Holiday Greetings… and Thanks! to the Black Point Family
Often called the “quiet season,” these early winter weeks have been anything but silent or sleepy here in our Black Point community, thanks to the many traditional and brand new events taking place here constantly.
And so, it is time now to offer a special thanks to the many ingenious, industrious and generous elves behind the scenes doing the planning, the purchasing, and the preparation of these joyful occasions.
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- First, thanks to Men’s Club, under the leadership of Rick Diachenko and Jim Mastria, for bringing to us the first-ever Holiday Santa Celebration at the Clubhouse on a recent Sunday…complete with a visit by jolly Santa (aka, Ray Lillis) who greeted the kids and made impossible gift promises. (Sorry, Parents and Grandparents…)
- Thanks also to Michele and Steve Albert, as well as Carissa, Christian and Cossette, for opening the Black Point Market on two consecutive recent weekends to offer special holiday pastries and snacks, unique coastal ornaments, and an array of seasonal gifts.
- Thanks to Kelly and Jeff Fecteau, and the Women’s Club, for hosting the recent Setback Banquet that featured a feast prepared by the new Coastal Crust restaurant in Flanders.
- Thanks once more to Shane Lennon and Nan Becker for donating the 3 Christmas trees that have adorned our beachfront dunes and mostly weathered recent high tides and blustery winds. Delivered by Dan Diachenko and Ayden Hibbert, the Wrecking Crew volunteers who planted and decorated those trees included Rick Diachenko, Jim Mastria, Tony Orsini, Skip Guzy, Mike Johnson, Peter Pielli, Bob Guenther, Dave Wiley, Dave Twedt, and others.
- Thanks to Brian Teller and Steve Albert for delivering another first-ever tradition to Black Point…the design, manufacture and delivery of the 5-point white stars, in two sizes, that now adorn scores of windows and decks in Black Point homes.
- Thanks to Suzanne Smith and son Alex for introducing yet another new tradition to Black Point – the buoy tree display now planted on the front lawn of the Black Point Market. In addition to creating the concept, Alex also erected and lit the pyramidal lobster trap stand. Proceeds from the sale of the buoys, all individually decorated by Black Point participants, will be donated to The Cahill Black Point Education Fund.
- Thanks once again to Dave and Kathy Ogle for the festive decorations that now adorn our Clubhouse front-lawn signage…and to Lil Diachenko, who decorated the sign on Billow.. joyously, creatively welcoming visitors and Members to Black Point.
- Thanks to Leslie Doherty for her fall cleanup and landscaping work to beautify the Clubhouse grounds, and for her upkeep of the flower pots blooming at various rights-of-way at our beach areas throughout the summer.
- Thanks to the Wrecking Crew, led by Will Fountain, Bob Guenther, Jim Mastria and Jim Moffett, for their recent repair work on gangways and floats now stored for the winter in our Whitecap Lot.
- Thanks to Larry Connors for his promise to provide repairs to a paddleboard rack and a kayak rack before they are needed for next season’s bayside adventures.
- Thanks to Carole Coyle for her almost daily postings of photos that dramatically capture the beauty of sunrises over Black Point Bay (aka, Niantic Bay), the local wildlife, and other stunning images.
- Thanks to Lil Diachenko for expanding the local Book Group program, now adding a second contingent that will meet year-round.
- Thanks to the dozen hearty souls who joined, and toasted, the Winter Solstice Celebration on the Nehantic Pier on December 21st, sponsored by the Men’s Club and led by Rick and Lil Diachenko.
- And finally, thanks to Beach Association Manager Jim Moffett for proposing another new concept for our community – a Thank-You! celebratory dinner for the many contractors who serve us for so many critical needs throughout each year – the beach cleaners, tree cutters, plumbers, electricians, handyman repair operators, marine consulting specialists and so many others. To be sponsored by the Men’s Club, the new East Lyme Police Chief and First Selectman will also be invited. The professionalism and efficiency of our community’s handling of so many projects, all managed by volunteers, and all timely paid for, will be further enhanced by this event, continuing to make us the beach association that contractors want to serve as a “best in class” client partner.
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Even with a list his long we are sure that we have omitted some events and names that deserve our thanks and gratitude. So if readers here know of any omissions, please let us know. We will add them to our next round of the appreciative “Thank You!” notes that will certainly need to be shared again soon.
Finally, finally… as another sign of these unquiet times, your Board of Governors has been busily at work on a host of projects in recent weeks that we plan to present in more detail during our upcoming January 29th Board meeting. We hope you can join us in person or by our virtual channels, Zoom or phone.
And finally, finally, finally… from your Board of Governors, may you and yours savor all the special joys of this holiday season. Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah and a Cheery Kwanzaa to all!
And one last “Thanks!” to so many BP residents who have made November and December months to fondly remember…!
December, 2025
Board of Governors
Black Point Beach Club Association