Wow! Sunday’s storm was fast and furious! I happened to be down at the Village Pool when it blew up. A lifeguard had fortunately spotted a lightning bolt west of us and cleared the pool. That’s when some people seemed to panic. Grabbing their belongings and kids, many people started running for the exit. I was surprised by the shouts, and in some cases, screams. The children became more fearful as adults in some areas seemed to mildly freak out. I was fortunate enough to be with two friends, one of whom took my chair and another took my beach bag while I followed more slowly on my crutches. Many adults were acting calmly and standing back with their families to allow more hurried people to get past them. Thestaff at the pool behaved well, directing people toward the exit. When I came through the exit gates, the heavens opened up. My friend had put my bag into my car and waited to see me get into the car. The woman in the parking place next to mine came up to me and helped put my crutches in the car and then held the door open for me, closing it before she got into her own car. I pulled out of my space and glanced to the east of the pool. There was a scene I’ve never seen before in my years living near the Bay. Something that looked like a flat cloud covered the water and it was a moment before I realized that it was a combination of rain and windblown bay water. It hovered across the water and a smallish motorboat trying to get up the river was constantly being driven backward by the wind and the water. Many other cars pulled in to watch this phenomenon too. On the west side of the pool’s parking lot, people were being draped with seaweed blown off the bay. Driving home, I saw a lot of small branches and one limb down on the Crescent, but even as I drove, the rain and wind started to die back. The sound of sirens showed that the Babylon Fire Department was responding to several locations, including to Gilgo Beach. By the time I pulled up in front of my house the storm had ended, except for some showers. It seemed that the area north of the railroad had suffered worse than any other area I saw. There were many trees down, including one on Frederick which had fallen on a car and house. Thecar appeared to be demolished. The electricity was out all over that area and neighbors stood together discussing the storm and its results.

A reunion committee working on their 60th Reunion for the BHS Class of 1950 has announced that it will be held on September 16th at the Venetian Yacht Club, located by the Village Dock. An invitation is extended to all other classes. For information, please call Jo (Flynn) Melton at 631-422-5385 (email jomelt@ optonline.net) or call Richie at 631-766- 7188 (email breezee183@aol.com) . Happy birthday to Rob Gallagher, whose special day is July 31st!