
Island Museum, 1200 Route 25 A, Stony Brook. (751-0066) Call for times and prices.
Jan 25 Long Island Philharmonic - "Candlelight Serenade" - 8:00 PM. Patchogue Theatre
For The Performing Arts, 71 E Main Street (207-1313) www.patchoguetheatre.com $50/30
And don’t forget to check out the extensive Hampton Jitney’s Tour Schedule for Cirque du
Soleil “Wintuck - A Winter’s Tale”, Dec. 19 & Jan. 3 --- “The Little Mermaid”, Dec 19 --Handel’s Messiah (NY Philharmonic), December 21 --- Mel Brooks’ Young Frankenstein,
Jan 9 --- “1964: The Tribute” at Carnegie Hall…The world famous recreation of a live
Beatles Concert, Jan 12 --- For more info on these and other choices go to
http://www.hamptonjitney.com
December 2007
Page 10
A FESTIVE NOTE
from Donna Buonomo and Stu Agranoff
I hope everyone is enjoying the holiday season. Since Pulte has generously paid for the
holiday decorations for the Clubhouse, and our Beautification Committee did an excellent job
at selecting and purchasing everything, it is time to celebrate. Attached is a flyer I have been
asked to distribute for a "spontaneous" Westhampton Pines Pre-New Years Eve Appetizer
and Desert Event.
A westhampton pines
HOLIDAY HAPPY HOUR
What:
An appetizer and desert
Event
When:
Friday, December 28th
6:00pm until…..
Where: the clubhouse
Please bring an appetizer and
desert to share
and
Whatever you would like to drink
This event is sponsored by all who
attend.
Your assistance in helping to set-up (if
additional tables, chairs, etc. are
needed) and to clean up are needed if
we are to continue having these
“spontaneous” gatherings. Please
remember that we are a small
community, and it is our
responsibility to leave the clubhouse
in the same condition we find it.