President’s Message

Dear Eaton’s Neck Friends, Family, and Neighbors, Let me begin by wishing everyone a Happy Spring. As we bid farewell to the winter chill and welcome the vibrant colors of spring, I am filled with excitement and anticipation for the wonderful activities that lie ahead for our community. I think you can all agree that there is nothing quite like the spring and summer seasons in our beloved Eaton’s Neck. In the coming weeks and months, we will host and welcome several tried-and-true POENB events, such as the Easter Egg Hunt, Friday night barbecues, and others. In other news, I…

Dear Eaton’s Neck friends, family and neighbors, By way of a brief introduction, my name is Tom Kehoe, Jr. and I was recently elected to serve as the President of your Property Owners of Eaton’s Neck Beach (POENB) association. I will have you know that I view the opportunity to serve you all as a great privilege and you have my promise to always work to put the good of our community at the fore of all the decisions the Board and I collaboratively make together. I spent the better part of my childhood growing up in Eaton’s Neck and…

As we approach the end of another year, we reflect on some of the things we were able accomplish together in 2023. Notable among these was the replacement of half the fence at Price’s Bend. As part of this effort, we were pleased to be able to add security cameras and WIFI for residents as well. After that we turned our attention to Valley Grove where we added electric so we could begin to hold events there. And we did – bringing live music to Valley Grove at last with our Endless Summer concert. Per usual, many great 2023 accomplishments…

As the leaves make one final drop, the skies darken way too soon & families gather for their Thanksgiving feast, we find ourselves reflecting on the incredible sense of community that defines our little beach haven. We wish everyone a very Happy Thanksgiving with particular appreciation to the 257 households who joined POENB this year. That figure is yet another record year and we hope to continue to grow further. The purpose of POENB is to care for and maintain our beautiful beaches. We cannot do it without the support of our members. New Neckers should realize that unlike most…

“In Early June the world of leaf and blades and flowers explode and every sunset is different.” -John Steinbeck With the meteorological summer upon us, THE NECK has been exploding with new activity. We kicked off the season with two very successful beach cleanups and thank all who volunteered their time (a list can be found inside this issue. If we missed anyone, please let us know). Members, we appreciate YOU! Lots of other new things have been happening too. We’re pleased to report that we have installed new security cameras down at Price’s Bend. We’ve also added wifi for…

April presents her green traffic light and Eaton’s Neck hits the gas and says, “GO”! Spring is all about new beginnings and transformations; it’s a season that symbolizes starting fresh and starting over. After months of cold temperatures that can result in many of us feeling the winter blues, spring reawakens us and our surrounding environment, bringing everything back to the life. This time of the year is what life on The Neck is all about — # NECK LIFE. Which bring me to another new beginning, a new beach season! Our first official POENB social event of the year,…

“The opposite of courage is not cowardice, it’s conformity. Even a dead fish can go with the flow.” -Jim Hightower We have some real big flow problems out here on the Neck. Flow of water; as demonstrated by ourongoing drainage issues. Flow of electricity; highlighted recently by the February storm that took out out PSEG’s power and a whole lot of home heating pipes. And the ever-present flow of traffic…sometimes blocked when we experience severe flooding at the Bevin Seawall. On behalf of The Board and our membership I want to extend my sympathy and concern for all those who…

A Happy and Healthy New Year to all. When I was voted in this past December I figured I’d have a few months to get my feet wet. Just before Christmas, Mother Nature obliged – – flooding not only my feet but both our beaches. We got lucky on this one, but it’s a reminder of how fragile nature has become. And a reminder that POENB’s ability to restore its beaches depends on a strong membership. As we turn the calendar on another new year here on THE NECK! We’re all look forward to the upcoming beach season and your…

‘Twas three nights before ChristmasA huge storm was about Said the editorial staffThis Tides won’t go outBut then the staff reasoned,We’ve had a good yearOur members could useOne more dose of good cheerAway to our computers we flew like a flashDown at the beach the surf started to crashGet the issue done we started to shoutBefore Eaton’s Neck’s power goes out. It’s amazing how quickly this past year flew. It made so much the better with all of you To everyone out there, thanks, we had fun. Your help and support got it all done. Old board members don’t die….

Maybe you have a little turkey soup still sitting in the fridge but, at this point, the leftovers are gone and you should be transitioning from stuffing birds to stuffing stockings. Leaves are being put out, trees are being carried in and we are in full holiday mash up mode on The Neck. But before Santa arrives, permit me to time warp back to November 24th and offer a bit of thanks to the 252 households who joined POENB this year. That’s a record. The purpose of POENB was (and is) to maintain our beautiful beaches. But over the decades…

Fall has arrived on Eaton’s Neck and it is spectacular. People and pups out walking, kids running up the street carrying book bags, leaves slowly spiraling down. As the Mets and Yankees are out, we can turn our attention to the new national pastime out here, squirrel dodging. Have you ever seen so many darting across the road? They’re giving Bambi a run for his money this fall. Enjoy it all. Enjoy the place you live. By the time you read this the Children’sHalloween Parade will have marched and the Turkey Trot will be on deck (detailson the community page)….

This rainbow has gone viral on Eaton’s Neck social media, so we thought we’d jump on the bandwagon. There are many rainbow expressions out there, but the one I like best is no rain, no rainbow.This past month personified that. It quite literally rained on the day of the Endless Summer 70’s Concert. After a season of perfect weather events, Mother Nature finally showed us who’s boss and we had to make the decision to move it to the firehouse. The rainbow? The EN Fire Department had a tent still set up from their picnic which they kindly allowed us…

Welcome to your July Changing Tides . . . in August. But can you blame us? With the lazy days ofsun, sand and swimming upon us, it’s hard to get motivated to come inside and type. The 4th of July parade was terrific as always; made even better by the great weather. Thanks tothe ENFD for another great job. Thanks to the visiting Fire Companies, elected officials, antiquecar owners and Eaton’s Neck residents who always come out to support and cheer. I especially wantto recognize those who took the time to come up with a theme, dress up and march….

Remember Highlights magazine? The one in the doctor’s office where you had to find the hidden pictures within the picture? In the picture above, what you “see” is a very successful Parti Gras—our first in several years. You’ll spot over 300 Neckers celebrating, making friends & enjoying their beach. Now look closer. See that clean, white sand? That’s VP Frank Pasquale up raking at 7 am to make sure the place looked spotless. See the nice, new blue umbrellas? Those are the ones Nora Beck just purchased. See all the folks lined up for food? Hidden behind them are a…

Dear Friends of Eaton’s Neck, There’s something nice to be said for getting a friendly wave — particularly after the last fewdifficult years. Had you been looking off to the right recently, where Asharoken begins its slowascent up the hill into Eaton’s Neck, you might have spotted this neighbor welcoming you home.It’s hard not to feel happier in March. Winter’s not quite gone, but you’ve got it on the run. Thesun hangs with you later into the afternoon. The seals come home to play. Things feel optimistic. I know I do. Our new 2022 membership drive has just gotten underway,…

Dear Neighbors,The moon is full, raging winds are making LI Sound look like the ocean and record high tides have pushed the water up to the street. It must be January on Eaton’s Neck I had planned on talking about the budget we just presented but, as you can see, Mother Nature doesn’t care about budgets. Winter storms like we had mid-month remind us who really runs things out here. See that river? Four months ago, it cost us nearly $3,000 to re-level the beach from similar damage. We got lucky on this one, but as you review the budget…

Should I say Merry Christmas or Happy New Year? That all depends on when we get this issue printed. And with that level of efficiency, a new administration begins … A quick word of thanks to the outgoing board. Frank assembled a talented team and gave them the latitude to do their best work. Through bulkhead fundraising, watercraft re organization, website building, Tides upgrading, global pandemics…and, to cap it all off, bulkhead building, the challenges were many. Never have I seen a board work harder under such adverse conditions. It was an honor to be part of it and to…

“And all at once, summer collapsed into fall.” – Oscar Wilde Where did the time go? Once again, summer passed us in a flash and fall arrived before weknew it. With new seasons comes new excitement for our community. Your POENB has a moment to breathe and take inventory of all that has taken place throughout the summer. One major end of season occurrence was the destruction wrought by Hurricane Ida. Some of erosion it brought, especially at Price’s Bend, is shown in the photo above. We discussed this and other Ida-related matters such as debris collection with Highway Superintendent…

The end of summer is sadly approaching. I hope everyone enjoyed everything it had to offer and squeezed the sunshine out of each day. Please remain safe for the remainder of our outdoor time and continue to respect our neighbors and community as we navigate this uncertain time together. Thank you everyone for your support and commitment to your neighbors. Schools will be back in session soon, if you haven’t already seen the school buses practicing their routes throughout Eaton’s Neck. Please be cautious driving as the kids are going to be getting on and off buses sooner than we…

Summer is in full swing here on the Neck. The smell of sunscreen fills the air and a layer ofsand has found its way into every crevice of life. It’s been such a pleasure seeing the kidsenjoying summer around the neighborhood and how much they have all grown up during thispast crazy year. Congratulations to our graduates as they move on to whatever is next. Weare so proud of all of you. Eaton’s Neck will always be home. Thank you to our Eaton’s Neck Fire Department as well as all the other Fire Companies whomcame out to celebrate the 4th…

Dear Friends of Eaton’s Neck The sun is shining, boats are humming and the fish are biting! Welcome to summer on Eaton’s Neck, friends. Almost everyone’s favorite time of year has finally arrived. A HUGE thank you to all the folks who participated in a very successful beach clean- up this year, preparing our beach for the summer ahead. It was wonderful having new members and families join us and give back to the community. Registration and watercraft assignments are necessary in keeping the beaches clean and enjoyable for all members. Insuring that members are able to access the water…

Dear Friends of Eaton’s Neck The Ospreys have returned along with warmer weather and longer days, signifying sum- mer is around the corner. Our first official POENB social activity of the year, the annual Easter Egg Hunt, was a huge success and there is reason to believe there will be more events to come this summer. Several beach cleanups are in the process of being organized to bring our prop- erties, facilities and beaches into prime condition. Those who have so kindly offered their services will be contacted with dates and various duties. It’s not too late if you would…

Dear Friends of Eaton’s Neck, The snowmen have melted to reveal a sprinkling of new life breaking through the  earth. The ground beneath us unfreezes and the sun makes a daily appearance remind ing us we can all start to get rid of the winter layers. It’s Springtime on Eaton’s Neck and  with the new season we find ourselves excited to build community, share laughs and create  amazing memories.   Spring is when we, your POENB Board, focus on membership. Over the last uncer tain year, we hope you’ve appreciated your unique community more than ever. POENB dues  are used to…

Dear Friends and Neighbors,  The photo above inspires so many thoughts as we begin 2021 — is the sun setting on 2020 or rising on the hope of 2021? There is a great deal of hope as we have battled this virus for over a year and there seems to be a light at the end of this tunnel. I can imagine the sun on the photographer’s face and I am longing for the same on our association beaches.  This month’s “Tides” has a great deal of information concerning our community. I urge you all to review the minutes from…

Dear Friends of Eaton’s Neck, My home, like yours I’m sure, has tried its best to make the most of 2020. But, though we are all anxiously await 2021,the excitement of the holiday season cannot be dampened in this neighborhood. Everywhere you look, around every corner, the spirit of joy and love present itself. If this awful pandemic has taught me anything, its that I know, without a doubt, I can count on my neighbors no matter what. For those of you who have experienced a loss this past year, you are in our hearts. We are here for you…

Dear Friends, Neighbors, and Members, This is a time of year for refection. Thanksgiving is upon us and we can look inward and embrace gratitude. Our community has endured, preserved, and even thrived during what were less than ideal conditions in 2020.  But the hurdles of the year are drifting away a bit and we are able, once again, to focus on the most important and most cherished parts of our existence — family and loved ones. While this might not be the ideal Thanksgiving we imaged, I want to wish the entire Eaton’s Neck Family a happy, healthy and…

Dear Friends, Neighbors and Fellow POENB Members, As 2020 is in its final quarter and we can all see the finish line in the distance, the cur- rent board would like to take this time to reach out to all POENB members. Many folks stop me and ask about getting more involved. This is where you can step in and have a direct im- pact in shaping your community. “It takes a village”, is a phrase often said to depict any event that requires many folks coming together to tackle a big task. This couldn’t be truer than caring for…

Welcome to Summer! We got off to an interesting start and I am grateful for the amazing change in policy which has our quiet little enclave back to a new normal. Thank you to Dom Spada, the Office of Maritime Services, Park Rangers, life guards, and gate attendants who have all done an amazing job bringing peace, order and clarity to the usage of Hobart Beach. Dom Spada went well beyond the call of duty and worked closely with the board, members of the community, and law enforcement in service of restoring the Eaton’s Neck way of life. Please consider…

Hello friends, neighbors, members and residents of Eaton’s Neck. First and foremost I would like to deliver a heartfelt thank you to the first responders, those individuals who have been putting themselves at risk every day to protect us all. We are lucky to have so many of these individuals in our POENB community. Your POENB board is finalizing the details in regard to choosing a seawall contractor and we are anxious to bring those details and our final selection to the community. While we understand the urgency of getting this project completed, we must insure the safety of the…

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT! The three key issues passed and the board and I are very pleased with the results. Our plan is to move ahead as quickly as we can. As I type this, we are in midst of meeting with several contractors so we can make the most informed decision. While our spring will certainly be different this year, we are committed to making it a special one here on Eaton’s Neck. During strange times like these you realize just how important it is to have a special place to which you can come home and feel…

Dear POENB Members, neighbors and residents of Eaton’s Neck,  After two plus years of fund raising, permitting, and community involvement we are finally ready to fund and complete the Valley Grove seawall project. To this end we are asking the community to par ticipate in Key Issue voting.  There will be three key issue votes held electronically and concluding in person at our meeting April 3rd. The voting is set to begin March30 which will allow two days for 2019 members to participate in the vote. Beginning April 1,2020 only those members who have sent their 2020 membership forms and…

Hello Neighbors, We did it, folks! We survived Holiday Season 2019! Happy New Year, Friends. I am truly looking forward to what we are going to create in 2020 in the spirit of community. We share so much as the small beach town we are. Currently, the flu is being passed through our middle school students from one home to the next. Always sharing… Joking aside, we have great turnout and are al- ways looking and welcoming of anyone who wants to come and join us at a POENB meeting, event or just in membership. We care deeply about our…