Just a friendly reminder for you to take time to vote in the upcoming General Election. Our temporary polling place is located at the Cedar Beach Marina, Bob Sweeney Education Center, at the east end of the marina parking lot on the north side of Ocean Parkway. The polls are open from 6 a.m. until 9 p.m. on Tuesday, November 7.  

Apart from doing your civic duty, it’s important that elected officials see a strong turnout from beach residents.  Any questions, feel free to contact Suffolk County Board of Elections at 631-852-4500 or go to the Suffolk Votes website, where you can find a full list of candidates and proposals.

—Jed Meade, 11/1/2017

Bike Path Update—Information Open House

The New York State Department of Transit will hold a Public Information Open House to discuss the proposed Ocean Parkway Shared-Use Bike Path Extension. The meeting will take place on Wednesday, October 25, between 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. at the West Bathhouse at Jones Beach, specifically at the Landing Restaurant on the second floor. Public parking will be available in Field 4. NYSDOT as well as the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation will have representatives present to answer questions and receive comments on the proposed shared-use path project. Please see the attached flyer for more information.

The existing shared-use path is a continuation of the Ocean Parkway Coastal Greenway running through Jones Beach State Park and along the Ocean State Parkway, which ends at Tobay Beach. The proposed third phase of this project would continue the pathway from Tobay Beach along the north side of Ocean Parkway for 10 miles to Captree State Park. Plans include a new 10- to 13-foot wide accessible shared-use path providing access to the scenic waterfront and parkway, new bicycle parking areas at locations near existing parking facilities, new native planting to provide a buffer for the communities along the barrier island, and additional wildlife habitat.

Work is currently slated to begin in summer of 2019 and be completed in summer of 2020.
 

Erosion at Gilgo Beach

We want to thank NYS Senator Phil Boyle for his efforts to try to get the Army Corps to clean up the debris at the site of the old Gilgo Beach Coast Guard Station. The debris left over from the demolition decades ago continues to act as a groin and, most likely, causes accelerated erosion on the west side, directly in front of Gilgo Beach. We appreciate the Senator’s efforts and hope that the Army Corps responds quickly.

--Jed Meade, 10/20/2017

With Hurricane Jose now predicted to stay offshore as it heads into the Atlantic, everyone still is encouraged to prepare for the possibility of flooding, coastal erosion, heavy rain, and potential for wind gusts to 50 mph from Tuesday through Wednesday morning.

In addition to taking whatever precautions are appropriate depending on your location, the next best thing you can do is stay aware of local forecasts and/or information found on the National Hurricane Center site as conditions develop.

Above all, stay safe.

--Jed Meade, 9/18/2017

We are very sorry to report the passing of George Sheehan, 95, longtime resident of the Oak Island Beach Association, on September 17th. More information, including details about funeral services, can be found in his obituary.

 
We send our condolences to Barbara, Doug, Janet, and their families.

All for now,
Jed

We are saddened to report the passing of Martha FitzGerald, long-time resident of Oak Beach. Along with her devoted husband Tom, she hosted and supported many community activities through the years: OBCA, BBCA, the OB Yacht Club, FILPS, The Gulls, STBF,  and OB Chapel Society, as well as serving as a dedicated volunteer at Good Sam.

But above all, she was a loving mother, grandmother and friend—always down to earth and ever gracious.

Our heartfelt condolences go out to Peggy, Mollie, Peter, Tom, Susie, and their families.

She will be dearly missed by all who knew her.
 
A Celebration of Life will take place later this month. Memorial contributions can be made to:

Updated Address for Letters to Altice

We have just confirmed that we were given an incorrect address for Altice, to which we directed our letter-writing campaign about upcoming internet improvements for our communities. For all who participated (or would still like to), the correct address is:
 

As a recap, earlier this month, we asked that anyone interested please write a letter to Altice asking that Captree be included in the Broadband 4 All initiative, and also that the installation in all covered communities be completed as quickly as possible. Once again, we ask that you either copy, print, and send this letter or compose your own, but please do so, without delay.
 
While it wasn’t our glitch, we apologize for the inconvenience of asking you do so a second time. And thank you for doing so!

Again, feel free to copy NYS Senator Phil Boyle with your letter at his local office:
 

We thank everyone who has participated in our letter-writing campaign so far, and are grateful for your continued help.

For more details on this issue and others discussed at BBCA’s Annual Summer Meeting, you may request a PDF of the meeting's minutes.

--Jed Meade, 8/23/2017

As reported last March, Altice USA, which merged with Cablevision, was awarded over $1 million dollars to help pay for the installation of high-speed broadband for Babylon’s beach communities. Recently we learned that, because Oak Island is considered a summer community, they will not have such service offered, and the same will be true for Captree Island because of “cost effectiveness.” However, there is a final round of funding available to alleviate some of the cost of the Captree installation, but Altice must apply for this grant to be awarded. And the deadline for applying is this August!

While we have never asked for member’s help with such an initiative before, we are asking you now – without delay – to simply print out and sign this letter and mail it to Altice as soon as possible.If you wish, you may also write your own letter stressing the importance of acquiring reliable, high-speed internet for all our residents and to install such a system with all deliberate speed. 

Also, feel free to copy NYS Senator Phil Boyle with your letter at his local office: 69 West Main Street, Bay Shore, NY 11706.

For more details on this issue and others discussed at BBCA’s Annual Summer Meeting, you may request a pdf of the meeting minutes.

—Jed Meade, 8/4/2017

Annual Summer Meeting

A quick reminder that our Annual Summer Meeting will be this Saturday, July 15, at 10 a.m. in the West Gilgo Beach Chapel. You will be able to gain access through the West Gilgo gate between 9:30 and 10 a.m. on Saturdaymorning. Come to learn the latest news about a variety of issues and participate in any discussions. An election of Officers will take place with the proposed slate being: Jed Meade, President; Jim Schappert, Vice President; Alisa Lombardo, Secretary; and Tara Moran, Treasurer. Nominations may also be made from the floor.

New Location for Annual Summer BBQ! 

Breaking News! Due to unforeseen circumstances, the Annual Summer BBQ hosted by BBCA and Save the Beaches will be moved from West Gilgo to the southwest corner of Oak Beach Park. The BBQ will take place between 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. on Saturday, July 22.

We’ll have the same assortment of food and refreshments that you’ve come to enjoy, and games for the kids, as well. Admittance is free to all current members of either organization and their immediate families. Entrance fee for guests is $5 per person.

A shuttle bus provided by Town of Babylon will still make the rounds to the communities outside of Oak Beach/OIBA, with the first pick up at Captree at 2:30 p.m. More details to follow in another email next week.

Many thanks to Town of Babylon for facilitating this change!

Plus, We Will Have Towels for Sale!

Official BBCA beach towels will be available for purchase at the Summer BBQ! Soft, stylish, and emblazoned with the BBCA logo, these towels will support your favorite civic association AND help keep you dry all summer. The price is $30 (cash or check)—don't miss out!

 
Soldier Ride, This Friday 

Please remember that the Annual Babylon Soldier Ride will take place this coming Friday, July 14. Feel free to cheer on participants along Ocean Parkway, but also be prepared for traffic closures. There will be lanes closed on Robert Moses southbound from Montauk Highway to Ocean Parkway, and westbound on Ocean Parkway from Robert Moses to Cedar Beach, from about 10 a.m. through 2 p.m. More info is available at the Wounded Warrior Project's Soldier Ride webpage. 

--Jed Meade, 7/11/2017

Whether you’re on the beach or off – with friends or family – we wish you a happy and safe 4th of July holiday weekend! 

Please remember that all fireworks are strictly prohibited in each of our beach communities.

Sharpen Your Knives

We've just learned the following information:

“As has been the case for several years,  THE ISLAND SHARPENER will be making his rounds to all the Barrier beach communities this 4th of July, between the hours of 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.

The Island Sharpener is a mobile knife-sharpening business that has been servicing Long Island for decades. His visit to our community has traditionally been July 4th. You will see or hear his truck as it traverses our neighborhoods. Feel free to step outside, say hello, and have your blades sharpened by this experienced gentleman. Appointments with Peter are not necessary, but recommended, especially in our gated communities. 

If you would like to make a personal appointment, please contact: Peter Sampogna 516-769-2772."
 

Catholic Mass 

Finally, Catholic Mass will be celebrated beginning this Sunday, July 2nd, at 9 a.m. at the West Gilgo Beach Chapel. Someone will be at the West Gilgo booth 15 minutes prior to let you in.

--Jed Meade, 6/30/2017

Last Chance—Sign Up for the Cocktail Party!

We are finalizing our plans for the annual "Spring Into Summer" cocktail party, to be held this Saturday at the Gilgo Beach Inn! If you have not already, please RSVP to Jed no later than Wednesday (tomorrow!), May 31, and let us know who will be in your party. Guests are welcome; please leave children at home. Here are the details: 
 

As of today, the forecast is looking "iffy," so please stay tuned for possible changes later in the week. The rain date is Sunday, June 4, from 4–6 p.m. Also, apparel will be available, so please bring a little extra if you are interested in picking up any t-shirts, sweatshirts, or hats!

Save the Dates!
We have locked down dates for two very important events of the summer! Please mark your calendars and stay tuned for further details about the following:
 

We hope to see you there! 

--Jed Meade, 5/30/2017

Happy Memorial Day Weekend

With the traditional start of summer upon us, whether you’re “on the Beach” or off, with friends or family, we wish you a Happy Memorial Day Weekend!

And, most importantly, we would like to extend our heartfelt thanks and appreciation to the men and women of the Armed Forces—past and present—and their families whose sacrifices have enabled us to enjoy the blessings of freedom.
 

Community Center Update

Councilman Tony Martinez reports that the final approval from Suffolk County Department of Health Services was just granted allowing Town of Babylon to resume work right away on the Community Center. We'll send more information as it becomes available. 

Spring Cleanup Dumpsters

Residents of Oak Beach should know there is a spring cleanup dumpster at the Community Center, although no hazardous or toxic materials, paint, tires, etc., should be disposed of there. This is for residential trash and is not available for use by contractors.

As has been offered to other communities, dumpsters for Gilgo and Captree will be available as well.

The Cocktail Party Is Coming Up—Please RSVP

Our annual "Spring Into Summer" cocktail party is almost here! As a reminder, the party will be held on Saturday, June 3, from 5–7 p.m. at the Gilgo Beach Inn. 

A $10 ticket per person—cash or check—at the door will get you two free drinks and a choice of a wide variety of delicious Mulberry Street sandwiches, and an evening of friends, fun, and live music. To help us order the right amount of food, please RSVP to Jed by this Wednesday, May 31, and let us know how many will be attending.

To give our volunteers “at the door” a break, we would prefer not to accept dues payments at the party. If you haven't yet paid your dues, you can do so in two ways: Visit our Dues page to pay via PayPal, or to get information on where to send a check. If you're not certain whether or not you're current, please send a note to Jed. 

Right now, the long-range forecast is good, but if we need to, the rain date will be Sunday, June 4, from 4–6 p.m.—stay tuned.

--Jed Meade, 5/26/2017

"Spring Into Summer" Cocktail Party

Summer is almost here, so let's raise a glass to celebrate! Our annual "Spring Into Summer" cocktail party will take place on Saturday, June 3rd, from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Gilgo Beach Inn. A $10 ticket purchased at the door gets you two free drinks, a wide selection of yummy sandwiches from Mulberry Street in Babylon, and an evening of friends, fun, and live music.
 

Guests are invited, so please feel free to bring friends! However, as this is an adult party, we ask that you please leave your children at home.

If you plan to attend, we ask that you PLEASE RSVP to Jed Meade, for two very important reasons:

First, we want to make sure we have plenty of food available for the crowd that shows up. And second, if we need to have it on Sunday, you can only get past the entrance booth (between 4 p.m. and 5 p.m. without paying a $40 fee if you don’t have a Resident Permit) if your name is on the list. Please RSVP before Thursday, June 1, and let us know how many are in your party.
 

Have You Paid Your 2017 Dues?

Although we’re pleased with dues response, we still have a ways to go to get back on sound footing. If you haven't paid your dues, please take a moment to send a check or pay via PayPal; visit our dues page for more information. 

--Jed Meade, 5/6/2017

Everything is coming together for this year's annual Tree Lighting and Holiday Party! Please send us a note by Friday, December 1, to let us know how many of you will be attending the Tree Lighting and/or the Holiday Party. Don't forget to specify how many children will be attending the Tree Lighting so we can make sure Santa knows how many goody bags to bring!

Please RSVP by Friday, December 1!
As always, in order to plan for food and refreshments, please let us know if you plan to attend and how many will be in your party.

More details will follow... 

—Jed Meade, 11/27/2017

What a Party!

Just a quick note of thanks to all those intrepid partygoers who attended the Tree Lighting and Holiday Party under very seasonable conditions. Both events were certainly well attended, especially given the weather, and by all accounts, everyone had a wonderful time!

Many thanks again to TOB for the potties and shuttle buses, to “Beach Hut Fred” for his heaters, to Jim and Mary Beth Schappert for all the planning and set-up, to Kevin McBride as Santa, and to Carl Vogel for Santa's sleigh! And, of course, we'd like to give a big thank-you to our gracious hosts, Jaime and Tim Harrison. 

Don't Miss the Holiday Train Display

Speaking of the holidays, make sure you pay a visit to the Annual Holiday Model Train Display at the Town of Babylon History Museum, located at 47 West Main Street in Babylon Village. It’s a lot of fun for young and old alike, and even features a replica of our very own Oak Beach Life Saving/Coast Guard station! More details can be found here.
 

Save the Date for the Annual Winter Meeting

And speaking of the History Museum, TOB Historian and Archivist Mary Cascone has generously invited us once again to hold our Annual Winter Meeting at the museum on Saturday, January 13^th at 10:00 a.m. Mark your calendars and please come and participate.

—Jed Meade, 12/20/2017

Very Early Forecast for the Holiday Party...

So far, the weather outlook for next Saturday's Tree Lighting and Holiday Party is for seasonable temps in the mid- to upper 30’s until about 8 p.m. It will be cloudy leading into late afternoon with winds out of the west about 12 mph.

While that forecast may be tweaked somewhat in the next week, the good news is that I don’t see any frigid, raging nor’easters on the horizon. So far, it's a go—dress appropriately! 

Expect one more email next week to confirm that we are still on.

Deadline to RSVP—TODAY!

Thank you to everyone who has sent their RSVP. As a reminder, the deadline to RSVP is today! Please send us a note asap to let us know how many of you will be attending the Tree Lighting and/or the Holiday Party. Don't forget to specify how many children will be attending the Tree Lighting so we can make sure Santa knows how many goody bags to bring!

—Jed Meade, 12/1/2017

Heartfelt Condolences

Our condolences go out to the Howell and Picken families on the loss of their Oak Island homes during the blizzard this past Thursday. Given the frozen conditions of “The Lead,” not to mention the treacherous driving conditions, we were grateful for Babylon Fire Department’s showing up at the height of the storm in full force and being on hand for any developments. They were joined by a number of units from Suffolk County Marine Bureau. Fortunately, no injuries occurred.

At this time, no cause of the fire has been determined.
 

Annual Meeting Reminder

Fire safety and related emergency services issues will be among the topics discussed at our Annual Winter Meeting, to be held this coming Saturday, January 13, at 10 a.m. at Town of Babylon History Museum, 47 West Main Street, Babylon Village. Limited parking is available behind the building and additional public parking is available nearby.

Hope to see you there!

—Jed Meade, 1/7/2018

Progress on the Community Center/Coast Guard Station Restoration: Up and Over!

After three days, the building was supported, lifted and moved west to the adjacent lot where it will await the installation of a new pile foundation—and then moved back. Note the remains of the old black locust poles in the previous location—installed more than 85 years before!

Drink to Save The Beaches at Lessing's Main Street Restaurants for the Month of April!

Mary Beth Schappert of Save the Beaches reports the following fundraising event: For the month of April, the Lessing Family, through their Main Street restaurants, will be raising funds and awareness about STB by donating a portion of the sales of Heineken and Heineken Light for the entire month (the green bottle in honor of Earth Day, April 22!). Their Main Street Group includes Post Office Cafe (Babylon), Southside (Bay Shore), Maxwells (Islip), Library Cafe (Farmingdale), and Finnegan's (Huntington). Along with the donation, the wait staff will wear uniform shirts with the STB logo on the back to promote the organization.

Additionally, at the end of April they will also be raffling a paddleboard at the Post Office Cafe; all proceeds going to Save the Beaches, and the paddleboard to the winner. Stay tuned for details.

We want to thank the Lessing Family and Jen Cantin, Oak Beach resident and Lessing employee, for sponsoring this initiative.

--Jed Meade, 4/10/2017

Get Ready for the Tree Lighting AND Holiday Party!

We are excited to announce more details about the BBCA’s fast-approaching 2017 Tree Lighting and Holiday Party! 

Many members will fondly recall our traditional events at the Community Center with Santa giving out gifts to the kids, or the elegant affair hosted by Karen George to mark the first event under our new BBCA name in 2015.  Well…this won’t be like that. 
 
It is not easy to find a space large enough to fit a group the size of ours, and so we needed to entertain some creative ideas in an attempt to gather during this season of celebration. We have planned an event that will definitely be different—and it will be fun! 

First, the BBCA Tree Lighting (with a visit from Santa)! 
Join your fellow Barrier Beach residents for our annual tree lighting, with carols and a visit from Santa! The tree lighting will begin at 4:15 p.m. on December 9 in Oak Beach Park. This event will last about an hour, and will be a chance for BBCA families to gather and sing carols with their children. Santa will be arriving in style with goody bags for all children 12 and under. Please let us know how many children you will be bringing, so Santa's elves can prepare enough holiday surprises for everyone!
 
Then, the 2017 BBCA Holiday Party! 
Immediately after the tree-lighting, an adults-only party will be graciously hosted by Tim and Jaime Harrison of Oak Beach! Here are some details:

• This is an adults-only party. If you are attending the tree-lighting, please bring your children back home, and then return to Oak Beach Park to meet a shuttle bus to the party.
• This will be a unique outdoor affair, set up in the Harrisons' front yard under tents. Please dress accordingly! The "Main Tent" (20 x 30 ft.) will have walls and will be heated, but be forewarned – this tent will not hold everyone at the same time. Think of it more as a “warming station." Additional tents will be set up with outdoor heaters, but these tents will not have walls. (Again, think "warming station.") High-top cocktail tables will be set up around the party, and there will be a few round tables and chairs for those who may need to sit.
• There will be delicious food! Gourmet sandwiches, pasta, and salad will be provided by Mulberry Street in Babylon, and we will have a “soup and chili station” with homemade breads and a few hot soups courtesy of Panera.
• Refreshments will include sodas, water, a beer keg, and red and white wine.
• All parking will be in Oak Beach Park. Two shuttle buses will make continuous trips to the party and back. For a number of reasons – safety at night, access for those disabled, keeping roads open for buses’ navigation – it is essential that unless you are walking to the party, you park in Oak Beach Park across the road (north) from the tree.
• Due to somewhat limited space, we are inviting only current BBCA members and their immediate families—please, no guests.

Please RSVP!
As always, in order to plan for food and refreshments, please let us know if you plan to attend and how many will be in your party.

Stay Tuned for More Details
If you’ve gotten this far, you realize how dependent we will be on somewhat cooperative, albeit seasonable, weather. So, if weather reports by Wednesday, December 6, indicate that an outdoor party will not be feasible on the 9th, the party may be rescheduled and/or canceled. We will let you know by 12/6 if it’s a go or not.

We’re trying our best, folks, not to miss yet another event! And we put great faith in many of you seasoned and stalwart beach residents to embrace some chilly conditions for what will surely be a memorable holiday celebration.

We want to thank TOB for the shuttle buses and porta-potties, Fred Marsilio of The Beach Hut for his outdoor heaters, and, of course, Jamie and Tim Harrison for their location.

—Jed Meade, 11/20/2017

We’ve just received exciting news that an Oak Beach family has generously offered to host our Holiday Party! Many details have to be worked out but, for now, please set aside the early evening of Saturday, December 9, for a gathering with food and refreshments and, no doubt, a visit from Santa! 

Stay tuned for more details...

—Jed Meade, 11/4/2017

Despite the weather, the Tree Lighting, Santa, and the Holiday Party will go on – perhaps a little more seasonable than we had planned!

You may park inside Oak Beach Park parking lot near the tree where the two shuttle buses will be sledding you down to the party. TOB Bay Constables and SCPD Marine Bureau will be aware of our parking cars there and the gates will remain open until after the party. Please remember that the last shuttle bus will leave the party by 8:30 p.m.

—Jed Meade, 12/9/2017

The Holiday Party is just a few days away, and the forecast is still calling for seasonably chilly weather, with temperatures in the 30’s and light winds (7 m.p.h.).

Our hosts, Jamie and Tim Harrison, are relatively new residents at Oak Beach, so please make a point to say hello, as they’d like to meet their neighbors! We are looking forward to seeing you there!
 

—Jed Meade, 12/6/2017

Winter Meeting Minutes Are Available

We wanted to thank everyone who took the time to attend our annual Winter Meeting. We will continue to consider the possibility of posting the minutes on our website, but for now, the complete minutes are available as a pdf or hard copy to current members; simply contact us to request a copy. Again, our thanks to our Secretary Alisa Lombardo for providing such detailed notes. Some of the meeting highlights may be found below.
 

A Note About Dues

Speaking of “current members,” we’re encouraged by the response so far to our request for dues in our recent membership letter. And we hasten to add, grateful for those of you who added a little more in the way of a donation either by check or PayPal payment. But we still have a long way to go, so, if you haven’t done so already, please send us your dues today.
 

Winter Meeting Highlights

• Members are encouraged to provide feedback on these efforts. 

• The detailed Treasurer’s report presented at the meeting is available for the asking.

• The Spring Cocktail Party will take place at the Gilgo Beach Inn, hosted by Paul McDuffie, and is scheduled for Saturday, June 2.

• The Summer Barbecue is scheduled to take place at Oak Beach Park on Saturday, July 21.

• Deputy Supervisor Tony Martinez reports that bids for the final restoration phase at the Community Center will be opened in a few weeks and work will resume immediately.

• District Director Gordon Canary in Senator Phil Boyle’s office reports that Altice will be installing their infrastructure for high-speed internet throughout Oak Beach, Gilgo, and West Gilgo during 2018, with actual hookups to residences beginning January 2019.

• Bids for extending the bike path from Tobay to Captree are to be solicited in May 2019, with construction to begin in summer of 2019 and be completed by summer 2020.

If you would like to know more, please contact us to request a copy of the Winter Meeting minutes.

—Jed Meade, 1/29/2018

Once again, a big thank you to all who helped with the Tree Lighting and Holiday Party last weekend! Lots of fun for all who attended!

Thanks, first, to Town of Babylon for the porta-potties and shuttle buses.

To John and Dottie Warren, Jim and Mary Beth Schappert, Ranae McDuffie, and Tim Harrison for the Tree Lighting festivities. And, of course, to Kevin McBride in his big red suit and Carl Vogel for getting him there in a very merry boat-sleigh.

A wonderful party followed with delicious food, plenty of refreshments, and good cheer amidst several social gathering spots ranging from brisk and chilly to a toasty warm tent. Many thanks to Tim and Jaime Harrison for so graciously hosting us once again. And thanks to Suzie Lanzillota who organized the food pantry, and to those who donated items.

Thanks also to Senator Boyle, Legislator McCaffrey, and Assemblyman-Elect LePetri for stopping by.

From all of us to you and your family, a Very Merry Christmas, Happy Hannukah, and Happy and Healthy New Year!

Scroll down for photos from the event...

—Jed Meade, 12/15/2018

Winter Meeting Update

We wanted to thank everyone who took the time to attend our annual Winter Meeting in January. In the interest of maintaining members’ privacy, the Executive Board has decided not to publish the minutes on our website, however, we are eager to share them with our members. We have outlined the highlights of the meeting below. For those who are interested, the complete minutes are available as a pdf or hard copy to current members; simply contact us to request a copy. 

A Note About Dues

Speaking of “current members,” we’re encouraged by the response so far to our request for dues in our recent membership letter. And we hasten to add, grateful for those of you who added a little more in the way of a donation either by check or PayPal payment. But we still have a long way to go, especially in being able to provide “fee-free” social gatherings in the year ahead. If you haven’t done so already, please send us your dues today.

Winter Meeting Highlights

* The past year has been a year of fine-tuning of the new BBCA, including improving the means of communication with members. Members are encouraged to provide feedback on these efforts. 

*The detailed Treasurer’s report presented at the meeting is available for the asking.

* The BBCA Welcome Packet continues to be improved and copies are available to all new neighbors to the barrier beaches. In addition, Cate Xeller, our new Membership Chair is planning on creating a similar packet for all current members later this spring.

* The Spring Cocktail Party will take place at the Gilgo Beach Inn, and will be hosted by Paul McDuffie (date in May, TBD).  

* Community Center delays revolve around septic system approvals from Suffolk County Department of Health. Nevertheless, TOB Deputy Supervisor Tony Martinez is anticipating those approvals this spring and is fully committed to starting construction work as soon as that occurs.

* BBCA continues to seek improved internet access on the barrier island and is working closely with local officials to receive improvements promised as a result of the merger of Cablevision and Altice. State Senator Phil Boyle and his District Director Gordon Canary both attended the meeting and spoke about this topic, among others.

* NY Rising Community Redevelopment Program continues to move forward and barrier beach communities are anticipating the installation of back-up power generators for water supply systems in West Gilgo and at the Bob Sweeney Fishing Center at Cedar Beach sometime this year.

* Bids for extending the bike path from Tobay to Captree are to be solicited in late 2019, with construction to begin in 2020. Senator Boyle’s office offered to host a meeting of DOT officials, TOB, and local representatives to be involved in the planning process. That meeting is still being scheduled.

* BBCA apparel is available. Check the website for available stock.

* The Executive Board will pursue this possibility of re-establishing a “List of Benefactors” to garner additional revenue.

* An improved police presence will be provided at the Sore Thumb to monitor increased 4x4 access as a result of beach access closure at Gilgo.

If you would like to know more, please contact us to request a copy of the Winter Meeting minutes.

—Jed Meade, 2/11/2017

Cornell Cooperative Extension of Nassau County is hosting a free Community Tick Prevention Education Forum on October 12, 7-9 pm at East Meadow Farm. See attached flyer for details. All are welcome, please share with anyone interested.

--Jed Meade, 10/5/2017

Rescheduled Winter Meeting

To all: We have rescheduled the Annual Winter Meeting. The new date is Saturday, January 21, at 10 a.m.

Again, it will take place at the Town of Babylon History Museum at Old Town Hall, 47 West Main Street, Babylon Village.

—Jed Meade, 1/13/2017

We apologize for the late call, but due to inclement weather, we're postponing the Winter Meeting that was scheduled for today, January 7, 2017. We’ll be in touch as soon as we reschedule.

—Jed Meade, 1/7/2017

Membership Letters Are in the Mail

Please be on the lookout for our Membership Letter, which has just been mailed out. It contains news about the BBCA, the issues we’re working on, some policy changes, as well as a request for 2017 dues. As always, you can send in a check or pay here via PayPal.

Annual Meeting This Saturday

And please participate by coming to our Annual Meeting, this coming Saturday, January 7, at 10:00 a.m. at Town of Babylon History Museum at Old Town Hall, 47 West Main Street, Babylon Village.

Parking is available behind the building, on the street or in nearby Village parking lots.

After the meeting you’ll have one last chance to visit the Holiday Train Display on the second floor!

Get Your BBCA Apparel!

Great news! Some awesome BBCA apparel is still in stock! Long- and short-sleeve T-shirts, hoodies, and hats are available in two colors—sizes and quantities are limited.

All proceeds go to the Barrier Beach Civic Association to support various worthy causes, social and holiday events, and much more. All items are currently available for pick-up only at Oak Beach. Order yours now!

—Jed Meade, 1/4/2017

Holiday Tree Lighting—This Saturday!

We hope you can join us on Saturday, December 3rd, at 4:30 p.m. for our annual BBCA tree lighting.  We will kick off the holiday season with some simple libations, cookies, carols, and cheer. 

We have it on good authority that Santa will be arriving around 5 p.m. with some goody bags for the children. And we hear that he will be arriving in a very special sleigh, appropriate for a visit to the beach—come and see what it’s all about! 

Correction

Town of Babylon Historian and Archivist Mary Cascone wants everyone to know that while she helped with the current Long Island Life Saving Stations exhibit at the Babylon Library (mentioned in my last newsletter), it was actually presented by the Village of Babylon Historical and Preservation Society.

Babylon Holiday Model Train Display, Opening Friday

But, speaking of Mary Cascone, she and her office will be hosting the 2016 Annual Holiday Model Train Display at Town of Babylon History Museum, Old Town Hall, 47 West Main Street, Babylon Village. It will be opening this Fridaynight, December 2nd, from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.during the Old Fashioned Village Christmas. After that, you can see the trains on Fridays through Sundays from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. until January 8th, 2017.

It’s a wonderful display, especially for children, featuring replicas of many Babylon buildings and points of interest. Debuting this year is a scale model of our own Oak Beach Life Saving Station, made by Mary’s husband Jason – don’t miss it!

—Jed Meade, 11/29/2016

Explore Local History

An exhibit about Long Island Life Saving Stations, featuring ours at Oak Beach, is currently on display in the lobby of the Babylon Public Library, 24 South Carll Ave, Babylon. Presented by TOB Historian Mary Cascone, it should run until at least the end of the month.

Tom Morris Talks Islands of Content

Speaking of the Babylon Public Library, Tom Morris, author and Oak Island resident, will give a talk there about his book Islands of Content; A History of Oak Island, Oak Island Beach and Captree Island, New York. The event is on Tuesday, November 29th at 7 p.m. Signed copies of the book will be available for purchase for $25.

We wish all of you a very Happy Thanksgiving Day holiday!

--Jed Meade, 11/22/2016

Please remember to take time and vote tomorrow in this very important election. Our temporary polling place is located at the Cedar Beach Marina, Bob Sweeney Education Center at the east end of the marina parking lot on the north side of Ocean Parkway. The polls are open from 6 a.m. until 9 p.m.  

Apart from doing your civic duty, it’s important that elected officials see a strong turnout from beach residents.  Any questions, feel free to contact Suffolk County Board of Elections at 631-852-4500 or go to the Suffolk Votes website.

—Jed Meade, 11/7/2016

Holiday Tree Lighting and...Santa!

Hi, all — Just a quick note to let you know we are planning a festive gathering for our Holiday Tree Lighting and Santa Visit to be held at Oak Beach Park on Saturday, December 3^rd from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. We’ll have some refreshments and snacks, and Santa will have goody bags for the children. More details will follow in a few weeks.

It's clear that we have decided to scale down our Holiday gathering this year – for a couple of reasons:

Obviously, the bad news is that our Community Center is still off limits. The better news is that we’re finally getting close to obtaining the necessary state and county permission required to continue the project. And TOB's Councilman Tony Martinez remains committed to restart the project as soon as that happens.

The other factor affecting our party plans is a limited budget due in large part to reduced number of membership dues paid. For the second year in a row, we’ve only been able to collect from a little over 60% of the membership. However, the Board has discussed some changes that we hope to bring about for the new year that will improve dues payments and maintain our treasury.

Election Day

Also, please note: Election Day 2016 — Tuesday, November 8th, 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. Please exercise your right and privilege by voting this coming Tuesday.

Remember that our polling place is temporarily moved to the Cedar Beach Marina, Bob Sweeney Education Center (sometimes referred to as the Aquatic Center) at Cedar Beach. It is located at the east end of the marina parking lot on the north side of Ocean Parkway.

Apart from doing your civic duty, it’s important that elected officials see a strong turnout from beach residents.  Any questions, feel free to contact SC Board of Elections at 631-852-4500 or go to the Suffolk Votes website.

—Jed Meade, 11/4/2016

Gray Lumps on the Beach

Back on July 29, 2011, I sent out the following civic email entitled, "Gray lumps on the beach":

"Almost a week after the first sighting, Lauren Puccia, Bay Management Specialist with Town of Babylon's DEC has positively identified the foul smelling gray lumps on the beach as one type of tunicate - a filter feeding organism that dwells on the bottom of the ocean. When they die and wash up on shore, like any other decaying matter, they give off a pretty bad odor.

Google it if you wish - turns out there are lots of different types. But definitely not raw sewage or any one of a number of wildly creative possibilities. I have yet to see one but have been listening to reports all along the shoreline from Overlook to the east end of the Association. It certainly stumped a lot of "old timers" as well ----"

It turns out they’ve returned, and have been spotted this time as widely as inside the Sore Thumb all the way to the bay shoreline at West Gilgo.

Make sure you stay upwind ---

--Jed Meade, 9/26/2016

With Hermine named as a Gulf storm and predicted to eventually come up off the East Coast, weather over the weekend could become stormy as early as Sunday. As with any such disturbance, the best plan of action is to continue to monitor developments and take appropriate caution. One of the best sources available is the National Hurricane Center’s website, along with local forecasts.

As has already been reported, with the effects of several Atlantic disturbances already being felt along our ocean shoreline, extreme caution should be used through the weekend due to the threat of dangerous rip currents.

In the meantime, I wish you all a pleasant and safe holiday weekend!

--Jed Meade, 8/31/2016

Update on Ocean Parkway Bike Path
We’ve just been informed that the time table for development of the third phase of the Ocean Parkway Coastal Greenway Shared Use Path (The Bike Path) has been moved up from 2021 to 2019. Construction will likely begin in the “late summer/early fall” of 2019. Although the general design has been approved, the NYSDOT is committed to holding informational public meetings to discuss the project prior to construction. As soon as we hear of such a meeting, we’ll let you know.

For more information, please visit the New York State Department of Transportation website.

Oak Beach "Labor Day Weekend Lazy Float" 
Marie Morena and the Schapperts have asked to pass this invitation along to our members and friends:

Please join some neighbors for the first Oak Beach "Labor Day Weekend Lazy Float" from Oak Beach Park to Sore Thumb. Meet at the Park at 12:30 p.m.on Saturday, September 3rd for launch and then drift the outgoing tide to Sore Thumb. Low tide is at 3:37 p.m. You will need anything that floats (tubes, canoes, rafts, logs, etc.), sunscreen, drinks, and a ride back to OB park from the West End of Oak Beach Road. (Some pick-up trucks will be available to "squeeze in" the bed if you need a lift.). All members, family and friends are welcome.

--Jed Meade, 8/27/2016

Annual Summer Meeting Minutes Available 
The Meeting Minutes from our Annual Summer Meeting are now available upon request. Please let me know if you want a pdf version or, if you prefer, we can send you a hard copy. As always, many thanks to our Secretary Alisa Lombardo, for providing such a detailed record.

Islands of Content, Now in Third Printing
The second printing of Tom Morris’s new book, Islands of Content, has just sold out! But a third printing of this informative history of Oak Island, Oak Island Beach and Captree Island is already in the works. It contains 300 pages of memories and history with over 150 photographs of local landmarks, residents and artifacts. The cost is $25.

--Jed Meade, 8/10/2016

Join Us for the First-Ever Barrier Beach Clothing Drive!
Our friends at Save the Beaches have teamed up with Cub Scout Pack 99 to put together the first-ever Barrier Beach Clothing Drive. Take this opportunity to clear out your closets—Cub Scouts will pick up your gently used clothing right from your front door!

Here are the details for those of you who would like to participate:

• When: Monday, August 1, 10 a.m.
• What: Donate your gently used clothing
• How: Please place all donations in a bag marked "BSA," and leave them out by your front door/porch for collection on Monday morning.* The Cub Scouts will pick up, then deliver your donation to a local Babylon charity.

*Oak Islanders: Please leave bagged donations in your parking lot.

Thank you in advance to all who can participate. 

--Jed Meade, 7/27/2016

Join Us for the Annual Summer Meeting
Just a reminder that the Annual Summer Meeting of the BBCA will be at the West Gilgo Chapel on Saturday, July 16 at 10:00 am. We hope to see as many of you as possible as we udpate you on our progress this year and discuss matters of continued import to our communities. There will be someone at the West Gilgo gate from 9:30 to 11:30 am to let you through. Please come and participate!

Town of Babylon Soldier Ride 
This Friday, July 15^th the Annual TOB Soldier Ride will take place, starting at Town Hall and eventually ending up at Cedar Beach. Feel free to turn out on Ocean Parkway and support the riders as they pass by. More info can be found at the Wounded Warrior Project website.

Remember that southbound Robert Moses Causeway and westbound Ocean Parkway to Cedar Beach will be closed during this event, from approximately 9:30 am to about 2 pm on Friday, 7/15.

Access to Fire Wells and Drafting Points
The most important access issue is for Babylon Fire Department and what we as leaseholders can do to not hinder or block access to either fire wells or drafting points in our communities. Drafting points are locations on “fire jetties” on the inlet or bay locations near a road where a fire truck can put in a suction hose to get water. They are as critical – if not more critical – than fire wells in providing available water to fight a fire.

With BFD’s help we are in the process of identifying and making a map of all these locations. We are working to provide additional info about what you can do to help facilitate emergency preparedness and response. In the meantime, don’t block fire jetties or fire wells, and if you see a problem, contact your neighbor and have them clear the area.

If there is no relief, call SCPD at 911 and report it as a non-emergency. Whenever you contact 911, for whatever reason, tell them your physical address and that “we are patrolled by SCPD Marine Bureau.”
 
Another issue of access – and somewhat related to the issue above – is making sure that access points within our communities via walkways – boardwalks or cement – are kept in good, usable shape and free of overgrowth, obstacles, etc. Beyond the lease language that addresses this issue and requires leaseholders to keep walkways “neat, clean and free of debris,” it’s suggested this be done as a courtesy and a neighborly gesture. Having our access walks in good shape also helps emergency responders do so in safe conditions.
 
Annual Summer Meeting
Just a reminder that the Annual Summer Meeting of the BBCA will be at the West Gilgo Chapel on Saturday, July 16 at 10:00 am.

--Jed Meade, 7/1/2016

Great news! The date for the Barrier Beaches Summer BBQ has been set! We hope you can join us Sunday, July 10th from 3 pm to 6 pm. Stay tuned for more information, but here is everything we know so far: 

• Once again, we will be cohosting the event with Save the Beaches. 
• There will be Shuttle Buses. 
• We will have a 50/50 raffle. 
• There will be live entertainment—“The Oak Beach Boys.” 
• There will be games for kids!*
• There will be plenty of food, soda, beer, wine, and water.
• Tables and chairs will be set up, like last year.
• There is no rain date, but we will have a big tent and two smaller canopies if needed. 
• You will be able to pay your dues at the event, but feel free to follow the link below to pay via PayPal.

Please RSVP via email and let us know how many adults and how many children of what ages will be attending. This is crucial to allow us to plan for the party food and drink.

*Please email Mary Beth Schappert, Elise Vogel, or Tara Moran if you would like to volunteer to help organize kids activities!

More for BBCA Kids! 

The BBQ is just the beginning! We have some more great activities coming up to bring together the kids of the Barrier Beach communities—scroll down for more information about the following: 

Beach Cleanup for Kids
Sunday, June 26th, 10-11 a.m.
All ages! If your little ones are too small to pick up trash, bring a stroller and tag along to meet other Barrier Beach families!

Lighthouse Tower Tour & Nature Walk
Wednesday, August 17th, 5:30 p.m.
Free for Save the Beaches Members, $5 Donation for additional guests.

Don't see something for your kids? Want to volunteer to help? We want to hear from you. Please take a moment to fill out our BBCA Kids Survey and Sign-Up Sheet so we all can join in the fun!

--Jed Meade, 6/13/2016

Once again, Marie Morena and Ray Pontillo have organized an event at their home to teach the proper techniques of CPR and the use of an Automated External Defibrillator (AED), crucial lifesaving skills for anyone living on the barrier beach. If you participated last year, you need to get re-certified. The course duration is approximately 3 hours and is tentatively scheduled for Saturday, June 25^th at 3 pm, located at 24 The Fairway, Oak Beach Association. The fee, going directly to the licensed instructors, will be $50 or less ( depending on the number of attendees) – cash only, please. If you plan to attend or have questions, please RSVP via email to Marie by May 31^st or call her at 516-642-0700.

We have some great activities coming up to bring together the kids of the Barrier Beach communities. Please check out our BBCA Kids page to find out more about our upcoming Beach Cleanup, a kid-friendly lighthouse tour organized by Save the Beaches, and more! Please also take a moment to fill out our BBCA Kids Survey and Sign-Up Sheet to share your ideas or volunteer!

Great news! The date for the Barrier Beaches Summer BBQ has been set! We hope you can join us Sunday, July 10th from 3 pm to 6 pm. Stay tuned for more information, but here is everything we know so far: 

• Once again, we will be cohosting the event with Save the Beaches. 
• There will be Shuttle Buses. 
• We will have a 50/50 raffle. 
• There will be live entertainment—“The Oak Beach Boys.” 
• There will be games for kids!*
• There will be plenty of food, soda, beer, wine, and water.
• Tables and chairs will be set up, like last year.
• There is no rain date, but we will have a big tent and two smaller canopies if needed. 
• You will be able to pay your dues at the event, but feel free to follow the link below to pay via PayPal.

Please RSVP via email and let us know how many adults and how many children of what ages will be attending. This is crucial to allow us to plan for the party food and drink.

*Please email Mary Beth Schappert, Elise Vogel, or Tara Moran if you would like to volunteer to help organize kids activities!

More for BBCA Kids! 

The BBQ is just the beginning! We have some more great activities coming up to bring together the kids of the Barrier Beach communities—scroll down for more information about the following: 

Beach Cleanup for Kids
Sunday, June 26th, 10-11 a.m.
All ages! If your little ones are too small to pick up trash, bring a stroller and tag along to meet other Barrier Beach families!

Lighthouse Tower Tour & Nature Walk
Wednesday, August 17th, 5:30 p.m.
Free for Save the Beaches Members, $5 Donation for additional guests.

Don't see something for your kids? Want to volunteer to help? We want to hear from you. Please take a moment to fill out our BBCA Kids Survey and Sign-Up Sheet so we all can join in the fun!

--Jed Meade, 6/13/2016

With the traditional start of summer upon us, whether you’re “on the Beach” or off, with friends or family, we wish you a Happy Memorial Day Weekend!

And, most important, “Our heartfelt thanks and appreciation to the men and women of the Armed Forces – past and present – and their families whose sacrifices have enabled us to enjoy the Blessings of Freedom.”

--Jed Meade, 5/28/2016

Once again, Marie Morena and Ray Pontillo have organized an event at their home to teach the proper techniques of CPR and the use of an Automated External Defibrillator (AED), crucial lifesaving skills for anyone living on the barrier beach. If you participated last year, you need to get re-certified. The course duration is approximately 3 hours and is tentatively scheduled for Saturday, June 25^th at 3 pm, located at 24 The Fairway, Oak Beach Association. The fee, going directly to the licensed instructors, will be $50 or less ( depending on the number of attendees) – cash only, please. If you plan to attend or have questions, please RSVP via email to Marie by May 31^st or call her at 516-642-0700.
 
A quick thank you to all who worked on – as well as those attending – last night’s party at GBI! Safe to say, a great time was had by all. Photos soon on both www.savethebeaches.net and www.barrierbeachcivicassociation.com.
 
With mention made of community dumpsters, I neglected to thank the Town of Babylon, of course, for providing them ---
 
A few more “old format” emails – along with Mail Chimp emails for the time being. Please be patient. We’ll let you know when we plan to pull the plug on the “old format”.
 
--Jed Meade, 5/21/2016

Voting for the Babylon School budget as well as for School Board candidates takes place today,Tuesday, 5/17 at Babylon Memorial Grade School on Park Avenue, Babylon Village from 6am to 9pm. Please do your part and participate by voting.
 
Save the Beaches Fund will help sponsor our upcoming Cocktail Party at Gilgo Beach Inn this Saturday, May 21^st from 3pm – 6pm. A $10 ticket at the door gets you two free drinks plus food. Rain date is Sunday, May 22^nd, same time. Please help us out by sending us an rsvp. And visit STBF at www.savethebeaches.net  to find out more about this worthwhile organization.

--Jed Meade, 5/17/2016

To all: Due to inclement weather most of this coming weekend, we’ve switched the cocktail party to Friday night 5/20 from 5:30 pm to 8:30 pm at the Gilgo Beach Inn. Believe me it was not an easy decision to make but we think it was the right one for a variety of reasons. Hopefully, we can talk about them Friday night over a drink. Again, a $10 donation gets you two free drinks and food which are tasty Mulberry Street heroes. We apologize to those who cannot make it now. Maybe a few of you who couldn’t before are now able. One last favor: In order to try and get the food order right, if you already rsvp’d, would you please let me know if you can’t attend. And, if you suddenly can, let me know that too! Our thanks to Paul McDuffie. Again, our apologies to the rest of you ---

--Jed Meade, 5/18/2016

To all –
Oak Beach has received their first spring cleanup dumpster, located at the Community Center. If they haven’t arrived already, other communities will follow. Please no hazardous materials or debris from  either home improvement or landscape contractors.
 
Did you mark your calendar for May 21st? That's the date of the BBCA's "Adult's only Cocktail Party" from 3-6pm at The Gilgo Beach Inn.  Please come down and join us. 10 bucks at the gate will get each person two free drinks and food.  Feel free to bring a guest.

Rain date is Sunday the 22nd at the same time.  Please RSVP to me as soon as possible if you are planning to attend.

--Jed Meade, 5/12/2016

Hello.  And Happy Spring from your Barrier Beach Civic Association!

While last year was spent on formally renaming our association and making some organizational changes, this year we look forward to bringing about numerous improvements that we hope will better serve our membership and the six barrier beach communities that we represent.

The latest 
Obviously, if you’re reading this, you’re already aware of two developments: our use of Mail Chimp, a free email service, and our newly designed banner and logo.

While there will be more to say about both, for now, let me just thank Elise Vogel, her husband Keith Vincent and our Treasurer Tara Moran for bringing both of these about. And they have promised more improvements in the near future with links to PayPal for such services as purchasing apparel, as well as establishing BBCA’s presence on social media. Dues can now be paid via our website, using PayPal, an advancement that should offer a great convenience to maintain and grow our membership.

Changes have also begun to be made to our website at www.barrierbeachcivicassociation.com; please check it out.  I hasten to add that another new upgrade has been a classy new bound version of our “Welcome Packet” containing a variety of helpful information for newly arrived residents. Our thanks go to Cate Xeller for producing them.  Please let your Community Rep know if a new neighbor has moved into your community.

It goes without saying that we will continue to do our best to inform the membership about ongoing topics that are of interest to us all: acquiring broadband internet capability, monitoring the progress of the NY Rising Community Reconstruction Projects, the restoration of the Oak Beach Community Center, mosquito spraying, road maintenance, improvements to how we receive emergency services and a host of “quality of life issues” within each of our communities and our surrounding areas.

Spring Into Summer Cocktail Party
All of this and, with your help, we are going to throw a few good parties! And that will begin with the always popular Spring Into Summer Cocktail Party to be hosted this year by Paul McDuffie at the Gilgo Beach Inn on Saturday, May 21^st from 3pm to 6pm, rain date on Sunday, May 22 from 3pm to 6pm. For this “adults only” party we are going to ask two things: Please RSVP to me via email prior to May 16 and let us know if you’ll attend and how many will be in your party. And, with our depleted treasury, we will ask you for a donation of $10 per head at the door, which will entitle you to food and two drinks at the bar. We’ll send out more info – several times – over the next few weeks, but if you’re planning to attend, please let us know.

Dues
Finally and maybe most importantly, some business to discuss: Last year, we received dues from only 64% of our total membership. We trust that some of the “tech” improvements, like the new ability to renew using Paypal, will help to improve that figure.

For now, we would like to continue offering a free first year’s membership and keep the dues at $30 per leasehold for existing members.  To utilize the convenience of PayPal, dues will be a total of $31.50, which includes the cost of a PayPal service charge.  As always, we thank those who donate above and beyond.

Please do your part today by renewing your membership.

As I mentioned before, you now have two ways to stay current:

You can pay your dues via PayPal here, or send a check payable to "BBCA" to:

Barrier Beach Civic Association
4212 Oak Beach
Oak Beach, NY 11702

If you think you might have prepaid or have any questions at all, please feel free to ask.

Thank you
I’ll end by thanking those who continue to be a great help in all this work, including those mentioned above, and the rest of our Executive Board:  Jim Schappert, Alisa Lombardo and Paul McDuffie. I also want to thank our new Community Reps who will facilitate communication amongst communities: Paul McDuffie - Gilgo, Gayle Haines- Captree Island, Mark Nuccio - Oak Island, Ed Hoffman - Oak Island Beach Association, Nick Rodgers - Oak Beach and Tom Cassidy - West Gilgo.

As I’ve said before, while we can’t guarantee success in any one endeavor, I believe progress will be made by a well-informed, actively involved membership. We’ll do our part in keeping you informed. Please do your part and participate.

--Jed Meade, 5/7/2016

Frank Scalia, long time resident of Oak Beach passed away recently at the age of 95. Long active in community affairs, he and his wife Mae were instrumental in the beginning of such organizations as the Oak Beach Gulls and Oak Beach Civic Association. We send our condolences to Mae and her family.

--Jed Meade, 2/14/2016

While it looks as though areas to our south may get significantly more snow, we’re going to be in for some nasty weekend weather with very strong winds and high tides.

As always, please consider checking in with neighbors as weather develops, especially those who may be elderly or living alone.

Stay warm. Stay safe.

--Jed Meade, 1/21/2016

For your convenience, here are links to the National Weather Service and The Weather Channel for the latest developments with Winter Storm Jonas.

Housing the Town of Babylon History Museum, this building is the sight of one current and one future event worth noting!

As seen on flyers around our communities, once again the Museum is featuring a wonderful Model Train Display set up just for the Christmas season. It is set in a “model” Babylon Village featuring replicas of over 40 historic buildings and sights from a bygone era. Free to the public, it really is a great treat for kids and adults alike. The display will be “running” from 12:00 noon to 3:00 pm on the following days, 12/18, 12/19 , 12/20, 12/26, 12/27, 1/2 and closing on 1/3 Phone: 587-3750 for more details

Should you stop by, make a point of saying hello to Mary Cascone, Director. As both TOB Archivist and Town Historian, Mary and her staff have been of tremendous help to us by temporarily housing our documents while the Community Center is undergoing restoration. And she has also provided invaluable assistance in the planning process of the restoration itself.

For the third year she will be hosting us at our Annual Winter Meeting at Old Town Hall, 47, West Main Street in Babylon Village on Saturday, January 9^th at 10:00 am. This will, of course, be the first complete Annual Meeting of the Barrier Beach Civic Association. I’ll send a reminder in a few weeks  with an idea of our agenda.

If I don’t have an opportunity before then, let me wish all of you and your families a Happy Hanukkah, a very Merry Christmas and hopes for a happy, healthy and peaceful New Year!

--Jed Meade 12/16/2015

To quote Paul McDuffie of Gilgo who has his own Gilgo email post for his community, “In a word, WOW! - Forget the house (which was amazing), forget the view, the food, the band, the keg, the wine, the shuttle busses, Santa......forget all that....

The people, our community, was truly what it was all about. All six beach communities were represented last night. The newly named BARRIER BEACH Civic Assn has already served its mission to be a more inclusive organization. I was so impressed, and in fact proud to be a part of it at last night's annual holiday party. The solidarity and camaraderie as "beach people", not West Gilgo residents, or "the other end" or "the assn"......was really, really great...I hope to see you all at the next social.”

Many thanks, again, to all who helped bring this about and especially to Karen George for being such a generous hostess and gracious entertainer.

Per a suggestion from Suzie Lanzillotta, we’re pleased to report that all the leftover food is being donated to the Bay Shore soup kitchen ---

All for now,

Jed

--Jed Meade, 12/6/2015

So, with all the party planning set, just a few last minute items to mention to those of you who have responded and are on the guest list.

Please park in the northeast corner of Oak Beach Park (outside the park gates, on the north side of the access road) and two shuttle buses will take you to the party beginning just before 5pm, following the tree lighting. The buses will continue to rotate until about 8:30pm.

For those of you within OIBA who may be driving, please avoid parking in front of Karen’s driveway/garage where Anchor Way meets The Bayou as that’s the area that the buses will need room in which to turn around. And neither of her driveways will be available for parking as they’re already accounted for with guests and service personnel.

While it’s not necessary, feel free to bring a favorite appetizer or dessert. Just please make sure they are ready to serve and need not be refrigerated or heated.

Jim Schappert has chosen a variety of dinner entrees with ten different dishes as well as two different kinds of heros! And we have a number of volunteers to help serve several choices of wine, champagne, beer and soda.

For parents who are bringing young children, please be aware that a very spacious and bright basement area has been designated for the little ones to hang-out and play together.  There will be two responsible teenage girls supervising for the duration of the party.  Feel free to bring your child's favorite toy and/or an activity that can be shared to help keep them all engaged.

Santa will, most likely, stop by around 6pm, following the traditional reading of “A Visit from St. Nicholas”

Also, please keep in mind that the party will end promptly at 8pm.

While there are numerous people to thank for bringing this about, let me pass on the sentiment that many of you have shared over the last few weeks; our gratitude and thanks to Karen George for generously offering her home and graciously entertaining us ---

See you on Saturday!

--Jed Meade, 12/3/2015

OBCA President, Jed Meade, writes:

Many hands made light work --- and, after this morning’s dusting, timing was everything!
 
Thanks to a lot of volunteer help – State Senator Phil Boyle among them – we managed to dispose of many bags of trash as well as a number of heavy pieces of debris. I think everyone agrees, our community looks much better for the effort.
 
Now let’s maintain it and keep it that way. Please put garbage in closed containers and if there’s a spill, please clean up your own mess!
 
Again, many thanks to Jim Schappert, Mollie and Peggy FitzGerald, Dottie Warren, Bob Schlageter, Tom Jones, Lorraine Greenwald, Nick Rodgers and his daughter Nicole, John Williams, Connie Larosa, Rich Murphy, Harry Herz, Kevin Conway, Lisa Newman, Alisa Lombardo, and Therese Cestra and her “clan”. Tough job, well done!
 
Jolene, who is extremely allergic to poison ivy, gathered two large bags of debris from the Sore Thumb. Thanks, Sweetie ---
 
Jed