Baby Seal On The Beach

This little creature was on the beach this morning just East of the Grove. He or she seemed alert, but may have been sick or injured. Wasn't there when I returned an hour later.

No Leadership From Obama

Photo: A neat place in the "meat rack" in between Cherry Grove and The Pines

Arianna Huffington:

Memo to the president: You show leadership by producing a good economy, not hailing a compromise that will actually hobble the economy.

The frustration that many of us on the left feel with Obama has been exacerbated by his failure to exercise leadership in the recent battle over the budget. The president should be using the bully pulpit he has to argue forcefully for shared sacrifice. Cuts alone are not the answer. Tax cuts for millionaires must end. Tax rates for the wealthy class must go up. They have to pay their share. Obama knows this but he's rather focus on getting re-elected than exercising decisive leadership and pushing for traditional Democratic Party principles. When George W. Bush was president, he fought for the principles that his right wing base held dear. But Obama refuses to get into the fight, preferring instead to be seen as a mediator. This is why the Republicans won this round over the budget in spite of the fact that we have a Democratic Party controlled senate and a Democrat as President. We need leadership from Obama. Will we ever see it?

A Seal On The Beach

Bradley and I spotted this seal just west of Sailor's Haven yesterday afternoon. It's the first time I've seen a seal in 25 years of coming to Fire island so it was exciting.

Healthy Fire Island Oceanside Beach

At Sailor's Haven, the sand has literally buried one walkway.

Downtown Cherry Grove: New Walks

Lots of brand new boardwalks...hopefully they will hold up under the beating they get from the carts.

Harbor Walkway Reconstruction In The Pines

Right now you can't get to the Pines Pantry using the walkway around the harbor due to reconstruction. According to Eric at the Pantry, the work will take a month and was desperately needed.

Work In Progress On The Belvedere

It looks like lots of heavy duty construction is going on at the Belvedere on Fire Island.

Serious Bayside Erosion On Fire Island

The shoreline on the bay side of Fire Island near Cherry Grove continues to show signs of erosion. This is the East end of the Grove near the entrance to the Meat Rack. The walkway and benches are sinking. The nice overlook platform that used to exist just West of the Grove on the bay is no more. All there are now are steps going down to the sand and water. Nearby trees are falling into the bay.

Sunken Forest Improvements - Privitizing Medicare???

Bradley surveys the new construction of the walkway in the Sunken Forest on Fire Island. I'm surprised that there is money in the budget for this sort of thing. The Republicans want to privitize Medicare, thereby ending the greatest legacy of Lyndon Johnson's "Great Society." Shame on Obama and the Democrats if they let this happen!

Cartoon Loki

He can be a silly little guy!