Handmade Sign Believed Stolen From Mattituck Post Office

MATTITUCK, NY — It's the kind of touch that gives the North Fork its sense of small-town values and charm — a beautiful, handcrafted wooden sign, one of a series, that were created for the Mattituck Post Office and beloved former postmaster.

On Saturday, realtor Nicholas Planamento — who has a deep appreciation for Mattituck's rich history and has worked for years to create the thriving Love Lane that exists today — was at the post office, picking up his mail from his post office box.

He looked up and noticed that one of the signs was missing — the Mattituck Yacht Club signs, which was white, with a navy blue border and black writing. The sign hung from a sisal rope and over the words "Mattituck Yacht Club," were nautical flags. The "M" was raised and custom-designed, he said.

Other signs in the series depict well-loved locales in Mattituck, such as Mattituck Breakwater and James Creek.

Planamento said he asked the clerks and postmaster but no one had any idea of when it went missing; he believes it's been missing approximately three weeks to a month.

Southold Town Police Chief Martin Flatley said no police report has been filed yet but he'd look in to the matter.

The signs, Planamento said, were created by Neil MacDonald, who grew up in Greenport and had made signs for Planamento's former shop La Ferme De La Mer in Mattituck. Planamento paid half the cost and MacDonald donated 50%.

When the signs were first hung, Planamento said they were well-received by the warm and friendly locals who love the hometown where so many have grown up.

However, he said, the signs were not securely fastened and hung just from regular hooks — and somehow, it seems as if someone reached up and surreptitiously swiped one.

The loss of one of the beautifully crafted signs is a loss to the community, Palamento said – and the hope is that whoever took it will do the right thing and bring it back.

MacDonald, who is now retired and lives in Florida, said he made the signs around the year 2000. "My intent was that the signs would always be there for many generations to enjoy."

His inspiration in making the signs started when he first made one for a gift from an old black and white photo, in old, handmade carpenter craftsman style by recycling wood and hand painting the trim and lettering, MacDonald said.

"When I was finished and presented the sign, I was moved by misty eyed joy by the guy, who said it reminded him of his childhood growing up. I made signs as gifts for many years after that," he said.

Learning that one of the signs had been stolen, MacDonald was shocked.

"I am in disbelief that in my hometown of Mattituck — which is a place where you put money in a can at a farmstand to pay for vegetables — someone would steal a public decoration. I do reach out to whoever knows where it is to please return it."

Staff at the Mattituck Post Office is unable to speak to the media; a call for comment from the United States Postal Service was not immediately returned.

But Planamento is undeterred — and determined to bring the sign home. "We’re going to track it down," he said.

Patch courtesy photo.