In recent weeks’ articles we have led off with information about progress on the sailing center building project. Letters and notes from folks who read us weekly from their winter homes away convince us that this news is appreciated by and important to many. Major progress has been made this past week and now , with lower floor framing up and growing one can see the floor plan of the Junior Program headquarters. Once complete, this stick-built construction will have floor trusses installed and decked and the large open meeting room will take shape on the north end. This portion will be stick built all the way to the roof and the rest of the building will be modular.

Also completed is the drainage around the poured concrete walls and as soon as they are fully cured and the water and  power feeds placed fill will be added up  to the grade level.  Two beautiful excavation exposed granite blocks have been placed at the north end of the building.

Speaking of beautiful, Charles spied a snowy owl on the railing between the Junior sailing lawn and the club house. He admits that there were not many of these in Hawaii years ago.

The Junior Program Stocking Stuffers will be available shortly and in plenty of time for Christmas. Look for a notice about this in an email shortly due in your inbox. Making plans for this and other events the junior program committee has been meeting virtually on a frequent basis. Likewise, the Dining Room Committee has also been gathering virtually.

Junior Program Director Chris Liberti reports that most , if not all, of his instructor staff will be returning for 2018. He will be on the lookout for a 420 racing coach/instructor; Chris, himself, has been taking a US Sailing Level 3 Head Instructor course. Chantalle and Alex will be returning to man the tennis program so continuity is the word on both sides of Route 27.

Our last observation in the Junior area is that the Junior docks have been pulled as well as the aluminum ramp so we were pretty much in winter mode in time for that first blast of winter and snow last weekend.

Also in time to beat the harsh weather was the December social event hosted by Alice and Andy Mutch. Crowds of revelers totaling her 50 heralded the events of the month and brought fsoodstuffs for the Rotary Interact food drive. Lots of chat about our construction project, the recovery from the windstorm, the Gardens and Town Aglow and great food and drink highlighted the party. Appropriate greetings and news was shared by the commodore at the event.

Coming up next is the Lancasters’ January party and, of course, the Miami event being hosted by Don and Claire.

Thanks to the magic of internet, Charles and Hristo have been working on next summer’s dining room staffing and other early planned events.

Thinking ahead to 2018, perhaps we can start collecting lights so that BHYC can become a part of the town’s lighted event since we will have a year round facility to celebrate our presence. Possibly the commodores can appoint a committee to plan our participation.