Steve and Ernst, the award winning photographers who make up Creative Compositions in Townsend Square are hot on the Oyster Festival. They said recently that the festival has been good to them. People have come into the studio and said - for instance - that when they were at the Oyster Festival in 1992, they looked in their windows and decided to have them do their wedding.

That's how they got a booking in New Hyde Park and one in New Jersey. They see the Oyster Festival as a great way to bring in new customers who would never get to see their work otherwise.

The Oyster Festival is important to Bev Zembko of the Oyster Bay Cooperative Play School.

"It certainly is a real help to our school. We keep our tuition low. We pride ourselves as being one of the most affordable schools in the area. We do count on the Oyster Festival funds," she said recently.

"Last year it helped us buy some needed furniture: tables and chairs for our school."

The Oyster Bay Chamber of Commerce just donated $10,000 of their festival proceeds to the Marine Education Center. This year the sponsor's reception will be held at the Doubleday Babcock Senior Center - which received $10,000 in Oyster Festival proceeds from the chamber the year before. The chamber also gave the Boys & Girls Club a $10,000 donation toward their building fund.

When you are eating oysters at the Chamber's Oyster Booth you are doing a great deal of good for the community.

Long time Oyster Bay merchant, Uwe Dielewicz of the famous Uwe's Restaurant likes the Oyster Festival too.

"I don't mind the Oyster Festival at all. People make money from it. It's a good time. I love it. It's great. I was one who said many years ago there should be an oyster festival."

There are a great many stories about the Oyster Festival - just waiting there to tell. We'll be there looking for them, and taking photos to share the fun with readers next week. Just give a holler and we'll give you an ear! -DFK