In all but name, the Summer of 2023 has arrived. Beer and bags of ice are selling briskly; by late morning motor traffic is heavy on 17B and a line of cars builds quickly whenever a light turns red. The gas stations are so busy it can be hard to find a spot to tank up. And Bethel Woods has yet to hold even its first concert of the year! It will be a whirlwind summer.

Time to bustle. The second of two indoor “Kauneonga Lake Farmers and Makers’ Market” will be held this Saturday, May 27th, 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM at Duggan School. Everybody from JR’s Farm Fresh Beef to Monteleone Hydrofarm and Yoga Space is planning to attend this next one. My business, Sticky Fingers Delectables, also plans to participate in the Market in order to sell some of the final frozen soups and stews we have been churning out all winter. Production of these will now cease in order to tend to ice cream. Sticky Fingers will have a busy summer of ice creams this year since it seems that Kev’s Candy Cone will not be opening this year. Please, if you come over in ‘prime ice cream’ (late afternoon/evening) hours, bear in mind that we will be working as hard and as quick as we can to satisfy you!

The Board of the Smallwood Civic Association (SWCA) has scheduled its first summer General Meeting for Saturday, May 27th at 10:00 AM. The Meeting will take place at Association Lodge (302 Pine Grove) and also be livestreamed via a link to be provided on the morning of the meeting at smallwoodcivicassociation.org. Most of the Meeting will revolve around the issue of short term rentals (STRs) and whether and under what conditions transient renters may or may not use Association amenities (such as the Association Beach, the pickleball and tennis courts, etc). While three differing but relevant amendments to the SWCA Bylaws will be discussed at the meeting, voting to determine which, if any, of the STR amendments will be adopted will only take place at the July 1st General Meeting. If you belong to the SWCA, please acquaint yourself with the proposed amendments as posted to the SWCA website before the meeting. 

Chris Tyburski, Corresponding Secretary of the SWCA, sent out an email the other day outlining the truly extraordinary breadth of activities the Association has planned for our communal summer: everything from a Beach clean-up (Sunday, May 28th); to a Book Club (starts May 28th); to the immediate re-opening of the Pickleball and Tennis courts; to Beautification Committee plantings on the Beach and around the Lodge; to the Third Annual Community Picnic and “Smallwood 54” Dance Party (June 10th); to Fitness classes including Tai Chi, Yoga, and Pilates; to a series of events at the Lodge called “The Smallwood Youth Experience.” And this is only a partial list of planned activities! Suffice to say, there must be something for everyone in this golden age of Smallwoodian celebrations and convivialities. Hope to see you at some of them!