Greetings!

As this is the last weekend of July, it is normally the time that we would be celebrating Pines Party. We all share in the disappointment that our beloved party was cancelled because of the pandemic. The decision to cancel was necessary and appropriate. Still, I want to salute the co-Chairs of the Pines Party Committee—Allan Baum, Jeff Staadt and Ed Schulhafer—for all of their hard work during the winter and spring to prepare for the party. Pines Party 2021 will come back stronger than ever!

Please Support Pines Party/The Pines Foundation
In the meantime, I urge you to help the Pines Party Committee in reaching its 2020 fundraising goal by donating to Pines Party/The Pines Foundation, even if you donate only the price of a ticket that you would normally buy. The proceeds are essential to funding The Pines Foundation (our Pines community not-for-profit), and FIPPOA also donates a portion of the proceeds to Stonewall Community Foundation. Stonewall has been providing critical pandemic assistance to its network of NYC-area LGBTQIA+ non-profit organizations and has long been at the forefront of the racial justice fight. 

Pines Party Weekend
We can expect that there will be many Pines Party rentals this weekend, and my primary concern this weekend is the safety and health of our residents . We do not want a repeat of the Fourth of July weekend with large parties on the beach where people weren’t wearing masks or social distancing, or large house parties of the same kind. I have arranged for letters to be delivered by the realtors to each rental group that arrived last Thursday and this coming Thursday, seeking their cooperation in complying with health ordinances. The police have been visiting and sending letters to the owner of houses who have received repeated complaints. They will be also keeping a close eye on the beach to prevent large gatherings that could put the health of the community at risk. I have been in touch with the police superintendent of the Fire Island National Seashore who will be taking action to avoid parties in the Meat Rack.

We have asked the police to focus on the public health risk to our community and maintain compliance with executive orders. We welcome people of all backgrounds to the Pines, and we do not tolerate discrimination or violence against BIPOC residents and visitors.

COVID-19 and Your Safety
The pandemic is serious. While New York State has controlled the spread of the virus, it remains a threat. We encourage you to read these COVID-19 recommendations for the LGBTQIA+ community from over 200 gay physicians.

Role of the Police in Our Community
Recent developments have brought attention to the role of the police in the Pines. They are trained in EMS, and they are our first responders. In emergency medical situations, the police render life-saving services; if necessary, they evacuate residents by police helicopter or boat to local hospitals. With regard to routine police actions, the police have largely let the community regulate itself. They have mainly focused on violations against noise and open containers of alcohol. We are fortunate that we do not have the problems of rowdiness that occur in the communities to the east and west. The number of actions taken by the police in the Pines is usually quite small, and the police frequently report to me on the actions they have taken during a holiday weekend, providing a mechanism for community review.

Candidates Forum for FIPPOA President
I am pleased to announce that our first-ever Candidates Forum for FIPPOA president will take place on the deck at Whyte Hall on August 1st between 10:30 – 11:45 am. The candidates for president are Rodman (Tad) Paul, Henry Robin, and Ed Schulhafer. We are delighted that Andrew Kirtzman will be our moderator, engaging the candidates in an informal conversation about current and future issues in Fire Island Pines and the candidates' qualifications to lead FIPPOA as it meets those challenges. Andrew will leave time for questions from the audience. We will also videotape the Forum and make it available for those who cannot attend.

We are delighted that, under Phase 4 of the New York State guidelines, we will be able to accommodate up to 133 people on the Whyte Hall deck. Thank you to board member Gary Clinton for suggesting and helping to shape the Candidates Forum. Please note that the Forum is for the three candidates running for president only. Regular (voting) FIPPOA members will receive information about all candidates for board member and officer positions by mail, according to FIPPOA’s bylaws.

More Ferries
Sayville Ferry Service will be adding additional ferries this Thursday and Saturday to avoid overcrowding on these busy days. SFS tells me that it is committed to its 50% occupancy goal on ferries but needs to constantly adjust as ridership patterns are quite different this summer than in the past. Please remember to wear your mask on the ferry at all times. Someone was arrested on the late boat from Cherry Grove on Sunday for failing to comply with this guideline. 

Fire Island Inlet to Montauk Point Reformulation Study (FIMP) Closer to Reality
Now that FIMI is complete, I have good news about the Fire Island Inlet to Montauk Point Reformulation Study (FIMP), which is one step closer to reality. FIMP addresses rising sea levels along Long Island. The Army Corps of Engineers has completed its approval process and, typically, the completion of the approval process ensures that the project will move forward. Contained within this project is the mechanism for repairing our beach, should it be damaged in future storms. The Fire Island Association and its President, Suzy Goldhirsch, have played an important role in shepherding FIMP through the approval process. We are extraordinarily fortunate to have this leadership. 

I wish all of you a beautiful weekend. We want to show the world that we, residents and visitors of the Pines, are model stewards of our island paradise!
Best,
Jay
Jay Pagano
Announcing the Launch of the
Pines Party 2020 Online Auction
Climb Through the Looking Glass and enter a fantastical world at  pinesparty.com/auction . Help us raise funds for  Stonewall Community Foundation  and  The Pines Foundation  by bidding early and often. With over 80 curated items, this year’s auction is our biggest and most exciting to date with something for everyone!
Help Us Reach Our
Pines Party 2020 Fundraising Goal: $100,000

Pines Party raises much needed funds for  The Pines Foundation (our Pines community not-for-profit and event sponsor) and  Stonewall Community Foundation . Stonewall has been providing critical pandemic assistance to its network of NYC area LGBTQIA+ non-profit organizations and has long been at the forefront of the racial justice fight. Please help us continue our legacy of financial support for Stonewall and The Pines Foundation.  Donate now .