Thanks to the Hergers for hosting the April cocktail party. A beautiful location and wonderful people. Our next gathering will be at the club ... the Kentucky Derby party on May 6. And just two weeks later we will have a Preakness party.

We hear wonderful reports about both the new chef and sous chef. Among other things the dining room will be open 7 days a week thanks to the new (and I guess not so new because it is a throwback to the olden days) snack bar which will be open from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. seven days a week. Mondays fare will be varied from week to week with special events such as cookouts. and much else to be released as time goes on.

Among other tidbits we have heard is that the chef spent some time as an instructor at the Culinary Institute of America and he has experience in Asian foods as well as the standard American fare. It is interesting to note that he was selected from a field of 22 candidates.

Your scribe had the opportunity to see the paint job in the dining room almost complete and it sure spruces up things. What a job that crew had taking down all the burgees and the burgee mounts, painting and then putting them back up again. Soon we will be seeing the new carpet. And outside the new awning will momentarily be installed as well.

Charles tells us that Althea will be back to keep the club spic and span every day of the season.

Thanks to the Junior Program Foundation, the largest chase boat, a Whaoo named Tiger II, has a new motor and it is in the water and working with the High School Sailing program. We saw the floats for the main dock system hanging from some of the moorings so that all may well be installed by the time this article goes to press.

Stand by for more news every week now ... we are rolling.