Photo: Bob Anderson

Spring Is In The Air

Dear Karen,

The harbor is no longer frozen. Temperatures are in the 40’s. Spring is in the air!

Like many of you, I am very much looking forward to returning to the Pines in the next few weeks. So much to think about now as we begin to embark on a new, glorious Pines season. Here are a few updates and new opportunities that require your action now as you plan for the new season.

Infested Tree Take Down – The Pines Conservation Society (PCS) in Collaboration with FIPPOA/The Pines Foundation (TPF)

Each year PCS, in collaboration with FIPPOA/TPF and the National Park Service (NPS), removes infested, dead, or dying trees from the Pines rights-of-way (ROW), defined as six feet on either side of a public walk. The program has helped combat the spread of environmentally dangerous southern pine beetles. The NPS reports that our rapid response and continued collaboration have been key in slowing it. The culling tactic has been a success. In 2016, the first year, 150 trees were downed.

This year, PCS has identified 47 pines trees within the ROW, which they will arrange to have removed in early March by Bartlett Tree Experts. If you have dead or dying pines trees on your property that are outside of the ROW, now is an opportunity to work with Bartlett directly while they are on the island to arrange removal privately. They will cut, mulch, and remove your trees off island. If you are interested and would like an estimate, please contact Deborah Green as soon as possible at 631 831-2628 or email: dgreen@bartlett.com

Pines Conservation Society - Part II: Annual Tree Sale

Spring is coming and it’s time to plant! Over the past many years, PCS has helped homeowners plant more than 4,000 trees. Tree planting is important to maintain the diversity of the Pine’s fragile ecosystem. Trees are purchased directly from the nursery and delivered to the Pines freight dock. By ordering in bulk, PCS passes the savings on to you.

For more information on both projects, and to order trees, please visit the PCS websit e.

A special thank you to the PCS Board of Directors and the many hard working community volunteers.

Membership & The Wagon Rack

One of the benefits of joining FIPPOA is that treasured wagon rack sticker! Membership is open to property owners, renters and anyone who wishes to support FIPPOA. With your membership, Property Owner or Associate - you will receive a 2022 wagon rack sticker. Either renew your membership by accessing your member profile here, or if you are new as a homeowner, click here to join, or if new as a non-homeowner, click here to join as an Associate member. For those who have already renewed your membership, we thank you. We will be mailing wagon stickers later this month to those members who renewed by March 1st.

As our membership has increased, so too have the size of our wagons, leaving little room for maneuvering in and out of the rack. I encourage you to read this message from "The Wagon Rack Guys,” Gary Clinton and Bob McGarity, our community volunteers who maintain the wagon rack each year. Please follow their suggestions so that everyone has unimpeded and safe access to the wagon rack all season long.

Ambassador Marc Ostfield

I am frequently reminded of the many accomplished members of our community. There are so many talented and generous Pines residents who are devoted to making both our community and the broader world a better place to live.

This expresses the sentiment I felt when long-time homeowner Marc Ostfield was named by the Biden administration to be the United States Ambassador to Paraguay! Marc was confirmed by the U.S. Senate in late December, and has recently taken up his post in Asunción, Paraguay.

Marc has a rich history of volunteerism in the Pines. He served as a Director of FIPPOA from 1995 to 2003, and he joined the FIP Fire Department in 1995 and is now a Life Member. You can read all about Marc's accomplishments in the State Department's announcement. Please join me in congratulating Marc, who together with his husband Michael Savino, have now extended the many accomplished Pines expatriates (much) further South to Paraguay!

Refurbishment of the East & West Piers

You will see many maintenance improvements to the community when you return this Spring. One of the most apparent is noticeable when disembarking the ferry and walking on either the marina’s east or west hooks. The aging boards have all been replaced. Thank you to our Community Manager, Karen McCutcheon, and our Facilities Manager, Joe Micheels, for overseeing these projects over the cold Winter months. I hope you all get to enjoy beautiful sunsets on our newly refurbished piers.

Harbor Kiosk Improvements

Another improvement you will notice in the harbor is the redesign of the “walls” framing the Eastern Kiosk. We have created a visibly attractive and organized space where the community at large, together with established Pines organizations, can promote seasonal programming and activities. We have moved the community bulletin board to the eastern wall, and Joe Micheels, has constructed two display cases based on the design and drawings of the uber-talented Scott Bromley, who helped us re-envision this space. One display case will be dedicated to BOFFO’s programming, and the other will be shared by the many other Pines organizations. This functionality now complements the Kiosk on the west end where FIPAP has been promoting their production season for many years. FIPPOA Director and Harbor Chair, Jim Vandernoth, will be responsible for coordinating the shared display case among the various Pines organizations.

When Does It Open?

I get this question a lot, particularly this time of the year. Here are a few answers, and as is always advised, please call or check relevant websites for updates and changes.

The Pines Liquor Shop: weekends only beginning March 19^th; daily beginning April 1^st.

The Pines Pantry: soft opening March 26^th; official opening, April 1^st.

Pines Pizza: April 1^st with breakfast served at 7AM.

Sayville Ferry Service: Daily boats are beginning a bit earlier this year than in the past. Beginning Monday, March 14th, there will be twice daily service Monday-Friday with four on Saturday and three on Sunday. Here is the early Spring schedule.

Sip N Twirl: April 1^st with cocktails pouring at 6PM.

Weekly household garbage curbside pickup resumes on Mondays starting March 7th, and bulk/recyclables on Wednesdays, which already started on March 2nd. If your garbage and/or bulk are not picked up on scheduled dates, I strongly encourage you to notify carting@brownieny.com with a copy to 311@fippoa.org. If we are not aware of missed pick-ups, there is little we can do to help improve the service if necessary.

I look forward to seeing you all in the community and to welcoming in the new season. We have lots of exciting news to report as the season unfolds. Stay tuned!

Henry