Community Columns

Flanders News: Volunteers needed at the Big Duck

June is sneaking up very quickly and pretty soon there will be graduations, moving-up ceremonies and fun-in-the-sun festivities — fairs, carnivals, picnics, etc. I love summertime, especially on Long Island. I think most feel the same way. One thing we don’t love, however, is the increase in traffic. I can’t imagine how busy our roads are going to be when school is let out. As I write this the state Department of Transportation was planning to start its Route 24 repaving project May 27, originally scheduled for May 14. Let’s hope they started on time. Please be safe while driving through our community. If you can take an alternate route to the East End, I advise you do to so. Route 104 is a great option, as there are only a few homes there with not many people walking or biking.

The next meeting of the Friends of the Big Duck will be held Tuesday, June 2, at 7 p.m. at the David W. Crohan Community Center. Everyone is welcome. Topics on the agenda include the annual Duck Race and the antique car show. Volunteers are needed. You need not reside in Flanders to be a Friend, so stop on down and see what it’s all about. Have you visited the new museum on the site? It’s opening was Memorial Day weekend. Hours can be found at bigduck.org. Take a walk through the duck and see all the cute items for sale. There are some great gift ideas, especially if you’re planning to visit family and friends out of state and you’d like to bring something with you from home as a thank-you.

Happy birthday wishes to Suzanne Ellwood on May 29; Kent Brace and Karen Levasseur, June 1; Caren Cichanowicz, June 2; Dillon Vanston and Elwood Lamb, June 3; Chris Wilson and Kathleen Shea, June 5; Tina Smith, June 6; Darlene Brewer, June 7; Malgorzata Santoro, June 9; and Chrissy Santiago, June 10. I hope everyone enjoys their day.

I’d like to take one last moment to send special thanks and lots of love to my good friends Lindsey and Diane Reeve, who know what they’ve done for me. These two people are the kindest, most thoughtful and generous people I have ever met. If you’re also lucky enough to call them friends then you know what I mean. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. My family and I will forever be grateful for you kindness and compassion.

Well, that’s all for this week. Have a great weekend and I hope to hear from more of you soon. Drive safely.

Contact Flanders columnist Tanya Doherty at 727-8687 or [email protected].