Somehow, the most fascinating thing that happened on the waterfront, on Saturday, Sept. 12, wasn't seeing Governor George Pataki, although Pat Burke took my picture with him - and that was fun.

What was fun was seeing all the people out to greet the governor. They included: Robbie Hallock, Kathy Wilson, Dr. Del Baretta, Marvin Morrison, Joan and John Imhof, Tom Kuehhas, Legislator John Canning, Jack Williams, John Collins (of the Christeen), Dwight, Dave and Eileen Relyea, Caroline DuBois, Kurt Ludwig, Secretary of State Sandy Treadwell, Senator Carl Marcellino, Assemblyman David Sidikman, NYS DEC Commissioner John P. Cahill, Kevin Ryan and daughter Karissa, County Legislature Presiding Officer Bruce Blakeman, Mayor Tom Zoller and family, the Mike Deering family, Councilwoman Christine Preston-Scalera, Fritz Coudert III, Karen Glesmann, NYS Environmental Conservation Forest Ranger Division, US NFWS project director Patricia Martinkovic, and lots of children, and more people, and scores of seagulls.

After the speeches, the only thing I wanted to share with my family was the look of the new educational marine center. Am I getting blasé about money? The story should be about getting $2.3 million for Jakobson's, but the little building took my heart. It looks lovely.

And... as the speakers took center stage, at the entrance to Jake's pier, the seagulls sat poised at the far end, away from everyone. They didn't move during the speeches. It is their harbor too.

P.S. Thanks for the money!

P.P.S. On behalf of Mayor Siegel I asked Mr. Blakeman when the NC sales tax money is coming to the villages. He said John Canning is working on it! - DFK