President's Letter August 5, 2011

Dear CGCAI Member,

So much good news to tell you!

First, and this is wonderful: Thanks to the generosity of so many of you, the Save Our Community House (SOCH) campaign has received more than $141,000 in pledges and checks to date.  We have far to go, but this initial outpouring of support gives me such hope that WE CAN AND WE WILL DO IT!  Please log onto the website (http://cgcai.org/SOCHHome.html) to chart our progress and see the names of all of you who gave.  The roster of donors will also be posted on the bulletin board outside the Community House. Thanks also to the Excelsior Motor Club for their generosity. The website will be filled with much more information in August and September so please check it out.  We will be hosting two important fundraisers for SOCH – the first will be hosted by the one and only Panzi at the Ice Palace (along with a bunch of her “friends”) on Sunday evening, August 28. On Friday, September 16, it’s Rose again at the Community House.  Proceeds from both events go to SOCH.

Now, the next great news! We finally were awarded the $50,000 grant from the Dormitory Authority of the State of New York (DASNY) for work done over the past few years on the Doctors House.  With so much gratitude and thanks to Carl Luss (HIP, HIP HOORAY!) who expertly piloted us through the complexities of the process, we expect to receive the money in the next week or so.  After repaying the money that Doctors Fund lent us, we will have $27,000 to add to the SOCH fund.

And – Honors 2011 promises to be fabulous!  If you don’t have your ticket for the August 20 dinner yet, run (do not walk) to Bobbie Green on East Walk. Maybe it’s better to just call her (6769) and reserve yours. Tickets are $100.  It’s an elegant evening (great food, great wine) under the stars at Heaven ‘n Earth from 6-9 pm. And we’re so pleased to be paying tribute to four Cherry Grove legends this year:  Audrey Hartmann, Bella, Donald LaBohn and posthumously Joe Scialo who we all remember as the owner of The Monster. Be part of it. Proceeds will also go to SOCH this year.

Other items you may find important:

·         Mosquito Spraying: CGCAI hosted the community vote on July 30 on mosquito spraying.  The tally was FOR SPRAYING 144, AGAINST 67.  (Check out http://cgcai.org/News7.html  for updates.)

·         Erosion Control: John Adams and Gerri Losquadro are working on the Erosion Control Plan that will make recommendations for what we need to do and how much, if anything, it will cost to protect our beaches in the event of a major storm. More on this at the next general meeting. Speaking of which, mark your calendar – 10 am, September 18.

Thanks so much for all you are doing to make Cherry Grove the best it can be.  We can’t do it without you, but we sure can do it with you. So please volunteer and pitch in – we can use any help you can give. Thanks.

Sincerely,

Diane

Community Association Meeting Update

May 2011

Dear Friends,

Just want to keep you up to date on CGCAI activities. 

We had our first general meeting last Sunday morning and covered a lot of territory.  Here are some highlights you might want to know if you weren’t there (or even if you were):

·         COMMUNITY RELATIONS

I am pleased to tell you we have significant cooperation from the bars who now stand with us to manage the noise downtown. Each of the bar owners has agreed to install noise control grilles on the DJ amp speaker system so that music can not be turned up past a pre-set level. Additionally the Suffolk County Marine Police Bureau has agreed to train their officers to use noise meters this season. In return we agreed to re-instate the 2 am weekend ferries and work with business owners to add other boats to the weekly schedule. I was particularly happy when Ken Braun gave his cell number when a CGCAI member asked if there was a local complaint number to call.

·         SAVE OUR COMMUNITY HOUSE

o        KICK OFF PARTY

It’s a party!! Mark your calendar for Saturday, June 4 from 6-8 pm to launch the fund drive for repairs and renovations to our beloved and historic Community House. Come have a glass of something, a little taste of something, and see some preliminary plans for renovation.

o        PROGRESS ON HOUSE RENOVATIONS

We asked four architects (one later dropped out) to provide bids and ideas for the renovations.  The SOCH committee is evaluating them and will choose one very soon. 

o        DONATIONS

We’re off to a great start.  We have now raised more than $15,000 to support the Save Our Community House campaign.  These donations came from the brunch last fall at Top of the Bay, Puttin’ on the Rose (Rose Levine’s benefit performance), and the sale of SOCH tee-shirts. That’s wonderful indeed, but even better is that we now have $75,000 pledged by individual members of the CGCAI Board and SOCH Committee.  Big plans to raise $250,000 this year and ultimately around $500,000 to complete the repairs and renovations.

I am so proud of you all – members, board, committee people, business owners, residents, renters.  We are really beginning to make a visible difference in the quality of life in Cherry Grove. I sense a new pride in our little town, one that will grow and engage all of us.

                Thank you. I can’t wait to work with you in 2011 and beyond.

                                                                                                                Diane

Welcome Home!!

April 2011

Dear Friends,

With all this snow, it’s hard to believe that Summer 2011 is almost here.  
But “Welcome Home!” as Grovites say to each other each spring -- and let
the summer begin!

The Community Association is looking forward to a busy season. There’s much 
that’s been done – and much more to do.  Just want to give you a little update on 
what’s been done.

·         Well, for starters, here’s our new website. If you’ve gotten this far, you know 
the site is packed with useful information and resources.  We hope you’ll use it 
again and again to stay up to date. Thanks to Mary Ellen Manning for getting this 
up and running.

·         We also now have a Facebook page. It’s got info and some beautiful photos 
of the town and beach we love so well.  You can find us at: 
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Cherry-Grove-Community-Association/149171485133517

·         Last fall, we launched the “Save Our Community House” Campaign – 
one of the most ambitious endeavors of the last decade.  And as 2011 opens, 
we’re well on our way to raising the necessary funds to rebuild and renovate 
(and maybe even dress up) our dilapidated Community House. This year, 
we’ll be asking you to help any way you can – money, time, suggestions, 
elbow grease, whatever.  This is our highest priority.

·         We’re going to honor four Cherry Grove legends this year at the 2011 
Honors Dinner.  It’s on August 20 and we’ll be celebrating the contributions of 
(in first name alphabetical order):  Audrey Hartmann for her years and years 
(and years and years) of volunteering and service to our town;  Bella for her 
generosity of spirit and her wonderful talents; Donald LaBohn for being the 
creative driver behind 15 years of hugely successful and entertaining Doctor’s
 Fund Benefits; and a special posthumous award to Joe Sciallo, owner of the 
world-famous Monster restaurant here and in NYC and a major force in our 
growth.  More on the honorees later, but we wanted you to know.

Our first General Membership Meeting of 2011 will be May 15 in the Community House. We’ll start at 9 am with some coffee and new season greetings, then move on for the business part of the meeting. Important issues are on the agenda, so be there!!

You’ll also meet our new board members Tom Cunningham, Richard Reilly and Gina Garan, and re-meet Mike Romanelli who has taken over as President of the Property Owners Association.

If you want to get ahead of the game and sign up your for 2011 CGCAI membership, you can do it right here on the sight.  Just go to the “Donate” button and follow the instructions.

See you soon,
Diane