April 2016

Hello Neighbor!

This letter is being sent to households who enjoy the Surf Drive Beach area and want to participate in the mission of the Old Stone Dock Association. If you are already a member, we thank you and hope you’ll renew your membership.  If you are not presently a member we hope you will join us after reading about our mission, activities, and plans for 2016 – 2017 to celebrate the Old Stone Dock’s 200 years of service to the town.

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. More and more of our members are from villages throughout Falmouth who share our love for the area and commitment to our mission: to work with  Town of Falmouth officials for improvement in the Surf Drive Beach area for beautification, traffic movement, beach house utilization and maintenance, road maintenance, and the general welfare of residents.

Our accomplishments have included:

  • Ellen T. Mitchell Bath House
  • Provide the Beach Department Cross Walk Signs used at the intersection of Shore, Walker and Mill
  • Flower Boxes which are often donated by members, recognized with a plaque on the bath house
  • Signage inside welcoming visitors to the beach and signs to identify staff offices
  • Provided bulletin board made by OSDA member Larry Rowland which is hung outside the building to post notices from the Association and beach department.
  • Ongoing relationship with Town Management and Elected Officials:
  • Met with town officials on FEMA/Flood Insurance and shared information with members
  • Met with town officials and contractors during cable laying at Mill Road Parking Lot
  • Meet with Engineering, Highway and Parks Directors who cleared growth on Mill Road stone wall
  • Meet with Town Engineer to discuss flooding on lower Walker Street, work to be started in 2016
  • Continue to meet with officials regarding neighborhood concerns
  • $500 Scholarships available to Children and Grandchildren of members who are graduating seniors and will be attending college in the Fall.   Application is available on line.
  • Provide Association and neighborhood news on our website: OldStoneDock.com. Old Stone Dock logo-wear including T-shirts, polo shirts, sweatshirts, and hats are available for sale.

We have included an Application / Dues Remittance Form for June 1, 2016 through May 31, 2017. Please complete indicating if you are a new member or a renewing member and remit with your $25.00 annual dues to the address provided. Please remit by May 31, 2016.

A wealth of information about past and future events can be found on the OSDA website at www.oldstonedock.com. You can also reach us by e-mail at info@oldstonedock.com and your e-mail will be forward to the appropriate party or you can click on a link to reach one of our officers. Information about our association follows.

Our events this past year included:

  • May 30, 2015      Surf Drive Beach (& Area) Cleanup & Membership Drive – members and neighbors
  • July 12, 2015       Triathlon Surf Drive Beach – members provide assistance with traffic control (3rd year) –
    •                     Triathlon organizers contribute to our treasury and scholarship fund
  • Aug 2, 2015         Annual Meeting & Summer Social at Beach Breeze Inn, Shore Street, Falmouth
  • Aug 16, 2015       Falmouth Road Race assisted race officials
  • Oct 23, 2015        Tidal Surge Presentation at Casino/Wharf Restaurant
  • Oct 28, 2015        Falmouth Preservation Alliance published first Heritage Map–featuring Old Stone Dock area*
  • Dec 6, 2015         12th Annual After the Parade Christmas Party at ShoreWay Acres, Shore St., Falmouth

Some of our upcoming events are listed below. As each event draws closer information will be available on the Old Stone Dock Association website at www.oldstonedock.com and they are sent by e-mail to current members.

  • March 2016        CapeCodWave.com article about the Old Stone Dock neighborhood
  • April 2016           Distributed Heritage Map to all current members of the Association *
  • May 21, 2016      Annual Surf Drive Beach Clean Up and Membership Promotion
  • May 21, 2016      Present “Old Stone Dock 1817-2017” quarter board to Beach Supt. Don Hoffer **
  • June 2016           Present a Heritage Map print on loan to display in the Falmouth Town Hall
  • July 10, 2016      Triathlon at Surf Drive Beach – Provide assistance with traffic control (4th year)
    •                     Triathlon organizers contribute to our treasury and scholarship program
  • July 31, 2016       Annual Meeting and Summer Social, Beach Breeze Inn, Shore Street, Falmouth.
  • Aug 21, 2016       Falmouth Road Race – assist race officials
  • Dec 4, 2016         12th Annual After the Parade Christmas Party, ShoreWay Acres, Shore Street, Falmouth
  • 2016-2017            Planning Art & Essay Contests – Falmouth students to submit depictions and history of Surf Drive Beach and particularly the Ol Stone Dock which will be 200 Years Old in 2017.** 

* The first Falmouth Preservation Alliance’s Heritage Map features the OSDA neighborhood.   It is a rare honor that the Alliance’s President is OSDA member Barbara Weyand, and the Alliance’s VP is OSDA Director Dorie Ketterer.  Not only that, but the designer and artist is another OSDA member, Karen Rinaldo!   We really hit the trifecta!   

Their year-long dedication to commit the neighborhood history to this magnificent artwork is exemplary.   If you would like to have one of the limited edition prints of the map to display in your home, please let Karen, Dorie, or me know. 100 prints are available (down to about 75 now) for $250 apiece.   A great gift, a great piece of art and history!

** We are planning several activities to promote the Bicentennial of the Old Stone Dock.  It was the center of commerce for the town after being rebuilt in 1817, and staying in use until the Inner Harbor was dredged in 1908.  We want to commemorate 200 of years of service, currently used as the “Kiddie Pool” at the beach.

We hope you find it worthwhile to join our association or renew your membership. The present officers and board members are listed at the bottom of this letter.  Please don’t hesitate to reach out to any of us with comments and concerns about the neighborhood.

Sincerely,
Kevin M. Doyle
OSDA President
2013 – 2016