You too can help save this property from development by writing a letter in support to: Supervisor Maria Moore, Council Persons Michael Lasilli, Cyndi McNamara, Rick Martel, Bill Pell IV.

Send to Town Clerk, Sundy Schermeyer sschermeyer@southamptontownny.gov

On Jan 10, 2022, at 12:33 PM, Hope Sandrow wrote:

Dear Supervisor Jay Schneiderman; Council members John Bouvier, Rick Martel, Cyndi McNamara, Tommy John Schiavoni:

We hope our good wishes for a healthy and happy new year find you and your families very well. With congratulations to Jay and Tommy John’s re-election, and to Cyndi for taking the oath of office for her new position.

Please, your attention to this time-sensitive issue of vital importance to our East End community would be most appreciated.

Why we are writing again (July 13, 2020) in support of the Community Preservation Fund purchase of the Spellman Property, aka the Jane B. Colt Estate within the Shinnecock Indian Contact Period Village Fort Critical Environmental Area (CEA). An acquisition supported by neighbors including Shinnecock Nation. The Spellman Family: please consider their parents Bud and Winifred never disturbed these grounds since their 1960s purchase as their family home.

We recognize the importance of showing respect - as you do through preservation via purchase - of the historic nature of this ancestral site for First Peoples. Please view numerous grave markers (pictured, attached) identified by Shinnecock Tela Troge not far from Jane B. Colt’s gardens renowned in her time as "Colt’s Corner” (picture postcard attached). These grounds (read attached pdf) uniquely reflect the multifaceted story of Shinnecock Hills: must never be disturbed again as they were by way of a broken treaty.

Positioned at the crossroads with Hampton Bays, this property is now the gateway to our Shinnecock Hills neighborhood.

Along the Atlantic Flyway crucial habitat is provided within this densely populated area for migrating birds. Sanctuary for native fauna - including songbirds, cardinals, sparrows, blue jays, robins, catbirds, turkey, eagles, owls, herons, rabbits, fox, deer, squirrel, chipmunks, raccoon, possum (pheasant and quail population decimated). For health and safety, please preserve this endangered native ecosystem disturbed in the past by the Colt Cottage (burned to the ground, 1948) and gardens. More recently the Spellman Home, now in poor condition (foundation walls crumbling) should be torn down.

Please allow the land to recover and not be built on ever again: purchase these 4.2 acres now.

Thank you for your consideration.

Hope Sandrow and Ulf Skogsbergh

Shinnecock Hills