Shelter Island Reporter Letters To the Editor: July 23, 2026
A MATTER OF TRUST
To the Editor:
Trust is the foundation of good government. It is earned when laws, guidelines and regulations are applied fairly, consistently, and without regard to who benefits.
Many Americans are troubled by what they see in Washington: rules bent for friends, favors granted to allies and punishment directed at those labeled enemies. Regardless of political affiliation, the real issue is whether government follows the rule of law or bends it to service certain individuals.
The same principle applies here on Shelter Island.
Our Town is considering an accessory dwelling unit (ADU) for a resident who is greatly admired in our community. Popularity or wealth, however, cannot replace the law. As publicly presented, the proposal does not appear to satisfy the Town’s adopted ADU guidelines or requirements and is located in the Near Shore Overlay District (NSPOD), where ADUs are not permitted. Our leaders have made NSPOD exceptions before, especially for oversized homes, but that does not make it right.
If exceptions are made because someone is well known, well liked or wealthy what do we say to every other property owner who complied with the rules or was denied a similar request? Government cannot maintain public confidence if regulations are enforced for some but waived for others.
If our ADU regulations or zoning laws need to change, then let’s have that discussion openly and amend them through the proper legislative process — for everyone. But making exceptions one application at a time undermines the integrity of the system.
This issue is bigger than one applicant or one project. It is about trust. Residents deserve confidence that decisions are based on the law, not on relationships, popularity or influence. Equal treatment under the law is not just a legal principle — it is the foundation of public trust.
KATHLEEN GOODING, Shelter Island
FREE SMOKE DETECTORS FOR SENIORS
To the Editor:
Thanks to the generosity of our donors, the Senior Citizens Foundation is able to provide two free 10-year smoke detectors to local residents over 60 years old.
These detectors will be installed for free, through the Town’s home maintenance/repair program. Call Barbara or Judy at Town Hall, 631-749-0291 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday to make an appointment.
Special thanks to the Shelter Island Fire Department for kick-starting this effort with a substantial donation and to Shelter Island Ace Hardware for providing the detectors at a greatly reduced price.
JOANNE SHERMAN, Senior Citizens Foundation President
LETTER OF GRATITUDE
To the Editor:
On behalf of the Town of Shelter Island, I would like to extend our sincere gratitude to everyone who helped make our recent emergency blood drive such a tremendous success.
In partnership with the New York Blood Center, we set a goal of collecting 50 pints of blood. Thanks to the incredible generosity of the Shelter Island community, we exceeded that goal by collecting 56 pints.
We are deeply grateful to every donor who took the time to give blood, to the volunteers who assisted throughout the day, and to the New York Blood Center staff for their professionalism and dedication. Every pint collected has the potential to save up to three lives, making the impact of your generosity truly immeasurable.
Thank you to Bethany Ortmann, Recreation Director, for making the Center available. Donors and staff were very comfortable.
Thank you to the Reporter, Shelter Island Fire Department and North Ferry for getting the word out. A special thank you to Debbie Brewer for helping to prepare the Center before the blood drive and cleanup afterward.
Thank you again for making this blood drive such a tremendous success. We hope to see many familiar faces—and new donors—at future blood drives.
JUDY MERINGER, Confidential Secretary to the
Supervisor, Town of Shelter Island
TEST YOUR WATER
To the Editor:
The Shelter Island Water Advisory Committee is launching a “Know Your Water” initiative to encourage residents to test their well water. Every homeowner should be aware of the quality of the water in their home.
The QR code you will notice on signs around town will take you to an explanatory document with a link to the Suffolk County Well Water Testing application. Suffolk County will come and test your water each year for a $100 fee. Even if you have some filtration in your home, it may or may not address all contaminants that might currently be present.
Most of the water on Shelter Island is potable. Nevertheless, what we put on our land (fertilizers, herbicides and pesticides) and what we put down our drains and septic systems (household chemicals and residual pharmaceuticals from our bodies) make their way to our aquifer and our drinking water, creeks and bays. This is not theoretical: a range of harmful compounds have been detected in our wells to varying degrees and may be a problem for you depending on location. Near the Center, the density of homes and short distances between septic tanks and wells increases risks to drinking water. Meanwhile, in low lying near-shore areas, in addition to septic contaminants, there is risk of salt-water intrusion due to drought, sea level rise and excessive pumping.
If you have not already, use this opportunity to arrange for your well water to be tested.
The Shelter Island Water Advisory Committee
FAIR TAXATION
To the Editor:
I’ve owned the Whale’s Tale property since 1992 and built my home on Shelter Island in 1987. It was an aging mini golf and snack bar, when I purchased it. The following year I built a new building/ice cream parlor and updated the entire mini golf course, converting it to a nautical motif and named it The Whale’s Tale.
We have new operators: Nicole & Robert Strauss, local Shelter Island residents, and they are doing a fabulous job.
Over the years we have worked well alongside the Tuck Shop, but now there’s a roaming ice cream truck competing for our business. I don’t mind competition, and I wouldn’t mind the truck at our beaches. However, an off-Island competitor that pays no taxes while we pay a great deal of taxes, simply isn’t fair. Last year their truck actually stopped in our parking lot to sell ice cream to people finishing up their round of mini golf.
I brought the above to the attention of the Town last year and thought they would help by limiting the truck to the beach area. As of last week, the truck continues to roam the Island, and I can still hear the truck jingling past my home. Each time reminding me that I pay real estate taxes and he doesn’t.
If any member of the Town Board agrees with me, please ask the Board to consider the question of Fair Taxation. Either way, with Robert and Nicole now at the helm, there will be a lot of great summers ahead for everyone at the Whale’s Tale, especially children!
TONY BIANCANIELLO, Shelter Island
