Editorial: Good Bye Irene, Good Bye...

We drove down to Theodore Roosevelt Memorial Park on Saturday, Aug. 27 to see how the new sports complex was doing. At the Oyster Festival kickoff, Len Rothberg, event coordinator said, “We have a new [Oyster Festival] layout, which will make the flow in the Theodore Roosevelt Park easier. We have a new food court area.”

During the fall there was some concern on how the town’s plans for new multi-sports field was going to impact the Oyster Festival, but as things developed there was optimism and finally joy in the voices of the presenters. Things were going to work as you can see the way Len Rothberg expressed it.

Mystery Picture: August 30, 2011

Mystery Picture Remains a Mystery

Billy Minicozzi guessed that the Aug. 25 mystery picture in the Enterprise Pilot was, “Roosevelt Park during a snow storm.” That was not the answer but we were surprised there were no other takers because we were afraid the picture was too easy. Although we should mention that our phone in Mineola was down on Monday, as we went to press so there may have been some correct answers.

Editorial: The Bumpy Road of Politics

If you have read the story about Terrance Kelly and his petition saga, you as well as we now have a grasp of how important our signature is.

When someone shows up at your door to have you sign a petition it is actually a legal document and if you don’t write your signature in its accustomed way – it can be dismissed.

Who knew?

Now Terrance Kelly knows as do our readers!

Actually over our years of covering the town, we have seen a petition signed with names that appeared to us to have been gotten at a political party meeting – with people from areas outside the petitioning site on the list.

Mystery Picture: August 23, 2011

Gary DePasquale Knows Oyster Bay

The very first call we received on the Aug. 18 mystery picture wasn’t correct, but itself was a great description of another of Oyster Bay’s alley. Nancy Hussey said the picture was, “The alley to the right of the Oyster Bay Post Office, looking down the alley with what used to be the tailor shop on the right.”

Billy Minicozzi hit it just about right asking, “Could it be across from Oyster Bay Beverage?” He was a little north of the location but in the ballpark – on the correct street. On a sports note Mr. Minicozzi said, while the Mets aren’t doing too well now, if they don’t recover, he will root for the Yankees.

Mystery Picture: August 16, 2011

Robert Livolsi Knows Oyster Bay

Robert Livolsi, 9, of Oyster Bay called to identify the Aug. 11 mystery picture in the Enterprise Pilot. He said, “I think I know what the mystery picture is. It’s Oyster Bay and I think it is Roosevelt Beach.” His grandmother is the famous Lil Livolsi.

Shelby Coates, a local resident said, “The photo was taken northwards from the west end of the Roosevelt Park Beach, and the southwest tip of Centre Island is in the prominent foreground and Bayville appears dimly in the distance. It does not appear to be a summertime photo.”

Editorial: A Fresh Face for Town Hall?

It was refreshing to talk to Terry Kelly of East Norwich, who is running for a seat on the Town of Oyster Bay Board. An Independent, Mr. Kelly is new to politics. He sort of qualified himself when he appeared at town hall to protest the town taxes  – and their increase this year in spite of the fact that other municipalities were fighting against them.

Now, with the information that the town has lost its AAA bond rating from Standard & Poor’s Ratings Service to AA on the town’s General Obligation Bonds, there seems to have been a reason for the increase.

Mystery Picture: August 9, 2011

Tony Pilla Knows Oyster Bay

Tony Pilla said in an email, “I think this week’s Aug. 2 picture in the Enterprise Pilot was taken along Shore Road between Oyster Bay and Bayville and looking across the bay towards Centre Island.” He added, “Regards to all from Tony Pilla of Anniston, AL.”

Billy Minicozzi said, “It’s a metal guardrail along Shore Road, near the traffic light.” On a sports note he said, “Tiger Woods is back golfing; and I can’t wait until September, when football starts again.”  On a personal note he said, “I went to Cape Cod and went whale watching on the harbor and saw a lot of whales.”

Editorial: Transparency Is the Key to Preservation

On the front page of this Aug. 11 issue of the Enterprise Pilot you will see an article about an unusual fund-raiser organized by the Oyster Bay Preservation Roundtable for getting the Trousdell house ready for sale. You will see, in the article, photographs we and Gregory Druhak took of the house during an estate sale directed by John Dupres of Oyster Bay.

The house has been here since 1844, and is an example of the summer cottage era of Oyster Bay; it is the gateway to the village with ties to the Roosevelts, the Irvins, the Garvers, the Trousdells, and the McCoons, so let’s save it!

The Town Needs to Become a CLG!

At the recent East Norwich Civic Association meeting the topic of a Certified Local Government status came up once again. It is a New York State designation that opens the door to state preservation funding.

It is a subject this newspaper has long campaigned for.

Mystery Picture: August 2, 2011

Trudy Hunter Lambertson Knows Oyster Bay

Trudy Hunter Lambertson called to identify the mystery picture in the July 28 issue of the Enterprise Pilot. She said, “It’s the porch at Planting Fields. I grew up at Planting Fields. My parents worked there. My mother lived in the cottage at the end of the Hay Barn. I lived there until I was 21,” she said. She was an estate child! Ms. Lambertson now lives in Locust Valley. She said she has returned to Planting Fields once. But, she added, “A friend just talked me into working at their book store. I start next week.” Ms. Lambertson said she is a retired Oyster Bay teacher from the Vernon School. “I know the Oyster Bay community better than Locust Valley where I have lived for 50 years,” she added.