Kismet Kapers
By Bradlee Whyte
 The weekend got off beautifully as hordes of people stepped onto an island of sunshine and delightful breezes. We all missed the familiar sight of the retired Flower Ladies. Former F.L. Patty L. came with a large bouquet, saying “I was so sad, I just had to bring my own flowers this weekend.” Alice, Rose and Dorothea staffed a table selling Fire Dept. Auxiliary by the Out. The weekend saw many visitors including Arthur G.’s mother, Jim and Millie Baker and the Baker clan. The Out had live entertainment Fri. and Sun. nites. Both the Inn and the Out saw big crowds Friday nite, as everyone seemed to want to stay up late.
The annual East Lighthouse Block Party, featuring the Fugitives Band, capped off a great beach day Saturday. The bash was sponsored by Beachcomber, Blue Chip, Brown Sugar, Chance, Holiday Isle, the Palace, Fair Dinkum, Lovers & Other Strangers, the Outback, Sea Jay, Summer Wind and Trouble. Brown Sugar’s punch was the usual delight, but the show was definitely stolen by Trouble’s Jell-O shots. 750 cups were appropriately arranged in a Red, White and Blue array (Red for a Cape Cod with Vodka and Cranberry Jell-O, Blue for Margarita and blue agave and white with Pina Coladas). Having produced a few batches of Jell-O shots myself, I wondered how they ever found enough Refrigerator space. Some wit said they were on a Jell-O diet for the weekend. Elliot was cooking the hot dogs in lieu of Cartoon Alley’s Sandy who was MIA. Some little kids – Amelia, Natalie and Katie -- enjoyed dancing, although the big kids hadn’t joined in when I left. The Chance house told me they were having a great time – just warming up for the big pig roast – 90 lbs. – planned for Sunday. Carlo from Saltaire said he enjoyed coming over ‘cause Kismet’s not pretentious.
 The threat of rain moved off, so the annual 4th of July parade, organized by Sam Wood, stepped off at 1minute after 11:00 and wound through the streets down to the bay. There seemed to be fewer and less elaborate floats – I think perhaps the stalwarts – the Mandel, Stefano, Wood, Phelan and Licari kids are probably a little too grown up for it, while the Cole, Crawson Barbara, Lambe and other younger kids seemed delighted just to ride, costumed, in small wagons with a parent at the helm. The Make It So household–parents Steve and Susan, Ryan, Ashley and Andrew with cousins Jennifer, Daniel and Justin and Jack Manzo—did go all out giving away lemonade and collecting money–over $350–for the American Heart Association. The Fire Department BBQ was great–there were even clams this year. Rudy won the KFDA 50-50 and donated it to the Fire Dept. Gina Grenci won the Wagon of Cheer.
Sunday evening saw the Fourth Annual Seabay Dinner on the Beach Block Party dreamed up by Greg & Jane Weisser. Jean Mc asked me to ask how they kept the sand from blowing on the food: There were lots of windscreens arranged in a circle around the table and beach chairs. It seemed a really great evening for the communal dinner with sausage and peppers from Bob & Marie (Sunset), Jambalaya and from Robin & John (BVT) and more stuff from the other denizens of BVT, her traditional Lemon Meringue pies from Jane and a great stuffed fish from Greg–he didn’t catch it—(Swept Away), ribs from Jon & Ann (Fair Dinkum), watermelon from Bill P. (Holiday House), Shrimp from Greg & Carolyn (Nice Dreams),pork tenderloin from Megan & Terry (3 by the Sea). Also attending were Bill & Chris Jenks, Jim & Emmy Ryan, Tony & Elaine Freda, Elliot & Debbie Epstein, and many others I didn’t get a chance to talk to. I thought I wore a lot of hats, but I cede the honor (?) to Elliot. I watched him shift from Block Party Organizer & hot dog cook, to proud parent pulling his son, Skyler in the morning parade, to working the Fire Department’s food line, to bringing a dish to the Beach Block party. He says he’s on vacation now and has nothing to do but run a group house. All was well until the rains came, or as Megan put it, “that big bolt of bright lightening got everybody moving real quick.” I guess Jon didn’t get to play his guitar on the beach.
My apologies to Ron Nyburg for screwing up some of the details about his late wife, Ann in a previous article. I hope I did get across what an exceptionally talented, intelligent, witty and caring woman she was. She had a special way with animals of every kind and everyone involved with KLAW misses her…Bill Poindexter will be showing some of his new “double imagery” theme paintings at the Art Show at the Lighthouse on July 6…the crew of the Fire Island themed TV show was filming at Ms. Alice’s…have heard that some rangers are being, well, perhaps, overly vigilant in their beach enforcement. I mean, I don’t think we are a real lawless bunch here…
If you haven’t heard, I have 6 little kittens for adoption. My housemate, Marilyn, who came out to relax, went though a week of co-mothering with me, and, as she says, “amazingly, we’re still speaking to each other.” The good news is that they are maturing and will need less and less intensive care. If you have no cats, think about one. If you have one, he/she needs company–it’s boring to sit home alone all day.. If you have two, well, three’s no so bad. Seriously, they are little darlings, ranging from 5 to 9 weeks—please come and see them – Avalon, 91 Seabay Walk - 9215.
Get your appetites in gear for the second annual KFDA Pancake Breakfast. It’s running from 8–11 a.m. Sunday. Last year’s was really great fun. |
