News

Below is a summary of the Zoom meeting we had on July 8th for those who weren't able to join us. For those who would like to listen to a recording of the meeting, a link is provided at the bottom of this post.

Our next Board meeting will be held on July 20th. Another general membership meeting will be held via Zoom on August 5th at 6pm. Please save the date and plan to join us! Log on information is available on our website.

Summary of July 8th Meeting

• President’s Report by Martha Polachi:

• • This spring she noticed that a much smaller flag was flying on the rotary flag pole. She requested that the DPW reinstall the larger cotton flag. 
  • Over the winter the wood tables at Larsen Park were sealed by Amy Manning. We also received a bid from her for landscaping in Larsen Park. We are now waiting on permission from the Conservation Foundation. 
  • We requested water refilling stations but were told by the Town that they will not be installing any for now because of financial constraints due to COVID-19
  • The DPW delivered trash bin enclosures for the beach, but not yet for Larsen Park. 
  • Porta potties were not installed this year at the beach because of COVID-19 restrictions. 
  • The Fire Station steps will be fixed if DPW can find the money. The Board is considering donating money for the step repairs if they can't. 

• Martha had a few public service announcements as well:

• Treasurer Gene Hilzenrath reported that as of July 8, 272 household memberships had paid dues this calendar year. He asked that all members pay their dues promptly. Dues can be paid online through our website (www.siasconsetcivicassociation.org), mailing a check to (P.O. Box 360, Siasconset, MA 02564), or dropping off a check at 15 Burnell Street in Sconset. Our budgeted income for 2020 is $18,900.00 and our budgeted expenses are $26,201.00. The expense number is a conservative estimate that takes into account past expenses. However, we don't foresee the same expenses this summer as we will not be hosting an annual BBQ, bike safety day, and other events that we traditionally organize, due to COVID-19 restrictions.

• Whitney Schrauth, who is in charge of our Clean Team efforts, reported that we had lots of success with our Clean Team initiative last summer and that we plan to continue it this year, but without group meet-ups because of COVID-19. Instead, all members who are on island are encouraged to participate in a community wide clean-up on the 3rd Saturday of each month between the hours of 8am and 11am -- with household members cleaning up on their own. Supplies (trash bags, plastic gloves, and "grippers") will be available for pick-up for those who need them. Details will be provided in an email to members and also posted on our website. 

• Mary Will, our Nominating Committee Chair, reported that, pursuant to our Bylaws, the Board selected new officers and board members because having an in-person meeting of members to hold elections wasn't possible.  The new officers are as follows: 

President - Lynn Filipski
Vice President - Gail Walker
Secretary - Maggie Boone
Treasurer - Wendy Holding

New directors are Dr. William Druckemiller, Robert Franklin, and John Shea.  Continuing on as directors are Cindy Nelson, Maxwell Mundy, and Whitney Schrauth, 

• We then addressed questions that were presented to the Board prior to the meeting and that were asked via the chat platform on Zoom. The general concerns raised by members were related to landscaping, speeding, parking at the rotary, parking at the beach as well as the playground, bike safety, and road repair work. 

• Outgoing board members were thanked for their contributions and continued support. They are: Cathy Bowman, Snooky Eldridge (our resident historian), Gene Hilzenrath (our outgoingTreasurer), C.O. North (our outgoing Assistant Treasurer and a contributing author of our new bylaws), and Mary Will (who has served as Secretary, Nominating Committee Chair, and Scholarship Fund Chair).

• Finally, Lynn Filipski, President-elect, expressed how fortunate we are to have had Martha Polachi on the Board for the past 12 years and past 5 years as our President. She has made so many important contributions to the village including: the new flagpole, the children’s playground, the beach bathrooms and trash receptacles, and improvements to Larsen Park. Larsen Park is now a beautiful, peaceful and pleasant space where families and friends can enjoy each other’s company. Martha is a full-time resident and we have relied on her to keep her ear to the ground. She has been our direct contact with government officials. Her dedication and commitment will be hard to replicate. We regret that we cannot celebrate Martha at the Casino with cocktails and snacks. In lieu of that, we presented Martha with a Simon Pearce glass bowl to express our gratitude. Martha is behind us and will be one of our greatest resources going forward. Thank you, Martha!

Recording of July 8th Zoom Meeting

Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/share/_sJ2Bajz-CRLac__4QLGBa4FQ5bbX6a82nVMrvYImh1MuBWfI9G15eUnCvxq4ZLc

Password: 3s%l&+^6

In preparation for the ban on single-use plastics, which will go into effect on Nantucket on June 1, 2020, Nantucket as been promoting a BYO(W)B (Bring Your Own Water Bottle) program. 

The program stresses the high quality of water on Nantucket, as well as the advantages of reducing the number of bottles sent to the landfill and trucked off of the island.

To help promote the program the Town will be distributing metal water bottles downtown during the Fourth of July festivities.

Please do your part and carry a refillable water bottle when you venture out.  The location of water filling stations downtown are on the map below.  In addition, there are filling stations at many public beaches and along the bike paths.  

Photo courtesy of 'Sconset Trust

Photo courtesy of Martha Polachi

Photo courtesy of Martha Polachi

Photo courtesy of Martha Polachi

Photo courtesy of Martha Polachi

Photo courtesy of Martha Polachi

Sconset residents who notice repair work needed around the village should notify the proper Town of Nantucket department, or report findings to the Sconset Civic Association, rather than deface public property. Actions like what's shown in the photo -- seen on West Sankaty Road near the firehouse just before Thanksgiving -- are counter productive and don't help Sconset get positive action from the Town.

For your convenience, relevant points of contact are listed on the Civic Association's website at https://www.siasconsetcivicassociation.org/Points-of-Contact/.

Nantucket Data Platform will be presenting a data-driven look at the Island's dynamic population at the Dreamland on Tuesday, July 17 from 4:00 to 5:15 pm. This is a free, but ticketed, event. Tickets may be reserved online at:  https://prod3.agileticketing.net/websales/pages/info.aspx?evtinfo=386374~0e99e4c5-4710-4b68-b03b-a86391e0755f 

Remarks of the President of the Civic Association, Martha Polachi.

On behalf of the Sconset Civic Association, I welcome you to the rededication of the David Gray memorial rotary and flag raising ceremony. 

At this time, Sandra Jackson of the Abiah Folger Franklin chapter of the Daughters of the American revolution will make a presentation to the village of Sconset. 

Thank you, Sandra and the DAR for your generous donation. We look forward to flying this flag in the village on our beautiful new flagpole. 

This project started five years ago when the flagpole in our rotary was found to have significant decomposition at the base of the flag pole, and deemed unsafe. The 45’ flagpole was immediately cut down and ultimately, the jackstaff portion of the pole was reinstalled so we were able to fly an American flag in the rotary for the past couple of years. Fast forward to 2016, when we were funded by the Town of Nantucket and the Community Preservation Committee, represented today by Libby Gibson and Ken Beaugrand, to renovate the crumbling rotary and install a new flagpole. Then in the spring of 2017 when Rob McNeil, the newly hired Director of our DPW, returned my email to discuss the project, good things started to happen in the village of Sconset! 

Since then, Rob, his staff, and I have worked closely to renovate this rotary to its former glory. Under his direction, each step of the project has been carefully executed. The staff at the DPW has worked tirelessly to get this project done for Daffodil weekend when we held a similar ceremony, and it looks fabulous! From the gorgeous granite surround, to the new brick walkways, to the polished brass lanterns and collar, and the refurbished weather vane at the top, no detail has been overlooked. On behalf of the village of Sconset, please accept our heartfelt thanks to you, the Department of Public Works, on your exceptionally fine work on this renovation. Thanks also to the Town of Nantucket and the CPC for funding this project and to National Grid for donating the flagpole. The center of the village of Sconset looks beautiful and feels complete. 

Some other folks who deserve recognition for assisting in this project are Snooky Eldridge for meeting with us several times to share his historic knowledge of Sconset, the rotary and it’s infrastructure; Girard Ruddick and Susan Whitlock for the garden design; Charlie Dragon for his many years of landscaping, this recent installation, and his continued service to this rotary; Cindy and Rolf Nelson for the sound system and music; and a special thanks to Joan Porter and her family for their care of the plants in this rotary for decades. Please continue to care for the plants in the rotary as you are able.

Originally designed by Frederick Hill and constructed in 1929, this rotary is an iconic symbol of the village of Sconset. Built as a memorial to David Gray, who helped establish Sankaty Head Golf Club, the Sconset Water Department, and who was a major financial contributor to the renovation of the Sconset Casino in the 1920s, this rotary is an important landmark. On this 4^thday of July, 2018, I rededicate this rotary in memory of fellow Sconseter David Gray.

The 'Sconset rotary project is done!  

We now have a new flagpole (donated by National Grid) with a bigger flag and port and starboard lights, along with a new granite wall, new brick walkways, new signage, and drip irrigation for the hydrangea, carpet roses, echinacea, sedum, and daffodils that will be planted by the Civic Association.

To see how beautiful it is, watch the video taken at the rededication ceremony that was held Saturday April 28th.  Click here.

Photos courtesy of Martha Polachi

News Flash: The Board of Selectmen approved a bid for the renovation work to be done on the Sconset Fire Station. Work will commence as soon as the contractor can schedule a date. More information and photos to follow as the work proceeds.

Update Nov. 16, 2017:  The work on the Siasconset Fire Station will commence in the Spring. Much renovation work and/or replacement needs to be done on the woodwork around the windows and door frames, and on the front doors. Once this work is completed, the building will be prepped and given a new coat of paint.