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