FOC Newsletter, President's Letter, Spring 2021
Greetings Friends!
At the time of this writing, it appears that Covid
cases are lessening, and vaccinations and sites are increasing. Let’s
hope it will be behind us and we can begin to recover and move forward.
The CDC has stated that fully vaccinated Americans now can gather with
other vaccinated people indoors without wearing a mask or social
distancing. We miss seeing everyone and have been either cancelling our
events and lectures or rescheduling them.
However, NYS Parks has scheduled the 10th Annual I Love My Park Day
with some restrictions. It will be a two-day event on Sat. May 1st and
Sun, May 2nd , with no more than 50 people a day, no communal food or
drink, social distancing, masks, and no sharing of tools. (Volunteers,
bring your own.) Projects include a spring cleanup of the historic
buildings, including window washing, interior cleanup on the
Grist Mill;
some exterior painting on the Pump House and Carpenter Shop; weeding,
raking, pruning and mulching the Pollinator Garden; and cleaning the
trout ponds, installing predator proofing and other work at the
Hatchery. Registration is required.
Look for registration information on our website.
Although many things have been shut down in all of our communities, Connetquot River State Park Preserve is and has
been open, and the terrific staff is working hard to improve many of the rooms in the Main Building and the grounds. They are
spackling and painting to expand the Museum exhibits, along with many other important maintenance and improvement projects.
They had a very difficult winter trying to remove the endless snow. Volunteers and staff are continuing to show much progress
in our Grist Mill restoration, the Billiard Room and many other areas.
Our fundraising via donations from wonderful members and friends has
been healthy, and we are working toward replacing the tin ceiling in the
Fish Room. When we received the old Astor House stove for our Billiard
Room it did not have feet on it. After an exhaustive search for
replacements turned up nothing, John Remmer engaged an artisan to design
and fit the stove for new feet.
We have initiated a new newsletter section of information and photos specifically for equestrians. Jerry Trapani and new
Board Member Carole Scialdone will be authoring it, and we think it will be an interesting addition.
Sadly, we lost former Board Member and Membership Chair Bob Wilson recently. If you attended our many Galas, Trail
Rides, I Love My Park Days or other events, you always saw Bob assisting. Our condolences to his wife, Edith and their family.
I was able to participate virtually in “Lobby Day” in Albany this year via Zoom during “Park Advocacy Day.” Several
other Friends groups from Long Island were on calls to elected officials urging them to support the capital budget and
Environmental Protection Fund. We hope our efforts will be successful and we can look forward to NYS Parks continuing to
maintain and improve our parks.
We are also working on redesigning our website. Hopefully, it will be finished soon. In the interim, look for us on
friendsofconnetquot.org or on Facebook at “Friends of Connetquot.” Happy Spring!
Sincerely,
Ginny Fields
Current President's Letter
Past President's Letters:
Winter 2021
Fall 2020
Winter 2019-20
Fall 2019
Fall 2018
Winter 2018
Fall 2017
Summer 2017
Spring 2017
Winter 2017
Fall 2016
Summer 2016
Spring 2016
Winter 2016
Fall 2015
Summer 2015
Spring 2015
Winter 2014-15
Fall 2014
Spring 2014
Winter 2013-14
Fall 2013
Summer 2013
Spring 2013
Winter 2012-13
Fall 2012
Summer 2012
Spring 2012
Winter 2011-12
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
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