Save the date: Saturday, June 7, for Bay Day 2003. The 3rd anniversary of this fun-filled event will take place in Oyster Bay at Beekman Beach and at the facilities of The WaterFront Center.

This year, Bay Day will be bigger and better than ever. Many of your favorite events will take place as in the past. The only change is that this year Bay Day will be "produced" by The WaterFront Center (WFC). Friends of the Bay (FOB) started the tradition in 2001, as an advocacy group for waterfront activities and marine education. With the WaterFront Center now in place, it is the perfect organization to manage Bay Day with a seamless transfer of management. The WaterFront Center, will now be handling all of the planning, organizing, and financing of the events and activities of Bay Day.

WFC president, Fritz Coudert, and FOB president, Jack Williams, both feel strongly that this popular tradition should continue. With its emphasis on family fun and educational activities on and by the water, Bay Day fits perfectly into WFC's mission of marine education and recreation," said FOB president Jack Williams. "By contrast, FOB concentrates on preserving water quality. It was a natural to keep Bay Day going as yet another WaterFront Center function."

Bay Day will include the 16th Annual Blessing of the Fleet hosted by the Oyster Bay Power Squadron, the very popular "Anything That Floats" race, sails on the Christeen, sailing lessons from the Oyster Bay Sailing School, kayaking from Bridge Marina, live music and demonstration of the North Oyster Bay Oystermen's Association aquaculture operation.

Added this year, according to WFC executive director Rob Crafa, will be a marine and fishing equipment flea market; fishing lessons offered by the New York State DEC's "I Fish New York" program; and the US Coast Guard Boating Safety Expo, featuring tours of Coast Guard Vessels, Courtesy Marine Safety Examinations for boaters, and, possibly, a helicopter rescue demonstration. Bay Day participants also will be able to make dockside tours of the visiting tall ship, Mystic Whaler, and go out on her for a sail.

Finally, the "Row Around the Bay" event will be part of Bay Day 2003. It will be the 6th running of the event and will give participants a chance to row or paddle around for the benefit of either Friends of the Bay or The Waterfront Center. "We'll be there on Bay Day," said Louise Harrison, FOB executive director. "How could we miss it? Bay Day is so much fun. This year, we hope to see our friends and loyal volunteers out on the water, supporting water quality and watershed protection by rowing for FOB. The rowing and paddling event is a great way to enjoy the spring weather and

raise funds for a good cause. Fun-loving people who care about the environment are our best supporters," she said.

Fritz Coudert, president of The WaterFront Center said, "I am very pleased and proud that our center will have the privilege and responsibility of managing Bay Day, its events and its activities. I can promise you that Bay Day will be bigger and better than ever before and that we are dedicated to assuring that Bay Day will continue to be an important annual tradition for the Town of Oyster Bay."

To be a part of this exciting community tradition as a volunteer or as a participant in one of the many activities, contact The Waterfront Center at 516-624-7900 or visit their website: www.thewaterfrontcenter.org.

The transfer of executing and managing a great enterprise like Bay Day is not new for FOB. After working hard and fruitfully for many years to protect the western waterfront area from over development FOB succeeded in convincing the community, the Town of Oyster Bay and the State of New York that the Jakobson Shipyard property should be purchased for the benefit of future generations for marine education and recreation purposes. Similarly, FOB identified the value of bringing the oyster sloop Christeen back to Oyster Bay for restoration, designation as a National Historic Landmark and use as a floating classroom.

In both cases, FOB could see that realizing these visions involved substantial tasks, well outside the scope of its own mission. FOB decided that they would be best carried out by other organizations with missions and priorities more directly aligned with the outcomes.

With the support of FOB, the rebirth and the new landmark status of the Christeen were effected by the Christeen Oyster Sloop Preservation Corporation. The conversion of the Jakobson site to a community marine education and recreation center has, with the strong support of New York State and the Town of Oyster Bay, been commenced by The Waterfront Center.

Many of the volunteers who helped bring marine education and the Christeen to Oyster Bay presently are assisting The WaterFront Center. All volunteers who helped make Bay Day a success in previous years are welcomed again to pitch in to make Bay Day 2003 the best ever.