- Home
- Site Map
- What's New
- Community Calendar
- About Bellport.com
- Contact Bellport.com
- Join Our Email List
- Emergency Info
-
It's Only Natural, A Natural Pharmacy 
The Bellport 
PORTERS
on the lane
Bellport Paint Designer Services
| A Case For Webcams |
| Recent Deer Sightings In Bellport |
| Researching The History Of Your House |
Several years ago, I bought two webcams to use as part
of an online music project I was thinking about doing. If you’re not
familiar webcams, they are simple cameras that plug into your computer and
turn your computer into a video phone. You can place a call to someone over
the internet and if they also have a webcam, and the right software, you’ll
not only be able to talk to them over the internet, but you’ll also see them
on your screen as you talk to them. Well, I couldn’t find time for the music
project so the pair of webcams I bought just sat on a shelf.
A little over a year ago, our first grandchild, Emily,
was born and for about seven months I kept saying that I really needed to
set up the webcams so that we could visit with our daughter Erin, her
husband Josh, and little Emily over the internet to their home in Los
Angeles using the webcams. Well, you know how it goes, so much to do and so
little time, so again the webcams sat on the shelf
This past July, nine month old Emily came to Bellport
to visit us. The family was together for two weeks and we really got to know
Emily, she’s wonderful! The problem was, we didn’t want her to forget us
when she went home as we wouldn’t see her again for another two months.
Suddenly, I had an “aha” moment! The webcams!!
When Erin and her family returned to LA, I gave them
one of the webcams to take along. Well, I have to tell you that this is one
of the best things I’ve ever done and I’ve been kicking myself for not doing
it sooner. Calling them over the computer is now like being right there with
them. Emily sees us and knows who we are. You can’t imagine the feeling when
we see her face light up when we connect and she first sees our faces on her
screen in
So, what are all you parents and grandparents waiting for? GO OUT AND GET A WEBCAM OR TWO! I have absolutely no financial stake in the information about to give you, but I wanted to make some specific recommendations based on my experiences. I’m sure there are other ways to go that are just as good, or maybe better, but we couldn’t be happier with the equipment and software we’re using.
First, the webcam. Logitech is pretty much the leader in webcams. We’re using their Quickcam Pro 9000 which lists for $99.95, but Amazon usually sells it on sale with free shipping. By the way, the microphone built into the Pro 9000 works perfectly so don’t bother buying a separate microphone or headpiece. Here’s a link to Logitech’s info:
http://www.logitech.com/index.cfm/webcam_communications/webcams/&cl=us,en
Here’s a link to Amazon’s page for the Pro 9000:
I’m a Windows user so the above information is for Windows computers. If you’re a Mac user, I can’t really make any recommendations because I don’t have any experience with the Mac, but Logitech makes webcams for the Mac and I’m told that many Macs come with webcams built right into the monitor.
Installing the webcam is really easy. First you install the software that comes with the webcam and after the software is installed, you plug the webcam into a USB port and you’re ready to go.
The next thing you’ll want to do is choose and install the software you’re going to use to connect your webcam with someone else’s over the internet. The software that came with the webcam only operates the webcam. It doesn’t make “video phone” connections over the internet.
There are two programs that I’m going to recommend, Skype and ooVoo. They are both FREE!
Skype, http://www.skype.com/ , is terrific if you simply want to connect your computer to someone else’s over the internet. You visit their website, download the free software, install it, and you’re ready to go. They’ll ask you for your email address and the name you’d like to use for yourself. The quality of the image is amazing. Once you, and the person you’d like to connect with have Skype installed on your machines, you’re all set. There are even ways to find out if other people you know have Skype installed on their computers.
ooVoo,
http://www.oovoo.com/
, is a new service to connect webcams over the internet. Frankly, its
image quality is not as good as Skype and I wouldn’t recommend it if it
weren’t for one amazing feature that it has. It will connect up to six
different webcams together over the internet so that up to six people can
meet online with all six of their images on the screen at the same time. If
you have a family spread out around the country or the world, this is a
wonderful feature. Installation and setup is very similar to Skype.
So which one should you download and use? Both! They are both free and you can have both installed on you computer at the same time. Just start the one you want to use and make the connection. There’s nothing to it.
I really hope that I’ve gotten you at least interested in getting a webcam. You can’t really understand how wonderful they are, as I didn’t, until you actually use one with your family and friends. Talking to each other on the screen, instead of on the phone, is just so much better.
If you give a webcam a try,
email
us and let us
know how you like it.
 |
Click to send us a comment |
Recent Deer Sightings In
Bellport
Bellport.com
recently received the following note from Dava Stravinsky, a concerned
resident:
"Yesterday at the Bellport Garden Club board
meeting we were discussing how many people had seen deer in their
yards. It seems there are many--some on Maplewood near the Gateway,
four in a yard on South Howells, etc. I was wondering if you might want
to start a "deer watch" on the website. I hope the problem never gets to
be as significant as it is in Brookhaven hamlet where many deer have run
into cars on Beaver Dam Road this year. They have caused much
destruction of landscaping, etc. and it might be of interest to people
to know that they have been sighted in the village--when and where. As
winter progresses they should also seek more and more food so sightings
may only increase."
Have you seen a deer lately and would like to tell
others where it was seen? Would you like to send us a comment about this
article or read what others have to say? Click below to send us your own
comments.
Deer Sighting Comments...
12/22/2008, Trish Gallina of Bellport wrote...
I am a 5th grade teacher at
10/20/2008, Tom Lerner of Bellport wrote...
As a native of Suffolk County, deer have been a part of my life. They belong here. They are true natives. I enjoy seeing them, hunting them, and eating them. Without them, the place would seem sterile and empty. Those people who do not appreciate our wildlife should stay in the city. There they can enjoy true wild life "human predators."
7/17/2008, Bob Scalia of Bellport wrote...
9th fairway on Friday and Saturday 7/11 & 12
1/15/2008, Bob Scalia of Bellport wrote...
Saw a Doe heading east at Head of the Neck and Munsell - 5:15 AM on
1/8/08
12/2/2007, Mary & Tom McCarthy - D'Angelis of Bellport wrote...
Sat - 12/1/07 - 9pm - Maplewood Drive - A Doe and baby
hopping into the woods across from The Gateway parking lot.
11/23/2007, Mary & Tom McCarthy - D'Angelis of Bellport wrote...
Another big beautiful doe the day before Thanksgiving
on our front lawn about 10am.
11/20/2007, Victoria Mary Stong of NYC wrote...
I grew up in Bellport but now live in Long Island City, Queens. I
just wanted to remind people that it's humans that are encroaching on
animals land on a regular basis when they do logging and building. As
long as they don't attack humans, we should try to enjoy them. Otherwise
instead of complaining, with all due respect, get an animal agency to
catch them and release them to a safe habitat where there's plenty of
space. There better than Bears wandering around!
11/20/2007, Lloyd Ferraro of Bellport wrote...
We live on Thornhedge south of Otis and sporadically
see one or two deer basically slowly passing through our back yard. They
have done no damage to date are are a beautiful part of the ecosystem to
watch. If local residents (and visitors) would keep their speed down in
our neighborhoods, I believe car/deer incidents would rapidly decline.
Even small local streets seem to have become drag strips as of late.
11/18/2007, Laurie Hunter of Bellport wrote...
We have had several deer in our yard (front and back)
here on North Brewster Lane. I have seen them in the Methodist Church
field across from my house, over near Gateway Playhouse (where I work)
.. as well as running down Kreamer Street when I was dropping my son off
at school. I have a 4 foot fence that the deer have no problem getting
over. Deer sightings have become a daily occurrence for us.
11/15/2007, Rich Rauch of Bellport wrote...
My family and I often see deer eating in my neighbors yard. We have seen
a mother and her two babies. I live on Third Street at the dead end
closer to the Gateway. The deer are beautiful to see and it is an
enjoyable way to wake up. We see them often running north or south on
North Brewster. It must be their "cut through". My family and I will
continue enjoying their gracefulness and alertness. They are amazing
animals to watch.
11/15/2007, Finn Rauch of Bellport wrote...
I saw deer outside my bedroom window this morning when I woke up. First
my mom spotted them then she told me and I saw them. I plan to leave
carrots for them to eat. I am 7 years old. I live on 3rd Street.
11/13/2007, Robert Scalia of Bellport wrote...
There were several sightings at the Country Club along & in Howell's
Creek from the 9th hole to the bay.
11/13/2007, Frances Bernstein of Bellport wrote...
On November 3 at 5 am my husband saw one deer near the dock heading
north on Bellport Lane. We live on (South) Brewster Lane and see deer
occasionally around here.
11/12/2007, Mary & Tom McCarthy-D'Angelis of Bellport wrote...
We saw four deer last Wednesday 11/7 - two babies and two adults - they
were beautiful - this is unusual as in 24 years on Mott Stream (behind
the Gateway) deer usually only show up in the dead of winter. Thursday
11/8 we also saw a beautiful deer run in front of our car on South
Country Road between Maplewood and Brewster about 8pm.
1/25/2007, Heidi Gaumet of Bellport wrote...
When I first started reading your comment, I thought your concern was
for the deer, not for cars or plants. It is heartbreaking that all of
the construction in the area is pushing the deer out of their natural
habitat and into the streets to their deaths. I live at the Atlantic
Point Townhouse Complex in Bellport and in the past three years the
beautiful woods surrounding our complex have been torn down to put up
businesses and a horribly large warehouse on Sawgrass Road. I would love
to see a relocation or sterilization program for the deer. They don't
stand a chance here with their land being taken away. They are often in
our backyard and I have seen different groups come and go. Most often
they are killed on Station Road or Woodside Avenue. It's a shame what we
are doing to nature by taking their land. It's even worse when we
consider THEM a nuisance when we are the problem.
12/21/2006, Zoraida Vaher of Bellport wrote...
I bought my first house in Bellport a year ago. Since
that time, I've seen 3 deer and can tell you that as a born and bred
city girl, it delights me to no end that I am this close to nature. I am
far more disturbed by the number of dead cats, dogs, raccoons, and
opossums I see along Station Road. PLEASE, there is no reason to sound
the alarm where there is no need. Secure your property in a humane
manner and leave the deer alone.
12/12/2006, Joe Poplees of Bellport wrote...
This is a great idea. I live on Maple Ave, between Association and
Head of the Neck. There have been a few sightings already this fall,
most likely caused by the construction on the old Grucci property.
12/12/2006, George Penny of Bellport wrote...
I have often seen deer at Mothers' Beach lately. The item you printed seems to insinuate that they are a menace and should be eliminated. This is the country, not Park Avenue and they are a part of our way of life. Leave them alone!
|
|
Click to send us a comment |
Researching The History Of Your House
On Friday, October 13, 2006, Sharon Pullen, from the Historic Documents Library at the Office of the County Clerk gave a talk on "Researching The History Of Your House." Here are her notes from the meeting...
RESEARCHING THE HISTORY OF YOUR HOUSE
The Office of the County Clerk holds land records dating from the mid -1600's. These do not usually contain descriptions of the house or other buildings found on the land. Even so, a deed is a good place to begin researching the history of your house. Following are some first steps you should take to start this research.
- Read
your current deed. Make a note of the Liber (book) and page number,
which will be listed on the upper
right hand corner of the deed. At the end of the description of your
property you may find
references to the prior deed and the Liber and page number where it was
recorded. Make a note of those numbers too.
- Go
to the Public Access Room in the Office of the County Clerk and look up
your deed on the
computers there. Ask for help in printing out the history section that
shows the earliest document about your property that is recorded in the
computer system.
- Go to the Records Room in the Office of the Suffolk County Clerk at the
County Center in Riverhead.
- Go
to the rows of numbered Deed Libers and find the lowest numbered Liber
you found for your property. This
deed may refer you to an earlier one. Work your way backward through
earlier
deeds.
- If
you have no Liber numbers on your deed, or if the computer system
has no information on the history, you can still research your house. Begin
with last name of the person from whom you bought your house and look that
name up in the indexes in the Record Room. Land records before 1978 are indexed by both GRANTEE (buyer) and GRANTOR
(seller) in large index books
in the Records Room. These volumes are located on opposite sides of the
room. The aisle containing the Grantor indexes has a sign hanging from
the ceiling at the end of the aisle. The Grantee indexes that
reference the oldest of the deeds are not indicated by a sign, go to the
Historic Documents Library
and the Archivist will show you
where to find those books.
- The
Grantor/Grantee indexes are organized as follows: From 1660-1950, all of
Suffolk County is indexed in one set of books, arranged
alphabetically, by the first letter of the last name, inside each
volume, the records are arranged by the first letter of the
first name.
Beginning in 1951 through 1969 the records are divided by Town and within each town they are arranged as described above.
- There are
also Mortgage Libers in the Records Room. Many times the mortgage on a
property is referenced in the deed. In the case of earlier deeds this
may sometimes be a good indication of when a house was constructed on a
piece of land.
- As
you work your way backward through the earlier deeds, you may come to
one that is
deeded to someone as the heir of a deceased person. Make a note of that
person's name in order to look up the
will at the Surrogate's Court. Many times wills are more descriptive of
houses than are deeds.
- Building
permits were, in general, not issued before the early 1920's but you may
find reference to a "date of origin" for a house on early permits. These
will be on file at your Town Clerk's
Office or in the Building Department. Keep in mind that this date was
given by the person applying for the building permit and may be
an approximate date.
OTHER HELPFUL RECORDS
Records in the Historic Documents Library include several large bound Atlases of various portions of Suffolk County. The earliest one is dated c. 1873. Many of these include the property owners' names. Buildings and houses are also indicated on several of the atlases, sometimes with numbers that signify the number of stories in the house.
There is also a collection of Sanborn Company maps. This company, started in 1867 by D. A. Sanborn was the major provider of maps to the insurance industry for more than a hundred years. Although the collection here does not cover all of Suffolk County, the entire collection of Sanborn maps for the state of New York can be found at SUNY Stony Brook library on microfilm. These maps show buildings and are coded to indicate the type of construction, such as, wood or steel frame.
Researching the history of your house is usually a time-consuming process; so make sure you are ready to spend most of the day at County Center when you make your trip. There are copy machines available in the Records Room (25¢ a page). Some of the older deed volumes have been encapsulated in Mylar, which makes photocopying difficult, so you may have to transcribe the information you find there. There is a Cafeteria in the building. Remember to bring paper and a pencil for taking notes.
GLOSSARY
Grantor- one that conveys property or a right in property by deed
Grantee - one to whom a grant by deed is made
Mortgagor- The borrower in a mortgage agreement. Sometimes spelled mortgager.
Mortgagee- The creditor or lender in a mortgage agreement.
Deed- A document sealed as an instrument of bond, contract, or conveyance, especially relating to property.
Mortgage -
- A temporary, conditional pledge of property to a creditor as security for performance of an obligation or repayment of a debt.
- A contract or deed specifying the terms of a mortgage.
- The claim of a mortgagee upon mortgaged property.
Lien- When a creditor or bank has the right to sell the mortgaged or collateral property of those who fail to meet the obligations of a loan contract.
Notary public- someone legally empowered to witness signatures and certify a document's validity and to take depositions
Acknowledgement- the formal certificate made by an officer before whom one has acknowledged a deed including as an essential part the signature and often the seal of the officer.
The National Register of Historic Places is the Nation's official list of cultural resources worthy of preservation. Authorized under the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, the National Register is part of a national program to coordinate and support public and private efforts to identify, evaluate, and protect our historic and archeological resources. Properties listed in the Register include districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects that are significant in American history, architecture, archeology, engineering, and culture. The National Register is administered by the National Park Service, which is part of the U.S. Department of the Interior. http://www.cr.nps.gov/nr/index.htm
New York State historic Preservation Office - http://nysparks.state.ny.us/shpo/
Researching Your Home Comments...
1/23/2008, Barbara Knowles of Bellport wrote...
That was a very good article with lots of pertinent information. (We live in what was once a barn for the property on Bellport Lane so its history as a house goes back to about 1830 we guess.)
|
|
Click to send us a comment |