Greenport Fire Fighter fire boat floating museum

For a kid, the only thing cooler than a fire truck is a fire boat--especially a huge old one with a bunch of enormous brass "water cannon" nozzles that you can actually crank up and down.

The "Fire Fighter" is a 1938 NYFD fire boat I first noticed on the dock next to Claudio's in Greenport Harbor early February while watching my son play hockey in Mitchell Park's ice rink.

It looks like a big red toy but it's actually a floating museum and a serious piece of equipment. According to Newsday, it's 130 feet long, responded to the 9/11 attacks and is a National Historic Landmark.

They need help. A small group of volunteers are working to restore the boat and they need money, tools, equipment, and people to do it. To donate, contact Charlie Ritchie, president and museum director at 845-612-1950 or visit their web site.

Rocky Point, East Marion photography (camera phone)

It was a beautiful day on the North Fork today. I took my oldest son down to rocky Point Beach in East Marion. I have two shots in my gallery from this beach, but today it was just about claiming rocks and my son checking out the strange things that have washed up on shore during the past few storms (skate egg casings, shotgun casings, a toy dinosaur, all sorts of shoes, and some baby's toys. Weird.

Here's how to find it: http://goo.gl/maps/gKq2T

5th Street Beach after a big snowstorm (just my camera phone)

There was a big snow this weekend and thought some of you might want to see what it looks like out here. Got some snapshots with my iPhone just to share with those who aren't out here or didn't want to venture out in the cold. Usually it doesn't accumulate at the beaches, but this time it did. Notice the dock still has a hump in it when hurricane Sandy floated it up when the tide came way up the beach.

Hallock's Bay Ice Boats

This is one of a series of photographs I took of the old ice boats out on Hallock's Bay in Orient. It was so cold that I had to keep the battery in my pocket and run a wire to the camera.

It kept me tethered to the camera, though, which surprised me every time I tried to walk away from the camera and tripod.

This is actually a fine art print taken with my medium-format camera. It's for sale if you're interested. If this is your ice boat, contact me and I'll get the image to you.