It was time to celebrate. Bernadette Castro, NYS Commissioner of Parks, Recreation and Historic Places really operated in the best interests of the three aspects of her job. She appeared in Oyster Bay in the carpenter's shop at Jakobson Shipyard to give a check for $50,000 to the Christeen oyster sloop and to read a proclamation declaring May 16 to 22 as Boating Safety Week. May 9 through May 16 was Historic Preservation Week.

She presented the check for the Christeen to Clint Smith for $50,000 to the Christeen Oyster Sloop Preservation Corporation. The Christeen is a wooden, gaff-rigged sloop used in oyster dredging. She is being restored to be used in Oyster Bay, her native waters, as the operational centerpiece of a marine education center to be developed at the former Jakobson Shipyard.

Tom Kuehhas, director of the Oyster Bay Historical Society said, "It was nice to see the Commissioner of Parks really taking an active interest in Oyster Bay. There were officials from many governmental agencies, the state, the town and the county. It was nice to see them coming together to help Oyster Bay."

The plan for the day, was to have a demonstration on a Jet Ski. It was there, but the water was too rough. Ms. Castro herself used it as an example: "The first rule of boat safety is not to take the boat out when the water is rough!"

There were coastal warnings for flooding; high tides and small craft warnings in effect!

Representing the Coast Guard was Captain Mitchell. The US Coast Guard is a major supporter of state boating safety efforts throughout the country. The Coast Guard distributes monies collected through boating gasoline taxes to run educational programs for boating safety.

This year's theme for boating safety week is "Wear Your Life Jacket. Boat Smart from the Start."

Of the 37 people who died in boating fatalities last year, 26 were from drowning and of-those 26, only a single person was wearing a life jacket when they entered the water.

The accident rate on Personal Water Craft (PWCs or jet skis) 70 percent of accidents are caused by people - not the owners of the PWC. For regulation boats the rate was reversed - 30 percent of accidents caused by people - not the owners - of the boats. There is a need for education was the comment.

Included in the informational material at the event was a folder on Riding Rules for Personal Watercraft aimed at the younger rider. "Welcome Aboard, Captain!

"A personal watercraft is a boat, and you're the captain. You are legally in command of a powerboat, and you're bound by the boating rules of the road as well as the laws and traditions of safe boating."

Commissioner Castro said, "The ever-growing number of accidents involving personal watercraft, such as "Jet Skis" and "Sea Doos," remains a concern that we must continue to address. While they comprise less than 10 percent of all registered vessels, they account for nearly 30 percent of all vessels involved in boating accidents during 1997. In 1996 Governor Pataki signed legislation putting new requirements on personal watercraft operation," she said.

Her office, through the Bureau of Marine & Recreational Vehicles has developed a personal watercraft educational supplement to be taught to youthful operators in their "Make Sure Make Shore" boating safety program.

"In the coming year we will also examine the possibility of mandating education classes for all riders of these craft."

She said, "As more boaters take to the water in newer and faster powerboats and personal watercraft, the challenges facing each of us continue to grow."

Besides presenting a check for $50,000 to the Christeen Oyster Sloop Preservation Corporation, Ms. Castro gave a plaque to Oyster Bay Town Supervisor John Venditto. He said the town is now able to do what Theodore Roosevelt wanted as they acquired the shipyard to create the western waterfront of Oyster Bay. The Coast Guard representative Captain Peter Mitchell, in charge of the Long Island Sound, was presented with a proclamation from the governor.

Then the feasting began. "I never had such sweet and succulent oysters," said Pat Reiss, who was representing NYS Senator Carl Marcellino at the event.