News

Book sales will go to help CAST

At 94, Alison Hegeman of Peconic Landing has just published her third book, appropriately called “Act III.”

The book is not for sale. Ms. Hegeman is, instead, asking those who want a copy to make a donation to Community Action Southold Town, which provides food, job training, clothing and myriad other services and referrals to agencies that assist the needy. Ms. Hegeman is a CAST board member.

Twice before, Ms. Hegeman wrote autobiographical books — in 2004, “The Best Is Yet To Be,” and in 2006, “From There to Here” — and contributed the proceeds amounting to thousands of dollars, including some large individual gifts, to Maureen’s Haven, a network of homeless shelters in East End houses of worship where people can find a warm place to sleep and hot meals between November and April.

Donors paid to have all three books printed. Ms. Hegeman did all the footwork getting word out on her first two books. This year, her friend Martha Carter will do the footwork.

“I could write another, but I just can’t peddle them” anymore, Ms. Hegeman told Ms. Carter when her friend approached her to write “Act III.” But Ms. Hegeman will do her part with a reading at Peconic Landing tomorrow, Friday, Oct. 1, at 4 p.m.

The books are free, but Ms. Hegeman is asking those who want one to write a check for $10, made payable to CAST.

She isn’t abandoning Maureen’s Haven. She said she’s proud of the organization for helping people whose fortunes have taken a bad turn. But at a time when the flagging economy has caused so many more people to turn to CAST for assistance, she wanted profits to go to the group that is there for those in need year round, she said.

“We help everyone we can, in all kinds of ways, and we depend almost entirely on the generosity of our community to keep us going,” Ms. Hegeman said.

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