We’re home in Davis Park! That’s my first ferry feeling, and this year was no exception. Whether it’s a boat on Day 1, Derby Day, or Memorial Day, coming back to the beach gives us that warm, fuzzy feeling inside.
Sometimes that’s because we’re wrapped in layers topped with a poncho, as we were for the season’s unofficial kickoff: the Casino’s Derby party. Even the drizzly sky couldn’t dampen the spirits of the festive celebrants, including friends we hadn’t met yet and some we hadn’t seen since last year, who started pouring off the ferry just as Cory and Crew began to pour. The chapeaus were dazzling, and the Friends of Davis Park had a tough job picking a top hat, but we unanimously agreed that De’bra Stoll took the prize. Thanks to Cory and the entire Casino Crew, along with Friends of Davis Park, for the community fun! The Barries also hosted their annual soiree, which we hear was filled with community legends.
The DPFD has been hard at work, even as we have had fun. This year, that includes protecting us from the sun with the new pergola. A joint effort by the DPFD, Friends, C.R.A.B., and the Davis Park Association, this labor of love resulted in a beautiful finish, thanks to Craig, Tom, Billy, Cush, Joe, Rich, Fil, Bob, Mike, and others who contributed. Check it out, along with a demonstration of what the DPFD does, at their open house on Sunday, May 25. While you’re there, check out the huge sand piles. If you wonder who brought sand to the beach, it was the DPA, led by the indomitable Jayne Robinson (about to become a great grandma — congrats!), who worked long and hard to make it happen. It’s one of the many literal community-building efforts the DPA undertakes. Please join; it’s worth it!
Also worth it is a trip to the Harbor Store, re-envisioned by new owners Nate and Vinny Winn and operated by Erin and Lizzy Winn. The family has been a part of our community for over 35 years. Nate tells us, “Open seven days a week, we’ll be serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner with a reinvented menu that includes breakfast burritos and French toast! We’re also introducing beach chair rentals, grab-and-go options, and proudly launching Summer Beans, the first coffee shop in Davis Park.”
As we look forward to an amazing summer, we reflect on the loss of some incredible friends. Mark Korman, a longtime Davis Parker, left us too soon. Mike Monaco, a recent homeowner but forever a boater and beach guy, not to mention a great dad and friend, is dearly missed. And we will never forget our friend Deirdre Lawler, with whom we had more fun than should be legal and who leaves behind more devastated friends than imaginable.
We’ll toast to them, new friends, and memories as we welcome summer and one another. Send tips, tidbits, and tattles to DPRidgeFI@gmail.com. See you around the walks!
