by Patria Baradi Pacis
The brutal cold weather didn’t stop the residents of Montauk from coming to see their own singer, Sarah Conway and Musician Dan Koontz perform at the Montauk Community Church (MCC) Coffee House hour on Friday, February 8.
What I found most entertaining was Ms. Conway’s reading of her grandparents’s hand written, love letters to each other during their courting years. “Grampa Conway wrote letters from Montauk to my grandma in the late 1920’s out west while working with builder Carl Fisher to build tudor style structures on Main Street Montauk such as the tallest, seven floor former office building of Mr. Fisher, White’s Department Store, Shagwong Restaurant, the Montauk Playhouse and the MCC building itself.
“In fact” Ms. Conway continued, “ Grampa must have stood on the same fireplace in the room I’m singing in.” Ms. Conway eagerly read Grampa Conway’s description of his winter activities of working all day and partying at night. “Very little has changed in Montauk” uttered Ms. Conway. The Conway family including Sarah’s parents the late Edmund Virgil and Elaine Conway loved Montauk and is very well known around town especially with their generosity such as their contribution of the Conway Visitor’s Center Gift Shop located at the Montauk Point Lighthouse that bears their name.
Ms. Conway’s down-to-earth demeanor, a trait handed down from her parents I am sure, has a way of engaging her listeners to join in popular songs as “All That Jazz” and “The Night They Drove All Dixie Down.” She shared with the audience Irish songs, complete with accent, that she performed in local pubs while vacationing in Ireland last summer. Multi talented Dan Koontz was spot on when harmonizing and playing the piano and/or guitar. Kudos to MCC’s Pastor Bill Hoffmann and member Debbie Coen for providing free and high caliber performances to warm Montauk hearts in the dead of winter.
For more info regarding free monthly concerts including refreshments and desserts, kindly contact the MCC at 631 668 2022 or e mail: montaukcommunitychurch@gmail.com or check their website: www.montaukcommunitychurch.org and facebook. Donations are always welcomed.
Note: The next MCC’s Women’s Guild Rummage Sale will be Saturday, March 23 from 9:00AM till Noon. All clothing will be sold for $1.00 rain or shine.
