05-27-21 Pics around Surf Drive Beach – April & May 2021
Beach Restoration April and May 2021 at Surf Drive Beach 04/27/21 05/10/21 05/27/21
03-04-21 Pics around Surf Drive Beach – January and February 2021
Hello OSD Members and Friends - It's been a long winter. A few pictures follow that were taken in January and February 2021. On Friday, 01/29/21 there was a story and picture of a woman on the front page of the Falmouth Enterprise who frequently (possibly daily) takes a dip in the ocean (Surf Drive Beach) as part of Cold Stress Therapy. While out for a walk around noon on Monday, 01/31/21 we stopped and board Member Steve Saunders chatted with Sandy Nelson who told us about her background and the benefits of taking a cold dip. Brrrr. See featured picture. The two pictures that follow were taken on Thursday, 02/04/21 after a winter storm. Notice all the rocks that were pushed up onto the high tide line. These three pictures were taken on Thursday, 02/18/21. The work crew were doing test pits for Mayflower Wind.
12-11-20 Holidays at Highfiled – Outside Display
Due to COVID19 restrictions Highfield offered an outdoor holiday display that was centered around Patrick Dougherty's Stickwork Sculpture that initially went up in June 0f 2019. A few pictures are below. If you haven't had the opportunity check out their sunken garden, outdoor musical area (to left / front of house) and a walk through the wooded paths.
11-14-20 OSD Members Participate in Falmouth Holiday Parade
Due to COVID 19 restrictions the 2020 Falmouth Holiday Parade was held and filmed early on 11/14/20 by the Band Shell and Marina. It was then broadcast on FCTV on 12/06/20 (the day the parade would have taken place). Go to FCTV website and click on link to view. Each group was limited in size. There were walking groups, floats a fire truck and as always Santa was on the last float. OSDA Board Members - Kevin Doyle, Mike Herlihy, Terry Saunders and Paul Smith participated with Family Members and Dogs.
10-31-20 Village of Scarecrows
Once again the Falmouth Village Association and the Falmouth Chamber of Commerce displayed their 'Village of Scarecrows' this October 2020. In addition, there is a picture (featured) of 'mermaid / scarecrow' in front of a house on Surf Drive. Residents get to vote on line for their favorites. What's yours?
10-08-20 OSD Presents check to Fairwinds Clubhouse
On 10/08/20 Old Stone Dock Association members (masked and socially distanced) present a check to Fairwinds Clubhouse Director Gerry McDowell at 155 Katherine Lee Bates Road. He and his staff work under the umbrella of FHR - Fellowship Health Resources who strive to support their members and help guide them in their recovery. Check out their web site is www.fhr.net for additional information on their programs. This was our 4th presentation in 2020. Picture from L to R: Gerry McDowell - Program Director, Ken Beals - Culinary Unit Director, Jay Thayer - OSDA President, Mike Herlihy - Board of Director (Not shown - Photographer Terry Saunders - Board of Director and Web Administrator.
10-21-20 OSDA Logo Wear for Sale
Are you interested in purchasing OSDA logo wear? Since all our 2020 selling opportunities were cancelled, we are offering you the chance to purchase items now. You may contact Steve Saunders, Logo Wear Chair in the next few weeks by phone / text at 508-930-8272 to make arrangements for selection and pick up. Masks must be worn. Please bring cash or checks payable to OSDA. Available items with pricing are listed below. $10 Purple Tote Bags, OSD Note Cards - 8 pack, OSD Dock Etchings $15 T-Shirts; Men’s and Women’s – multiple colors $15 Baseball Caps & Winter Hats $30 Sweatshirts, Full Zip & Half Zip; Men’s and Women’s $30 Vests; Men’s
10-21-20 Andrea Cahill – OSD Member and Neighbor Spotlight
A message from Old Stone Dock Members Peter & Andrea Cahill. October 2020 Friends – We’re undertaking another fundraising effort on behalf of the Andrea Cahill Foundation at MGH. This year’s Fundraiser, like everything else, will be a little different than the 9 before. Since there’s no practical way to ride to Montreal as we love to do, over the last week in October, Peter will bike four legs of 80 miles from our home in Falmouth, MA. The intention is the same - to raise $20,000 to support research and program funding to assist all those afflicted with neurofibromatosis (NF) being treated at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH). I don’t need to detail the horrors of this disease - this letter is directed to the group of family, friends and donors who know Andrea, have seen her courage, and have contributed generously to this cause in the past. What I will tell you is that your efforts (we’ve raised over $175,000 to-date, of which 100% go directly to MGH) have paid huge dividends – we can now test for NF2 and know with certainty if the mutated gene has been passed down to the next generation (ask our kids how important this achievement was), some surgeries are being done with small laser incisions and recoveries are far shorter since Andrea was diagnosed over 35 years ago, we’ve helped fund clinical positions, and been a part of generating grants that have supported better patient care, new research and most importantly ongoing hope for those affected. You might remember that as of the last fundraising effort, Andrea was the first NF patient to try a new experimental drug (AZD2014) that actually shrunk her tumors – the first time that’s EVER happened; she is also the first patient to try the 2nd generation of this drug treatment and as a result of her brave advocacy this drug (Brigatinib) is now in clinical trials and helping dozens of NF patients nationwide – that’s real, meaningful progress! We (as part of the research team under the direction of Dr. Scott Plotkin at MGH) are making real strides toward a cure and want you to know that our fundraising and your contributions are a meaningful part of that progress. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your contributions in the past; thank you in advance for your contributions to the 2020 campaign. God bless, Andrea & Peter Cahill For more info on the web at: https://because.massgeneral.org/cure4nf2 Or mail checks to: Andrea Cahill fund for NF2 research at MGH* 297 Walker Street, Falmouth, MA 02540 *The Andrea Cahill Fund for NF2 research at MGH is a 501 C 3 designation & all donations are fully tax deductible.
09-17-20 Breakfast provided to Community Health Center
The Old Stone Dock Association sponsored an appreciation breakfast Thursday, September 17, 2020, for the healthcare workers at the Community Health Center’s Falmouth location at Homeport, on Jones Road (see pic). Jay Thayer, the OSDA Board President, said “When we learned that the Health Center provides care to one out of every 5 Falmouth residents, and does so without regard to their ability to pay, we wanted to recognize their efforts during this stressful pandemic. ‘Hats off’ to those dedicated to keeping our community healthy.” The OSDA, dedicated to the well-being of our beach community, launched a special fundraising effort among its membership to address special needs due to the COVID-19 outbreak and its impact on Falmouth. Thanks again to all those that provided extra funds with their 2020-2021 renewal to give back to our community.
09-16-20 Presidents email to members
Hello Neighbor, I wanted to make you aware of an issue that will affect the Surf Drive area and our neighborhood. The Falmouth Coastal Resilience Committee has been studying the effects of climate change on Falmouth coastal areas and a draft report has been prepared specifically for the Surf Drive Area. There will be a public presentation of this draft report via a Zoom virtual meeting tomorrow evening, September 17 at 6:00 PM. The details for the meeting and the Zoom link can be found on the Town website by following the link: http://www.falmouthmass.us/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=769 (this took place on 09/17/20) One of our OSDA members, John Mullin, has been following this study committee's reviews and has offered his own thoughts which he wanted me to share with the Association. His comments, questions and concerns are listed below. I personally believe that careful reviews of the Study Committee's assumptions, models, peer reviews and conclusions are warranted. The Old Stone Dock Association does not take a formal position on this work, however this issue seemed important enough to share with you so that you can form your own opinions. Below are the comments, questions and references that John Mullin put together and wanted to share: QUESTIONS with the Falmouth Coastal Resilience Plan and a call to ACTION Although I join the majority in believing in global warming and the resulting sea level rise, I also believe in asking questions when a very consequential plan is based on a model that differs greatly from other models developed by the WHOI and from actual recorded seal level rise measurements by NOAA. The newly published Coastal Resilience Plan (CRP) discusses taking actions costing tens of millions of dollars, abandoning town assets and ceasing maintenance and services to affected areas, all based on a very questionable sea level rise model. According to the CRP’s model the sea level will rise by approximately 3/4” each year through 2070. (this model predicts a sea level rise 660% greater than the WHOI model and actual measurements) A WHOI study in 2019 predicts a rise of 1/8” to 1/4” per year through 2050. The WHOI measured an actual rise of just less than 1/8” in 2019 in Woods Hole. And NOAA measurements of actual sea level rise from 1930 to present averages 2.92 millimeters or less than 1/8” per year in Woods Hole. Based on the huge discrepancies between the models shown above and actual recorded sea level rise I call on all Falmouth residents and board members to demand the following prior to the implementation of any of the CRP recommendations: 1- A complete re-evaluation of the sea level rise model used 2- Due to the fact that all models are just predictions, the CRP should include an ongoing “predictive model” to “actual” comparison and plan adjustment methodology. A concerned property owner in the Surf Drive area. John Mullin References: http://www.falmouthmass.us/1052/Coastal-Resilience-Planning-Surf-Drive-A https://tidesandcurrents.noaa.gov/sltrends/sltrends_station.shtml?id=8447930 https://www.whoi.edu/know-your-ocean/ocean-topics/climate-ocean/sea-level-rise/ I want to thank John for sharing his concerns with us and I [...]