RICK HERRICK

508-693-8065

herricklr@verizon.net

Hats off to our full-time residents! Since Labor Day, many of them have worked hard to improve the East Chop community.

It began in early October when I received a call from Pat Carroll. “Rick, we have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity at the [East Chop] Beach Club. The old fence is down, but the new one is not yet up. Bring down your truck.” For the next three hours we cleaned out old cement blocks, broken bottles, and other trash from around the entrance area. As my friendship with Pat has deepened, I have noticed that my volunteer hours have increased. Pat is a good mentor.

The beach club is blessed to have not one Dave and Judy, but Dave and Judy squared. The Lawtons and Cunniffes did the hard work of putting in the flower garden at the front entrance. Take a good look when you come for your first swim. It’s beautiful!

John Breckenridge was at it again. Our East Chop Association park chairman organized a work crew to refurbish the five-acre Baptist Temple Park. Over three weekends during the winter John and wife Barbara Baskin, Craig Dripps, Rob Potter, Duncan Ross, Steve Durkee, Jay Whiting, Susan Thompson, and Walter Vail trimmed and cleared brush. Walk over there and see it. The new look is impressive.

Craig Dripps organized a trash pickup day in April. Lal Dowley, Sue Collinson, Liz Huss, Lyn and Rick Herrick, Penny and Don Hinkle, and Beth and Bill O’Brien (I’m sure there were others — sorry to have missed you.) collected 14 bags of nips, cans, bottles and other items of trash. In addition, several large items including an old stove and exercise bicycle were found abandoned in the woods. Craig arranged for an employee of the landfill to collect the results of our efforts that were left in our driveway. I watched the guy load his truck. He was not happy, and barely escaped having to make a second trip.

Perhaps the most impressive work was done at the tennis club. It’s dangerous to be a winter resident when the president of the club is here and close to the phone. Trees were trimmed all winter by Walter Vail, Bob St. Germain, Rob Potter and Steve Wilkerson. Sue Collinson organized a paint crew that included Liz Huss, Scottie Vail and Lyn Herrick to tackle several interior painting projects. Walter Vail, Rob Potter, Bob St. Germaine and I met recently to remove the shutters over the windows. Finally, a crew organized by Jim Davin including Bill Whitman, Dave Cunniffe, Walter Vail, Bob St. Germain, Bob Blacklow, Liz and Bob Huss, Patsy McCornack, Sue Collinson and Lyn Herrick met the Saturday following the Memorial Day Weekend to accomplish several cleanup projects around the club.

When I reread the above to check the spelling of the names listed, two conclusions jump out at me. First, I’m amazed that so much outdoor work was done this spring with all of the rain that we’ve had. More importantly, East Chop is blessed to have so many cheerful volunteers. Please thank them. I, for one, am accepting hugs.

Finally, regular readers of the Gazette will recognize that this is my first column for 2009. Please make sure it is not my last one by sending me your news to my e-mail address above. Many thanks!