On The Bay: February 22, 2013

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On The Bay: February 22, 2013

Written by Andrea Watson Friday, 22 February 2013 00:00

Back in 1938, a Mr. Otway Hebron Chalkley was on the cover of Time for its `July 4 edition (price: 15 cents). For many readers, that name has no meaning, but for skippers of the Manhasset Bay One Designs (MBOD), he is known as “Father of the Class.” He changed the name of this one design class from the Junior One Design to its present name and formed the MBO class at Manhasset Bay YC. Ever since then, the MBODs have been a vibrant and social fleet. Considering that these boats are wooden and take tons of upkeep, their long history is quite remarkable.

This past month, the group gathered at the home of Nancy and Lew Lane to celebrate the fun times and award annual trophies. But this being the MBODs, the best part of the evening, besides the tremendous food and libation, were the “ha ha” awarded at the end of the meeting.

George Graf, Jr. has been racing MBOD for over 50 years and at the fleet’s Annual Awards he received a Resolution for all his efforts to toward keeping these wooden boats alive and well and racing on Manhasset Bay. Left to right: Dick Moore, George Graf. To set the tone for the evening, Dick Moore led the group in the MBO National Anthem (to the tune of “Baby Face.”) Take for instance the opening stanza (remember these boats are wooden): “MBOs. We’ve got the greatest fleet of MBOs. ‘Cause it’s the only fleet of MBOs. Here we go! We’re ready for some boatin’, if we can keep ‘em floatin’ Racing time, that’s when we man the boats and sail hard down the bay. Oh, we all fight for first and then we quench our thirst, in our super MBOs. “ It continues, but you get the picture.

Award winners in the MBOD Fleet (left to right) John Silbersack, Jeff Rowland and Ted Toombs. The serious awards, for skill on the racecourse, the following teams were awarded trophies: The YRA (Yacht Racing Association of Long Island Sound) Series and the Saturday Series: 1. #9, Miss B Haven, Peter Bergen, Ralph Heinzerling and Claus Larsson, 2. #14, Dogged, John Silbersack, and 3. #11, Silver Foxes, Curt Champlin and Junius C. Davenport. Winners of the Sunday Series: 1. Miss B Haven, 2. Dogged, and 3. #5, Escapade, Ned Baker, Dick Moore, and Jeff Rowland. Top boats in the Handicap Series: 1. Dogged, 2. Silver Foxes, and 3. #25, Blackjack, Adrian Alley and George Graf.

There was one especially poignant part of the evening. Jeff Rowland, MBOD fleet captain, presented a Manhasset Bay One-Design Fleet Official Resolution to George N. Graf, Jr., which states in part: for outstanding leadership and participation in our activities over this 50 years as a fleet member; for consistently displaying the highest standards of good sportsmanship, competition, perseverance and personal conduct in fleet racing; for his leadership in expanding the fleet; for his unbeatable record as the longest full-time MBOD member, including his continuing commitment to the Fleet after moving away from the Manhasset Bay area; and for his solid, steady demeanor and great good nature. Resolved and approved, this 26th day of January 2013. George and his wife Phyllis have moved to Essex, CT and are members of the Essex Yacht Club but come back to MBYC almost weekly in the summer to race on their beloved MBOD, Blackjack.

News

Five J’s Jewelers Closing

Saturday, 18 May 2013 00:00

Joan Hutchinson’s Five J’s Jewelers will be closing its doors after 34 years in town. Currently at 155 Main Street (located in Mini Mall Shops), Five J’s has been located in different spots around Port such as the Soundview shopping center and four different Main Street locations. Five J’s has lost its lease, but will be here through the end of August. The store will be liquidating inventory of jewelry. Hutchinson’s newest venture will include a web-based business from her home, where she will continue to provide her customers with quality merchandise at wholesale prices. For more information, please email jsjewelers@aol.com or call 516-567-4142.

The Great Gatsby Director At Soundview

Friday, 17 May 2013 00:00

Baz Luhrmann, the internationally acclaimed writer, producer and director of the new 3-D adaptation of The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald, captivated the invitation-only audience at the Long Island premier of the film last Wednesday night at Soundview Cinemas.

“It’s touching for me to be here in Port Washington,” said Luhrmann, a native Australian. “I grew up in a small town where my father had a cinema for a short time. It’s like inviting people into your lounge room to sit in the dark and experience something together.” Luhrmann took notice of all the care that went into refurbishing the Soundview Theater, telling the guests that there really is so much buzz out there about the reopening.

Sports

“PYA Never Stops…It’s For The Kids”

Thursday, 16 May 2013 00:00

The fact that Port Washington Youth Activities (PYA) is celebrating its 50th year of working with area boys and girls is quite an accomplishment. Ron Henderson, its executive director for the past 20 years, also has a long history with PYA’s Lions Field that extends all the way back to 1958.

“I played in the first games ever held at the field back then when it was the Port Washington Little League,” said Henderson. “That was before the field was renovated.” The renovation, which began in 1999 and forced the PYA to relocate for two years from its Glen Lane site, now features four Little League fields and one major league field, all on pesticide-free, natural grass. During the fall, the fields are converted for lacrosse and football programs.