Members of the Oyster Bay Chamber of Commerce gathered at Dodds and Eder on Monday, May 8 to celebrate Spring Splendor. Local restaurants, including Canterbury Ales, Serata, Periwinkles, Sweet Tomato, Coach Grill and Tavern, and Jack Halyard’s provided food for the attendees and Testa Wines and Superstar Beverages provided beverages. Chamber of Commerce events are great places to learn about upcoming events, and new initiatives which are being undertaken to support the community. Members of the Chamber are enthusiastic boosters of Oyster Bay and are diligent in their efforts to let everyone know what a great place Oyster Bay is, and that what you need is “right under your nose.”
Dottie Simons, the President of the Chamber of Commerce, mentioned just a few of the programs the Chamber is working on. The Chamber is creating a new Hamlet Advantage card for customers of commercial member businesses and non-profits located in Oyster Bay or East Norwich. The card will promote offers from commercial member businesses and non-profits. There will be several ways of promoting the Hamlet Advantage Card. A credit card size piece will be produced with names of Premier Card Participants listed on the back promoting sponsoring business. A letter size mailing with the card will be sent to all Oyster Bay/East Norwich residents and businesses. The card will also be available to participating members for distribution on a limited basis. Thanks to the sponsorship of Chamber members, it will be free to the consumer. The Chamber website (visitOysterBay.com) will have a special page for Hamlet Advantage participants.
New street signs are being installed in Oyster Bay. The Oyster Bay Main Street Associated received a grant to install them in the historic area of the downtown. The signs have a nautical look in acknowledgement of the deep ties Oyster Bay has to its marine heritage. New directional signage, which will eliminate some of the signage clutter, will also be installed shortly. Interpretive signs will be added to historic buildings in June or July. A further beautification project will take place on West Main Street, Main Street and lower Audrey Avenue when new lampposts and hanging baskets are installed this month. Taken together, these projects will improve the look of the Hamlet, and make it an even more attractive place to visit.
Walter Imperatore spoke about the many children’s programs which are available to the Oyster Bay Community. The Chamber is organizing member places that offer children camps, activities and events in Oyster Bay-East Norwich in a cooperating promotion campaign. The tentative list includes The Madd Potter, What’s Cooking, Not Just Art, The WaterFront Center, the Theodore Roosevelt Audubon Sanctuary, the Historical Society, Railroad Museum, Raynham Hall, the Knitted Purl, Gone Dancing, the Chocolate Lady, Fit Fusion Interactive, Kicks Karate, Library and local eateries. The Chamber is also exploring “Parents Night Out” opportunities where these venues will join with a local restaurant, spa, etc. to provide a fun evening out in the local community. It is still in the planning stages, not all participants are confirmed, but stay tuned for more information!
There is a full schedule of events coming up in Oyster Bay. The Town of Oyster Bay, Friends of the Bay, and the North Oyster Bay Baymen’s Association will again be conducting the harbor clean up on April 27. This very popular event engages the community in removing debris which has accumulated over the winter. This year because of Superstorm Sandy, there is more debris than ever, so, all help will be appreciated. Cleanups will also take place at Stehli Beach and Tappen Beach. In the hamlet of Oyster Bay, meet at the gazebo in Theodore Roosevelt Park, near the boat launch ramps, at 8:00 am. For more information, call 516-677-6943.
Save May 9 for the “Taste of the Town”. Show support for local businesses, who contribute so much to the community. The Oyster Bay High School PTSA has refashioned its lavish annual event, A Taste of the Gold Coast, and brought it to a new venue, downtown Oyster Bay – for A Taste of the Town – May 9th from 7-11pm (rain date – May 16th). There will be indoor and outdoor venues, live music and other fun activities. The event will begin at Oakcliff Sailing Center, and be a stroll through Oyster Bay where restaurants and other merchants (including our new local micro-brewery) will offer food, wine, beer tastings, raffles and many other treats. For more information email OBENPTSA@gmail.com.
Senator Marcellino’s Annual Health Fair will be held again on May 10. There will be over 100 exhibitors,. A bicycle rodeo, sponsored by Nobman’s, will be a new event this year.
Cruise Night will resume on May 21. This popular Tuesday night event draws people from all over Long Island to visit the downtown, and not only look at classic cars, but also to enjoy live music, our many restaurants, and the beautiful waterfront area.
Looking forward to the coming months, Bay Day will again involve the downtown Oyster Bay community. A Sunday Brunch Art Walk is in the planning stages. Local galleries will be open, and artists will be on the street to encourage people to come to Oyster Bay, have brunch, enjoy the art, and visit our historic downtown.
Dawn Riley of Oakcliff Sailing Center will have a new edition of her book Taking the Helm coming out shortly. This was written about her experiences in the Whitbread (now the Volvo Ocean Race). Dawn was asked to take over as captain of the US Women’s Challenge after the first leg of the race had been completed, with only four day’s notice. She went on to complete a 32,000-mile circumnavigation of the globe, battling ice, enormous seas, and psychological stress. Dawn is a legend in the sailing world, and the Chamber is fortunate to have her energy in making Oyster Bay an exciting, vibrant community.
For more information about chamber initiatives, and to join their mailing list, go to the chamber website at visitoysterbay.com.
