Community Columns

Oysterponds News: Anne MacKay Song Swap at Poquatuck Hall

Poquatuck Hall Orient

Well, spring has officially sprung, with birds chirping and osprey returning (Chris Franke reported Saturday morning that there is an osprey on the Dam Pond nest), so all is right with the world.

A program titled ‘Willing Hearts Helpful Hands’ takes place at Floyd Memorial Library next Tuesday, April 5, at 2 p.m. for those who have a loved one suffering with Alzheimer’s or dementia. Come learn how to get a free home consultation on how to access support groups, etc. Open and free to all.

Floyd Memorial Library is also hosting free Rain or Shine Yoga classes at 1 p.m. on Sundays, April 3, 10, 17 and 24. Beginners and intermediate students are welcome. Bring a full-length body mat. Call Lynne Wentworth at 631-765-3005 for details.

Oysterponds students will embark on an amazing  and adventurous month as they participate in the Reach for the Stars spring 2016 workshops. Tomorrow, April 1, they’ll take an all-day field trip to the Children’s Museum of the East End. Then there will be Friday workshops for four weeks during which students will rotate through incredible classes geared to young engineers and scientists. Stay tuned; I’ll update you next time.

Save Friday, April 22, for a presentation by the Missoula Children’s Theater and Oysterponds students, who will present “Peter and Wendy,” an original adaptation, at the Greenport High School auditorium at 6:30 p.m. More to follow.

A memorial service celebrating the life of Maureen Cullinane will take place at Orient Congregational Church next Saturday, April 9, at 11 a.m. Friends and family will share special remembrances of this remarkable and much-missed member of our community. A reception will follow at the Orient Fire Department.

The seventh annual Anne MacKay Song Swap will take place Saturday, April 16, from 7 to 9 p.m. at Poquatuck Hall. It is a fundraiser for our historic hall. Originally organized jointly by the late Anne MacKay and current organizer Gideon D’Arcangelo, the event is a great outpouring of local voices singing their favorite songs together, reminiscent of sitting around the living room and swapping tunes all evening. This year’s friends and neighbors include Mimi Fahs, Peter Millis, Nancy Baxter, Grayson Murphy, Roma Baran, Helen Hooke and many more. A $10 donation will get you a seat if you come on time.

Next Tuesday, April 5, a very special early spring dinner to benefit Oysterponds Historical Society will take place at Houseman, Ned Baldwin’s intimate and stylish New York City restaurant. Actually, it is sold out, but there is a waiting list. In addition, there will be a benefit raffle with very extravagant prizes that everyone can get in on. Check oysterpondshistoricalsocity.org.

The Orient East Marion Park District will meet Tuesday, April 5, at 6 p.m. at Oysterponds School. The agenda includes new signage, when to open for Memorial Day weekend and then for the season, how to deal with trespassers and when to schedule a beach cleanup. The whole community is invited.

The East Marion Community Association will meet Saturday, April 16, at 10 a.m. at the firehouse, where there will be a program titled “Fish Tales: 40 Years of Fishing our Local Waters.” Complete details will appear in the next column.

Sad news of the death of Les Hegeman, Orient Congregational Church member and Peconic Landing resident, came Friday night. I will just describe him as a smiling, sweet man. We all send our sympathy to his family and friends. May he rest in peace.

You have one day to formulate your April Fools’ shenanigans. Make them good!

My next column comes out April 14, with a deadline of April 11. Enjoy the increasingly good weather till then.

Contact Oysterponds columnist Carol Gillooly at [email protected] or 323-3899.

Photo: Poquatuck Hall in Orient. (Credit: File)