Dear Great Book Guru,  Last weekend Sea Cliff lost a beloved friend and esteemed scholar John Moyne. A man of great literary, linguistic, and technological accomplishments, John was remembered by his many friends and family members at a gathering on Sunday at the Moyne family home. While there, one of my friends mentioned having just finished a novel about a small village in Haiti and recommended I read it. Are you familiar with it? Reflective Reader

Dear Reflective,  John Moyne was indeed an extraordinary man and there will be another opportunity to honor his memory this Saturday, March 8 at 11am at St. Luke’s Church here in Sea Cliff. Edwidge Danticat’s CLAIRE  OF THE SEA LIGHT is the book your friend recommended. Set in Ville Rose, a small village a few miles from the capital Port au Prince, the novel opens with the disappearance of seven-year old Claire and the death at sea of an elderly fisherman.  It is Claire’s birthday and from the beginning,  death has shadowed her.  We are introduced to neighbors, friends, politicians who all play roles in Claire’s young life - from her impoverished widowed father who wants desperately for Claire to have a “good life”- to the hostess of a local radio show “Tell Me” where residents have the opportunity to tell stories of betrayal and gain retribution- to the headmaster who will do anything to protect a troubled son. Throughout, the lives of rich and poor intersect in profoundly disturbing ways. A beautifully written book!


Reminder : Meet the Candidates Night - Kevin McGilloway, Elena Villafane and John Reali will present their positions and answer questions from the community Thursday, March 6 at 8pm in Sea Cliff Village Hall. This annual event is sponsored by the Sea Cliff Civic Association.