The bayside hamlet of East Moriches is a peaceful community where many residents say they enjoy a nice quality of life.

"People who settle here are not looking for the urban fast pace," said Kevin Loiacono, a broker at Mill River Realty, who moved to East Moriches from Nassau County four years ago. He recalls the first time he phoned the hardware store and was informed it was closed, but the owner told him to come over and just knock on the door. Even more surprising to him, Loiacono was told it was OK to pay later when he realized he was short on cash. "That's the tone of the town," Loiacono muses.

The downtown district on Montauk Highway offers a bank, gas station and other local merchants, including a deli. The stretch in either direction is dotted with other businesses - garden centers and antiques shops. Two tiny airports - Lufker and Spadaro - neighbor each other on Montauk Highway. Long Island Skydiving Center is at the latter. A Coast Guard station and a couple of marinas and restaurants also can be found here.

As new homes sprout, the bucolic landscape has experienced some twinges of growth. Architectural styles, including early 20th century homes, range from Colonials, capes and various ranch styles to Victorians, contemporaries and post-moderns that occupy spacious properties. Some areas, including Newport Beach and Baywood, have beach and boating rights.

Walden Pond, a newer gated community with 324 units for people 55 and older, has one- and two-bedroom apartments.

In 1996, about 10 miles off East Moriches, was the site where TWA Flight 800 crashed after exploding, killing 230 people. Today, memorial sites for the victims include Kaler's Pond.

While boating and fishing are popular recreational activities, residents also can visit Terrell County Park.

The Moriches Chamber of Commerce hosts several events, usually in Center Moriches, including the Spring Street Fair and Summer Craft Fair.

Students then have a choice of attending one of three high schools: Center Moriches, Eastport-South Manor or Westhampton Beach.

-Lisa Doll Bruno (3/4/2005)