The beach cleanup day was held on Saturday, 05/31/25.  We were initially concerned about the weather and made a decision to stay with the Saturday schedule.  The rain stopped an hour before we started and the heavy winds and storm started later in the afternoon.  Since the sand was soaked, we were unable to use the blowers and had to do a lot of shoveling by hand. Twenty-one members and guests participated and 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.  Beach committee members Barb Schneider and Joe Strazzula also met with members, thanked the OSDA for their contributions to the neighborhood and helped with the cleanup.                

The flower boxes at the Ellen T Mitchell Bathhouse were installed on 05/22/25.  Board Member Steve Saunders coordinated and picked up the completed flower boxes from Soares Gardens.  Steve watered the flowers until the bathhouse opened full time on 06/26/25.  Funds were provided from the OSDA to the Beach Donation Account to cover the cost of materials and labor from Soares.

On May 1st our annual letter went out to paid up members for 06/01/24 to 05/31/25 and to a small group of lapsed members who had not renewed in the last few years.  Printing, stuffing, mailing, collecting funds, checking and recording the information is quite cumbersome so a decision was made that paid up members would be considered renewed for the 06/01/25 to 05/31/26 membership year.  Seven families that had lapsed recently renewed as well as three new memberships.  The following is the letter that was emailed to all.  We appreciate you and your support throughout the years. May 2025 Hello Neighbor and Greetings from the Old Stone Dock Association We hope that this letter finds you well. It is being sent via email (no mailing this year) to the 220 paid-up members from June 1, 2024 to May 31, 2025.  We will not be collecting dues from present members this year.  You will automatically be renewed for June 1, 2025 to May 31, 2026.  We are doing this for two reasons (1) to reduce the workload of the membership committee in printing and mailing to several hundred members and then processing and checking their information against present lists which takes place over several months and (2) to spend down funds in our present treasury. The last two years we have attempted to bring new and possibly younger people to the board by reaching out to those we thought that might be interested and requesting help via a survey last year.  This led to a few additions but not enough.  We didn’t have a President in 2024 and haven’t had a Vice President (to move up) in many years.  We can’t seem to find current members who want to be on the board, an officer or to lead or be on a committee to run our activities and events.  During the coming months we will be assessing what programs we will be able to continue and which will be eliminated.  The present board, may have to make the difficult decision to spend down funds and dissolve the association at some point. The Association strives to promote a sense of community for residents in the neighborhood of Main Street to Surf Drive between Shore Street and Mill Road and all the streets and residents within those boundaries.  We perform a variety of services and social activities focused primarily on our neighborhood.  We want to thank all the members of the Old Stone Dock Association whose dues have been used to support these programs. The following is a list of the accomplishments and activities for 2024.  05/22/24 Flower Boxes - The flower boxes at the Ellen T. Mitchell bathhouse were purchased from Soares Nursery and were installed in time for the Memorial Day weekend. Funds towards the flowers were also provided by OSDA members in memory of family members. 06/08/24 Beach Cleanup - Twenty members and friends participated in the Annual Surf Drive Beach cleanup. Barb Schneider and Nancy Quigg of [...]

Eversource began work to supply back up electricity to the Vineyard in the Surf Drive area last fall and work was substantially completed this spring.  They used both the Mill Road and Surf Drive parking lots to stage their equipment.  A new water main was installed on Surf Drive since the current one was over 100 years old.  In December pictures show the dewatering system that was used.  Since they struck water only two feet down, the water was pumped into what looked like trailers in the Surf Drive parking lot and then went through a filtering system before being discharged into the ocean.  By mid-March the pipes that would later hold the electrical work were being driven into the ocean floor.  Resurfacing of Surf Drive as well as the new sidewalk between Shore and Walker was completed in a few days mid-May.  Once we realized that the crosswalk from Walker to the Beach was removed, it was at that time that calls, letter writing and attending local meetings by OSDA members and Board went into full gear.  We wrote on behalf of our 200+ member families and as individuals.  After our in person meeting with 3 DPW managers on 06/10/24 we didn’t have much hope.  On 06/12/25 we were pleased to be advised by the DPW that a new crosswalk would be put back at Walker Street in the fall that would comply with ADA (American with Disability Act) regulations.                   

The OSDA was asked to participate in the Falmouth Chamber of Commerce Business After Hours on Thursday, 01/16/25.  Typically, a ‘non-profit’ is selected to describe their organization and is linked to a ‘for profit’ business that sponsors the monthly event.  This month the chamber chose to recognize our neighborhood association. Jim Fox of Main Street Gallery hosted the event and Terry Saunders resurrected and updated a poster board that showed all of the things the OSDA does in the neighborhood (see featured photo).  Jim Fox spoke about the gallery and Terry Saunders followed up and spoke about the contributions that the OSDA makes in the neighborhood (see notes below).  Jim Fox provided a lovely painting as the first door prize and the OSDA provided two gift bags for the raffle with OSDA logo wear.  See other pictures below. Our activities and accomplishments in 2024 were: Late May, 16 flower boxes were purchased and installed at the Ellen T Mitchell Bathhouse. Members often provide extra funds to sponsor the flowers and a plaque is made each year to recognize the donors. Early June, 20 members and guests cleaned up the parking area around the Bathhouse and neighboring streets. Some of the beach committee members were present and mingled with our membership.  A logo wear table is set up at all of our events. Late June, we purchased 150 Metal Water Bottles for all the beach workers. Early July, we purchased and donated to the Falmouth Beaches 3 new crosswalk signs which were put in place on Surf Drive. Mid July we provided breakfast to 80 beach workers at the bathhouse before they went out to their daily assignments. Members of the selectboard, beach department, beach committee and the DPW also participated. In August our membership enjoyed our annual meeting and summer social at the Flying Bridge. We had speakers from the police department and the beach committee.  We presented 5 college freshmen, who were children or grandchildren of members, with a check for $500 each for tuition assistance.  Since 2015, 34 students received $16,500. We ended the year with our holiday party which was held after the parade at Shoreway Acres. Members and town officials enjoyed great food and many door prizes donated by area businesses. Thank you for having us this evening and giving us the opportunity to tell you about our association. Poster Board Crowd Shot and Terry Saunders with Michael Kasperian     Raffle winner Kath King with Reliable RN and Larry Moody with the Newcomers OSDA Board Member Rich Sherman and Committee Member Nancy Gabrielli    

The OSDA Holiday Party was held on Sunday, 12/08/24 at ShoreWay Acres after the parade.  Many thanks to our hosts Dorie and Greg Ketterer for all they do for the association, the Prize Committee was chaired by Nancy Gabrielli and members included Brian Callanan, Paul Smith and Terry Saunders.  The Party Committee, Nancy Gabrielli, Al Gabrielli, Steve Saunders and Terry Saunders. Special thanks to all the businesses and shops that provided door prizes.  A list of the gifts and recipients follows. BUSINESS GIFT RECIPIENT Ben & Bills Chocolate Gift Card Barbara Foley Bluefins Sushi & Bar Gift Card Paul Smith Caline for Kids Gift Card Steve Saunders Celebrations of Cape Cod Gift Certificate Rose Rakeman Coffee Obsession Gift Certificate Russell Quigg Country Fare Gift Card Amy Herlihy Eastman's Ace Hardware Gift Card Bill Barrass Eight Cousins Books Gift Card Chris Ahern Falmouth Chamber 2 Falmouth beach towels Jay Barrass Falmouth Jewelry Shop Gift Card Herb Foster Ghelfi's Candies & Ice Cream Gift Card - use for kids drawing Ronan Foley Ghelfi's Candies & Ice Cream Gift Card - use for kids drawing Tommy Foley Ghelfi's Candies & Ice Cream Gift Card - use for kids drawing Clara Jech Guilded Oyster Gift Card Jamie Crossen Headlines Salon & Day Spa Gift Certificate Jen Rakeman Highfield Hall & Gardens Annual Membership Fran Ahern Howlingbird Studio Gift Certificate Ed Jackson La Cucina sul Mare Gift Card Martin Monk Liam Maguire's Irish Pub Gift Card Jim McKeone Livin' EZ Casual Wear 2 childrens t-shirts & hats Cathie McKeone Maison Villatte - Boulangerie Gift Card Susannah Butler Old Stone Dock Association Gift Certificate Donna Herlihy Old Stone Dock Association Gift Certificate Sandy Smith Quarterdeck Gift Card Jim Fox ShoreWay Acres Gift Certificate Sue Nerkowski Simply DiVine Gift Card Faith Barrass Steve's Pizza Gift Certificate Alice Tow Tap City Grille Gift Card Sharon Butler The Gallery on Main Two winter scene prints Cindy McConarty The Run House Gift Card Keane Steiding Timber Axe Gift Card Chris Ludwig Uptown Body 30 min pilates session Michael Butler                                             

Featured Picture:  2024 10-04, Steve Saunders stopped to listen to the talking mannequin on Surf Drive.  It 'started up' when you got close to it. 2024 11-10 Seaweed being cleared from the beach a barrel at a time (homeowner said it was for his garden). 2024 12-15, Ongoing work at Surf Drive Beach.  See story below that was received via email.  Water is being pumped out of the ground to make way for a new water line. 2024 12-15, Pipes and tanks staged in the Surf Drive Beach parking lot. 2024 12-15, After water is pumped into the 5 tanks show in the prior picture it is filtered thru the black bags before being deposited back in the ocean. DID YOU KNOW YOU CAN SIGN UP FOR ALERTS FROM A VARIETY OF TOWN AGENCIES.  THE E-MAIL BELOW WAS RECEIVED FROM THE ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT. 12-27-24 Eversource duct bank work - Shining Sea Bikeway and Surf Drive Work Eversource is working on a new submarine line between Falmouth and Martha's Vineyard that requires installation of duct banks in Falmouth roads and the Shining Sea Bikeway between Stephens Lane and Mill Road/Surf Drive. December 27 Update - Next week, crews will continue installing a series of manholes and duct banks along the Shining Sea Bikeway, between Ter Heun Drive and Locust Street. This work will continue through the winter months and is anticipated to be completed by spring of 2025.  The Depot Avenue parking lot located at 81 Locust Street in Falmouth is closed for the duration of this work. The Locust Street parking lot will remain open.  The bike path will be closed between Ter Heun Drive and Locust Street for the duration of construction. On Surf Drive, crews will continue to replace the water main between Mill Road and Shore Street.  A portion of the Surf Drive parking lot located at 56 Surf Drive, Falmouth will be cordoned off for the duration of this work. The Mill Road parking lot, located at the corner of Mill Road and Surf Drive, is also closed for the duration of this work. See below for a suggested detour route for users of the bike path during the closure.  Construction Hours: Monday through Friday, 7am-6pm Occasional work may extend beyond the approved hours due to unforeseen circumstances, based on approval from municipal staff. For real time construction updates, please view online interactive construction map. At this time, the construction will not interrupt your electrical service, and all people working on this project are Eversource-approved contractors and carry proper identification. If you have any questions or concerns regarding the project, please call 1-833-836-0302 or email at ProjectInfoMA@eversource.com. Eversource is committed to deliver reliable energy to our customers and will begin constructing in early December, pending town approval, on a new 23-kV underground and submarine line between Falmouth and Martha’s Vineyard. Eversource is committed to open lines of communication and notifying the public about the project and pending construction. If you would like to learn more about the Project, please contact [...]

Many thanks to our friend and OSDA Board Member Rich Sherman for his participation in the Morse Pond School Veterans Day 2024 celebration.  Feature picture is Rich and his grandson.  Pictures were on Facebook (from the Police Dept and Fabulous Falmouth).

The OSDA was pleased to participate in the Falmouth Village / Main Street Halloween Stroll on Saturday, 10/29/24.  Members Beth Whelan, Cathy Kligler and Mary Ellen O’Leary volunteered to set up a table for OSDA and distributed goodies from 1 pm to 3 pm.  The are shown in the featured picture.  A few pictures follow of visitors to our table.