Oyster Bay-East Norwich is a great community. But I am not particularly objective- having been born into this community more years ago than I now care to remember(!). What I have routinely seen over that time is that we do not generally ask for much, which I think speaks to the tremendous quality of the people who live and do business here – modest and relying more on the “do it yourself” attribute that drives this community.
Recently, though, Oyster Bay-East Norwich did ask for something.
Most particularly, the Oyster Bay-East Norwich Youth Athletic Association, on behalf of the community, asked the Town- reasonably and persistently- to renovate and improve our existing Ralph Marino Field on Berry Hill Road, primarily, of course, for the benefit of our children- the very future of Oyster Bay-East Norwich. The athletic association stayed the course, accepted and acted upon the reasoned input of others, and partnered with the Town to the point of this past Saturday April 10, when Marino Field was unveiled to be the first-rate baseball/softball field that it has become- one of the finest improvements to this community in the last long while.
While it may not seem significant in scale, to me (and to many) it is a very substantial “baby step” in moving this community forward. Instead of yet another third party seeking to re-invent us from the outside and, at times, seemingly standing over us and wagging its finger insisting to us what will be good for this community, have us continue to build upon and add to that which is already here- improving Oyster Bay-East Norwich – from the inside.
In the particular case of Marino Field, it is one of, if not the very first accomplishment in some time that was proposed and completed “FOR” this community “BY” this community.
For that and for building upon the valued legacy of Ralph Marino- a defender of this community for many, many years, and one of the most decent and honorable men one had the great good fortune to meet- my thanks to the Oyster Bay-East Norwich Youth Athletic Association and to the Town, particularly Supervisor John Venditto, Commissioner of Parks James M. Byrne, Commissioner of Public Works Jack Libert, and all the many other Town personnel who diligently saw this ball field to reality. Job very, very well done.
