Posted By David Lion Rattiner
Billy Joel made his first public Hamptons appearance on Sunday out in Montauk after buying his Sagaponack Estate from “Jaws” man Roy Scheider. Joel was all smiles at Gosman’s as Lorraine Creegan of the Montauk Chamber of Commerce gave him an award on The Gosman stage. Not too many people around knew what the award was for, but everybody agreed he deserved it.
Having Billy Joel at The Blessing of the Fleet was special for Montauk to say the least when you consider that nearly every fisherman there uses his song “Downeaster Alexa” as a personal theme song. Mine is “Vienna” but if he ever writes one called “Montauk” I might be willing to change.
June 19th, 2007 at 4:14
So if I move out to Montauk will I receive an award too? And will there be a huge ceremony celebrating my new residential status, like Billy enjoyed? Unfortunately for me, I doubt it. It just makes me wonder, what is the value of an award — in this case, Billy Joel’s unknown award — if he’s done nothing directly for the community to deserve it. Instead, all it takes is a big name and the knowledge that B. Joel has money for him to be honored. What about the local animal shelter volunteer who saves dogs and cats and actually helps the community with animal control issues? Isn’t that deserving of an award? Oh, but I forgot, we’re in the Hamptons, and it’s the name, the face, the clothes, and the bills that matter, right?