December 2013 News

Winter is here but we are keeping our summer hours!  Activity around the Marina has been brisk and as long as it continues, we will remain open 7 days a week, 8:00 am until 4:00 pm.  Please keep mind that due to the colder weather, ramps and walkways may be slippery so take extra caution when out and about.
Although we are still in a drought, the rain is bound to hit us sometime soon.  For those of our berthers not regularly at the Marina, please check your boat.  The cold, wet weather can play havoc on marine vessels.

The Delta has been generous in giving up her bounty.  Fisher folk have been catching sturgeon and stripers aplenty this past fall.  Duck hunting season also has gotten off to a great start… great for the hunters… not the ducks!  For those of you fishing enthusiasts, make sure to check out the new BAIT SHOP at New Bridge Marina in the old Dale’s Canvass spot.  We wish the new enterprise much luck!

The boat wash program has been discontinued by the NRG Power plant.  A special meeting was held at Supervisor District III, Mary Piepho’s office to address this matter.  Driftwood Marina had the largest representation with myself, Bonnie, Jim, and owner Matt in attendance.  Chris Laurizen and many other marina personnel were also there to gather information and protest the discontinuation.  A follow up meeting is tentatively scheduled for January with representatives from NRG and (hopefully) PG&E, too. We will keep you abreast of any changes as we continue to urge the power companies to reinstate/continue this valuable program.  Bart Fisher of Fisher Enterprises will be in contact with those berthers who have used his service through the program.  He will continue to offer boat washing and notify you of his reasonable fee.   If you wish to contact Bart directly, please call him at 925/778-8346.  Bart is a great guy and has always done a wonderful, thorough job.

An ongoing issue at the Marina is shed gates not being closed, and therefore locked properly.  Please make sure your gate is securely closed when entering/exiting your shed.

From everyone here, we’d like to wish you all a Very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Summer Blog

We’ve been busy here at the Marina since my last blog... It was great to see so many of our berthers at the Customer Appreciation Day.  On behalf of myself, Kathy and the staff, I’d like to extend a big “Thank You!” to all who attended.  We had a good turnout with several lucky winners of our various raffles.  You can view pictures of this year’s event on our photos link.

The front gate has been fixed…  If you haven’t yet done so, stop by the office and get your key reprogramed.  Everything has been working great with the update to the software.  Please let us know if you have any issues or questions. 

We continue our battle with the weeds in the water… The hot weather helps these aquatic weeds to grow.  The workboat and workmen have been getting a workout scooping the weeds out to the fast water.  It’s a struggle but we plan to continue to fight!

The safety of our berthers and their belongings is of utmost importance… While cameras on the property are operational and law enforcement does patrol, your own safety starts with you. Kindly remember to keep the gate to your shed locked, secure personal items, and report any broken locks or burnt out bulbs. 

Annual Aahmes Yacht Club Shrine Event is right around the corner… Driftwood Marina will be hosting the event this year on Saturday, August 3.  Festivities will start at 12:00 noon, with an afternoon of music, raffles, a steak dinner, and visit from the Potentate.  See our attached flyer and call or stop by the office to make your reservations.  Help support this amazing cause.

And finally, from berther Phil, some tips to make your outdoor experience this summer more enjoyable...  Looking for environmentally safe, economical insect repellents?  Try some of these easy care plants to clear areas of flies:

Rosemary                                                            

Lavender

Basil

Mint

If spiders are your problem, try using any of the following natural oils, a squirt of dish detergent and water in a spray bottle for a safe deterrent:  

Citrus fruits

Lavender

Peppermint

Citronella

Cinnamon

Tea trees

Cloves

Spray the mixture on cobwebs, around doors and windows, lawn and garden, on and around your boat, or any surface where spiders lurk.

 We look forward to seeing you around the Marina enjoying your boat and summer on the Delta.

Spring is here! We will be expanding our business hours to be open

7 days a week beginning April 1^st

Hours of operation will remain 

8:00 am to 4:00 pm.

We’ve been busy…If you haven’t had the opportunity, come by the Marina and check out our improvements! These include our beautiful green lawn, flowers in bloom and general landscape updating. We have a new building for the gas shed as well. Pot holes have been patched and we continue our ongoing battle with the weeds. We believe victory over unwanted foliage will be ours! Speaking of unwanted foliage, we continue to keep the work boat in operation managing the debris in the Marina, keeping our waterways clear.

An exciting addition …to the front of the Marina is our turtle pond. Should you venture out on a sunny day you may see Walter, the Dude and Donny basking on a rock. They can be elusive (especially the Dude) but seem to have acclimated well to their new home. While away from Driftwood, they can be viewed on our new "Turtle Cam", our latest live action camera in the Marina.

The Management asks for your help… in keeping our docks and the area around boats clean and tidy. Perhaps there are items you've been meaning to throw away or stow away. Inspection is coming up, which includes walking and inspecting the docks.  An excess of items can present a safety issue as well as being an eyesore.  Berthers who do not comply will be notified individually.  Winter can certainly be a time of accumulation and hibernation and spring is our chance to start anew.  

Opening Day… is Saturday, April 6 and Driftwood Yacht Club is hosting this fun, annual event. All are hoping for a great day on the water as the season officially gets underway.  We're always happy  to welcome the new season and warmer weather!

Save the Date... Driftwood Marina's Annual Customer Appreciation Day  has been scheduled for Saturday, May 18th.   Stay tuned for details!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Finally, from the entire Driftwood Marina staff...

Happy Easter

Happy Spring

Happy Boating

Happy Spring!

The marina is buzzing with activity as you all get your boats ready for a busy 2012 boating season!

The weather has been beautiful and the water even better. My wife and I took a cruise to Benicia a few weeks back and the air was warm and clear, the water like glass and we enjoyed watching the seals sunning themselves on the buoys and birds bobbing on the water… we cruised with the ships moving along the channel and watched them change pilots in Pittsburg.

April 1st the marina begins summer hours so the office will again be open 7 days a week. Stop by and say hi and let us know if we can do anything for you.

April 14^th is the Opening Day Parade. This year’s theme is American Spirit; so get your boats ready and decorated! Driftwood Yacht Club board members can help you with registration and parade start times. Dinner reservations can be made directly to Sportsmen’s Yacht Club before April 1^st.

Another event to get on to your calendar is the Driftwood Marina Open House on Saturday, May 19th from 12 to 3. We will be supplying Hot Dogs, Hamburgers and the fixings, as well as giving away marina hats, t-shirts and beach bags. We will also have a drawing for West Marine Gift Cards. It is our way of thanking you for being such great berthers as well as introducing prospective berthers to the marina!

Remember, Driftwood Yacht Club offers Taco Tuesday and karaoke every week and has begun changing up the menu a couple times a month with a chef’s choice offering instead of the taco bar. They also serve dinner on Friday nights and you can see the menu on their website www.dycweb.org. The facilities are available for event rental so consider having your next party there.

Join us on Facebook! You can find us at http://www.facebook.com/groups/225470987531519/

IT’S A GIRL TIMES 2!!!

I’M SO PROUD TO ANNOUNCE TWO NEW GIRLS IN OUR FAMILY…

On July 27, 2011 I adopted a 1 ½ year old Golden Lab mix named Daisy. She has adjusted to harbor life like a duck to water; in fact, it is a challenge to keep her out of the water! She loves meeting all of our berthers and their canine family members. She certainly has taken well to her new role as Driftwood’s ambassador.




AND in August 29, 2011 we welcomed our newest granddaughter, Alana Paige Carroll, to the family. (Yes, that makes 4 grandchildren, two girls and two boys). I’m sure it won’t take long for her to have Papa wrapped around her finger…

I am also pleased to tell you our front dock repairs have been completed… we have 8 - 45 foot renovated spaces available to rent, so please encourage your friends to become part of the Driftwood family!

On Saturday, October 8th, Driftwood Yacht Club is hosting the annual Make-A-Wish cruise and fundraiser. This year’s committee has really been working hard to bring an enjoyable day to you, so please participate…Tickets are $35 per person and that includes a 2 hour yacht cruise, lunch, entertainment and auction. This event is open to the public so get your group together and have a fun-filled day for a good cause!

An important reminder…please have children wear properly fitting life vests when on the docks; not just in your boat. Accidents can happen at any time. I require my grandchildren to have their life vests on before we leave the parking lot and go down the ramps. Also, I encourage all adults to wear life vests when on the water. I highly recommend the inflatable vests. These vests automatically inflate, with a co2 canister, should you fall into water. They are very comfortable and will not hinder your enjoyment of your boating trip. And… they may save your life!

As fall approaches, I believe you are able to enjoy the best boating the Delta has to offer. The winds die down and the water is smooth and cool. Striper fishing is gearing up. Per the fishing reports, one of the present hot spots is right in front of our marina, at the Antioch Bridge. Of course, I could have told you that, because our seasonal resident seal has been spotted inside the harbor again. We are very lucky to experience such a diversity of wildlife at Driftwood. From time to time, in the morning, we can enjoy the peace and quiet and watch a crane or egret float by on a tule island.

Happy and Safe Boating,

Mike

Summer is finally here!

The warmer weather has finally returned and we are now open with summer hours: 7 days a week -8am to 4pm.

Our gas dock and pump out will be closed for a short period in May due to the upgrading of the front dock. We apologize for the inconvenience, but be assured, we will have it opened again as soon as possible.

We have several berths available, so if you know anyone looking for a home for their boat, be sure to tell them to call us, or better yet, come by for a visit. They can also use the website to sign up on the waiting list at www.driftwoodmarina.com.

We have arranged to have someone come in and help repair all the ramps in the marina. We will be welding and putting new runners down, so please understand there will be a time that your ramp may not be available to you for a couple of hours. It is necessary, for safety reasons, that you stay back from the workers. Most of the work will be done during the week, but if you are inconvenienced, come up to the office and we will work something out.

I know the high cost of fuel is making boating a little expensive. You can still have fun by using your boat and planning short trips or just coming out, staying on your boat, and visiting with your neighboring berthers; plus your boat likes to have some attention too!

Has it been that long?!

Well, I am a bit over due for an article and I apologize for that. It has been a very busy summer! With the close of summer, there is still a lot of good fall weather for boating. Many fishing derbies are starting up and with the mild days, still a lot of time to spend on your boats.

The tenants of AA dock have had several spontaneous “dock” parties this summer, even making homemade ice cream. Driftwood is a weekend getaway for many, coming out every Friday night and staying until late Sunday afternoon. I encourage you to get to know your dock neighbors, and enjoy your time at the marina too.

With the economy down, boating recreation has also been down, which means we have some vacancies in slips 36 feet and under. If you have a friend looking for a place to berth, please recommend us. For larger boats, we have a waiting list and prospective berthers can be added right from the web site.

The marina staff has been trying to stay on top of many different projects; working on upgrading the front docks, trying to keep the weeds in the harbor cut down and most of all trying to keep the hydrilla and water hyacinth out of the harbor. We had some set backs due to our workboat being broken down and waiting on parts for a while, but it is working again. As a lot of you know, we hired a company to come in and help us cut weeds in June. They did a real nice job. Thank you for all of your thank you letters. The corporation likes to hear that it was appreciated. It was is very expensive project but we are planning to do it annually. We will still get out with the workboat and work when the tides cooperate. We should have some pictures of the project to post on the web page in the near future.

I want to take a minute to welcome Ernie Quails back to our staff. Ernie was my assistant before he moved to Tennessee. Now that he and his wife are back in the area, he has returned to our relief staff. We are so glad to have him back working with us. Come on into the office and say hi!

Driftwood Yacht Club is hosting their annual Make-A-Wish fundraiser on Saturday, October 2. We wholeheartedly support this event and encourage you to join in too. There will be some minor disruptions to the operation of the marina that day. There will be a guard at the gate to regulate participant parking. Just let them know you are a tenant and you will be able to get in. If you have guests arriving later to join you, be sure they know your name, dock letter and slip number. Since this is a public event, for your security, please keep your dock gates locked do not open your dock gate to let anyone into your dock if you do not know them.

Finally, October 1^st is the beginning of winter hours for the harbor. The office will be closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays and we will not have anyone available to conduct harbor business those days. Please plan your schedules accordingly.

Happy Boating!!!