The Village of Oyster Bay Cove passed a resolution on Dec. 15 to call for a public hearing to adopt a local law that would change the terms of office for the mayor and trustees from two to four years. The public is invited to attend the hearing scheduled for Tuesday, Jan. 19, at the East Woods School, starting at 7:30 p.m.

At that time the board will decide to adopt or not adopt the change of the term of office. The vote will not be official for 30 days. During that time, by law, the public can request a referendum if about 20 percent of those who voted in that last election sign a petition asking for a public vote.

Most local small villages have two year terms. Only Muttontown has a four year term of office. They changed sometime in the late '60s or early '70s. The village has had a two year term since its incorporation in the 1930s.

As we went to press the Oyster Bay Enterprise-Pilot could not reach Mayor Michael Peragine or Village Attorney Lawrence Cregan for comment. Oyster Bay Cove resident Rosemary Bourne stated in a letter to the editor that the mayor's reasons for the longer term included to save costs.

Ralph Fumante, who ran in the last election, said, "I am not necessarily against this in principle, but I think it should be up to the general electors to make the decision on how long their elected officials should be in office rather than the elected officials deciding on how long they should be in office. Put this on the ballot in June and let the residents vote on it.

"It's not necessarily bad or good. I just haven't heard all the pros and cons. I like to hear the whole story," he said.

The resolution was proposed by Village Trustee Tom Fitzsimmons and seconded by Trustee Richard Appell. Board member Peter Schiff voted in favor of it. George O'Neill was the only person opposed to the change.

If the board were to operate under the current law, Mayor Michael Peragine and two trustees: George O'Neill and Peter Schiff, would be up for re-election in June.

The Town of Oyster Bay is applying for a New York State grant for $500,000 for renovating building "J", and for the construction of a Bay Constable building, both on the new Western Waterfront. Building "J" is located south of West End Avenue. It will house the wood boat restoration program. The Bay Constable building will house the Atlantic Steamer Fire Company water rescue team. The grant is through the NYS Community Enhancement Facilities Assistance Program. It is a program created by the NYS Legislature. - DFK

Life will be a little bit easier for seniors living in Oyster Bay. The Town of Oyster Bay has added a second free shopping bus for seniors (every other Thursday,) to the existing service sponsored by the Doubleday Babcock Senior Center.

"Since becoming town supervisor, I have been working to develop a plan designed to provide free shopping transportation to town seniors, and I am very pleased to announce that the plan is about to become a reality," Town Supervisor John Venditto said. "Beginning in January, town seniors can go to one of the designated locations on the appointed dates, board a bus, and enjoy a stress-free trip to a grocery store or mall."

Locally, that transfers to being picked up near the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Senior Housing at 125 West Main St., Oyster Bay. The town bus picks up shoppers at 9 a.m. at their stop on Lexington Avenue and West Main Street and goes from there to the Hicksville Senior Housing (355 Newbridge Rd.) stop in front of the clubhouse and then drops seniors off at King Kullen or the Broadway Mall. Those who wish to return to Oyster Bay immediately, can take the 11 a.m. bus back. If not they can pick up the bus at 12:15 in front of King Kullen or noon at the entrance to the Broadway Mall Cinema.

The town shoppers bus will operate on Thursdays: Jan. 14; Jan. 28; Feb. 11 and Feb. 25.

"As a lifelong resident of the town, one of my goals has been to encourage our senior citizens to remain here, among family and friends, in the communities they worked so hard to develop," the supervisor added. "By providing convenient and free shopping transportation, we are easing what can be a heavy burden, especially during the treacherous winter months."

The shopping schedule provides for bus transportation from town senior housing as well as from town community centers. All Town of Oyster Bay senior citizens are eligible to take advantage of this method of grocery shopping or visiting a mall by simply being at the designated location at the appointed hour. The yellow school buses, operated by the Jaco Company, are comfortable and easy to locate.

"I am very pleased to be able to provide Oyster Bay town seniors with free shopping bus service," Supervisor John Venditto said. "Because of their hard work and diligence...because they brought their dreams for the future to fruition...we all enjoy a suburban lifestyle virtually unparalleled. I thank our town seniors and hope this new service makes a positive difference in their lives."

Supervisor Venditto added that senior shopping bus service schedules will be available at all senior housing and community centers. A copy of the schedule can also be obtained by contacting the Department of Community and Youth Services at 797-7900.

The new Thursday bus will add to the current Wednesday and Saturday buses available locally. The Doubleday Babcock Senior Center has its own Shoppers Bus that they - the Nassau County Dept. of Senior Citizen Affairs; the NYS Office for Aging; the US Administration on Aging and Edwards Super Food Store - pay for. The bus goes in three loops, all day, Wednesdays, starting at 8:45 a.m. at Norwich Gate circling to Edwards in Pine Hollow; five stops in Oyster Bay; three stops in Bayville; a stop at Forest Avenue and Birch Hill Road in Locust Valley and ending at the Glen Cove Police Station and back, ending at 4 p.m. in Glen Cove.

On Saturday, the bus starts at 8:30 a.m. on Bayville and Perry Avenues, Bayville; has six stops in Bayville; for stops in Oyster Bay and then Edwards store; and a stop at Norwich Gates, the East Norwich Fire House and on to Nathan's outside the Broadway Mall in four loops that end at 3:30 at Nathan's.

On Friday, the bus goes from the Syosset Senior Housing to Edwards, leaving at 9:30 a.m. and leaving from Edwards at 11:30 a.m. back to the senior housing.

The DBSC also has its own bus, which only picks up in their catchment area: Oyster Bay, East Norwich, Bayville, Locust Valley, Oyster Bay Cove and part of Brookville. It is used just to bring members to the center and back home.

For more information on the DBSC bus, please call 922-1770.

If you have beautiful things, why not show them off. That could well be the mission statement of the new exhibit at Raynham Hall Museum.

The way Ani Rivera, collections manager of Raynham Hall Museum put it was, "We have over 7,000 objects in the collection and it's a pity not to show more of them. I gave the past director, Vicki Schirado a proposal to use that space (between the colonial rooms on the second floor) to use for the children - to educate and to enjoy. I did a proposal and the board liked it and we went ahead and did it. "

"Legislator John Canning came up (to see the exhibit) and was thrilled to see that there is so much in the collection," he said.

"For the new exhibit we used things related to the Revolution and some new acquisitions and donations. It's nice to see that we are an active museum that still collects!"

Some of the new items in the collection include a new rare American silver basket and a post card collection. "There are 98 beautiful post cards all of Oyster Bay and the north shore, all in incredible condition. They were well cared for."

The cards are the gift of Mrs. Joan Baldwin. One is a view of the original Oyster Bay High School showing the widow's walk where volunteers watched for ships during World War II. It shows the St. Dominic Chapel next door.

"There is also a hand cut paper doll. Just think of the things people had patience for," he said. "Also there is a new Townsend gravy boat. It was a purchase from someone in Connecticut."

Mr. Rivera said he is still trying to contact the man so he can do more research on the history of the piece.

For the new exhibit, he had Plexiglas boxes and pedestals made, that will allow them to rotate items for new shows. They will also be able to highlight new acquisitions. "It's nice to let people know the museum is active," said Mr. Rivera.

Some items the collection has had for a long time are now on view. The dolls are an example of some of those wonderful things.

Designed and constructed by Ellis Simpson, the five dolls now on display are made of molded paper, and represent individuals who played an important part in Raynham Hall's Revolutionary history. They are: Major John André a British spy who visited and resided in Raynham Hall on several occasions; Lt. Col. John Simcoe, head of the Queens Rangers, a Loyalist regiment, quartered in Raynham Hall. He was enamored with Sally Townsend; Col. Benjamin Tallmadge, head of General Washington's intelligence service; Sally Townsend, one of Samuel Townsend's three daughters, who passed on information about the Queens Rangers to her brother Robert; Robert Townsend Culper Jr. who spied for Col. Tallmadge and Gen. George Washington.

The five figures are in the display box on the left, as you walk into the exhibit area.

Above it hangs a rifle, all hand made, is appreciated by Mr. Rivera. "The feel and the way they had everything done to perfection --- they don't make them like that anymore," he said. The gun is a flintlock musket, 1810, made by J.W. Cooper, Hebron, Conn. It has a ramrod and bayonet and is made of walnut and steel.

In the room there is also an exhibit of swords including a homemade bayonet. "The bayonet shows how they were figuring how to defend the nation. They had to make it on their own. In this case it meant making a homemade bayonet: care was evidently put into the welding. It was made to work," he said.

What amazed Mr. Rivera was the weight of "The 12 pound cannonball that was found on Merrick Road, three feet under. It's amazing. They had to carry these, by the dozens into the field. It feels heavier than it looks," he said. "It feels as if it weighs 40 pounds."

Mr. Rivera is happy with the way the exhibit enriches the collection. "It will give a lot of the children a better idea of the inhabitants of the house."

That includes the tiny copper baby bath. It too was in storage. "It is an authentic tub. Look at the way its rounded on the edges. They put a towel inside, to keep the baby from touching the metal," he said.

Another piece from the collection is a set of George Washington's teeth. The exhibit label says: the American Journal of Dental Science for 1843 states that George Washington lost most of his natural teeth at an early age. He relied on the art and skill of dentist John Greenwood who made his teeth from ivory of the tusks of the elephant. It was the only material employed at the time for the purpose.

The exhibit is worth visiting the museum, located at 20 West Main Street, Oyster Bay. The museum is open from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday. There is a fee of $3 for adults and $2 for seniors and students. For more information call 922-6808.