Kismet Kapers
Volume 48, Issue 10
August 27 - September 9, 2004
By Bradlee White

Where has the summer gone and why does it go by faster every year? Two weeks til Labor Day and it’s already chilly in the mornings. Two rain-threatened weekends in a row…Still, there’re lots worse scenarios, i.e., Florida. Tho Sam and Amy only lost a screen door on their Sanibel house, Jean’s roof blew off Sam and Mike Wood flew down last week, though Jean says work crews aren’t still allowed on the island yet. Rita’s Bonita Springs car port collapsed, while in Naples, with winds of “only” 70 mph, Arthur & Nancy have some leaks and, I hear, there’s a tree in my condo’s pool. Pondering the irony of leaving the Keys to escape hurricane threats, Lee reported their place is OK. Bruce & Elaine OK too, after fleeing Marco under mandatory evacuation… Or, how about giving up a month’s rental income so you can enjoy your own house, only to be ambulanced out for emergency gall bladder surgery? Ask Barbara Winter at Catch 33. At least she’s back recuperating even if she can’t leave the house yet.
Two rainy Saturdays proved far more benign than predicted, though the forecasts seemed to keep lots of folks away. Arthur G. theorizes that storms out of the west rarely cause us problems. (Tell that to anyone caught on the bay last Saturday nite.) The rains two weeks ago held off til Jimmy S.’s birthday party had started. At 5:45 p.m., the well-prepared honoree gave the word and an enormous blue tarp was rolled out from the upper deck so the revelers could continue for hours and hours. Jimmy’ s old pals, Gus & Barbara, Jeannie and Steel Breeze band’s Jim, Justin & Ron were there along with the rarely seen Romanos, Dusty, Debra, Bobby & Mary, Bobby R., Billy D., John Cohn, Sandy & Andy, Art & Collette, Ben & Sandy, Tom & Cheryl, Rudy & Patty, Xanadu’s Sol, Judy, Joannie, Mickey and Joyce, CAs Myrna, Chris, Peter, Beth, Andrea et al, Tom,Terry, Tom & Marilyn, Jean, Lorelle, Jeannie L., and so many more. News that all ferries and taxis after 10 p.m. were canceled led a few to bail out early – including some of the band with another gig (Gus filled in). But then, with lots of food, jello shots (Lauren), a bar catered by the Inn and luging, you didn’t have to stay late to get the full effect. The light but steady rains didn’t seriously dampen the Barefoot & Black Tie Lighthouse fundraiser either or the birthday party for David at Risque B.
Before Jimmy’s, I biked to Saltaire for a lecture and demonstration by David Weld of the American Lyme Disease Foundation of a -4-Poster TM device designed to administer a Tickicide (like in your pet’s Flea/Tick collar or medications) to the deer. It’s been found extremely effective in many studies and there’s hope to introduce a few of the devices to Fire Island. (NYSDEC denied widespread use but may give special consideration to an isolated area like ours.) Also immunocontraception (deer birth control) starts again Sept. 7. Anybody see a fawn in Kismet this year?
The Flower Ladies were all excited about the new WiFi company – all the computer households on W. Lighthouse badgered the rep. staying at Rudy’s to get them hooked up – they say it works great…The Ladies (sans Amy) worked with Sam for months to pull off a surprise 40th birthday party for Amy at Captain Bill’s on July 22. Even the kids were in on it – telling her they were off to softball games while Sam took her “out to dinner.” Betty Maier joined the party as did Amy’s sisters…Hank and Lynn Clement celebrated their 5th anniversary on the 21st… Arthur Weinstein sponsored this past week’s flowers. The Ladies need 2 more sponsors – including one for the big Flower Laddies sale on Labor Day weekend…visitors included Myrna’s brother Ivan with Cathy, poker card shark, Pete and Barbara Kaufman in from Vegas and Earl Beers on an overnighter from L.A.
Pet News
Besides shaking us all up, Cartoon Alley Burt’s freak accident Monday should sound an alert to all dog owners – leave the metal choke chain collars at home. Burt’s got caught in a crack in the deck and he literally, nearly died before neighbor Jack Baker crawled under the house to hammer the collar out from underneath. Metal shears fetched from the Inn were too bulky for the narrow deck slit – add a screwdriver to your list of utterly essential F.I. tools…
If you brought a kitten or cat out, PLEASE take her home with you. Winters here are brutal and even deadly for kitties. If he’s gone missing, you can lure him back by calling his name and leaving food outside the house (daytime only – raccoons feed at night). This is especially effective after a storm or cold night when she may be having second thoughts about life in the wild.

On tap for this Saturday night (attn: House Crawlers) – the Fire Island Parti Gras 2004 at the Out with competition for Miss Parti Gras and Break Dance King. And, in the Grove, the Kismet Press Corp’s other half, Jeannie, has a role in the musical revue, “Las Vegas Dreams,” at the Community House the next two Saturday and Sunday nites (tickets at the door)…Looking ahead to Labor Day, the Plastic Klassic Bob Kaye Memorial tennis tournament, coordinated this year by Joe Barbosa, will kick off early Saturday. The semi-finals and finals on Sunday make for some very exciting viewing. The tournament, in it’s 30-plus year, will be capped off by a Tennis Ball Dinner at the firehouse Sunday. There may be one or two slots open, especially for women… Word is, it looks like, maybe, Seabay Walk (bay end) will host a Block Party LD Saturday 6ish with the Craven Band. Craven will go on to play Sunday evening at the Out.
Well, that’s, that’s all, folks. It’s all off the record til next May.