Christmas at Meadow Croft 2024
Christmas at Meadow Croft is a labor of love and takes months of planning and organization. Special thanks go to our chairperson Leanne Berg who once again created a wonderful festive experience for our friends and neighbors. Thank you!
A note from Leanne:
Once again our Christmas at Meadow Croft event was a hit! So many people come together to clean, organize, and decorate to create the magic. It’s a labor of love and when we welcome people in to see what we’ve created, we are rewarded with their delight. We are already planning next year’s event!
On behalf of myself and my fellow board members, thank you to all our volunteers, thank you to all our donors and most of all, thank you to all the visitors who made this fundraising event so successful! See you in 2025!!
Many volunteers give selflessly of their time and talents to clean & decorate Meadow Croft for this event. Many thanks go to: Anna Dugan, Adriane Balsam, BBP Neighbors & Gardners, Bayport Homemakers, Sayville Garden Club, Karl Auwaerter of Bayport Flower Houses, and Erich Haesche.
Angela Stelling was our fundraising coordinator and she did a fabulous job this year! Raffle Basket makers: Angela Stelling, Nancy Bachek, Grace Cannizzarro, Lisa Vahey. Beautiful job ladies! We thank our generous friends, businesses and sponsors who donated to our baskets: Sunny B Nails, Cafe Joelle, Cavanaugh's, The Pizzeria, Satellite Pizza, Paris Market, & Brinkmann Hardware. These individuals also donated baskets: Helene Gaissert, Annette O'Brien of Coldwell Banker Real Estate, Beth LaMarca, & Aileen & Jerry McCluskey. Also a special thanks to Doug Ciblus, from Lake Liquor who made our Meadow Croft Ornaments.
With so many visitors and only one driveway for both entrance and exit, we needed a dedicated parking crew to help everyone get in and out safely. Thanks to Bayport-Blue Point Boy Scout Troops 130 and 329 along with family members or friends: Joe Azzone, Jeff Cardillo, Max Cardillo, Jason Ciccarelli, Reid Collins, Rich Collins, Craig Clare, Riley James Clare, Eric Doris, Tyler Doris, Kevin Dugan, Kyran Dugan, Ben Florin, Jake Florin, Landon Hedstrom, Luke Hedstrom, Lars Hedstrom, Michael Maiorano, Mike Maiorano, James McAward, Ben McInnes, Sean McInnes, Finn McInnes, Brenden Purcell, David Rowan, Bill Vogel, Billy Vogel, Carl Wampole, Logan Wampole. Thank you all for your help and support getting our guests in and out of the property safely.
Volunteers are needed to act as docents or man each of the many rooms in the Roosevelt estate for this event. Jennifer Economos did a fabulous job organizing all of these wonderful people to assist in this event. Special thanks go to: Mary Bailey, Leanne Berg, Jerry McCluskey, Aileen McCluskey, Denise Coscia, Beth LaMarca, Laura Amato, Joe Novak, Sandra Iden, Rebecca Church, Roy Fedelem, Anna Duggan, Angela Johnson, Henry Hoyt, Erich Haesche, Baylee Browning, Jacky Monaco, Kathy Heinlein and Adrine Balsam. Thank you all!
A a BIG thanks to Steve Birkeland who takes all the photographs in the carriage house with St. Nicholas. Speaking of St. Nicholas, thank you to Tom Maher Jr. for dressing up and posing for all of those pictures. Also to Katie Maher, Alyssa Maher for acting as Santa's helpers. And a BIG shout out to M & T Bank for donating the hot cocoa and cookies to our guests in the carriage house. Thank you Lenore and Dave, MaryAnn and Sophia! A great addition to our festive carriage house!
The Roosevelt estate really had the Christmas spirit floating through the air and that is in part due to the many musicians who donate their time and talents to play holiday music on the Roosevelt piano during the weekend. Many thanks goes to: John Hodge, Bill Bailey, Mary Latini, Maurice Kemp, Lisa & Brittany Patrinicki, Paul Wright, Jack D'Andrea, Joe Danzo, Fawn Silver and Stephanie and her students. It was amazing!
It is months of planning and the weekend goes by so quickly but all of us on the BBPHA board are grateful for the many visitors who enjoyed the beginning of the holiday season with us. We thank you for your support to help us achieve our goals continuing to keep the heritage of our hamlets alive. MUCH APPRECIATED!
General Membership meetings
Save the dates for these upcoming Membership meetings held at the BBP Library, open to all!
A Gentleman from Abroad - Major General de Trobriand
Presenter: George Munkenbeck, Islip Town Historian
Sunday, January 19, 2025
2:00PM-4:00PM
Resting in St. Ann's Churchyard is one man who gave up his title of nobility to serve the country that he loved. A genuine beau vivant of antebellum times this French nobleman became a soldier and among other achievements held the line on the second day of the Battle of Gettysburg. He lived part of the year in New Orleans and the other in his daughte's home in Bayport. Major General de Trobriand made a mark on our nation's history, but few know his story.
History Through Genealolgy
Presenter: Roy Fedelem; President, Sayville Historical Society
Sunday, February 23, 2025
2:00-4:00PM
Roy Fedelem is currently the president of the Sayville Historical Society and was the demographer for the Long island Regional Planning Board for 31 years. When conducting genealogical research Roy realized a relationship between history and genealogy. His talk will explore people, places and events that may have genealogical connections. Lineage societies you may be eligible to join and genealogical resources will be discussed. You may find you are related to Kings, Queens, Presidents, and maybe even William the Conqueror or Charlemagne or maybe your ancestors in the Crusades.
Avery's 5-mile Look
Avery's 5-mile look was a beautiful resort located at the end of Blue Point Ave. overlooking the Great South Bay and built in 1913 by Mrs. Matilida Avery. The hotel had 40 rooms and its spacious porch dining room was beautifully decorated as an arbor shelter complete with vines and grapes. In April, 1939, the 5-mile Look burned to the ground in a late night fire.
The BBPHA's mission has always been to preserve the shared history of our hamlets. We are so pleased to see some of our hard work come to fruition in this project. Many years in the making, working with many individuals, organizations, government and public, we are pleased to share the following news. Thank you to Linda Leuzzi and the Suffolk Co. News for covering this story. Congratulations and thank you to all involved to keep the history of Bayport and Blue Point alive!
Congratulations to Craig & Wendy Clare!
It was recently announced by the BBP Chamber of Commerce that Craig & Wendy Clare have been selected to be the Grand Marshals of the St. Patrick's Day Parade. Craig & Wendy are wonderful people and so active in our communities. Craig is also the BBPHA treasurer and we congratulate him on this honor. It is only January but save the date for this year's parade! Congratulations!
