It may be a cliché, but it is true: the summer goes by too fast. For those of us at-

tending the summer concerts, we can see the summer fade away, as the sun begins

to set before the end of the concerts in August and people buy more Friends’ sweat-

shirts at the refreshment stand. The last concert in August is always bittersweet,

as we lose the excuse for seeing many friends on a regular basis. But let’s shake off

those feelings and take a look back at a great summer.

The summer started out well for the Friends when we were awarded $2500 from

the Save The Harbor/Save The Bay, $2,175 from Lynn Arts/Massachusetts Cultural

Council, $1000 from Eastern Bank Charitable Foundation, $750 from the Unitarian

Universalist Church of Greater Lynn, and $427 from the Office of Lynn Community

Development to support our Summer Concert Series.

We co-sponsored the July 3rd fireworks display with the City of Lynn. Lois Lane &

the Daily Planets entertained the crowd before the fantastic fireworks display.

The Thursday night concerts were well attended, regularly drawing several hun-

dred people, including many families. Unfortunately, inclement weather forced the

cancellation of two popular bands (decisions about cancellation are made jointly

with the band). For the second year in a row, DCR provided us with two port-o-

potties at each concert, which were greatly appreciated. Christopher’s Café at 2

Lewis Street in Lynn donated baked items each week for the concession table–

thank you!

The fourth annual Kids Day and Concert on July 28th was a huge success. The kids

were entertained with hula hoops, balloon animals, face painting, marine animal

touch tanks, and arts and crafts.

Finally, on August 23rd, we co-sponsored with the City of Lynn a Family Movie

Night at Red Rock Park. This was the third time the Friends co-sponsored this now

annual event.

None of these events could have happened without membership support, donations,

grant support, and the hard work of volunteers. We are especially grateful for the

volunteers (in time and/or goods) that help make these events a reality: Hope

Abramson, Tiffany Bevis, Jane & Tom Cahill, Michael Celona, Patricia Celona, TJ,

Megan, and Sarah Cullinane, TJ Cullinane Sr., Jeanne Curley, Anne Goldstein,

Karen Johnson, Ann Marcou, Les Racowsky, Paula Roberts, Nancy Swiniuch, Joe

Taurus, and Bob Tucker. It is truly a group effort.

Summer– We Hardly Knew Ye

Kids Day 2

JetBlue Winner 3

Nahant Causeway 3

October Clean-up 3

December Meeting 3

Friends’ Meetings 4

Nature Notes 5

Bob Dalferro 6

Inside this issue:

November 2013

Friends of Lynn & Nahant Beach Newsletter

Volume 7, Issue 3

With the Tide

www.lynn-nahantbeach.org

Kids Day and Concert

Page 2 With the Tide

On Saturday, July 28th, more than 125 children and several hundred family members enjoyed

the Kids Day and Concert. There were balloon animals, face painting, hula hoops, marine crea-

ture touch tanks from the Northeastern University Marine Science Center and Save the Har-

bor/Save The Bay, seashell crafting with member TJ Cullinane, daughters Megan and Sarah,

and his father TJ Cullinane Sr., crafting with DCR Ranger Matthew Nash, balloons from the

Lynn Fire Department, and info from the Lynn Police Department and the Lynn Museum. The

main event was a performance from The Toe Jam Puppet Band, which did a fabulous job enter-

taining the children. Thanks to all who helped make the day a success, A HUGE thank-you to

members Paula Roberts, KJ Johnson, and Nancy who assisted with face painting.

Page 3 Volume 7, Issue 3

JetBlue Airline Raffle Ticket Winner

The December Friends meeting and holiday party will be held on

Wednesday, December 11th at 7PM. The location remains the same: 169

Lynn Shore Drive in Lynn. After the meeting, we will enjoy an expanded

selection of desserts and refreshments. Hope to see you there.

December Meeting– Holiday Party

On August 22nd, the

Friends culminated their

successful JetBlue

Airline Raffle Ticket

fundraiser by drawing

the winning ticket. The

winner of the raffle was Lee Anne Fredericks. She

received two roundtrip JetBlue airline tickets for

anywhere they fly. The Friends raised $4,740 .

The Board will be working to identify specific uses

for the funds. Special thanks to all those who sold

multiple tickets, and a big Thank You to member

Joe Taurus, who donated these tickets to the Friends. Presenting Lee Anne (R) her tickets are

Friends President Bob Tucker (C) and Friends member Ginger Murphy (L).

Nahant Causeway Project

As you may have read in the Daily Item, earlier this Fall the contractor overseeing the recon-

struction of the Nahant Causeway filed for bankruptcy. This caused most work on the project

to stop. DCR is working to remedy the situation and plan to still finish the project before the

beginning of next summer.

October Beach Clean-up

On Saturday, October 19th, the Friends

sponsored their fall clean-up of Red Rock

Park. Approximately 20 members and other

volunteers donated a couple hours of their

time to pick-up litter and weed. A Thank

You to Tiffany Bevis for organizing the

clean-up, DCR for providing the supplies,

Christopher’s Café for donating the refreshments, and for all of those who helped out. The area

is better for it.

With the Tide Volume 7, Issue 3

Friends Meetings’ Recap

WITH THE TIDE NEWSLETTER

Please let us know what you think of the newsletter. Please send comments to Michael at

LynnNahantVicePresident@gmail.com or 978 835 7724.

At the August meeting, newly appointed DCR Commissioner Jack

Murray was the special guest. Commissioner Murray spoke about

the significant budget cuts DCR has absorbed over the past

several years. Still, he committed to maintain the staffing levels

at the beach, to spend $150,000 over the next year for algae

removal from the beaches, as well as covering the cost of

port-o-potties at the summer concerts.

Commissioner Murray was asked about the lack of energy efficient

street lights along Lynn Shore Drive and responded that according

to state law, DCR does not own the street lights so it cannot force

the utility to install better light bulbs. He said that of an overall

budget of about $75 million, DCR spends over $2 million on lighting along its many roads and

parkways. There is currently legislation in the state legislature to allow DCR to require the use

of more energy efficient lighting of the poles from

At the October meeting, state Representative Lori Ehrlich provided updates on

several issues, including the Nahant Causeway renovation and plastic bag

legislation. She said that DCR is working diligently to complete the Causeway

project. She and other members of the legislative delegation have been in

touch with DCR and Nahant about the next steps. Regarding plastic bags,

Representative Ehrlich has been working for several years to pass legislation

that would ban the use of plastic grocery bags in retail establishments unless

they are made of biodegradable material. There is a company in

Massachusetts that makes biodegradable plastic bags, and Representative

Ehrlich along with Speaker Robert DeLeo recently visited the company to see

their manufacturing firsthand. This legislation was recently voted favorably out of the

Legislative Committee, which is a good sign. She asked people who were interested in this topic

to contact her or their legislators to convey their support.

Also at the meeting, DCR staffer Dennis Kelly provided updates on park management

activities. He said that algae management will change around November 1st from collecting

and hauling away the algae to pushing the algae that washes ashore back into the ocean on an

as-needed basis. DCR re-painted all the trash barrels along Lynn Shore Drive. Red Rock Park

was fertilized. Based on comments at previous meetings, “keep right” signs were placed along

parts of the walkway. Finally, additional toilet facilities are going to be installed at the

Halfway House in Nahant.

Commissioner Murrary and President

Bob Tucker

Representative Ehrlich

Nature Notes by T.J. Cullinane

Page 5 Volume 7, Issue 3

Tom Cullinane Sr. poses with a “keepah” bass taken off Plum Island.

The Man Who Taught Me Everything

Dear Friends,

It was great seeing everyone at the “Sharks and Seashells” table at this year’s Children’s Con-

cert. As is true every year, the questions about our local wildlife were coming in fast and furi-

ous. At long last, someone threw me a softball. “Hey, where did you learn all this stuff anyhow?”

I just jerked my thumb at the man standing next to me and said, “why from my Dad of course.”

Just as soon as I could toddle, my Dad had me by the hand walking on Nahant Beach. It

wasn’t long before I knew the name of every creature crawling in the mud, swimming in the

tide pools and flying overhead. When I was five or six, he’d let me go fishing with him. We’d fish

for flounder in Lynn Harbor from the gas wharf by the General Edwards Bridge and from the

piers behind “Studio 54” now known as the world famous “Porthole Pub”. It was at the latter

location that I caught my first fish, a little bait stealer known as the Cunner or Pinfish. We

soon expanded our horizons to Salem Willows and on a very special trip to Plum Island, I

caught my first Striper. This fateful trip ignited a life long passion for striper fishing that en-

dures to this day. Later on came whale watches and party boat fishing . When the fishing was

slow, Dad would take me on bird watching trips to the Audubon sanctuaries in Nahant and

Marblehead. Some of our best trips however were to the sea wall by Deer Cove. This spot still

offers spectacular views of winter ducks including Scoters, Buffleheads, and Eiders. Everyone

once in a while you’ll spot a harbor seal.

Growing up as the first born son of Irish immigrants in the hard scrabble Brick Yard neigh-

borhood in West Lynn, my Dad too found solace in nature. He fondly remembers the shock and

awe of seeing a Snowy Owl rise from the snow covered wilds of the Lynn Dump and thinking for

a long time that he had seen a ghost. He’d climb to the top of the coal scow cranes lining Lynn

Harbor in the late 1940s before plunging into the icy depths below. He also remembers snag-

ging squid in the harbor with a treble hook and selling his catch to his Italian neighbors in the

Brick Yard. “Thank God, I didn’t grow up rich,” he once said, “or I would have missed out on all

that stuff.”

Needless to say, I’m thankful too. I’m even more thankful that every summer, I can set up a

couple of folding tables, cover it with the treasures cast upon our shores, and with my father

and daughters, share the knowledge we have gleaned to new generations of Lynners.

_____ Yes, I would like to join or renew my membership in the Friends of Lynn & Nahant Beach.

Membership entitles you to: Name:________________________________

• An invitation to programs and events Address:

• Periodic updates on our progress and the condition of the Beaches ______________________________________

• The satisfaction of knowing that you are acting locally to impact the ______________________________________

environment in a positive way. Email: ________________________________

Membership

__Student/Senior: $15 __ Individual: $25 Mail To: Membership

__ Family: $50 __ Corporate: $100 Friends of Lynn & Nahant Beach

__ Sponsor: $200 P.O. Box 2264

I am already a member. Please accept my gift of $_________. Lynn, MA 01903

Membership in the Friends of Lynn & Nahant Beach

Membership Renewal

The Friends rely on the generous support of its members for the financial well-being of the or-

ganization. Our membership continues to grow as the Friends become more involved with other

community groups, and we continue to be vocal advocates for the Lynn and Nahant Beaches.

Membership dues help pay for the Summer Concert Series, publication and printing of the

newsletter, Friends T-shirts, sweatshirts and hats, postage, refreshments for volunteers at the

beach clean-ups and the Friends contribution towards matching grants for special projects.

We want to thank all members who returned their 2013 membership forms (which were mailed

in February) and welcome all of our new members. The Friends need your continued financial

and volunteer support so our organization can continue to be a strong advocate for our beaches.

In Memoriam: Bob Dalferro

On October 11th,long-time Friends member Bob Dalferro passed away.

Bob and his late wife Pat were early members of the Friends and

volunteered in many different capacities. Bob organized the bands for

the Summer Concert Series up until a few years ago when he successfully

convinced Anne Goldstein to take his place. Bob was a familiar face at

Friends meetings and always had constructive ideas about how to

improve the organization. He was the past recipient of the annual

"Friends Award". Our thoughts and prayers are with Bob's family and

we will deeply miss him.