New York Times, By Corey Kilgannon,
BAY SHORE, N.Y. — With a smooth spin of the heavy iron steering wheel, Capt. Ernie Villing backed the Fire Island Belle out of its ferry slip and set course for a thin, gauzy strip on the hazy horizon across the Great South Bay.
Mr. Villing, a lifelong ferryman who is 70, has spent the past 55 years helping people reach that sandy Shangri-La known as Fire Island, on summer weekends.