NYS Senator Carl Marcellino had good news about the Western Waterfront. It is the property that stretches along both sides of West End Avenue toward Beekman Beach; encompasses the Jakobson Shipyard property and the Capone property and is owned jointly by the Town of Oyster Bay and New York State.

"Things are moving along," he said. "The town and the state have met and have drafted a Memorandum of Understanding on who's going to be in charge of what.

"There has to be an agreement on who is responsible for what - like electricity and insurance.

"We have had one meeting and a draft is going out from the state to the town for their approval. Then they will be able to put out an RFP for plans in conjunction, for the work to begin. Sooner or later signage and fencing will go up.

"I recently went by and noted one of the big buildings had its doors open. It is dangerous to leave it unprotected," he said.

Sadly, the buildings at Beekman Beach were not vandalized until after the plans for the Western Waterfront were announced. Then vandals broke windows and graffitied the buildings nearest the entrance on West End Avenue, including building "J."

Senator Marcellino was also concerned about the Christeen oyster sloop. "We have to watch that

the Christeen is taken care of," he said.

The Town of Oyster Bay has applied for a grant to pay for the renovation of building "J" where the Christeen will be housed. The building has to be renovated before the Christeen is moved.