11:30 Arrive, 12:00 Registration, 12:30 Get people to their seats, 12:40 Introduction

12:45 Lunch, 1:45 to 2:30 Program

INTRODUCTIONS BY RICH SHERMAN

Good afternoon.   Thank you for joining us today.  I’d like to recognize several members today and ask each to stand as their name is called.

Present Officers and Board Members

  1. Our Treasurer – Bob Lehtinen assisted by Cindy Lehtinen
  • Bob and Cindy check for mail at the P O Box, deposits all incoming checks during renewal times and when we have events.
  • Bob pays the OSDA bills.
  1. Our Secretary –  Terry Saunders
  • The secretary keeps meeting minutes, prepares and sends correspondence at the direction of the board of directors and the president and answers or forwards emails addressed to our info@oldstonedock.com email address.
  • Terry also updates the OSDA web site with information about future and past events, messages from the president or board and includes pictures from events and from around the neighborhood. As membership chair she records and updates info on all members.
  1. Board Members who are here today are:
  • Brian Callanan, Cindy Lehtinen, Anne Prior, Steve Saunders and Rich Sherman. Paul Smith is also on the board but not here today.
  • In September Fran Ahern will be joining the board and Brian Callanan will be stepping down. Members Al and Nancy Gabrielli are not on the board but have attended most board meetings and have been active on several committees.
  1. Past Presidents and Board Members: Past Presidents Kevin Doyle and Jim Fox are here today as well as past board member Rebecca Bevilacqua.

Let’s thank all of these members for their past and present service to the OSDA. (APPLAUSE)

After lunch we’ll hear from

  • Our guest speakers – Town Manager Mike Renshaw, Director of the DPW Peter McConarty, Beach Committee Chair Dr. Barbara Schneider and Planning Board Member Jim Fox. To expedite the presentations we’ve decided not to take questions.  Most speakers will be available after the event to answer your questions directly.
  • We will be awarding $500 each to 4 students through our Tuition Assistance Program.
  • We’ll recap our accomplishments thus far in 2025 and
  • We’ll review what we have planned going forward

Chowder and desert will be served at your table.  The buffet will consist of seafood scampi with swordfish, scallops and shrimp, grilled steak tips and chicken picatta.  Restaurant staff will call you up to the buffet by table.  So . . . enjoy your lunch and we’ll start up again when desert is served.

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INTRODUCTION OF SPEAKERS BY RICH SHERMAN (4 speakers at 5 min, ~25 min)
Synopsis of their presentation by Terry Saunders

Mike Renshaw, Town Manager

  • Mike has been Town Manager in Falmouth for 2 ½ years.
  • Working on capital budget. Has a $730 million dollar 10 year capital plan.
  • Looking for ways to fund without raising taxes. Old articles from previous years may have remaining funds.  Police department building with construction in 2027.  Trotting Park Fields $24 million, $3.2 million in remediation.  May be able to use community preservation $. The challenge and goal is to keep taxes low.

Peter McConarty, Director of Public Works  

  • Peter started in 2007 with Town of Falmouth. Work done on Surf Drive and Mill Road by Eversource.  Work was primarily done over the winter with new sidewalks and pavement this past spring.  They rebuilt and installed a new water main from Shore to Mill that was over 100 years old.
  • There is still drainage work to do at Thomas lane and a new crosswalk will be put back at the corner of Surf and Walker.

Barbara Schneider, Chair Beach Committee

  • Thanked OSD for their support. Sharks and manatees added excitement this summer.
  • Man of the beach workers have been certified in CPR and First Aid. Food truck trial has gone well this year.

Jim Fox, Planning Board and past President of the OSDA </strong

  • Several years ago the OSDA was the driving force to the improvements by the DPW and hired contractors on Mill Road which alleviated flooding.
  • Offered assistance to anyone interested in adding an accessory dwelling unit (ADU).

Thanks to each of our speakers.  Most will be available for a short time after the event to answer any questions you may have.

Terry Saunders will now tell you about our Tuition Assistance Recipients.

Thanks Rich.

PRESENTATION BY TERRY SAUNDERS

TUITION ASSISTANCE

  • As I call each recipient’s name, please stand at your table and be recognized while we speak about you.
  • We’ll present each recipient their check at the end of the meeting and take pictures with each of your families.
  • SEE SEPARATE POST WITH PICTURES OF THE RECIPIENTS
  • Let’s give a round of applause to all of these fine students and their sponsors and family.

ACCOMPLISHMENTS FOR 2025

  1. Membership – Chaired by Terry Saunders
  • The board decided not to send out membership renewal letters and remittance forms by mail this year thus saving a tremendous amount of work preparing, mailing and receiving dues. An email was sent to all 2024-2025 members advising that they would be considered renewed for 2025-2026.
  • There was a separate email sent to lapsed members. Seven 7 lapsed members and 5 new members paid dues and were added the roster.
  • We continue to deliver our annual letter and membership form to new homeowners based on house sales printed in the Friday Falmouth Enterprise.
  1. Flower Boxes and Logo wear – Chaired by Steve Saunders
  • 16 flower boxes were brought to Soares Gardens mid-May and were picked up and put in place before Memorial Day. Steve watered the flowers as needed in May and June until the bathhouse was open and staffed and occasionally thereafter when they looked wilted.
  • Steve and the board decided to sell off all logo wear in stock and not purchase new items. This summer items were sold at a deep discount and we hope to clear out the remainder of the stock today.
  1. Beach Cleanup – chaired by Terry Saunders
  • On Saturday May 31st 19 members and guests cleaned up the parking area and around the Ellen T Mitchell Bathhouse and neighboring streets.
  • Assistant Beach Superintendent Brooke McMillan spoke briefly thanking us for the things we have done and continue to do for the beaches. She thanked the OSD for their donation of funds for the flower boxes.  Beach Committee members Barbara Schneider and Joe Strazzulla mingled and chatted with members and assisted in the clean up as well.
  • Volunteers included: Pat & Tony Albanese, Laura & Stephen Day, Brian Doyle, Jim Fox, Jan Goodell, Sherri & Jonathan Horn, Ed Jackson, Bob & Cindy Lehtinen, Louise Mitchell, Anne Prior, Steve & Terry Saunders, Paul & Sandy Smith and Dean Sullivan
  • A membership promotion and logo wear table was manned by Steve Saunders, Cindy Lehtinen and Anne Prior.
  1. Tuition Assistance – Chaired by Terry Saunders and Ed Washecka
  • Applications needed to be received by June 23rd. In July, Terry and Ed reviewed the applications to be sure they were completed properly, included their high school transcripts and that their sponsors were current on their dues.
  • Terry corresponded with each student and their sponsor and requested ‘headshots’ which are now posted on the OSD web site. Ed prepared the initial recap of each student and Terry edited a bit before doing the presentation today.  Today’s presentation will be added the web site as well.
  1. The Beach Worker Appreciation Breakfast was held on Monday July 21st – Chaired by Brian Callanan and Terry Saunders
  • Brian purchased all the food at local markets and Steve purchased the bagels at Cape Cod Bagel. The bagels were provided at a substantial discount thanks to owner Jamie Schuh.
  • Terry & Steve Saunders, Brian Callanan, Pat Albanese and Bill Lee packaged and organized all the food the afternoon before the breakfast.
  • On Monday that crew plus Al Gabrielli and Jim Fox gathered at 7:00 am to set up for the breakfast inside at the Ellen T Mitchell Bathhouse. We cleaned up and were cleared out by 9:00 am.
  • We served bagels, pastries, breakfast bars, fruit and a variety of beverages to about 80 beach workers before they checked in for their daily roll call.
  • Guest speakers included Asst Town Manager Peter Johnson-Staub, Police Chief Jeff Lourie, Select board Beach Liaison Heather Goldstone and Beach Committee Chair Barb Schneider.  Other guests were Select board Chair Bob Mascali, Beach Committee Vice-Chair Joe Strazzulla, Beach Committee Members Trish Herlihy, Nancy Quigg, Lyn Schad and Mark Twitchell.
  • There was a posting with pictures on the Falmouth Beaches Facebook page the following week which thanked the OSDA for their continued support.
  1. Annual Meeting & Summer Social, Presentation to Tuition Assistance Recipients – Co-chaired by Rich Sherman and Terry Saunders
  • Rich and Terry met with the Flying Bridge to arrange the event.
  • Bob and Cindy picked up the replies and checks and passed the info onto Rich.
  • Rich tracked the returns and Rich, Kathy Sherman and Loren Hutker handled check-in today.
  1. Sunshine – Laura Puopolo
  • Laura is a committee of one. Cards are sent if we hear about a member or close family member passing, if someone hasn’t been well and for good news too.
  1. After the parade Holiday Party 2024 was chaired by Terry Saunders with the assistance of Nancy Gabrielli, Brian Callanan, Al Gabrielli and Steve Saunders.
  • We had our holiday party at ShoreWay Acres on Sunday, December 8th and it was attended by 55 members and their family. We thank the businesses in town who provided gifts or gift cards for the many door prizes.
  • The board decided not to hold the holiday party this coming December 2025 due to declining attendance and lack of volunteers to run the event. We had previously discontinued walking in the holiday parade with our banner due to lack of volunteers.
  1. Liaisons for Town Committees and Town Employee Liaison – several members needed
  • Fran Ahern, incoming board member has been attending the Beach Committee Meetings this past year and he reports back highlights of the meetings to the Board.
  • We could use the help of other OSD members to liaison with other committees including: Select board Meetings, Bike & Pedestrian Committee, Traffic Committee, Town Meeting Member Committee Meetings and/or their Annual Meetings.
  • Attend various committee meetings that are typically held monthly and remit a short report to the President / Secretary which may be shared with the board or the full membership.
  • Meet with or speak to town officials a few times a year. To include Town Hall Management, DPW, Police, Fire, etc.

Would everyone that I mentioned who chaired or served on a committee please stand so we can show our appreciation by applause.

In closing, we need to fill the role of president and vice president from board members.  If you want the OSDA to continue, we need several individuals to step forward to be on the board of directors and for each to take responsibility for a specific event or task with the help of others.  If you only want to serve on a committee that would also be appreciated.

  • We meet monthly, presently at the main library on the 1st Wednesday of each month April to November from 6:30 pm to 7:30 pm (8:00 at the latest). In 2026 we will move from the library to the Gus Canty Center and meet from April to September or October.
  • This year we eliminated dues renewal, membership booklets, new logo wear purchases and the holiday party. Going forward the board will decide what other events we’ll need to put on hiatus due to lack of assistance and participation / attendance.
  • Without these positions filled we will not be able to continue to offer the programs and services that we do now.
  • If you have not already done so, please stop at the registration table area and fill out a survey form indicating what you are willing to do, or help with, going forward. You can also make comments or suggestions on that form.  There is also a clip board by the registration table if you’d like to make any comments or have any questions that we’ll try to address at a later date.

Tuition recipients and families please gather by the registration table for photos and your checks.

Thanks to everyone who took time out of their day to be with us today.  You are welcome to continue to mingle with friends and neighbors, purchase another cocktail and enjoy the view on the deck.

Presentation ended at 2:30 pm.  Presented checks and took pictures of tuition assistance recipients and their families.

PHOTO’s OF GUESTS

       

        

PHOTO’s OF TUITION ASSISTANCE RECIPIENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES