Marge's Lakeside Inn: Sea Breeze beach neighborhood ~ helping with an explanation and open to helpful solutions.
Sea Breeze beach neighborhood ~ helping with an explanation and open to helpful solutions.
Most of us, residents of the Sea Breeze beach area, have been here most of our lives. We have seen and adapted to many changes in our area over the years. It's always been and hopefully will continue to be a wonderful place to live. However, it's extremely upseting to see where we are in this day and age.
As co-owner of Marge's Lakeside Inn, I'd like to try to explain where we're coming from with all of the rules and situations of present day. We have been in business since 1960. Before that, the bar was there under a different name and prior to that it was a "speak easy" during prohibition. Alot of history, quite a bit of work and accomplishment to still be thriving after 50 years.
First, to be clear, Marge (my Grandmother) started Marge's Lakeside Inn (Oct. 1, 1960). My Father, Ron worked for her and then took ownership in 1975. He passed away in 1986 and my Mother (Fran) and I (Francine) have been running it ever since. My Grandmother, Marge passed away in 1995.
We are very lucky and have worked very hard at maintaining this establishment in this neighborhood of very close quarters. We have great customers as well as great neighbors.
As you may have noticed, there have been a substantial amount of boats anchoring behind this private beach. (Yes, it is Private Property) What you may not fully understand is that Marge's Lakeside Inn's customers are primarily from the roadside. If I had to guess, I'd say less than 10% are from the water. Out of that 10%, I'd estimate that most of them know the proper etiquette and are respectful of it ALL being Private Property, which is a wonderful thing. However, the last couple years have become increasingly challenging for everyone.
I'd like for you to visualize yourself living on that stretch of beatiful beach and every nice weekend (in addition to a few nice weekdays) you run into the following scenerios.
* Several people cutting through (trespassing) your property to go meet friends on boats.
(If people feel they must do this, they can cut through at the public area of the beach, located closest to the pier and walk in the water to the boat)
* Finally having some awesome Rochester weather, putting out your floats (if you can even find a place to put them behind your property) only to have to ask people to remove themselves from them, as they are yours and you LIVE HERE. Then, on top of that...being verbally abused about why they should move off your property.
* Owners bringing dogs (leashed or unleashed) on shore to relieve themselves and don't pick up after them.
* People coming on shore to socialize, letting kids play, drink, eat, sit on your furniture, set up a nice little beach area (IN YOUR BACKYARD) and it's always an added bonus when they leave their garbage.
* Not being able to let your kids out swimming, or yourself for that matter, as they might bet hit by an unlawful jet skier or boater. Furthermore, would you want your kids subjected to the "Spring Break" atmosphere that's demonstrated almost every weekend?
That's just a few of the items off the top of my head, which reminds me.......
Last weekend, a neighbor gently told a family that they were on Private Property and after being verbally abused, got a luckily empty cup thrown at her. Awesome display of great parenting.....trespass, swear and throw things in front of your two small children.
As a tavern owner, there's even more to it. We have to abide by NYS and ABC Liquor authority laws/rules. We also go above and beyond to give our customers the knowledge of what those rules are.
Simply, no trespassing, nothing brought IN or anything (alcohol) taken Off property to name a few. We are working with law enforcement and local government to help this area take care of this special waterfront neighborhood.
Everyone likes to enjoy the water, it's a great area, we all get that. However, there has to be a better way. I thought we could start with "getting the word out", so it's not just "assumed" that the neighbors and owners of Marge's are just "mean".
For the most part, people "get it" and are pretty cool. However, those few can ruin alot for everyone.
Thanks for taking the time to read this and any positive suggestions you might have are welcome.
|