FOC Newsletter, Chairman’s Letter, Spring 2009

Spring! After a long, cold winter, it’s a welcome site to see crocuses and daffodils blooming and buds on the trees. Ospreys have returned to the park. The lack of fish is making it more difficult for them to find food.

As for the hatchery, initial proposals have been received from two consulting firms with their ideas on rectifying the IPN issue. The State is in the process of evaluating them. Further clarification may be sought from the consultants prior to any decisions by the State about engaging their services. Please see page 5 of the latest newsletter for Richard Remmer’s article on this subject and visit the Friends website for future updates.

The Friends are currently seeking grants and donations to continue the restoration of the grist mill and for other projects in our plans. By now the appeal letter we sent to all members has probably reached you. We ask for your continued support with a donation to help the Friends meet their goals. There are several interesting projects in process that will benefit you and your future generations. One of the most beneficial projects is the future restoration of the ice house to create a library to store thousands of historical documents, retrieved from the years of the Southside Sportsmen’s Club, and make them accessible to scholars for historical research and for increasing the knowledge of this area of Long Island in the 19th and early 20th century. This is a very exciting venture for us. It will take a great deal of work on our part, funding from grants, and your continued support with donations to make it all possible. We invite you to be a part of our endeavors, not only with your monetary contributions but also by taking an active interest and, if possible, lending us your talents. We are still looking for a person to help us increase our membership and we can always use a hand with other projects and during Friends’ events. If interested, please contact us through our website or please leave your name and the telephone number with the park staff (631-581-1072) so we can contact you.

The park continues to conduct tours of the historic club house on most Sundays. Watch your local newspaper or call the park (at the number mentioned above) to learn when tours are available. The docents are exceptionally knowledgeable and will enlighten you to the history of Snedecor’s Tavern, the Grist Mill on the Connetquot River, and the Southside Sportsmen’s Club. Invite a friend or neighbor to join you for a most enjoyable time.

At the end of April we reluctantly bid goodbye to Brian Behonick, assistant manager at Connetquot for the last 35 years. He is retiring. Brian has done a great deal to help the Friends since our beginning. We thank him and wish him well. He will be missed immensely.

Sincerely,
Bob Labuski

Current Chairman's Letter

Past Chairman's Letters:
Summer 2011
Spring 2011
Winter 2010-11
Fall 2010
Summer 2010
Spring 2010
Winter 2009-10
Fall 2009
Summer 2009
Spring 2009
Winter 2008-09
Fall 2008
Summer 2008
Spring 2008
Winter 2007-08
Fall 2007
Summer 2007
Spring 2007