It seems passion was the motive behind a bit of Internet manipulation in relation to a website savefiremen'sfield.org that was seeking people concerned about the use of Firemen's Field as the site for the proposed Theodore Roosevelt Museum and Research Center. Les Schachter wanted people to have the whole story and attend the meetings about the museum to be held by the TRA - the first being on Jan. 10 at Christ Church. Caroline DuBois, spokesperson for the group Save Firemen's Field wants people to know about the challenges of building the museum on an environmentally sensitive site.

Ms. DuBois reported a glitch in regards to her website, Savefiremen'sfield.org. With one letter wrong, if you are unfamiliar with Oyster Bay and spell it Savefiremansfield.org you instead arrive at a website that promotes the TR Presidential Museum and denigrates people questioning the location. It states, among other things about the museum and TR, that: "Unfortunately, a small group of people have elected to disseminate rumors and incorrect information relating to this ongoing project, raising fears among some residents that the hamlet of Oyster Bay is about to be overrun by 'outsiders'."

In fact the small group of people, according to Ms. DuBois is growing. She has over 100 people who want to save Firemen's Field from development. They see it as "Common Ground," and not an environmentally welcoming site for a large building.

The "Firemans" website sports the new portrait of Theodore Roosevelt by Rossin and states "Usage copyright 2007 TRA" and "Used with permission".

The website includes a quote from TR's famous speech about "The man in the arena." The quote is: "It behooves every man to remember that the work of the critic is of altogether secondary importance, and that, in the end, progress is accomplished by the man who does things."

In reading the Rough Riders by Theodore Roosevelt, he was both a critic and a man who did things. He was very critical of the Army and the way they did things, and found ways to circumvent their rules and did things his way.

It's all in the way you see things.

Mr. Schachter said his website will disappear after the Jan. 10 meeting. We encouraged him to keep it and report on the meeting. The more we know the better all of us can actually decide about the issues. The proposed museum if built here, will be the largest building in Oyster Bay. It will be 12 times the size of the Oyster Bay post office. People are being directed to look at the Rallye Motors - BMW building on Brush Hollow Road, off Jericho Turnpike to see what a 109,000 sq. ft. building looks like. People can't believe that is the size.

Actually their parking garage next door is three stories high and the one proposed for the hamlet is two stories high. Big is big, but as you will see on the article on page one, the TRA is listening to residents and President Jim Bruns is still working on his plans, keeping the size but reducing the footprint.

Hopefully we will all come together. But, Oyster Bay - keep your passions high. It is what makes this community a great place to live, work and play! - DFK