MONTAUK SUN LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

July Issue

To Whom It May Concern;

Im writing this letter to inform the people of the east end that our only drug and alcohol rehabilitation clinic is being shut down because the corporate bosses of the Pheonix House on Springs Fire Place Road run by the Oasis Corparation, is cutting all funding for that one facility on the east end. They came in and checked the records for the new fiscal year and determined that it was not economically smart to keep funding their non-profit organization...REPEAT: NOT ECONOMICALLY SMART FOR A "NON PROFIT ORGANIZATION"

This facility has helped countless numbers of people, families, and children, teenagers recoup and recover from alcohol and drug addiction. I, as a recovering alcholic, can say that this program saved my life. Without them I would be dead or in jail.

I’m asking everyone to please help us raise $150,000 in a very short time. The head of Oasis who has no direct contact with the clientel there and can not see the suffering first hand, just came in last wedsnsday without warning and pulled the rug out from under our feet.

As in all small communities, some turn to drugs and alcohol. We felt there was nothing to do. We bottomed out. But at our bottom we were blessed with this amazing facility with truily caring and outstanding rehabilitation programs that many besides myself can attest to, but the key is that we have to keep fighting because we suffer from a disease. There are so many newly sober kids and adults that go there that are just learning and havn’t perfected the tools they teach us to lead a sober and successful life. But now with this sudden funding cut and the closing of the Pheonix House these newly sober people will be cast out into the community with nowhere to go and without the  proper training they need to avoid relapse.The chances of them picking up a drink or doing drugs again is huge without proper treatment.

We thought when we were in the depths of our addictions that there wasn’t anywhere to go and felt hopeless and on the brink of giving up, but then the Pheonix House came along and that wasn’t the case anymore. A lot of us embraced it, used the tools they provide, and found out it works and are now productive citizens again.

Now when we finally found it and know how much it works and have a place to go and share with people who have the same problems, they’re just going to take it all away from us.

I literally started to cry after my counselor told me this tragic news. I hold this place so dear to my heart. It is so scary to think I’m not going to have anywhere to go.

Surely in such a wealthy community as the Hamptons there might be some well off people that could step in and help us out in our time of dire need. This place saves lives everyday...and there may just be some people you know that go there...eventhough you may not be aware. .It could be your neighbor, friend, family member or community leader. Keeping the Pheonix House up and running is imperative to our community and so many individuals who are suffering. Please Help Us.

~ James Katsipis

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May Issue

Dear Editor,

I'm writing in support of a dedication sign for Nick Monte at the beginning and end of Old Montauk Hwy, Montauk. He put Montauk and Long Island on the map as a resort/tourist locale. I have been in the spa/resort industry since the mid 80's and have served New Yorkers (as they were the early spa goers) at the four and five diamond spa properties in Florida, Colorado and California that I helped open. I would often hear about this spa in Montauk, Long Island that would be the quick spa resort get-away for these same guests.

They could continue to rejuvenate at home in New York at Gurneys between vacations out of state bringing tourists to the East End. Nick Monte was a man of vision and opened the only seawater spa in the continental United States. Many a spa has tried to repllicate, but no one can now do what he did for Long Island and the United States Spa Industry. Europeans often laugh at what Americans consider spas citing that Gurneys and Hot Spring spas are the only legitimate spas in the United States. Gurneys is a true place of healing for New Yorkers and Nick Monte deserves to be honored for what he accomplished.

Sincerely,

Cheryl Hartsough, Spa Director, Gurneys Inn Resort & Spa

Dear Editor

I’d like to warn the people of Montauk of two Canadian Cross-Border Scams I was subjected to within the last two days.

Yesterday I received in the mail from Asset Financial Services-Consumers Reward Program, Ontario, Canada, a Compass Bank, Texas check for $3,800 along with a letter from that advised me I was a winner of a lottery for a larger prize of $38,000. All I had to do was deposit the check (which supposedly was to be used to pay for the applicable tax on my winnings). Then I was instructed to call the claims agent for further instructions on finalizing my claim. I called the claims agent who assured me that this was legitimate. However, I knew this was too good to be true, and decided to do some research. First, I went to my local bank. They too were suspicious. After spending an afternoon “googling” numerous sites, I came across a site that cited others who had experienced the exact same “scam”.

Then, this morning I received an email from Microsoft Award Team, informing me that my email had won a consolation prize in the Microsoft Corporation Email Draw. I had won 1,000,000 (Great British Pounds)

I was given a reference no. and asked to verify my name and contact information and email it to a Mr. Andy Johnson, claim agent. Again, after googling, this too was a scam.

So, folks beware – “if it is too good to be true, it probably is”. I hope no one has fallen for these scams!!

Pat Gilchrest, Montauk