Georgia Cagney Knows Oyster Bay
Georgia Cagney called to identify the mystery picture in the Sept. 6 issue of the Enterprise Pilot. She said, “It’s the parking lot across the street from the Life Enrichment Center (LEC). It is behind the houses on East Main Street.” When Ms. Cagney, a member of the LEC of Oyster Bay, was told she was correct, she said, “I never get the pictures. I’m so happy.” We’re happy for her. We were concerned that the photo would be too hard to identify.
Billy Minicozzi called and said, “It’s the parking lot behind Nino’s.” On a sports note he said the Jets would be playing Buffalo on Sunday, Sept. 9.
Belle Santora called last week, Aug. 6, after we had gone to press saying, “Good morning, this is Ma Belle calling to identify the picture of the volleyball court at Roosevelt Park. And, a friend and neighbor, Janet Aliparti, also recognized the picture.”
Belle said of the Aug. 16 mystery picture, “I’m only guessing at the picture. I’m pretty sure I could get it if I get in my car and go around. Then I’d find it. But it looks like the parking lot behind and next to the senior center. The front of that (LEC) building faces south.”
Chatting about life in East Norwich, and cooking and stoves, Belle said, “We bought a little Coleman stove and whenever our lights went out my neighbors would come to heat hot water for coffee and soup, and I always had people sitting here and eating.
“In that hurricane in the ’50s, that is what kept us going.”
For many years you could count on the lights going out in East Norwich during a storm. Somehow over the years the trouble spots must have been corrected because — knock on wood — we’ve been pretty lucky recently.
Belle (now 101) had another great story about life in Oyster Bay.
“My husband, even before you needed a license for clamming, got up at 5 a.m. and would come home with a big bushel of clams. And we had them all weekend. We had clams Casino, and baked clams, and clams with pasta with white sauce and red sauce, and then clams with a chili sauce dip. The whole weekend we’d be cooking and eating clams.
“Now you have to pay $5 for a license. That was when the Jakobson Shipyard was there. I have so many memories still with me,” said Belle Santora.
Carmela Baldino called and said, “I do know where the mystery picture was taken, the parking lot behind Nino’s Pizza. Sometimes I go to the senior center and I park there. I was happy to see the picture. I love to see them.” For readers, we want you to know, Ms. Baldino has a beautiful laugh. It was delightful to speak to her.
We received some emails, too.
“It’s the parking lot behind Nino’s Pizza,” said Emma Guevara.
Tony Pilla started with a greeting in his email, “Hope all is well with you. I think the picture this week is a rear view of the buildings along South Street. The picture was taken from the public parking lot to the rear of these buildings.” It is a good guess but we emailed him that he was not quite correct. He answered, “Better to have tried and failed than to have not have tried at all.
“Just kidding. I enjoy the mystery picture feature every week. Keep up the good work,” encouraged Mr. Pilla.
“It’s the alleyway behind Nino’s Pizza! It connects South Street to White Street over by the Life Enrichment Center,” said Christopher Benny.
And, he is correct. And agreeing with Mr. Pilla, the motto of the New York State Lottery is, “You’ve got to be in it to win it.”
That is good life advice.
Keep guessing.
— DFK
