BBP Heritage Association

We wish all of you a Happy and Healthy New Year!

Starting in January 2026, we have some wonderful speakers lined up for our monthly General Membership meetings. All meetings are held at the BBP Library and are open to all. There is also a raffle at every meeting! See the information below about the first two meetings in January and February.

What is the HOT in Hot Chocolate? Bean to Cup

Diane Schwindt, Historic Cook at the Ketcham Inn

Sunday, January 18, 2026

2:00pm-4:00PM

Join us for an engaging afternoon as we explore the fascinating history behind hot chocolate,

tracing its journey from the cocoa bean to the comforting beverage enjoyed for centuries.

Discover the secrets of traditional recipes and taste the richness of authentic hot chocolate.

Demonstration and tastings will be led by Diane Schwindt, the historic cook at the Ketcham Inn,

located in Center Moriches. She will use authentic 18th century tools, methods, and techniques.

Save the Date for the February meeting:

The Roosevelts in New York City

Bill Bleyer, Author, Historian

Sunday, February 15, 2026

2:00pm -4:00pm

Historian and author Bill Bleyer, a former Newsday staff writer, will present insights from his latest book, The Roosevelts in New York City. During this presentation, Bleyer will explore the unique locations in New York City where members of the Roosevelt family lived and worked revealing the private stories and interactions that shaped this iconic American family. The presentation will highlight the Roosevelts’ enduring legacy in Manhattan, including Theodore Roosevelt’s formative years in a brownstone on East 20th Street and the influence of his uncle, Robert Barnwell Roosevelt, (former summer resident of Bayport) who lived next door in a twin brownstone and fostered Theodore’s interest in conservation. The talk will provide an in-depth look at these notable family residences and the personal stories behind the Roosevelts’ prominence in New York City. Books will be available for purchase and signing at the event.

Another successful year for our signature event; Christmas at Meadow Croft! This event is a labor of love and takes months of planning and preparation by many individuals who all volunteer their time and talents for this wonderful event. Special thanks go to our chairperson Leanne Berg whose creative vision once again created such a festive experience for our friends and neighbors. Thank you!!!

A personal note from Leanne:

There are so many people who come together to make this event happen, giving of their talent and time. It’s because of these people that Christmas at Meadow Croft is such a success! During the planning, decorating, organizing and cleaning it’s easy to get caught up in the frenzy of it all…. And then….the dust settles, lights are lit, the music starts and visitors arrive. It’s an amazing thing to see it all come together so beautifully. “Thank you” doesn’t seem enough to show our appreciation to our volunteers and visitors alike but it is given from the bottom of our heart’s.

On behalf of myself and our board … THANK YOU!

We look forward to seeing you in 2026 for :

“ A Botanical Christmas at Meadow Croft “

Leanne Berg

VP and chairman

Many volunteers give selflessly of their time and talents to clean and decorate Meadow Croft for this event. Many many thanks go to : Mary Bailey, Jen Economos, Laura Amato, Beth Lamarca, Craig Clare, Denise Coscia, Frank Giebfried, Rebecca Church, Sandra Iden, Anna Duggan, Erich Heisch, Shannon Voyack and her mom, Adriane Balsalm, Donna Nolan, The Sayville Garden Club, Bayport Homemakers, The Bayport Flower Houses, Elaine Stewart and friends, Maureen Burch, Joan Huber, Maureen Mackie, Audrey’s Bakery ( gingerbread house) and Fawn Silver (food).

With so many guests arriving for the 2 day event, we needed a dedicated and skilled crew to help with parking and getting everyone in and out safely. Thank you to the Scouts and Leadership of the Bayport-Blue Point Troop 130 and 329 and with some family and friends. Thanks to Craig Clare for organizing and taking on this responsibility. Thank you: Joseph Azzone, Jeff Cardillo, Mike Maiorano, Bill Vogel III, Deniz Dosdogru, Taylan, Dosdogru, Kyran Duggan, Ben Florin, Landon Hedstrom, Luke Hedstrom, Michael Maiorano, David Rowan, Billy Vogel IV, Shaun McInnes, Max Cardillo, Gabriel Loewen, Finn McInnes, Benjamin McInnes and Todd Williams.

The carriage house looked amazing for photos with St. Nick and the hot cocoa and cookies were welcome! We owe a BIG thanks to Steve Birkeland for taking all of the photographs. A special Thank You to Tom Maher jr. who graciously gives of his time to portray St. Nick. Thanks also to our elves; Alyssa Maher, Katie Maher, John Maher and to the The Fish Store and RC Auto for help with the hot cocoa and cookies!

Volunteers are needed to to act as docents or man each of the rooms in the Roosevelt estate for this event. Jennifer Economos did a fabulous job of organizing all of these wonderful people to assist in this event. Special thanks to; Laura Amato, Adraine Balsam, Leanne Berg, Baylee Browning, Rebecca Church, Denise Coscia, Anna Duggan, Grace Engel, Linda Engleman, Frank Giebfried, Erich Haesche, Kathy & Lorraine Heinlein, Henry Hoyt, Sandra Iden, Angela Johnson, Beth Lamarca, Pat Ramo, Frank Somma, Jayne Traver, Shannon Voyack and Doug Shaw.

The Roosevelt estate had the Christmas spirit floating through the air and that is in part due to the many musicians who donate their time and talents to play holiday music on the Roosevelt piano during the weekend. Thanks to Rebecca Church for organizing. Many thanks go to musicians: Mary Latini, Stephanie Johnston, and 2 of her students, Kathy Senese, Lisa Piscak, Joey "D-Lite", Bill Bailey, Maurice Kemp, Paul Wright, and JK Hodge. This music filled our hearts with the spirit of Christmas! Amazing!

We are so fortunate to live in such a generous community with not only people volunteering their time but our many local businesses donating items for our raffle baskets. Thank you to the following individuals and business for their donations: Lisa Vahey ~ $50 Sunflower Cafe gc, Angela Stelling ~ $50 Love Pizza gc's, Houdeks ~ wine basket, The Fish Store ~ 2-$40 gc's, Bryn Elliot ~ $100 Sunflower Cafe gc, Annette O'Brien ~ Christmas wreath & raffle basket, Bayport Blue Point Foundation ~ $50 Amazon gc & raffle basket, Long Island Maritime Museum ~ 2 tickets for sunset sail on The Priscilla, Plaza Arts Cinema ~ free passes, CM Performing Arts ~ 2 free tickets, Sayville Running Club ~ $40 gc, Berry Fresh in Bayport ~ $10 gc, Irish Times Bar & Restaurant ~ 2 -$30 gc's, Stella Trattoria Restaurant ~ $40 gc, Blackbirds Restaurant ~ $40 gc, Jerry & Aileen McCluskey ~ raffle basket, Loughlin Vineyards ~ raffle basket, Beth Lamarca ~ raffle basket, BP PTA ~ raffle basket, Bayport Flower Houses, The Fish Store, USA Auto Body, and Boy Scout Troop 130/329. Special thanks to our gift basket wrapping elves: Angela Stelling, Roma Busch, Grace Cannizarro, Nancy Bachek, Mary Bailey and Debbie Darragh. THANK YOU!

It is months of planning and the weekend goes by so quickly but all of us in the BBPHA Board are grateful for the many visitors who enjoyed the beginning of the holiday season with us. We thank you for your support to help us achieve our goals continuing to keep the heritage of our hamlets alive. MUCH APPRECIATED!

The nominating committee is looking for members for the 2026 year. Any current paid BBPHGA member May serve. It requires only one meeting per month. If you are interested in serving or volunteering in some capacity please contact us at bbphistorical@gmail.com

We are also looking for members to serve on various committees throughout the year. You can work from home! If you have a particular skill or interest (house tours, special events, light clerical and organization) please contact us to volunteer. Thank you!

Perhaps because of the universally uplifting feeling of starting anew, you can find similarities between the lively New Year's celebrations found in many countries today and those of the oldest recorded civilizations. The ancient Egyptians, for example, shared huge meals and partook in music and dancing to commemorate the pending flooding of the Nile with the festival of Wepet Renpet, meaning "opening of the year." And the Babylonians of Mesopotamia enjoyed their own gala some 4000 years ago with rituals that may have included a prototype of our modern-day New Year's resolutions.

While the Babylonians may have been the first to introduce these promises to a celebration marking the start of the year, the Romans were the first to deliver theirs in January. For that we can thank the wide-reaching Roman calendar, which moved the first month of the year from March to January. Named for the two-faced god Janus, who both looked back at the past and faced the unknown future, the first month became a time for officials to pledge their vows of loyalty to Rome - a custom that continues in the less urgent but no less earnest tradition of the countless people who pledge to get off the couch and hit the gym in the new year. Happy New Year!