Come Celebrate The Holidays with us in Oyster Bay

First Annual Yuletide Candle Walk, Sunday December 16th

FIRST ANNUAL

YULETIDE CANDLE WALK

CAROLING AT OYSTER BAY CHURCHES

The Oyster Bay Main Street Association is excited to announce the FIRST ANNUAL YULETIDE CANDLE WALK AND CAROLING AT OYSTER BAY CHURCHES ON Sunday, December 16.

Oyster Bay is fortunate to have many churches from different eras, each with its own distinctive architecture and history. This holiday season a wonderful new family tradition is born—a candlelight procession from church to church, with the holiday decorations, spirit, and music at their most festive awaiting the guests at each church. A brief introduction to history and architecture of each church will be presented. Local residents of all creeds are invited to share in this enjoyable ecumenical evening.

We start our special journey at 4 p.m. at Christ Church (Episcopal), where President Theodore Roosevelt worshipped, with “Lessons & Carols” (readings from scriptures interspersed with hymns and carols). This will be followed by a short talk, delivered by Reverend Peter Casparian, about the history of the church.

At 5 p.m., with lights in our hands, we walk across East Main Street to the First Presbyterian Church (Presbyterian), an architectural gem on the National Register of Historic Places and parish of TR’s parents. Pastor Jeffrey Prey will welcome visitors and speak about the church’s history. Music director Jessica Chen will then treat us to a medley of Christmas tunes played on the unique organ.

Next, we head up the hill at 6 p.m. to St. Dominic’s Church (Roman Catholic) and its resplendent chapel, where we enjoy the charming voices of its Youth Choir and hear the story of this beautiful church.

We proceed back down to view three more local churches on South Street: the Mt. Olive Baptist Church (Baptist), the Hood A.M.E. Zion Church (African Methodist Episcopal), and the North Shore Community Church (Presbyterian Church in America).

The North Shore Community Church and Pastor John Yenchko invite everyone to warm up and fuel up with hot cider and hot chocolate for the children, eggnog for the adults, and cookies for all! Well fortified, we head into the chapel for a jolly sing-along of holiday songs.

Dress warmly, carry a flashlight or battery-operated candle to light the way, and have fun!


For Additional Information Contact

Diane Meltzer, OBMSA Promotion Chair, 516-922-6481
Ewa Rumprecht, OBMSA Promotion, 516-225-6042

OBMSA Announces First Annual Elegant House Tour

The Oyster Bay Main Street Association and Raynham Hall are Seeking Host Homes for our First Annual Elegant House Tour

• 4-5 elegant homes will be selected to participate
• Potential Tour Dates either Sunday October 24 or Sunday, November 4
• The Tour will last from approximately 1pm – 4pm followed by a cocktail reception hosted in a beautiful historic residence in downtown Oyster Bay
• The Tour will be self guided, with assigned times. Volunteers will supervise each room and homeowners can select rooms or areas of house to be off limits
• Addresses will not be revealed to participants until the day of the tour

If you are interested in participating, contact Tracy Dellomo (516)578-9261 or Diane Meltzer (516) 922-6481 For further details

Oyster Bay Main Street Association Moves Forward With Grant Funding

The Oyster Bay Main Street Association has been quietly working on its mission of revitalizing and preserving Oyster Bay’s historic downtown and is pleased to announce that it has completed administering its 2009 New York State Main Street Grant.

As of May 2012 it has successfully disbursed the entire grant amount of $200,000 back into the Hamlet of Oyster Bay. Funds were used for façade improvements on the Brower House and Townsend Annex Building, now home to two new businesses, the Mill Pond and Spotted Owl Consignment shops. Additional funds were disbursed to several other businesses in the downtown including “Coin Galleries of Oyster Bay”, “Sweet Tomato Healthy Eatery”, “Jack Halyards American Grill”, “Gone Dancing Studio of Dance” and “Shangri La Spa”. Finally, funds were used to purchase 6 recycling receptacles which will be strategically placed in the immediate downtown business district.

In late 2011 the OBMSA was awarded an additional $500,000 grant similar in scope to the 2009 grant and is happy to announce the first projects are underway. These include the purchase and installation of 12 additional streetlamps to be located along South Street, and the purchase of a reproduction antique street clock to grace the outside plaza of the Oyster Bay Railroad Museum.

As it had done with the previous New York Main Street Grant, the organization will use additional grant funds to assist business and building owners with historically appropriate signage and façade improvements. It is the hope of the organization that other business owners will utilize Main Street’s grants to improve their buildings and signage to one that is both appealing and cohesive in a historic downtown like Oyster Bay.

For those who are interested in learning more about the Oyster Bay Main Street Association and how to apply for assistance in signage and facade improvements, please call 516-922-6982 or visit http://www.oysterbaymainstreet.org/.

Contact:

Meredith Maus, Project Manager

oysterbaymsa@gmail.com

(516) 922-6982

Teaching Studios 2nd Annual Plein Air Competition is being held at Sagamore Hill Historic Preserve in Oyster Bay, NY.

A spectacular event 
Friday and Saturday, July 13 and 14
Teaching Studios 2nd Annual Plein Air Competition is being held at Sagamore Hill Historic Preserve in Oyster Bay, NY. 


35 selected artists will compete for over $3000 in prizes by painting the best artwork of this incredible historic site. The event will culminate in an exhibition in the newly converted arts space in Rodgers' Building in downtown Oyster Bay. 


This competition is open to public viewing and will feature live plein air painting demonstrations from our juror Erik Koeppel, as well as the phenomenal landscape artist Lauren Sansaricq 


A famous juror 
Erik Koeppel is one of the leading plein air landscape painters in the US today. He has had numerous solo exhibitions and has taught Plein Air workshops for the Hudson River Fellowship of the Grand Central Academy in NYC. He has been the subject of feature articles in American Artist Magazine and Plein Air Magazine.


Live Plein Air Demonstrations: 


Erik Koeppel Friday 
July 13, 11-2pm 


Lauren Sansaricq 
Saturday July 14, 11-2pm 


Informal Gallery talk with Erik Koeppel at 7:30pm 
@The Arts Space , July 14. 


The exhibition: 
Saturday, July 14, 7-9pm 
The Rodger's Building 
120 Audrey Avenue 
Oyster Bay, NY 11771 


The Arts Space in the Rodgers Building 
Saturday, July 14, 7-9pm 
120 Audrey Avenue ( right across the street from Teaching Studios). 


This competition will culminate in an exhibition at the newly converted Arts Space in the Rodger's Building in Oyster Bay. Paintings still wet from being just completed hours before will be on display. There will be some some light hors d'oevres, and wine. If you are in the market for a reasonable priced, original work of art, this is the perfect event for you.
The exhibition will feature one painting from each of the 35 competitors, as well as from the juror, Eric Koeppel.
Come and mingle with the competing artists, as well as the faculty and student body of the Teaching Studios of Art. Be a part of the festivities as the winning artists are announced. 
The exhibition will remain up for one month, till Tuesday, August 14th. Gallery Hours: Monday- Thursday, July 16- Aug 14, 1-4pm 


For more information, please contact Rob Zeller at 516-558-7367 or visit www.teachingstudios.com 

“Dancing In The Street” Returns to Oyster Bay

MAIN STREET ASSOCIATION INVITES PUBLIC TO FREE DOWNTOWN SUMMER EVENTS

The Oyster Bay Main  Street Association announces the return of “Dancing in the Street,” a series of free dance evenings on the streets of historic and picturesque Oyster Bay.  

Following on the success of last year's “Dancing in the Street,” OBMSA invites the public to put on their dancing shoes and return to the streets of Oyster Bay for delightful evenings of pure fun. Dancers of all ages, skills, and styles are welcome. 

Mark your calendars now for three Fridays in July:   Friday, July 13^th,  Friday, July 20^th, and Friday, July 27^th,  between 7:30 and 9:30 pm, on Audrey Avenue around the Bandstand.  Bring a chair if desired.  Additional dates for August may be announced later on.  

Music and dance instructions are provided by two of the most popular Long Island DJs: Louis del Prete, who the participants will remember from last year's events, and Mark James, a newcomer to the summer night street dancing in Oyster Bay. 

Main Street Association Promotion Chair Diane Meltzer remarked: “Since everybody enjoyed “Dancing in the Street” so much last year, we wanted to repeat the series this summer. This event brings the community together-- you can see dancers of all ages--families with small children, college kids, seniors; all taking to the floor.  What is there not to like about a starlit night in a beautiful town, good music, and fun dance instructions?” 

Barbara Pollock, one of the event organizers and an avid dancer, said: “We are very lucky to have secured DJ Louis del Prete for another year. Louis plays good dance music, understands his audience, teaches at various skill levels, and he can even sing!  We are also very pleased Mark James will be joining us; he and Louis provide great quality entertainment. No surprise they both have a great following on the Island.” 

“Dancing in the Street” is organized by the Oyster Bay Main Street Association. It is one of the community building/ downtown revitalization efforts by the organization, and promises to be a highlight of the summer season! 

The events are generously sponsored by:

For more information, please visit  www.oysterbaymainstreet.org or call 516-922-6982.

Newsday features OBMSA Garden Tour

Click here to Register for the 2012 Garden Tour, June 13th 2012

Farmers Market to Return to Oyster Bay

Oyster Bay, NY  (June 4, 2012) –

The Hamlet of Oyster Bay will welcome back the Farmer’s Market at Town Hall, 54 Audrey Avenue, on Saturday June 16,  through November 17, 2012 from 9:00 AM - 1:00 PM. Regional producers will be offering fresh products including vegetables, certified organic produce, herbs, fruits, jams, fresh bread, baked goods, eggs, cheeses, pickles, maple syrup, allergy sensitive baked goods, all natural dog treats, and much more.


In 2010 Diane Meltzer and Danielle Olesen, board members of the Oyster Bay Main Street Association, had the vision of starting a Farmers Market downtown.  This was something the town had wanted for many years, and it quickly became a favorite weekly destination for residents and non-residents alike.  This year, 2012, it was decided that the time was right to turn this enterprise over to a professional Market Manager.  Ms. Meltzer and Ms. Olesen are thrilled that Friends & Farmers Inc. plans to continue and expand the concept of a Farmers Market in our historic, charming downtown.


“We are very excited about the 2012 Farmer’s Market in Oyster Bay and feel that moving the market from Friday afternoon to a Saturday morning will allow residents better access to the market and local products.  In addition, the Town Hall parking lot location is good utilization of limited space, so there will be plenty of parking and room for growth ” Bernadette Martin, Director Friends & Farmers Inc.


Long Island produce will be available from Young’s Farm - Glen Cove, Garden of Eve - Aquabogue, and SustainAbility Farm at Planting Fields Arboretum State Historic Park in Oyster Bay.  SustainAbility is a one-acre organic garden tended by supervised young adults with autism and related developmental disabilities.


About the Oyster Bay Farmer’s Market
The Farmer’s Market accepts SNAP/EBT benefits, Debit cards, WIC and Senior Checks from the NY State Famer’s Market Nutrition Programs. The Market will be administered by Long Beach based Friends & Farmers Inc. If you would like to schedule a tour, promote your local restaurant or want to play live music at market, please contact Bernadette Martin at info@ligreenmarket.org for more information and a listing of a our 2012 market locations go to www.ligreenmarket.org.       

Contact: 

Bernadette Martin

516-543-6033

bmartin@ligreenmarket.org

www.ligreenmarket.org

Visit Historic Oyster Bay for Bay Day this Weekend Sunday June 3rd 2012

Visit Historic Oyster Bay for Bay Day this Weekend 

Sunday June 3rd, 2012

For More info visit http://visitoysterbay.com/home.html

OBMSA Announces the Second Annual Garden Tour

OBMSA Announces the Second Annual Garden Tour

Enjoy an inspired afternoon visiting four breathtaking gardens around the Oyster Bay area. Followed by a luncheon at Periwinkles Garden Café located at the Hay Barn in Planting Fields Arboretum State Historic Park.

Ticket prices:

$85 Tour of 4 Gardens in and Around Oyster Bay and lunch (includes parking fee)

$60 Garden Tour only (no lunch)

All proceeds benefit the Oyster Bay Main Street Association and our mission to enhance and promote an attractive and thriving downtown, while maintaining historic integrity.

REGISTER NOW

Oyster Bay Main Street Association Executive Director Resigns After Four Years of Service

Isaac D. Kremer downtown.
Credit: Danielle Finkelstein/Newsday

Oyster Bay, New York – Nearly four years to the day since he first arrived, Isaac D. Kremer announced that he will be leaving the Oyster Bay Main Street Association where he served as Executive Director to assume a new role with the leading historic preservation organization in Austin, Texas.

“These past four years have provided a remarkable opportunity for personal and professional growth,” Kremer said. “The Main Street Association is now more focused on the historic preservation aspect of their mission than at any time ever before, and they now have the resources to carry out that mission.”

During his tenure several major historic preservation and building renovation projects were undertaken and completed, most notably the restoration of the historic Octagon Hotel. Theodore Roosevelt ran his campaign for Governor from this building and was a frequent guest. Close to another dozen projects followed, resulting in creation of new residential and commercial units downtown.

Several major State and Federal Grants were secured. This included $700,000 through the New York Main Street Grant program, and another $70,000 from the Federal Preserve America program. When private and philanthropic gifts for projects such as the Octagon Hotel and a new interpretive and way-finding signage program are added, the amount raised in support of historic preservation and heritage tourism in Oyster Bay during Kremer’s tenure topped out at nearly $1 million.

Before and after photos of the Octagon Hotel, in 2008 and today. 

Partnerships were an important key to success. Projects with Sagamore Hill National Historic Site helped to highlight the many buildings with Theodore Roosevelt ties in the downtown. Oyster Bay was a founding member of the Gold Coast Mansions Historic Long Island Alliance to market and promote historic sites on Long Island. At the Federal level, Kremer participated in advocacy efforts for historic preservation through membership in Preservation Action and the National Trust for Historic Preservation's Main Street Center. He was also a member of the Rotary Club of Oyster Bay serving as Community Service Chair and President Elect.

The Main Street Association membership has undergone a remarkable transformation and growth over the past four years. The level of member giving reached the highest level in the history of the organization in fiscal year 2011, following upon four consecutive years of growth.

“What this shows is that the level of support for the Main Street organization mission among our members is the strongest it has ever been,” said John Bonifacio, Oyster Bay Main Street Association President. “This is a tribute to Isaac and his tenacity to lift up downtown Oyster Bay, by re-affirming our commitment to historic preservation.”

Dancing in the Street started in 2011.

The success in Oyster Bay is not measured merely by renovated buildings. Several new initiatives were started while Isaac was in Oyster Bay including the Oyster Bay Farmers’ Market, the Sundown Concert Series, Dancing in the Street, and many others. Individually and collectively these helped to attract people downtown once again.

Thirty businesses have opened or expanded in the downtown. Several of these business opened in under-utilized or previously vacant buildings that were upgraded and renovated thanks to State and Federal grants, as well as significant private investment.

Renderings from 1913 of "Hillside," a house at 198 East Main Street awaiting restoration.

This is a pattern that will hopefully continue moving forward. There are several large-scale projects such as restoration of the Hillside mansion (formerly the Trousdell House on East Main Street), as well as restoration of the Snouder’s Drug Store, and the Oyster Bay Long Island Railroad Station that will continue. By conservative estimates, close to $10 million in active or pending projects are underway that add to the over $30 million of investment made over the past decade.

“None of our success in Oyster Bay would have been possible without the support of the Oyster Bay Community Foundation, the Bahnik Foundation, and, most importantly, the time, passion, energy, and commitment of our Board of Directors and Members,” Kremer said. He added that on a personal level, “Oyster Bay gave me the greatest possible gift – I met my wife here and we have two beautiful sons. This is the legacy that I will forever be proudest of.”

Despite leaving, Kremer will seek to maintain a connection with Oyster Bay by continuing to advocate for support of revitalization of downtown areas across Long Island. Further, he will maintain his ties with the Underhill Burying Ground in Lattingtown, where Captain John Underhill was buried in 1672. Underhill helped to settle Oyster Bay in the 1650’s, and Kremer married his wife in Oyster Bay 350 years after Captain John Underhill married his wife in the same place.

Kremer hopes to come back a couple of times a year and to keep track of continued change and improvement in Oyster Bay. “Nothing would please me more than being able to stay at a bed and breakfast in a beautifully restored historic building near the downtown, and see Oyster Bay fully realize its potential to become one of the leading and most highly regarded small towns in America. The home town of Theodore Roosevelt deserves nothing less,” Kremer said.

In lieu of any gifts, Kremer has asked that financial contributions be made, in his name, to the Oyster Bay Main Street Association, P.O. Box 116, Oyster Bay, NY 11771.

Sagamore Hill offers tour of Theodore Roosevelt's Oyster Bay, Sunday, 2/19, 2pm

Oyster Bay– Join Park Ranger Howard Ehrlich on Sunday, February 19, 2012 on an easy walk through historic Oyster Bay. The walk will highlight the major sites in the hamlet connected to Theodore Roosevelt and his family. The one hour program is free and begins at 2:00 p.m. in the Long Island Railroad parking lot at the Oyster Bay station. Please wear comfortable walking shoes and dress appropriately for the weather.

Roosevelts’ have lived in Oyster Bay since the 1860s. In 1885, Theodore Roosevelt built Sagamore Hill two and a half miles east of the hamlet center. Oyster Bay came to national prominence when Theodore Roosevelt became the 26th President of the United States. Roosevelt frequented Oyster Bay for goods, services, transportation and business. The ranger guided walk will highlight the major locations and structures in the hamlet connected to Theodore Roosevelt and his family. The walk is one of the best ways for visitors to become acquainted with the rich history of a presidential tour just a stone’s throw away Sagamore Hill, Theodore Roosevelt’s “Summer White House.”

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, and to ensure that future generations understand and appreciate the life and legacy of Theodore Roosevelt, his family and the significant events associated with him. NOTE: The Roosevelt Home was closed to the public for a two- to three-year period beginning December 5, 2011 due to a major rehabilitation of the home.  However, the Visitor Center, Theodore Roosevelt Museum at Old Orchard and the grounds will continue to be open and free interpretive programs will be offered.  For further information, visit our website at www.nps.gov/sahi, or call 516-922-4788. Be sure to follow us on twitter for updates at http://twitter.com/SagamoreHillNHS and on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Sagamore-Hill-National-Historic-Site/127271867334480

Camelia House Weekend at Planting Fields, February 25 and 26, 2012

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OBMSA Annual Meeting Podcast, January 26, 2012

For those who were not among the 100 or so people who attended the Annual Meeting of the Oyster Bay Main Street Association, on January 26, 2012, at the Life Enrichment Center at Oyster Bay, or for those who want to relive all of the wonderful moments of that meeting, a podcast of that meeting is available below.

We encourage you to read our Annual Report for 2011. In it you will find updates on our work in the past year, financial report, and four goals we have for upcoming years.

These goal include improving Fireman's Field, upgrading Townsend Park where the bandstand is located, continue our ongoing program of facade and sign improvements, and install interpretive and way-finding signage throughout the downtown.


For past OBMSA meetings, please visit:

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

Oyster Bay Main Street Annual Meeting on January 26, 7pm!

           

Oyster Bay, New York – Over a decade has passed since the Oyster Bay Main Street Association officially received its charter on September 28, 2001. Since that time downtown Oyster Bay has been transformed for the better. In the past decade over $30 million of public and private investment has been made in the downtown. This has helped to support 57 business start-ups, over 80% which are still open today. Over 60 façade and signs have been improved, with many of these receiving OBMSA support.

                To celebrate these changes to downtown Oyster Bay, Main Street is planning an Annual Meeting for January 26, 2012, from 7pm-9pm at The Life Enrichment Center at Oyster Bay (formerly Doubleday Babcock Senior Center), 45 East Main Street. Many people involved in the founding and the growth and development of Main Street will be present. A special panel discussion on the “Future of Oyster Bay” will be held, echoing a report of the same title published in 1999 that helped to get the Main Street idea in Oyster Bay started.

John Bonifacio, President,
Oyster Bay Main Street

                Guests planning to attend the Annual Meeting are encouraged to RSVP.

                Oyster Bay Main Street President John Bonifacio speaking of the meeting said: “I can imagine no better time than our 10 year anniversary to look back at our past accomplishments, while also sharing a positive and proactive vision for our future.”

                A blog has been created, to provide an overview of positive changes that have been made to Oyster Bay over the past decade. This may be accessed at: http://futureofoysterbay.blogspot.com/.

Four New Initiatives Will be Announced

                At the Annual Meeting four new initiatives will be announced. These will be included in an Annual Report. The report distributed to members who register or renew their membership at the meeting or in advance. One of these initiatives includes a façade and sign improvement fund.

                Oyster Bay Main Street Vice-President, Design Chair, and practicing Architect Henry Clark said: “It has long been an aspiration to have a fund for building improvements that Main Street controls. We are now fortunate to have this thanks to the generosity of our many donors.”

                The new fund will assist with façade and sign improvement funds downtown. Projects receiving funding will be asked to follow the Oyster Bay Design Guidelines available on the Main Street website. This fund will provide up to 75% of the total project costs not to exceed $1,000 for sign improvements downtown. Even greater support is available for façade improvements in eligible buildings.

                The first business to already benefit from this program was Funni Business, a toy store which recently opened at 27 Audrey Avenue. Those seeking funding should request and submit an Application available in the Main Street office in the Oceanic House at 21 West Main Street.

Before and after photo of the Oceanic House, 21 West Main St.

New Office in the Oceanic House

                On October 1, the Oyster Bay Main Street program officially opened a new office in the Oceanic House. President John Bonifacio speaking of this location said, “The Oceanic House and the loving restoration by its owners exemplifies the sort of improvements that Main Street seeks to encourage in downtown Oyster Bay. This building not only affords us an excellent office space but also powerfully expresses our mission to enhancing an attractive and thriving downtown, while maintaining its historic integrity.”

New Members Sought

                In preparation for the Annual Meeting on January 26, an Annual Appeal was sent out to members. Given the 10 year anniversary of the organization, a special request was made for returning members and new members to consider making a three-year pledge to the Association. As an incentive for members who contribute $500 or greater, they will receive a beautiful aerial photograph of Oyster Bay framed and signed by photographer Stephen Mastrorocco. Main Street Treasurer Claude Bahnik said, “This is just a small way for us to recognize and thank people for their generosity.”

                For those wishing more information about the Oyster Bay Main Street Association, membership, sponsorship opportunities, or the upcoming Annual Meeting on January 26, please call (516) 922-6982 or visit www.oysterbaymainstreet.org.


For past OBMSA meetings, please visit:

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