Ripples From Citizens Restoring Congamond

Spring and Citizens Restoring Congamond are warming up to a great summer season on Congamond Lake.  Our first meeting of the year featured the election of Jerry Crane as President, Jennifer Nolasco as Vice President, Bob Tatro as temporary Secretary for the position Jen vacated to become VP, and Anne Gustafson continues as Treasurer.  Other Board members are:  Technical Director – Steve Schmid, Membership – Kevin Maloney, Lake Beautification and Speakers – Janeene Crane, Hospitality – Sharon Jones, Marketing – Deb Herath, and Publicity – Linda Champagney. 

The operating budget was also passed and the all-important theme for this year’s Boat Parade was decided on.  This year’s theme is “Redneck Yacht Club.”

We have a number of events planned for this summer.  Work parties at Babb’s will continue on Saturdays only for the time being from 8 a.m.-noon with pizza donated by Jimmy’s Pizza for the volunteers.  On June 11 we’ll have our annual Open House at the Historic Babb’s Rink, featuring the artistry of the late Emilio Santini, an avid fisherman from Feeding Hills who fished Congamond and would take any of his trophy-size catches and trace their outline on cardboard, note time and place caught, and measurements and weight, and then he would draw in the details and color them in with pastels.  If you’re curious about what sort of fish are living in Congamond, here’s your big chance to find out!  You must see Big Blue!

June 4 at 8 a.m. is our annual Lake Clean-up Day beginning at the North Boat Ramp.  Please join us!  Bring gloves, rakes, shovels, and a wheelbarrow if you have one.  We’ll be done by noon.

July 2 is the annual Boat Parade, along with Light Up the Lakes at dusk.  Torches are generally available at Ocean State or Home Depot.

The Babb’s Summer Concert Series, new and improved this year, begins on July 10.  Every Sunday from July 10 to August 28 from 2 p.m.-5 p.m. we’ll have a different band for your entertainment and for the benefit of the Babb’s Restoration Project.  We’re also looking for vendors who would like to sell their wares, food or services. The ever-popular “Changes in Latitudes” will be performing on Sunday August 14.  Thank you to Mike Nargi for sponsoring them.  We’re looking for sponsors for the rest of the concerts as well.  For more information, contact Jerry at (860) 668-5783.

Cruise Congamond, our annual car show, has been moved from July 4 weekend to September 3 this year and again will feature “In Time” for music and others as they get onboard.  It runs 10-4.  Proceeds from the car registrations go toward the Lake fund.

The annual CRC vacation is being discussed and an intriguing possibility is a Clipper Ship that hops from island to island in the Caribbean. 

Our next CRC meeting is on Tuesday, May 10, 7:30 pm, at Crabby Joe’s (downstairs).  In addition to the latest CRC information, our speaker will be Dennis Clark of the Southwick Conservation Commission regarding the beaver problem.  Please join us for this very important meeting.

Citizens Restoring Congamond is a duly authorized Non-Profit organization, dedicated to the protection and betterment of the Congamond Lakes.  You may contact us at www.congamond.org or P.O. Box 117, West Suffield, CT  06093.