CASTLEGRAM
The Voice of the Manor
Fall 2024
Dear Homeowners,
The Summer Season doesn’t end in Montauk until the Montauk Fall Festival each October. This year the Festival will be on October 12th and 13th and be highlighted once again by the Clam Chowder Contest and the Farmer’s Market. If you didn’t get a chance to spend much time at The Manor this summer, early fall is the best time to enjoy Montauk. The weather is balmy, the crowds are gone, fishing is at its peak, the ocean is still warm for swimming and beachgoers are enjoying a special treat this season. Since the beginning of July there have been dozens of whales breaching and diving as close as 200 yards off the ocean beaches. It’s amazing to watch.
Although we had more rain than usual, our summer rentals were still good and continue to do well into the fall. The Rental Committee will be meeting sometime in the late fall. On the agenda will be developing advertising to highlight the ease of dining while at The Manor. This has recently become important to vacationers as most restaurant prices have skyrocketed due to inflation. It has become cost prohibitive for vacationers to go out to eat each day. The Manor offers two grilling areas, all rentals have full kitchens, and our restaurant is competitively priced. The Rental Committee will also be working on identifying what else is important to potential renters. Things like the view, outside space, bed size, number of bathrooms, large screen TV, etc. The fact that every apartment is different offers many options for renters and our advertising should convey that every stay is unique.
Since the last Castlegram, the Board of Managers met by conference call on August 17th and has a meeting scheduled for October 26th. Recent board meetings have focused on the budget and priorities for new construction now that the renovations of the indoor pool and elevators are complete. All approved minutes of board meetings can be read on the homeowner’s page of The Manor website. Also available are all construction, rental, and treasurer reports, plus previous Castlegrams.
As we approach October, our “in house” artist Patrick Lane and his team begin Halloween decorations. The decorations are fun for all kids and former kids. They are worth a trip to The Manor to see. Halloween has always been a big event in Montauk. The schools organize a Halloween Parade. Some restaurants and pubs have Halloween parties.
Looking further ahead, mark your calendar and reserve your apartment. Our Annual Homeowners Meeting, Board of Managers Election and Holiday Festival Party will be Saturday December 7th. The Manor will be decorated for the holidays. The Homeowners Meeting and the election will be in the afternoon. Running for re-election will be Board President Lou Federico, Board Secretary Claire Ratusch, and Rental Committee Member and construction advisor Nic Ceo. The complimentary Holiday Festival Party will be in the evening and will include wine tasting plus appetizers, a buffet dinner, and dessert hosted by our excellent restaurant, Monte’s at The Manor. In a few weeks all homeowners will receive the official meeting and election notice plus the holiday party information. You will be asked to R.S.V.P. to attend the party. For those interested in getting on the ballot for the election, the eligibility requirements, necessary documents and deadlines will be explained.
Each year the Montauk Manor family of homeowners, staff and board members look forward to seeing old friends and welcoming new homeowners at our “Castle On The Hill.”
Sincerely,
The Board of Managers
