To the editor:

Aug. 5’s Isaias brought more than I expected. 

While sitting at a friend’s home in Island Park, I watched my boat beginning to sink. It was securely tethered to a mooring, but the stern and motor were under water due to the raging tide. 

Before making any phone calls, two of my best, albeit crazy and heroic friends, swam to the boat and attempted to sever the mooring ropes to no avail. Riding on the bow of the boat like a mechanical bull, they managed to untie the ropes while a throng of Island Parkers were waiting for the boat to arrive on the shore. 

Unbeknownst to me, among them was the Portsmouth harbormaster. Along with several others, he bailed out the boat for two straight hours and joined the rocking brigade in an attempt to free it from slamming into an impending wall until the tide made it impossible to do so.

While you may not think this was extraordinary, he was off duty. Fortunately, the tide crested inches from the property wall. The next morning, this time on duty, the harbormaster, with assistance from other neighbors, managed to get the boat freed. That saved me thousands of dollars and renewed my faith in this great community.

I want to extend my heartfelt gratitude to my neighbors, a special thanks to those anonymous volunteers, and, of course, my favorite harbormaster, Bruce Celico.

Donna M. Conroy

16 Riverside St.

Portsmouth

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