This past weekend the Oyster Bay waterfront was abuzz with motorboats. Motorcyclists tooled down Route 106, as yellow forsythia and daffodils lined the highways letting everyone know spring is here. What has also shown up in town is a spate of petty crimes - ones that can be called quality of life crimes. Flags were stolen, a monument has been graffitied and chipped, and pocketbooks left in cars are ripe for crime.

The flags on the September 11 Memorial at the Oyster Bay Western Waterfront were flying in the same breeze that powered sailboats on the harbor in front of Beekman Beach over the weekend. What is new this week, are the flags hanging from the yardarm at the memorial. The original oversized American flag and the three others flying from the yardarm were reported stolen on Monday, April 12. The Oyster Bay September 11 Memorial was created through the office of New York State Senator Carl Marcellino and his office was contacted about the theft. He was outraged that someone was desecrating the memorial. "The families are using the area and it is giving them solace," he said. They decorate the area for holidays. Presently there are yellow tulips and evergreen bushes there.

The original flag, which was an oversized one has been replaced by a smaller flag and beneath is a black POW MIA flag. Still to be replaced are the state, and town flags that fly with them on the yardarm.

When Rob Crafa, executive director of the WaterFront Center was told about the theft he commented that having lights in the area might be a preventive. The light poles are in place, but as yet there is no electricity to power them.

The reason, according to the senator's office is that the waterfront site is still under construction and improvements are still being made. The management team of representatives from the Department of Environmental Concerns and Town of Oyster Bay, the two public agencies that own and manage the western waterfront meet regularly to oversee the progress. West End Avenue has been paved and the parking lot next to building "J" has been striped. There are median dividers that are filled with crushed clam shells in keeping with the historic waterfront area. The paths are all concrete, giving the area a quality look. The swails, designed to catch drainage from the road were filled with water, doing their job properly.

Kathy Wilson, the senator's communications director said of the flag incident, "We hope people would respect the memorial and that everyone would be vigilant in that nothing mars the memory of our loved ones." She said soon, the state and town flags will also be replaced.

Still, Mr. Crafa's comment about lighting had value, in that one of the cars parked at the brick DEC building had a window smashed the night of the March meeting of the Friends of Locomotive #35. A police officer reported that the recent burglaries that had taken place in stores in the hamlet have appeared to have stopped, but that on Wednesday night, April 14, a car parked on Main Street had a window smashed and a woman's pocketbook was stolen. He said that type of crime was occurring locally. It is called a "smash and grab" and is an opportunistic crime. It happens before anyone can respond to a car alarm or the sound of glass breaking.

On Saturday, April 10, Marie Knight, president of the Oyster Bay Civic Association received a call from member Mary Ellen Rahilly who said while walking through the Theodore Roosevelt Memorial Park, she saw the TR monument at the entrance at the foot of Audrey and Maxwell Avenues had been vandalized. There was graffiti on the bronze plaque and a piece of stone had been broken off the boulder. Ms. Rahilly brought the rock to Ms. Knight. It was picked up later by Rob Walker, Town of Oyster Bay deputy commissioner of parks, for safe keeping. Ms. Knight said she was told by Judge John Galasso, (both are members of the Theodore Roosevelt Memorial Park Advisory Committee) that the piece can be reattached to the monument if done right away. She was very upset by the vandalism and said, "It is like a losing battle. We need a fence. That area is where things keep happening at the park." Safety in the park area is one of the concerns of the TRMPAC.

Robert Fulton, a local resident was at the park on Thursday afternoon, April 15. He said he painted over graffiti on the house on the northern corner of Maxwell Avenue, nearest the rail road. "The graffiti was real big and the tag read 'T-Rex,'" he said.