Kismet Kapers
Volume 49, Issue 5
By Bradlee White

Houses draped in bunting, flags and balloons everywhere, the freight ferries jam packed with every creature comfort imaginable, the boat basin filled and the Flower Ladies wheeling their cart to the Out Friday. It must have been the Fourth of July! In fact, the only thing missing was the foggy, drizzly evenings and an oppressively hot muggy Parade day. Would you believe this is the 10th year for the Flower Ladies? “Ten years of wearing different matching t-shirts every weekend,” they joked. Lynn gave them all jingle jangle ankle bracelets while Patty brought them wallets with real pressed flowers from Thailand. Best of all, Steve E., visiting from CA, brought them hand made pink beaded ankle chains with the breast cancer ribbon (made by a breast cancer survivor) He’s living in the desert near Palm Springs – Janine will be joining him once school paper work is wrapped up. The red, white and blue arrangements were sponsored by Great South Bay Magazine. The Fire Dept. Auxiliary had a table there too with Rita and Alice selling 50/50 raffle tickets.

Saturday the beach was cool, the water warm (relatively). The Inn & Out had an hour’s wait for meals and snacks while the Market must have made hundreds of breakfast and deli sandwiches. Sal offered pretzels and ices with hot dogs and pizza by Monday. Next to Kenny’s jewelry, Sharon and her son Ian sold flashing Fourth accessories and later Linda and Karen set up with ceramics, wind chimes, flags and Fourth paraphernalia. Jeannie asked how long the sparkly red white and blue garland was. “Depends on what you’re wrapping it around,” deadpanned Linda.

The recognition ceremony for Jean Wood’s 40 years of service to the community was incredibly perfect (except, perhaps, for the fact that her ferry was late, having broken down in the middle of the bay). While we waited, the overflow crowd enjoyed a beautifully arranged fruit and cheese table (Lynn), pink punch (nonalcoholic) flowing from the Y’s Champaign fountain and a chance to view old parade photos and a video from the 60s. Cheryl L. pointed out pictures of a ’91 “Just Married” float featuring one-year old Sam W. and her six month old Casey. John Wood brought one of his 30 rescued birds, a magnificent 15-year old bald eagle. Once the ceremony began, Jean seemed quite prepared to fill the time with anecdotes crediting others for the Parade’s inception and success. However, Sam politely assured her “today is all about you but we’re going to do the talking.” Grace and Casey gave Jean flowers and a 3-ft. square card signed “by all the kids in Kismet.” Marsha Hunter presented her with KCA plaque, commenting that the budget still contains a line initiated by Jean for “downtown beautification.” Frank Boulton presented proclamations from the town of Islip, Suffolk County Legislature and the New York Senate. Her children and friends extolled her many accomplishments and her modesty. Jean recalled the first parades where parents banged pots and pans in lieu of a band and, one year, pulled a record player in a wagon – “the record skipped every time we hit a bump – the sidewalks were bad then too….”

It was a great evening for the 15th annual East Lighthouse Block Party (13 yrs. under Elliot’s coordination). Sponsors included Circle of Friends, the Palace, Beachcomber, Blue Chip, Holiday Isle, Kismet Hilton, Brown Sugar Lovers & Other Strangers, the Outback, Sea Jays, Blue View Terrace and Fair Dinkum. CA’s Sandy was the hot dog man. Great fun for big and little kids.

Sunday’s Parade was one of the biggest that I remember. I was impressed by ‘Jean Wood Through the Years’ with Grace W., Taryn P., Casey L. and their friend Caroline representing Jean as a tennis player, a Kismet parade organizer, Mrs. New York and a Pratt Institute grad. Nick L. took over from his dad this year, making his own float and costumes – hillbillies keeping Kismet clean. Summerwind’s Uncle Bruce’s Merry Fourth of July had lots of Kismet elves in tow. Paul B. built a pirate ship for Anthony and his pal Tyler C. The cute redhead not-twins Ryan & Ashley were joined by Daniel, Justin, Jennifer, Jack Andrew and Antonio on the Most Patriotic Liberty Balloons. I loved the Willy Wonkas with green hair. The FD barbeque was a big hit as always. Sam Wood Jr. won the Basket of Cheer (ticket was picked by Gabriella, an innocent child) and Mike D’Amato won the Auxiliary 50/50.

There were about 10,000 visitors, but of note I met Robbie & Maria Hubbard up from FL, now with twins Angelina & Robert in tow…Skee’s recovering from surgery for a torn rotator cuff – this is his third season in rehab ( knee last year)…Avalon hosted a Massage Therapist, Bill (student) – Kami, Marilyn, CA’s Myrna, Andrea, Sunset’s Susan, Andrea & Steve were very pleased with his work (free too) – he’ll be back over the summer and looking for volunteers…Shannon Rush Mauro just delivered a baby boy — Zachary Joseph, 8# – July 2. The family’s doing well…just noticed two blue “courtesy wagons” from Larson Realty at the bay – now that is a great idea – hope people will return them…Rich (?) caught — with five buys helping — a 48” Stripper on the beach.

Coming up: First Annual Pancake Breakfast at the Firehouse at Sunday morning, 8-10 a.m. (you mean someone’s up at that hour?!) Adults $6, kids under 12, $4. Then for the busy, busy 16th…start with the Bazaar in Saltaire in the morning, then the Kismet Art Crawl in the afternoon — that’s six houses, each displaying a local artist’s work (schedule next week), then to Cartoon Alley for a big 6ish ….