Club News and Announcements Last updated: Thursday, July 2, 2009 11:20 AM   June 29, 2009 Hi everyone. Summer on Waquoit Bay has officially started. The problem is no one told the weather man it was time for warm and sunny summer days.  I am glad to report that the club is in full swing and it should be a great season .We had our first raft-up and due to bad weather,  it was changed from Cotuit to Oak Bluffs.  Five boats participated.  Our junior sailing program is off to a great start with 30 students signed up for classes.  Thanks to Sudie Fay and her staff for putting together a great curriculum.  Our next event is the 4th of July picnic on Saturday with lots of hamburgs and hot dogs sponsored by the Race Committee.  Everyone is welcome to join in the festivities and parade for the kids. The best part is it’s FREE. CLICK HERE for all the details. We are still looking for volunteers to help out with functions.  If anyone is interested in volunteering to help out with the Sunday races please e-mail me at jimcdown@comcast.net. Here’s to fair winds and lots of fish Jim Downhill Commodore   May 24, 2009 ALERT Waquoit Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve proposal for their 182 foot permanent pier was heard late February. They were told to submit a new proposal. There have been three postponements since that time and it is now on the agenda of Conservation Commission for July 29, 2009. WBNERR must file the next proposal 7 days before that hearing (July 22 at noon). After that time, it will be available at the Commission for public review and prior to July 29. Often the office at Con Com is closed but I have found the best time to “catch” them is after 1 pm. There are about 5 variances that they are requesting and must show proof. Because the land is in an ACEC area (Area of Critical Environmental Concern), this  law prohibits dock construction in that zone except if they can show good cause for the public use. WBNERR claims to have limited public access. A few of the other objections include: disruption to shellfish, actual use by “researchers” as opposed to the young people that patrol Washburn campsites, destruction to vegetation, construction from a barge (too shallow for a barge), no road access, maintenance of the area currently is poor to bad, no toilet facilities, no plan to restrict public from access and the aesthetics of this huge structure. Send letters to:     Conservation Commissioners     Falmouth Conservation Committee     Town Hall     Falmouth, Ma 02540 Include the following:     A clear statement as to why you are opposed.     What effect it would have on you      A little background of how long you’ve been using the Bay, etc. Thank you, Jim Downhill (jimcdown@comcast.net) Commodore CLICK HERE to print the above (.pdf format)   May 8, 2009 Opening day at the club is Saturday, May 23, 2009. Click Here for all the details. May 2, 2009 Dock-In day was held today and thanks to the hearty souls who braved the elements to get the jog done. CLICK HERE to see picture of the activities courtesy of Larry Gray. April 28, 2009 Click here to see the 2009 Social Calendar. Volunteers are still needed for a few time slots. Please contact Colleen Giacomozzi (508-548-4578) e-mail: pcgiacomozzi@hotmail.com to volunteer. April 24, 2009   Hello everyone, I am writing this e-mail at the request of John Palmieri.  Johns’ wife Joan passed away on Friday April 17 and the funeral services were held on Monday April 20th,in Rutland ,VT. John is having a memorial service on May 2nd at 2pm at The Parish of Christ the King Chapel in Mashpee, Ma.  The address is 3 Jobs Fishing Rd off of rte 151 in Mashpee. John is inviting all club members to attend.  Members are also invited to Johns’ home at 221 James Circle Mashpee after the memorial for a cookout.  Food and beverages will be served. Legacy.Com Guestbook Obituary Jim Downhill Commodore April 20, 2009 Dock in day will be Saturday, May 2nd, with the rain date being May 3rd. Again, many hands make short work and all are welcome. Opening day for the 2009 season will be Saturday, May 23rd. February 13, 2009 Hello everyone. I am sending this letter to all e-mail members of the club to inform everyone of an application that our neighbor to the North (WBNERR) has made. They are requesting to have a permanent pier that measures 142 feet long by 4 feet wide.  There will be a 22 foot aluminum ramp leading to a 10x20 foot float.  The pilings holding the pier will be 12 inches in diameter 20 feet apart. The pilings on the float will rise 17 feet above the water level. I have attended two meetings already held by the Conservation Commission in Falmouth.  There have been numerous questions asked by the Commission and concerned citizens.  WBNERR has also stated they will move any moorings that would interfere with their Pier. If you have any questions or wish to voice your opinion you can e-mail me at jimcdown@comcast.net .  The next meeting of the Conservation Commission will be held at the town hall on Feb. 25 at 7:00 pm.  The general public is invited to attend. Jim Downhill Commodore , WBYC    Click Here to print this letter   January 6, 2009 - IMPORTANT Click Here to read the WEBNERR Dock Project Description January 2, 2009 - IMPORTANT The Waquoit Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve (WBNERR) has made application to the Town of Falmouth, Conservation Commission to erect a pier from their boat house into Waquoit Bay.  A public hearing on this application will be held January 7, 2009 in the evening at town hall. The essence of the proposal is as follows: They wish to erect a permanent pier that measures 142 feet long by 4 feet wide to extend into the Bay where there will be a 22 foot aluminum ramp leading to a 10x20 foot float.  The pilings holding this pier will be 12” diameter, 20 feet apart, dug into the sand 15 feet and the pilings on the float will rise 17 feet above water level. There will be approximately 4 to 8 feet from the sand to under the pier, depending on tide. They will move their moorings to accommodate this pier, and presumably move others as well. (Remember there IS a mooring plan on file at the Harbor Masters office in Falmouth). The pier will start at the current cement stairs next to the boathouse as a ramp. The total length of the pier is 182 feet. Stairs will lead from the beach up to the pier. The pier will be permanently lit along the entire length. The aluminum ramp and float will be stored off site during winter months. They state that their “researchers” need permanent pilings to attached equipment, that they need to load skiffs from a dock, they need to stop the damage to their skiffs from pulling them up on the beach and to allow for greater comfort for their researchers to carry out their work. The number of actual researchers is unknown. It is known that their staff patrol Washburn Island Campground from this site. Facts: All of the land at the head of the Bay and beyond is in what is called ACEC land (Area of Critical Environmental Concern). One of the regulations in this State law is that there can be NO erection of docks, unless the public good can be demonstrated. (http://www.Falmouthmass.us/deppage.php?number-50) The proposal states that the public good is for school children to go out on the dock to view the water. No mention in the proposal as to the disposal of silt, sand and shells that will arise out of the erection of piles. No environmental impact assessment has been made public in this proposal. No plans are suggested for the restoration of fragile grass, sand, bushes and other natural vegetation that will be disturbed by the erection of this pier. WE ARE CONCERNED RESIDENTS OF WAQUOIT BAY for many reasons, the least of which is to preserve Waquoit Bay as a precious piece of environment. You may see this proposal at Town Hall, Conservation Commission.  YOU NEED TO VOICE YOUR OPINION ON THE ERECTION OF THIS PIER. WRITE A LETTER—APPEAR IN PERSON Click HERE to print the above Click HERE to go to the Falmouth Conservation Commission web site Conservation Commission Conservation Commission Adminstrator Jennifer L. McKay Conservation Commission Agent Mark Kasprzyk Location Falmouth Town Hall, Located in the basement 59 Town Hall Sq. Falmouth, MA 02540 Phone 508-495-7445 Fax 508-495-7449 E-Mail Address concom@falmouthmass.us Meeting Schedule Every Wednesday at 7:00pm (Town Hall Selectmen's Meeting Room)   Click here to view the photo gallery