Many people are working hard to make the hamlet of Oyster Bay a destination location and they are doing a great job. They are creating free events to bring people to the downtown area. On Sunday we visited the lovely brick patio behind Chrison & Bellina that was just revitalized. The flowing water fountain makes it a lovely space to stop and visit. There are some more ideas for the site being considered.
Coming from the perspective of writing for this newspaper for several years, it is nice to see what is happening in the hamlet. Cruise Night really deserves a great deal of credit. The people who make it happen, including Oyster Bay Chamber of Commerce members Austin Azzaretto and Paige Dawson, make it a regular event for people to put on their calendars. They expend a lot of energy and time making it a great community event.
The Neighborhood Nights concept run by local non-profit groups (Raynham Hall, Planting Fields, Sagamore Hill, the Oyster Bay Historical Society’s Earle Wightman House, the Theodore Roosevelt Sanctuary and Audubon Center) are usually scheduled for Thursdays, and has been going on for how many years, 10 or 15? Time flies. It started out as a way to get local people into the museums and historic sites in town, that usually attract tourists and school children.
The new Main Street Association Sundown series is a good addition, filling in Thursdays with music and encouraging people to stop by afterward at some local restaurants.
And we should add the Oyster Bay Railroad Museum for opening its Preview Center to visitors on Tuesday nights as well as on Saturdays from noon to 4 p.m. They may add more hours during the summer months. OBRM Director Jon Specce tells us that on Saturday, June 13 a Girl Scout Troop event was rained out and the young ladies took advantage of the opportunity to learn about trains.
In the case of ideas and opportunities – more is better. We are happy that so many people in the community are committed to making it a more welcoming place. Oyster Bay has always been special and now we can add… special events.
Good work everyone!
