Project for Public Spaces to be Keynote Speaker at MSA Annual Meeting

The Oyster Bay Main Street Association is pleased to announce that Renee Espiau of the Project for Public Spaces will be the Keynote Speaker for their Annual Meeting on November 13, 2007 at 7pm. The meeting will be held in the Christ Church Parish Hall at 61 East Main Street and is free and open to the public.

The Project for Public Spaces (www.pps.org) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping people create and sustain public places that build communities. Their community-led placemaking process has resulted in improvement of places as diverse as Bryant Park, downtown Detroit, and creation of marketplaces throughout the US.

Renee Espiau is a Senior Associate with the Project for Public Spaces. Renee is an Urban Planner with a diverse background in transportation policy and planning, having worked for a state Department of Transportation, a transportation think tank, and the non-profit sector. She is an advocate for incorporating Smart Growth, context-sensitive, and multimodal strategies into transportation and community development projects.

Speaking of her work Renee says, “I strongly believe in building relationships with project stakeholders in order to create innovative solutions that benefit a wide constituency.” She added, “I look forward to making my first visit to Oyster Bay”.

Stephen Tilly Architects will also be present to provide their findings on preservation options associated with the historic ca. 1851 Octagon Hotel. This landmark building is located at the corner of Spring and West Main Street and is now being considered for redevelopment. The Gerry Charitable Foundation and the Society for the Preservation of Long Island Antiquities both provided technical assistance and financial support to help commission this report.

The Christ Church Parish Hall was selected as the venue to celebrate the recent successful completion of a renovation and preservation project that improved this historic building and the surrounding grounds.

As with most regular meetings of the Main Street Association, the meeting will begin with reports from the President, Executive Director, and each of MSA’s four committees.

The Main Street Association is led by President William Sheeline and Vice President Ellen Roche. Committee chairs include John Bonifacio, Organization Committee; Diane Meltzer, Promotion Committee; Ellen Roche, Design Committee; and Jack Bernstein, Economic Restructuring Committee.

The Main Street Association is based on the four-point approach for commercial district revitalization established by the Main Street Center of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. This approach has proven to be the most successful economic development initiative in small to medium sized communities throughout the US.

The Main Street Association was incorporated and received its 501(c)(3) tax exempt status in 2001. Anyone wishing to become a member may do so online by visiting www.oysterbaymainstreet.org or calling (516) 922-6982.

Holidays in Oyster Dinner Fundraiser to be held Nov. 3

Festive and sparkling. That's the vision for downtown Oyster Bay for residents and visitors throughout the holiday season.

The Light Up the Holidays Dinner Fundraiser will be held at Wild Honey on Monday, November 3 at 7pm. Guests will be treated to a delicious four-course meal. A silent auction and raffle will add excitement to the festivities. Favors will also be provided for guests from The Chocolate Lady - a chocolaterie that recently opened on Audrey Ave.

Proceeds will go towards purchasing an additional thirty snowflake lights to be hung on lamp posts lining Audrey Ave and poles leading into town. Remaining funds will go towards special holiday activities the first three Saturdays of December in Oyster Bay.

Options are available for those wishing to be sponsors or purchase tickets to the event. A gift of $1,000 or $2,000 will give five free tickets the dinner and an opportunity for a logo and name to be placed on the cover of all publications. A gift of $250 will give two free tickets to the dinner and display of the donors name in publications.

For those wishing to just attend the dinner and not interested in sponsorship options, tickets are still available for $100 apiece.

Holidays Committee chairperson Michele Browner says, "We're pleased with the number of reservations received to date and look forward to celebrating at this fundraiser with many more involved members of this community."

Reservations are still available and may be made online at www.oysterbaymainstreet.org or by calling (516) 922-6982.

School Superintendent's V-Blog about Upcoming Events

This October 8 "Superintendent's Message" V-Blog has important information about upcoming school and community events. Narrator is Dr. Phyllis Harrington, Superintendent of the Oyster Bay-East Norwich Central School District.

Chocolate Lady Opens in Downtown Oyster Bay

Oyster Bay, New York – The Chocolate Lady Chocolaterie and their tasty chocolate confections is the latest addition to downtown Oyster Bay at 49 Audrey Ave.

The store is the culmination of Lee Perrotta’s decades-long passion for chocolate. Trained as a chef in Europe and with experience as a fine artist, she combines these talents to create unique works of the white, milk, and dark varieties.

The chocolate lady developed a loyal following over many years teaching cooking classes at the Oyster Bay-East Norwich Public Library. Earlier this year she and her edible works were featured in a solo chocolate fine art show at the Walt Whitman Birthplace State Historic Site.

Opening of the Chocolate Lady store was a classic case of good timing. “Fortunately for Lee this was the right time and the right place,” said Michael Goldstein a close friend of Lee’s who was actively involved in preparing for the store opening on Saturday, October 4.

When asked what her store is all about, Lee said, “custom, hand-made, hand-dipped truffles, fudges, chocolate games, chocolate cards, chocolate, chocolate, chocolate.”

Stepping inside the door, one is struck by how accurate this description is. Every square inch is filled with sweet treats, beautiful artistic and hand-crafted objects, and various other chocolate ephemera.

“We are thrilled to have the Chocolate Lady joining us in downtown Oyster Bay,” said Isaac D. Kremer, executive director of the Oyster Bay Main Street Association. “The unique hand-made one-of-a-kind products they make are a perfect fit for our one-of-a-kind historic downtown.”

Perrotta plans to be open during the Oyster Festival on October 18 and 19, and welcome visitors to the downtown during the Theodore Roosevelt Sesquicentennial Parade the following week on Saturday, October 25 at 1pm.

An official Grand Opening is being planned for Saturday, November 8. Hours of operation for the Chocolate Lady are Mon. to Thur., 10am to 8pm, Fri. and Sat. 10a to 6pm, and Sunday 12 to 5pm. Those with questions may contact The Chocolate Lady at 516-922-2002 or visit http://www.chocolateladyboutique.com/.