TIDINGS
Published by Your Manhasset Bay Estates Association
July 2003
Beach Cleanup:
On an early Saturday during a rather windy and cold day in the beginning
of the season we had a good turnout of members who pitched in to help clean the beach and trim some
bushes. Hot coffee and snacks arranged
by Lingfen Kung came in handy. Special
thanks to the following members who almost filled a complete dumpster with debris:
Jim McAleer and his better half Marilyn who organized the cleanup, Regina and Peter Goetz, Yalcin and Drew
Tarhan , Ralph Heinzerling, Steve and April Darnell, Mike, Nancy and George
Weiss, Ron, Lisa, Allison and Carolyn Salstein, Dody Petruskie and Bob Madura,
Louie Tsampas (for a little while), John Tsampas, Ursula Nettlesheim (Vern helped out from his new boat) and Bill
Simon were the members whose names were placed on the list. To those I have missed I apologize but I
thank you nonetheless.
Dock:
If you have been down to the beach you noticed that new pilings have
replaced the four damaged by the harsh winter.
Many delays occurred as a result of the constant rain that we had. The dock is now in place and in full
use. The pilings still need to be
capped and some minor adjustments to the chains need to be made both of which
will be completed shortly. John
Tsampas and Yelsin Tarhan have been instrumental in having the work
performed at reasonable prices.
Beach:
The board after interviewing two landscape architects hired Rudi
Harbauer to prepare some drawings for improving the overhead/cement/shed
portion of the beach. Rudi specializes
in beach plantings. The board’s focus
is to increase the shade and sitting areas while staying with the rustic feel
of the beach. We also want to create a
more conducive space for those members who want to have parties at the beach
while not impinging on those who normally come down to sit or sun. We are just in the initial phases of this
project and we will keep you informed of our progress. We believe that these improvements will be
done over time and future meetings, open to all, will be held before the
improvements are finalized.
One aspect that we have determined needs to be taken care of as soon as
possible is the grading of the beach parking lot. As a result of many factors the parking lot is uneven and does
not drain properly. After every rain
there is substantial flooding which also affects the ability of the bathrooms
to work properly. We have had experts
in this field come to the site and give us recommendations. This includes Rudi and others. The proposed
systems include french drains, septic tanks and storm drains. The pluses and
minuses of theses systems have all been discussed. We have decided, after much discussion, to try the least invasive
and least costly solution first and we believe it should solve the problem. We have decided to grade the parking lot
level and then cover it with stone.
Once we remove the vegetation and spread the existing stone and put an
even cover of stone on top, we feel the problem will be solved. We are currently obtaining a second estimate
and as soon as we determine who can do the job for the most reasonable price we
will have the parking lot repaired.
Another aspect that we
have heard from many members is that they miss having a swing set down at the
beach. The board has determined that we
will replace the swing set as soon as we can.
We want to put in a swing set that will last in the beach location. We have already received one estimate and
are waiting to receive a second. As
soon as we do we will order the swing set and have it installed at the beach. We have also been contacted by a member
family who informed us that they want to be involved in donating towards a
swing set at the beach. If anyone else
would like to contribute please let us know.
We have also hired a landscaping company to
maintain the beach including the bathrooms and garbage. They also did a substantial cleanup of not
only what was left after the members cleanup but also did a fantastic job on
the beach driveway.
It has taken time to
get all these people down to the beach and to follow up with their ideas and
suggestions. Many thanks have to be given to Jim McAleer
our beach chair, Bill Simon our
treasurer, conscience and contractor
connection, as well as John Tsampas our resident contractor.
Park:
The board has determined that the playground at the park needs to be
upgraded. We have heard from many members about the need to upgrade the
playground facility. We have already met with representatives of the Town of
North Hempstead. If a majority of the
park district members are in agreement the town, after public hearings, will
assist us in having the playground improved. We are also having a private
company give us a proposal of what can be done with the playground and a cost
so that we can have another opinion of what is involved in improving this area.
The town estimates that the cost would be about $45,000.00 for the new
playground and $15,000.00 for benches, garbage receptacles and fixing the
basketball area. We are already paying off the purchase of the park through a
very small portion of our taxes. The town would then issue a new bond pay off the
balance owed which approximates $50,000.00 and incorporate the cost of the
improvements. Since we would receive a much more favorable interest rate at
this time the actual yearly portion of our taxes as it relates to the park may
even be reduced but we would, obviously,
continue to pay even after the initial purchase amount would have been
satisfied. We also need to increase the maintenance budget which is now only
approximately $4,000.00 a year and does not cover very much. Another
consideration in improving the playground is that not only is most of the
equipment very old and falling apart, but also dangerous and not in conformance
with the current codes. The park, as is
the beach, is a vital asset to our community and needs to be properly
maintained not only for quality of life
issues but also to preserve the values of our homes. Much thanks has to be given to our park chair David Spivak
who has spent an enormous amount of time in coordinating matters with the town
and committee members Franessa Goldberg and Rachel Gandin for
checking out other playgrounds and helping to decide what equipment would be
needed in the playground.
Congratulations to Rachel and her husband on the birth of their new son.
With respect to the increasing problem with dogs in the park we have met
with Port Washington Police Chief William J. Kilfoil who has assigned Lt. Ron
DeMeo to take care of the problem. The
police will be sending out their own flyer very soon warning individuals that
dogs in the park are illegal. We are
hopeful that this will resolve the problem.
If not, the police have told us that they will start issuing summonses
to those who continue to violate the law.
Social Events:
The association is having its second annual summer
party at the Knickerbocker Yacht Club on Saturday August 9, 2003 from
8pm to midnight. Last year’s event
was a great success. Please keep the
date open and come join us for dancing, hors d'oeuvres and drinks. CASH BAR It’s a good opportunity to meet other
members who you might not normally run into.
The cost will be $35.00 per couple.
Please phone Dody Petruskie
at 767-2299 or e-mail me at JSciaAtty@aol.com to let us know you are
coming, as soon as possible, so that we
can let the club know how many to expect.
Checks can be sent to MBEA at Box 295, Port Washington, New York 11050
or brought to the club on the night of the event. It will be a fun time for all and we hope to see you there.
The annual beach party has been scheduled for August 23
between 11-2. Food and drinks will
be made available and there will also be
games and events for the kids.
Please come down, meet your neighbors and enjoy the great asset we have
at the beach
Our annual snapper derby at the dock will be held for the kids on August
16th at 1 p.m. Prizes will be given in all
categories. Since even our event
organizer Ron (can’t get enough bunker) Salstein has been
catching fish at the dock (which prior to this year has not happened very often-or
witnessed by anyone reputable) we are
confident all of the contestants will catch fish. Ron will also be available to
give fishing tips and strategies which (in the unbelievable category) he has
been seen giving to John Tsampas recently.
Web
Site:
Member Steve Darnell has graciously agreed to create a Web site
for the Association. This will enable
us to better communicate with our members and for you to communicate with
us. We want to be able to tell you all
about meetings, decisions and obtain feedback.
We have also thought about places on the wed site for things like
babysitters available or needed, sale of cars or boats, birth notices etc. and
any important issues that may effect all of us. The web site will be located at www.mbayestates.org.
If anyone has any thoughts
on this project or would want to help out please contact Steve
at webmaster@mbayestates.org
Dues:
Dody Prutruskie has been diligently working on getting out the
bills to all members including bills to those members who have arrears. Please help Dody and Brian Tartell who will
be helping her with the collections by sending out your dues as soon as
possible if you have not yet paid them.
Dody has been a lifesaver and her total devotion to the association is
well appreciated.
We also have a problem with abandoned dinghies at the beach. There is no room left for members who want
to use the dinghy rack.. Please put
your 2003 sticker on your dingy or boat.
If you have paid but have not received a dinghy sticker please phone Dody
at 767-2299 and she will give you a sticker. Once we know all stickers have been given out we will be forced
to remove those dinghies without stickers to make room for members who want to
utilize the dinghy racks. .
Personal Notes:
As a result of increased personal commitments two long time members of
the board have had to give up their
chairs. Donna Powers, the long
time chair of the entertainment committee, can no longer devote the substantial
time she was able to devote in the past.
Donna was the one that put every association party together from the
food and drinks to the entertainment.
She even had the foresight to hire babysitters for some of the family
events. Her hard work and creative
vision will be sorely missed. Yvette
Wright who was the chair of the tidings was the voice of the association
for a substantial period. Her
professional looking and informative newsletters have kept all of us well
informed. The entire board wishes to
thank these two individuals for their hard work and dedication and to tell them
that the door will always be open to them should their calendars open up.
Next Meeting:
Will be Monday August 11th Board 7 pm and Committees 8 pm.
Everyone who wants to help out, voice
their opinion or just listen in is invited.
Joe Sciacca
President
EVENTS:
AUGUST 9th COCKTAIL
PARTY KNICKERBOCKER YACHT CLUB
8-12
AUGUST 11th BOARD AND COMMITTEE
MEETINGS LIBRARY 7 & 8
AUGUST 16th SNAPPER TOURNAMENT
1 p.m.
AUGUST 23RD BEACH PARTY 1
to 2
Upcoming Events in September:
Softball and Barbeque
Fridays
Hawaiian
Luau
PLEASE EXCUSE THE APPEARANCE OF THIS ISSUE
OF TIDINGS
SUBSTANTIAL INFORMATION , LACK OF TIME
AND EXPERIENCE IS
TO BLAME- ANYONE WISHING
TO HELP WITH
THE TIDINGS IS
ASKED
TO CONTACT ME- THANK
YOU