Editor:
Catherine D. Kobasiuk Assistant: Marina Kobasiuk
Letter
to our Membership
Stop
blaming the MBPOA!
There is an email circulating from Mastic Beach
Village Trustees, Gail Cappiello and Bob Morrow, that once
again blames the Mastic Beach Property Owners Association
(MBPOA) for all of the Village's woes. This
us-against-them attitude from the so-called "United
Party" is childish. In a quote from their email, "...they
[Gail and Bob] are also working to rebuild and replenish beaches
for all the residents along our shoreline in the locations that have
not been blocked by the MBPOA."
This quote is inflammatory and makes false
implications. The MBPOA does not restrict access to beaches and we
have not blocked any locations along our shoreline.
We welcome any discussion about replenishing the
MBPOA's beaches! Why wouldn't we? We have never been
contacted for any sort of discussion about improving
our properties, nor do we have any inkling of what
the Village has planned for the MBPOA beaches and
properties.
What we do know is that the MBPOA has secured grants
to replenish the sand along our 6.5 miles of waterfront, but
this grant money must be distributed to the MBPOA by the Village. To
date, the Village, including Gail and Bob, has flatly refused to
distribute these grant funds to the MBPOA, in effect
financially blocking any attempt by the MBPOA to replenish the
beaches and rebuild the marinas. How do these types of
decisions, executed by the Village, do anything to improve
Mastic Beach?
Our quality of life since becoming a village has not
improved. Ever present are the potholes, the crime and the same
old derelict homes. Not one sex-offender has moved out, except
those who left on their own accord, and the drug dealers
and prostitutes still plague our community. What we do have is an
increase in fees and fines to the citizens and civics of Mastic
Beach. Our Village government seems to rely on rental permit
fees and peeking over fences in search of some tiny code violation to
generate revenue.
This is not an opinion held by only a few residents.
Even Frank Fugarino, President of the Pattersquash Creek Civic
Association, writes "I have become concerned that many quality
of life issues affecting neighbors and Village residents continue
without any reduction in number or severity."
Instead of doing something about the current state of
our Village, Gail and Bob blame and shirk
responsibility, pointing fingers at others, when they
should be looking at their own behavior. For four years, we
have had to put up with this unwarranted scapegoating. They
have blamed the Town of Brookhaven, the MBPOA, Jan Schaefer, Bob
DeBona, Paul Breschard, Carol Bissonette, and anyone else they can
denigrate while neglecting their own
accountability. This Village is floundering and all Gail
and Bob can muster for a campaign agenda is to demonize the
MBPOA, a volunteer organization that has been working for the
betterment of Mastic Beach for over 85 years.
When will these Trustees come to their senses
and realize that this Village will only be successful when
everyone works together. All we can say is, "Put aside your
personal feelings and do the job the people elected you to do!"
Our representatives in government---who have been
elected to serve all---are supposed to make decisions for
the good of Mastic Beach. The title of
Trustee should not to be used to besmirch any organization. As
a Trustee, one should put all differences aside and figure out
creative ways to work together. It's about being the bigger
person. A Trustee is supposed to represent all of
us, this is something Gail and Bob seem to have lost
sight of.
In this country, everyone has the right to voice
their concerns and challenge the establishment. We are not subjects,
we are citizens. Mastic Beach needs to move forward. It is
time for new leadership. At election time, we ask the citizens
of Mastic Beach Village to consider Gail's and Bob's past
behavior and vote for any of the other candidates.
Sincerely,
President Jean SanMartin and the Board of
Directors of the Mastic Beach Property Owners Association
Nite
at the Races
Saturday, March 15th is Nite
at the Races at the MBPOA. Tickets will be available for sale at
the MBPOA office, the February General Meeting, at the MBPOA club bar
on Friday nights or by calling 399-6111. Corned beef and cabbage will
be served along with beer, wine, soda, coffee, tea, and dessert.
Tickets are $20 per person. Members showing their membership cards
can get tickets for their immediate families for $17 per person.
New
Years Eve Report
New Years Eve at the MBPOA club house
bar was a calm and cozy affair. Members who attended brought food
to share at the buffet table and snacks and nibbles were scattered on
the tables. Some people played card games. A Wii game was setup and
a number of people played Wipe Out, Fruit Ninja and Decathlon. The
New Year was rung in with the dropping of the Times Square Ball on TV
and a champagne toast.
Boat
Show Report
The MBPOA made arrangements for group
discounted tickets to the New York Boat Show this year. Vice
President Michael Kobasiuk and his family drove in on New Years Day
to the New York Boat Show at the Jacob Javits Center. Attendees were
greeted at the entrance to the boat show by jugglers wearing white
navy uniforms and juggling floatation rings. There was the usual
assortment of boats ranging in size from small to large and then to
very large. There were a number classes being given on boat handling
and boat maintenance. There were activities for children and the
Swamp-master Gator Show. There was one interesting boat that came
equipped with three wheels and could go from land to water and back
to land. The New York State Canal Corporation was there with a canal
barge to look at and explanations of trips and vacations
incorporating the New York State Canal System. In addition to the
usual boat supply vendors there were vacation destinations, marinas,
boating schools, and companies which build dock and mooring systems.
The traffic going into New York City in the morning and coming back
to Mastic Beach in the evening was especially light and the trip was
made in record time.
Membership
Reminder
Please
remember to mail in your membership forms. Do not forget to purchase
your Membership Drive Raffles which will be drawn at our March 15,
2014 Nite at the Races. The raffle tickets are $5 each and
the prizes are $500 cash and $250 cash for 1st prize and
2nd prize respectively. Please fill out the stubs
completely and mail back with payment and your membership forms to
P.O. Box 212 Mastic Beach, NY 11951.
Please
make sure all your information is accurate so that you can receive
all our newsletters and email updates.
Volunteer
of the Month
The MBPOA is organized and run by
volunteer members just like you. We will be introducing one
volunteer a month in our newsletter to give you a feeling of who we
are and what you can do to get more involved with the MBPOA.
Director
Dan Carr
Dan
Carr has been a member of the MBPOA for about 20 years. He has been
a director for about 10 years. Dan has lived in Mastic Beach for
more than 35 years. He came for summer vacations and then moved out
full time. Dan is a member of the Mastic Beach Fire Department and
the James V. Kavanaugh
Knights of Columbus. He is in charge of refreshments at the MBPOA
General Meetings. Dan says “ I like to be involved.”
January
General Meeting
The
January General Meeting was rescheduled to the ninth because of the
proximity of the holiday to the first Thursday of the month. There
were no minutes to read because the December General Meeting was our
annual holiday party. The financial reports were read for the month
of November 2013. Director Kevin Collins gave his report on the
membership drive and the marinas. He said when the freeze finally
ends it will be time to plan and to start repairing Marina 5.
Treasurer Rickie Walsh ( who also schedules our hall rentals) said
that Saturdays are going fast for hall rentals. Vice President
Michael Kobasiuk reminded everyone that January 21, 2014 is the last
day to apply for reduction of Town of Brookhaven tax assessment for
Super Storm Sandy damage. A CDC flier was available about applying
for free mold remediation. A complaint about the duck hunters was
brought up. A new member Adam Piazza introduced himself, he works
for Hampton Jitney. Director Barbara Fitzgerald gave us a report on
Nora Getchell. She came home for the holidays for good and according
to Director Michelle Wilkinson her numbers were really high this
week. ( GO get 'em Nora!) The plan for Nite at the races was
discussed. Director Larry Tellefsen gave a report on the Country
Dancing. Larry also made a complaint about the garbage recycle
schedule cards being late from the village. There was a reminder of
the rise in bar prices to $3 a drink for members and $4 at parties.
The 50/50 was $17 and was won by Gus Mattson. The the meeting broke
for coffee and cake. General Meetings are open to all members and
non-members every month.
February
General Meeting
The
February General meeting will be on the 6th with
Inspector Neubauer of the 7th Precinct
as the guest speaker.
Fridays
Nights at the Clubhouse
Every
Friday night is a get together at the Clubhouse. The bar is open to
our members and their guests and this is a good opportunity to meet
new people, play darts, enjoy card games, or just enjoy conversation.
Please
remember that our prices have increased. Beer wine and liquor is $3
for members and $4 at parties. Country Dancing on the 1st
and third Fridays is $10 and $8 for members. Country Dance lessons
on Monday nights are $8 and $6 for members.
Any
changes to the schedule will be available on our Twitter and
Face-book page.
Volunteer
Work
If
anyone has high school or middle school students in need of volunteer
hours have them contact Recording Secretary Catherine Kobasiuk at
281-8430. There is usually light office work to do once or twice a
month.
Hall Rentals The MBPOA hall is available for party rentals. Please call 631-806-1109 for rates and availability.
Keep
in Touch
In
addition to our email list we use Twitter and Face-book to keep our
membership informed of MBPOA news and local and regional happenings.
Our face-book page -Mastic
Beach Poa
and our twitter -
@MBPOA.
Newsletter can be found at http://mbpoa1928.blogspot.com/
Mastic
Beach Word Scramble
Just
a little fun – all the words are related to Mastic Beach. Answers
will be in next months newsletter.
- brsrn owaya
- yhaogta ut esbr
- riigp n hiotdetbsm
- oeaeti nnrsio ncam
- earefitmsvici nn ao
Monthly
Calendar
Feb.
3rd - Country Dance Lessons – 7:30pm
Feb.
2nd
– Super Bowl Sunday
Feb.
6th
- General Membership Meeting – 7:30 pm
Feb
7th
- Country Dancing – 7:30 pm
Feb.
10th - Country Dance Lessons – 7:30pm
Feb.
14th – Valentines Day
Feb.
17th - Country Dance Lessons – 7:30 pm
Feb.
20th - Board of Directors Meeting – 7:00 pm
Feb
21st - Country Dancing – 7:30 pm
Feb.
24th - Country Dance Lessons – 7:30pm
Meet
& Greet Friday – 7:00 pm
Future
Events
March
4th – Mardi Gras
March
6th - General Meeting – 7:30 pm
March
15th
– Nite at the Races
March
17th – Saint Patrick's Day
March
20th - Board of Directors Meeting – 7:00 pm
June
1st – Smith Point Triathlon
July
26th – Music By the Bay
Aug.
24th – Blue Claw Crab Fest
