Cudjoe Gardens Property Owners Assn., Inc.

Social Events

Aug 27, 2001

Labor Day Dive Trip
Karin Surface announced that there will be a dive trip to Looe Key on Sunday, September 2 at 1:00 p.m. Snorkelers and spectators are also welcome. The water depth is 20' to 40', a less challenging dive than the 80' destination originally considered.
If you are interested, please contact Karin at 745-1182 before Friday, August 31. She will arrange rides to the site and choose the anchorage.
Be sure to bring adequate sun protection!
October Barbecue Plans
The July barbeque hit a snag when the owner of the lot used was reluctant to let the Association use it once more when the neighbor, Dr. Tom Trinchetto, moved to the Sarasota area.
Since then Association has been trying to make arrangements to use the lot for the October barbeque, use some other lot, or hold it at a local restaurant.
If you have any good ideas, please inform Christina Smittle at 745-2430 evenings and weekends.
Ladies' Luncheon
The last ladies' luncheon was held Thursday, August 16 at 11:30 AM at the Grand Key Resort. The resort is located across from Houseboat Row.
The menu consisted of chicken breast, grilled pork loin, club sandwich, or vegetable plate, with salad, rolls, coffee or iced tea, and dessert. The price, with gratuity, was $15 per person.
The previous luncheon was held at the Flagler's Veranda at the Wyndham Casa Marina. Sixteen gorgeous ladies all had a great time.
"Since a lot of people are away in the summer, we get fewer people, but we have a lot of fun," said BJ Deis. The luncheons have become a popular tradition in Cudjoe Gardens. They are held in alternate months.
Volunteers to help organize luncheons are always welcome and needed.
Big Fish Rule the Cudjoe Gardens Dolphin Tournament
Size dominated June?’s Cudjoe Gardens Dolphin Tournament. Of the 30 plus fish weighed in, the majority were at least 25 pounds.
In its third year, the Cudjoe Gardens Dolphin Tournament registered 69 boats with approximately 280 anglers. The Tournament netted $10,775 which was donated to the Cancer Foundation of the Florida Keys. Their funds stay here in Monroe County to aid cancer patients with their rent, food, medicine, and treatments.
On Saturday, Ken McGoff of Kings Park, NY, fishing aboard the J Sea Lynn, weighed in a 42.8 pound bull that few people thought would be beat. Sam Hill, a Coast Guardsman fishing on the Ocean Mistress, weighed in a 39.2 pounder late in the afternoon, which held 2nd place on Saturday. The next three fish were all between 25 and 30 pounds.
The weigh-in ended with enthusiastic anglers vowing to find the really big one on Sunday. We were not disappointed. Weigh-in action was slow on Sunday, but 3rd through 5th places changed a number of times. We all thought that Ken still had the big fish.
With 20 minutes left on the clock, the shiny red pickup truck belonging to the Ocean Mistress captain, Randy Bradley, pulled up and we knew there was serious competition. Jeff Potensky and his fishing mates hauled up an amazing 55.5 pound bull!
Ken's fish moved to 2nd place while Sam Hill's moved to 3rd. When the clock struck 7 PM, Ocean Mistress had taken 1st and 3rd place in the Cudjoe. Ken McGoff retained 2nd. 4th place was taken by Joe Walter on the Purple Porpoise with a 36.6 pounder, and the 5th place fish was caught by Carol LeBert on the Step Lively, a 34.55 pound fish. The first place winner received $2000 and a Yamaha 4-stroke engine donated by Willett Marine.
Dave Banks, tournament director, is pleased with the continued growth of the event. He hopes that all the anglers enjoyed the weekend and will participate again next year. "We are hoping for 100 boats and 400 anglers next year, with a fund raising goal of over $15,000."
Next year's dates are May 31, June 1 & 2.
Additional photos from this year and information on the tournament can be viewed on the tournament web page at www.cudjoedolphintoumament.com.
?–Dave Banks
Raftup in Cudjoe Bay
Morning rain and midday clouds lifted just in time for five boats to anchor near the number 10 marker in Cudjoe Bay for a Memorial Day fest of swimming, grilling, visiting and especially fine eating.
Wonderful picnic-style specialties ?— gazpacho, key lime dip, guacamole, deviled eggs, honey baked turkey, brownies, calamondin bread, cream cheese rollups, homemade salsa and other delectables which, to her sorrow, your reporter was too stuffed to sample ?– passed from boat to boat. Abundant ice-cold libations rounded out the menu.
The water was just right ?— cool enough to feel refreshing, warm enough for extended floating, and shallow enough for adults to stand. Perfect!
Many thanks to all who made the CGPOA Memorial Day Raftup a success, especially to Richard Mikkelsen, who acted as point of contact for the Raftup and provided the boat for the basic raft. Special thanks also go to Carol Tidwell, Larry Francisco, Andrew Daly, John Viele, Millie Schoneck and John Smittle for passing out announcement flyers, to Cindy Francisco and John Ulrich for coordinating advertising posters at the entrance to our neighborhood, and most of all, to all of you who joined in.
?–Christina Smittle