Letters

Representing the East End in the New York State Assembly for almost 30 years has been an honor and a privilege. Nothing has been a greater source of pride for me than to represent my hometown of Sag Harbor, where I have lived my entire life.

I have spoken frequently about Sag Harbor and all the things that make it so special. At the top of the list are the people who live here who have been devoted to protecting the traditions and character of the village. It has been a labor of love to work with all of them on issues ranging from land preservation to water quality, housing and transportation.

Thus, I was incredibly touched when the board of the Sag Harbor Partnership informed me that they would be bestowing their Community Service Award on me for 2024. On November 22, they put together an event at The Church to celebrate my career that I will never forget [“As Friends and Colleagues Look on, Sag Harbor Partnership Honors Fred W. Thiele Jr. With Community Service Award,” 27east.com, November 26]. It was a special moment for me and all the members of my family.

I just want to thank the Sag Harbor Partnership and its board of directors for all the work that went into that special evening. There were numerous volunteers and sponsors who worked with the Partnership to make the event a reality, including The Church and the Sag Harbor Chamber of Commerce, including many local businesses (Sag Harbor Florist, Sag Harbor Express, Page Restaurant, Carissa’s Bakery, Kidd Squid Beer, Almond Restaurant, Sen, Wölffer Estate Winery).

I also want to thank Ellen Dioguardi, Nancy Achenbach and Cathy Civale. Finally, Susan Mead and April Gornik were at the center, making the event a success. My thanks all who came out to the event on a rainy Friday night.

Finally, I had the opportunity to thank my staff members past and present who had attended the event. Inadvertently, I missed Kathy Kennedy, who now works as a senior manager at the Peconic Land Trust. I want to also thank her for her years of service to our Assembly district and for her friendship.

Fred W. Thiele Jr.

Sag Harbor