The New Year's Day Polar Bears in Bayville started off the new year with a plunge into the cold waters of Long Island Sound at the beach at the end of Valley and Shorewood Road. Long Island Sound was 40 degrees in Bayville for their ninth annual event. Polar Bear Jim Serio took the measurement with his "high tech" instrument: a thermometer and fishing weight cast out from his fishing pole.

At 11:30 a few men and many children ran the two-mile fun run in the rain to the Bayville Bridge and back. The first of the Polar Bears to gather on the beach wondered how much interest there would be this rainy New Year's morning for the ninth-annual noon-sharp dip. By noon a large crowd had assembled. Polar Bear quipped, "This is one event when it doesn't matter what your age or IQ."

At noon sharp, 22 swimmers lined up, while the supportive crowd kept its umbrellas out. Jacques Beauchamp, event organizer, dedicated this year's swim to neighborhood teenager, Ariel Johnson, who is slowly recovering from a very serious recent auto accident and is at Mount Sinai in New York City.

With cheers for Ariel, the swimmers ran in, and ran out even faster. As always, a few diehards double-dipped and jumped in once more. Within 10 minutes, all were warm in blankets and jackets, and noticing the rain had stopped and the sun was coming out. The participants took it as a good sign for dedicating the swim to Ariel. As the sun came out, the beach bonfire was lit, and the barbecue started for bratwurst and chili, and the new year was welcomed in fine style!

Thanks to Water Quality Monitor Volunteer Carla Panetta for the pictures and the details of the Polar Bear Plunge!

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Our open water body water quality monitoring season is now over, but it is never too soon to think about next year! If you would like to become one of our water quality monitoring volunteers, are interested in other ways of assisting in our effort to preserve and protect the waters of the Oyster Bay/Cold Spring Harbor estuary, or want to report an activity that may be threatening the estuary/watershed please visit us online at www.friendsofthebay.org or give us a call at 516-922-6666. Friends of the Bay's mission is to preserve, protect and restore the ecological integrity and productivity of the Oyster Bay/Cold Spring Harbor estuary and the surrounding watershed.