It was a lovely weekend in Oyster Bay. We attended the Deck the Holidays event at Coe Hall Mansion in Planting Fields Historic State Park. Everyone agreed the decorations were beautiful. It was fun seeing so many Oyster Bay people there including Jane Greenleaf, Judith and Gil Chapman, Lisa and Gil Ott, Ursula and Bill Niarakis, Roland Cotter-Kroboth and Michael Picollo and of course Planting Fields Foundation Director Henry Joyce. Just to name a few!
Everyone was saying how they were very happy with the way Mr. Joyce has opened up Coe Hall for everyone to enjoy. We had a lovely time snapping photos to share with you soon.
John Canning was just marvelous on Sunday afternoon for the tree lighting ceremony. He was standing at Townsend Park on the Derby Hall Bandstand with dozens of small children running around happily, waiting for Santa to arrive. He just started singing about how Christmas is the loveliest time of the year and all the children were quieted by his voice and were enthralled.
The Atlantic Steamer Fire Company delivered Santa and it was a wonderful time in Oyster Bay.
As Mr. Canning said, “We’ve started a tradition in Oyster Bay.” It includes his reading T’was the Night Before Christmas to all the children. He has a great sweetness that adds to the event. We are lucky to have him.
Beside the bandstand, the lights of the Menorah glowed.
We went on to pick up dinner at Canterbury Ales to bring home. As we left the restaurant we spotted past Oyster Bay-East Norwich board of education member Dolores Grieco having dinner with a friend. Our last sight as we headed for our car was of Catherine Drabin and her children Chris and Paulina looking into the 21th Century Cycles motorcycle shop of Billy Joel. He put in a long line of red Poinsettias in the window and the bikes were red already. We told Catherine that we watched Eloise at Christmastime on TV and she said they have the DVD and watch it every Christmas.
We said we would be visiting her shop Chrison & Bellina, soon, to pick out some great presents.
Life in Oyster Bay is good!
– DFK
