The St. Dominic's St. Rocco feast was lots of fun as usual, and especially on Sunday night. Marie Knight was thanked for all the work she has done for the St. Rocco festival over the years and a local person won the car raffle this year!

Oyster Bay Town Supervisor John Venditto swirled around the raffle tickets in their container and Louis Pillari, Jr. pulled the ticket as Car Raffle Chairman Lou Pillari looked on.

The winner was Carl Limbacher of Sagamore Graphics.

Ms. Marie Knight, president of the Oyster Bay Civic Association was presented with a beautiful walnut and brass plaque that said, "In appreciation of your many years of devotion to the St. Rocco Feast. You are one of God's blessings to us and we are very grateful to you." Monsignor John Alesandro and Joe Barnao, chairman of the annual event, signed it.

She also received a gift from Daria and David Lamb. It was a beige cap with "Mayor of Oyster Bay" written on it. The note said, "Thanks for all your great efforts."

Ms. Knight said she, David Lamb, Bill Sheeline and Jerritt Gluck met on many Friday mornings at the Book Mark Café (that was owned by the Lambs) and talked about Main Street Association plans.

On Sunday night, as we left the festival, we kept meeting people who asked when the fireworks were going to start. They were scheduled for Wednesday night but there was a problem because of the wind and they were rescheduled. This year the fireworks were to take place at Roosevelt Beach because of the construction going on at Roosevelt Elementary School, their usual location.

When the first rockets went off the debris, because of the winds, fell back on the parked cars and the crowd of watchers. The people backed up a bit and they sent off another rocket and the debris again fell too close for comfort, so the fireworks were called off and rescheduled for Saturday. People were aware there was a change, they just weren't sure about the details. At the feast there was a big sign on the side of the trailer that said the fireworks were scheduled for Saturday.

Well, nothing that big happens without a few glitches. They make good stories to tell afterward.

- DFK

As you all know, there seems to be discussion in and around East Norwich as to whether the hamlet of East Norwich should be changed into the Incorporated Village of East Norwich.

Rumors abound on both sides of the issue.

There are other areas on Long Island also considering this issue. Atlantic Beach just recently became an incorporated village and was granted zoning powers.

Yaphank, Hampton Dunes, Melville, Oyster Bay, Williston Park are just a few areas that are talking about it as well. Locust Valley recently joined the never ending group of areas looking at the issue.

Because the issue is so big, The New York Times has picked up on it and has been around doing interviews for the last month or two.

Matt Meng, president of the East Norwich Civic Association was interviewed, as was I. Town Supervisor John Venditto was also interviewed. We have now been told that a full length story will appear in the Sunday New York Times, Long Island section, on July 20, in a story written by native Long Islander Donna Nehaus. I am looking forward to reading the entire article, and the comments made by all those interviewed.

May I encourage you to pick up a copy of The Times on Sunday, July 20, read it and pass the word along so as many East Norwich residents as can, will also read it and become familiar with the issues.

The Civic Association together with the Beautification Committee will sponsor a community wide forum, probably after Labor Day, to thrash out the issue, hear comments and have local experts give opinions and statistics.

I have a little bit of advance knowledge of the nature and content of the story, it's a dynamite story, don't miss it!

Jack Scheich, president

Committee for the Beautification of East Norwich, Inc.