Think Long Island Store Opens in Oyster Bay, Oct 7

September 26, 2010, Oyster Bay, NY – Two local Long Islanders will be launching Think Long Island First, a company dedicated to promoting goods made on Long Island, October 7 at the Grand Opening of its first storefront. Born from a deeply-felt desire to support local artisans, Think Long Island First will carry various products such as wood-turned objects, pottery, photography, stationary, metal sculpture, cosmetics, jewelry, knits, honey, jam and jellies – all crafted within the area. The store will be located inside Buckingham Variety Store at 36 Audrey Avenue in historic Oyster Bay.

The launch also follows part of a larger national trend to support local economies for reasons of local sustainability, transparency and greater social responsibility. The long-term goal of the company is to become a catalyst in the development of cottage industries on Long Island.

“We are thrilled to open our doors to the public next week. Think Long Island First will give residents and visitors to the area a great opportunity to enjoy and support the talented artists and craftsmen here on Long Island who just happen to be their neighbors,” said Ewa Rumprecht, who along with her partner Jolanta Zamecka, will both be at the event and available for interviews.

Artist wood turner Harry Wicks from Cutchogue, NY, will be at the Grand Opening of the store to represent the many artists whose wares will be sold there. He executes decorative and utilitarian wood objects - bowls, plates, vases, etc., mostly from Long Island wood.

The company founders started Think Long Island First with clear goals in mind:

• Address green, environmental concerns
  Transportation of goods takes an enormous toll on the environment. Think Long Island First removes the long distance delivery of goods from the product life cycle. Ewa and Jolanta believe that Long Islanders should not only enjoy fresh fruit and vegetables grown on the fertile soil of the East End, but should also be able to dress in clothes made by their neighbors or decorate their homes with wares made within a short driving distance.
  
• Enable guilt-free shopping
  Considering that slave and child labor still exist in many parts of the world, there is a need for a greater transparency in the production of goods. This can only be assured by maintaining close contacts with the manufacturers in one's own backyard. Think Long Island First removes the barrier of anonymity and non-accountability and presents makers to the consumers together with their products by publishing information about the makers on its website, by holding “Meet the Maker” events at the store and by organizing tours of workshops.
  
• Promote sustainable Long Island
  Goods made locally and sold locally contribute to the economy of Long Island. Artists and craftsmen who are able to support themselves within their community can continue to develop their skills and create a wider range of products. Purchasing local goods
  promotes the sustainability of arts and crafts on Long Island.

Ewa Rumprecht, a musicologist by education, has years of experience as a programmer and an IT and localization manager in technology industry. Her latest, very rewarding involvement was with Smile Train, the charity helping children in poor countries obtain free cleft lip and palate surgery. She lives in Oyster Bay with three cats.

Jolanta Zamecka is a trained psychologist. Her career has followed many paths – psychology, stock brokerage, museum consulting, preservation advocacy and retail. She currently serves on the boards of Chamber Players International and the Holocaust Memorial and Tolerance Center of Nassau County. She also manages her husband Edward's busy medical practice, Z Medical Care. Jolanta is a long-time Oyster Bay resident.

For more information, please visit http://www.thinklongislandfirst.com/ .

ABOUT THINK LONG ISLAND FIRST
Think Long Island First is dedicated to promoting goods made on Long Island by local artists and craftsmen. By selling things made locally, Think Long Island First lowers the environmental footprint by removing the long distance delivery of products. The company also lifts the barrier of anonymity and non-accountability by introducing to the general public not only the local products but also their makers.

Media Contact:
Ewa Rumprecht, President
Think Long Island First
516.584.3155
ewa@thinklongislandfirst.com

Sagamore Hill Days Family Festival, Saturday, October 23

On Saturday, October 23rd Sagamore Hill National Historic Site will host a traditional Fall
Family Festival from 11am to 5pm at the site. The festival will celebrate
Sagamore Hill’s agricultural history as well as Theodore Roosevelt’s 152nd
birthday! Activities will include entertainment for children, old
fashioned games and crafts, demonstrations and exhibits, music, pony rides,
farm animal petting area, food vendors and more.

The day’s events will include Traditional American Band Music from Theodore
Roosevelt’s era performed by the Sagamore Hill Band.

Demonstrations will include a blacksmith, a bee-keeper and local partners
with a variety of conservation themed exhibits. The site will host pony
rides, and a farm animal petting area will be set up featuring the farm
animals housed on the site while the Roosevelt family lived here. In
addition, there will be sheep shearing demonstrations. James Foote,
portraying Theodore Roosevelt, will be present all day.


Food service of traditional American fare: hamburgers, hot dogs and popcorn
will be available on the site or you may bring your own picnic. Visitors
will be provided an opportunity to tour the Roosevelt home and to view the
exhibits at the Theodore Roosevelt Museum at Old Orchard as well as walk
the grounds and Nature Trail. All of the events, admission to the Roosevelt
home are FREE (with the exception of the pony rides and petting area).

The rain date for the festival will be Sunday, October 24th.

Podcast of Oyster Bay Main Street Association Annual Meeting, 9/16/2010

The Annual Meeting for the Oyster Bay Main Street Association was held Thursday, September 16, 2010. Those in attendance enjoyed hearing updates on the work of the Main Street program, and guest speakers from the Town of Oyster Bay and Superintendent of Schools Dr. Phyllis Harrington. The Keynote Speaker was Nancy Melius-Murton from the Gold Coast Mansions Historic Long Island Alliance and Director of Marketing at Oheka Castle. The meeting was held in the historic Octagon Hotel, at 67 West Main Street in downtown Oyster Bay. For more information, please visit http://www.oysterbaymainstreet.org/.

For past OBMSA meetings, please visit:

• OBMSA 2010 Member Meeting, April 2010
• OBMSA 2009 Annual Meeting, September 2009
• OBMSA 2008 Annual Meeting, October 2008

2 New Classes for Young Artists Announced - the Teaching Studios of Art in Oyster Bay

Jack Halyards American Bar & Grill Glowing NYT Review

Accent on the Nautical, From a Lover of Sailing
By JOANNE STARKEY

A LOVE of sailing led Bernie DelBello to buy the restaurant Fiddleheads last year with a partner, Michael Ventre, in boat-loving Oyster Bay.

They ran the 10-year-old Fiddleheads under that name while preparing for its reopening as Jack Halyards in July. They added a new room, nearly doubling the dining space, and gave the bar its own dedicated room.

The name Jack Halyards — taken from a 19th-century fictional seaman — signals the sailing connection, as do the nautical flags in the bar. The walls of the new dining room are crowded with paintings, drawings, photographs and models of sailboats.

In a phone conversation after my visits, Mr. DelBello, who previously owned Walk Street restaurant in Garden City, said he wanted a place appropriate for milestone dinners yet casual enough for sailors coming off their boats. One night a family near us was celebrating a wedding anniversary; other diners, wearing shorts, had fresh sunburns attesting to a day on the water.

The menu caters to both groups with sandwiches and small plates, as well as full-fledged entrees with inventive accompaniments. The chef is David Glatzerman, an eight-year veteran of Fiddleheads, and his dishes, with only a few exceptions, were right on the mark. The smiling, attentive wait staff was another plus.

The best appetizer we tried was listed with the small plates, a mound of lush tuna tartare mixed with avocado and mango. We also liked the flavorful Manhattan clam chowder. A special of figs stuffed with Gorgonzola and drizzled with balsamic syrup was a light, appealing opener. The Caesar salad was standard, but the strawberry-endive salad with frisée, baby arugula, feta, mint and a honey-red wine vinaigrette was inventive and delicious.

Char-grilled Cajun oysters, six plump ones, were lightly cooked and had a bit of a welcome kick from cayenne and hot sauce, but the pecorino butter on top was a bit too assertive for the seafood.

Two selections from the small plates roster served nicely as entrees. Lobster sliders consisted of two tasty small sandwiches piled high with lobster, a bit of bacon and a slice of tomato. Seared baby lamb chops, which came with a slightly sweet honey-mint sauce, were initially served purple rare. (Our waitress had not asked how we wanted them cooked.) After a few more minutes on the grill, they were pale pink and juicy. A side of à la carte sautéed wild mushrooms was a treat.

Our favorite entree was the tender, juicy pork chop with a hickory-flavored crust crowned with a chutney of caramelized green apples and mint and set on a charred corn and black bean salad.
In close second place was the grilled mahi-mahi on a bed of potato and string-bean salad and topped with a pineapple-mango salsa. The fish and chips was another winner: the fries were ordinary, but the fish, with its light beer batter, was way above average.

The rib-eye steak, by far the most expensive entree at $32, was juicy and tender, and the roasted garlic Yukon mashed potatoes and grilled asparagus served with it were first rate. However, the meat was topped with a Gorgonzola-horseradish butter that was not mentioned on the menu. I like those flavors, but some diners might not.

Desserts are outstanding. The scene-stealer was a huge wedge of coconut cake, 11 layers of towering goodness: six layers of yellow cake, five of coconut custard, plus a fluffy seven-minute frosting under a blizzard of coconut. As good as it was, three of us could not finish it. A special of warm peach cobbler à la mode was even better, with buttery crumbs laced with brown sugar. An apple crisp was also noteworthy. Toasted coconut crème brûlée was thick and silken, and a flourless chocolate cake rich and fudgy, served with a mound of freshly whipped cream.
Sailors and nonsailors alike will find plenty to like at Jack Halyards. That goes double for those with a sweet tooth.

Jack Halyards 62 South Street
Oyster Bay
(516) 922-2999
jackhalyards.com

WORTH IT
THE SPACE Two appealing dining rooms, one casual and the other less so. One step at the entrance. Restrooms are wheelchair accessible.

THE CROWD A mix of celebratory groups, couples and casual boaters. Some children. The wait staff is attentive and personable.

THE BAR A separate room with a long bar, about a dozen stools and five high tables. Wine list of 48 bottles ($24 to $90) and 14 selections by the glass ($7 to $9).

THE BILL Dinner entrees, $10 (burgers and other sandwiches) to $32 (rib-eye steak). Prices are reasonable, with most entrees under $20. American Express, MasterCard, Visa and Discover are accepted.

WHAT WE LIKED Manhattan clam chowder, stuffed fresh figs, strawberry-endive salad, tuna tartare, lobster sliders, fish and chips, mahi-mahi, pork chop, rib-eye steak, all desserts.

IF YOU GO Sunday, noon to 9 p.m.; Monday to Thursday, noon to 10 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, noon to 11 p.m. Reservations are recommended, essential on weekends.

RATINGS Don’t Miss, Worth It, O.K., Don’t Bother.

Harvest Regatta Celebration Announced for October 8 in Oyster Bay

Oakcliff Sailing Center Clubhouse, 2 South St in Oyster Bay

Oyster Bay, New York— The Oyster Bay Main Street Association and the Oakcliff Sailing Center wish to invite the community to the first ever Harvest Regatta Celebration on October 8, 2010. The event will begin at 6:30pm with a strolling dinner in the quaint clubhouse and grounds of Oakcliff Sailing Center at 2 South Street in Oyster Bay. Festivities will continue later in the night next door with live music and dancing, a unique silent auction, and showing of the work of two talented local artists: Kirk Larsen and Bill Jonas. The Harvest Regatta to be held the following day (on Saturday) will showcase Oyster Bay’s beautiful classic yachts in their final race of the season.

Tickets are $75 in advance and $100 at the door. Online registration for the event is possible by visiting www.oakcliffsailing.org. Sponsorship opportunities are also available. Sponsors will receive recognition in the event journal and marketing materials.

Your contribution will help to support the important work of the Oyster Bay Main Street Association. Over the past decade OBMSA has improved over 40 facades and signs, over 20 businesses have opened, and several major grants have been attracted to improve downtown Oyster Bay. Several new events have also been started including the Oyster Bay Sundown concert series and the Oyster Bay Farmers’ Market that have been very successful at attracting new people downtown.

Oakcliff Sailing Center which will also benefit from the event was formed in 2010, to raise the levels of sailors and competitive sailing in the U.S. The center is based in Oyster Bay and has made an overwhelmingly positive impact on the village in the brief time they have been here.

Several businesses have generously provided their support. Those providing food will include Canterbury Ales Oyster Bar & Grill, Christina’s Epicure, Jack Halyards American Bar & Grill, Saggios, and Tex Mex Grill. Sagamore Graphics of Oyster Bay has sponsored printing of the invitation. Dodds & Eder has generously donated decorative plants for the night of the event.

Some of the auction items will include an overnight stay at Oheka Castle, antique and collectible merchandise from Coin Galleries of Oyster Bay, a Sunday bruch for four at Rothmann's Steak House, ballroom dancing lessons at Bliss Studios, a private performance by internationally acclaimed opera singer Anthony Pulgram, and a sail with Oakcliff and dinner at Jack Halyards American Bar & Grill. Gift certificates from AK Salon, Angelina’s of East Norwich, Evolution Fitness, La Pizzetta, Luce Restaurant, Shangri La Spa, The Coach Grill and Tavern, and Wild Honey have also been donated and will be provided for auction.

Tickets may be purchased securely online by visiting http://www.oakcliffsailing.org/. Tickets may also be purchased by check, making this payable to OBMSA and sending this to PO Box 116, Oyster Bay, NY 11771. All proceeds are tax deductible and will jointly benefit the Oyster Bay Main Street Association and the Oakcliff Sailing Center.

Volunteers are needed to help the night of the event. For more information about sponsorship, tickets, or to volunteer please call (516) 922-6982 or write oysterbaymsa@gmail.com.

Sagamore Hill Offers Volunteer Opportunities for Public Lands Day, Sept 25

Call for Volunteers to Assist with Beach Clean-up and Invasive Plant Removal

Sagamore Hill National Historic Site will offer Public Lands Day volunteer opportunities on Saturday, September 25, 2010. The activities will include a volunteer beach clean-up and invasive plant removal from 8:30AM to 12:00PM. Following the work period, refreshments and snacks will be provided behind the visitor center complements of the Friends of Sagamore Hill. In addition, participants over the age of fifteen will receive one free admission pass to be used for a future visit to a National Park Service site or other Public Lands in the United States. Participating Boy & Girl Scout groups will also receive Certificates of Participation. Please meet behind the visitor center at 8:30AM and be sure to wear appropriate shoes and old clothes. No reservations are required.

Fee Free on Public Lands Day!!!!

There is no charge to visit Sagamore Hill National Historic Site on September 25, 2010. Visitors will still need to obtain tickets to tour the home of the 26th president, which they should do upon arrival at the visitor center, located adjacent to the parking lot. Tours are offered on the hour, and on a first-come-first-served basis. Tours are limited to fourteen persons and it is very likely that all the tours will be filled by 1:00PM. Visitors are encouraged to come early in the day to reserve a tour time.

--NPS—

Sagamore Hill National Historic Site, located at 12 Sagamore Hill Road, Oyster Bay, New York, is a unit of the National Park Service. The site was established by Congress in 1962 to preserve and interpret the structures, landscape, collections and other cultural resources associated with Theodore Roosevelt’s home in Oyster Bay, New York, to ensure that future generations understand and appreciate the life and legacy of Theodore Roosevelt, his family and the significant events associated with him. Please check our website at www.nps.gov/sahi or call 516-922-4788 for more information.

OBMSA Annual Meeting to be Held at Octagon Hotel, September 16, 7-9pm

Octagon Hotel as it appears today

The Oyster Bay Main Street Association will hold their Annual Meeting on September 16, 2010. The meeting will be held at the historic Octagon Hotel at 67 West Main Street from 7-9pm.

The Keynote Speaker for the meeting will be Nancy Melius-Murton, Director of Marketing at Oheka Castle in Huntington, New York. This historic home of Otto E. Kahn was built between 1917 and 1919. Following a period of neglect, the home was purchased in 1984 by Gary Melius, and since then the estate and gardens have been lovingly restored. Nancy returned to Long Island a few years ago to spend more time with her family and to develop the family business. Subsequently she founded the Gold Coast Mansions Historic Long Island Alliance, which is working to market mansions and historic sites on Long Island.

Over the past decade OBMSA has been responsible for bringing about needed changes in downtown Oyster Bay. Over 40 building renovation projects, parking and public space improvements, and the opening of several new businesses have resulted.

In the past year alone significant results have come from investing the $200,000 New York Main Street grant. Highlights include expansion of Jack Halyard’s American Bar & Grill (formerly Fiddleheads), restoration of the 19th century Brower House on East Main Street across from the Doubleday-Babcock Senior Center, and new signs and awnings for the building housing Coin Galleries of Oyster Bay. Another project, renovation of the Townsend Inn Annex at 9 Audrey Ave has also yielded the first new business recruited – a furniture consignment business called Mill Pond Consignment.

This summer Main Street offered the second season of the popular Oyster Bay Sundown concert series on the First Thursday of each month. And on July 30 the popular and successful Oyster Bay Farmers’ Market was started. The markett will run every Friday through October 8 from noon-6pm by the U.S. Post Office. Thanks to these and other events, more people are discovering every day what Main Street members already know – that we live in a charming and desirable place.

Main Street's collaborative efforts working with other organizations were shown through special events held at Atelier Fine Arts / Studio, The Teaching Studios of Art, and Oakcliff Sailing Center. OBMSA and the Oyster Bay-East Norwich Central School District recently formed a partnership to promote service learning opportunities.

For more information, or to become a member of the Oyster Bay Main Street Association, please visit www.oysterbaymainstreet.org or call (516) 922-6982.