We love carousels but we're not sure we want to have one in Theodore Roosevelt Park because of several concerns. However, if it goes there, we will be one of its regular customers.

We are concerned with such things as the cost of maintenance for the carousel; the appropriate use of the land in the park; will it be open only in the summer and closed most of the year; can the town stand another financial campaign when there are so many worthy groups that need money; will it bring in more traffic than revenue; what about liability; would the carousel be better placed in a hub area of Nassau County?

There is a lot to think about.

The best thing we have to say is that we now have in place a great many civic groups who have an interest in the hamlet who will be looking at the ramifications of the idea.

Louise Harrison, Friends of the Bay executive director said she hoped the Town of Oyster Bay received the grant they applied for to study the eastern waterfront that encompasses the Theodore Roosevelt Park. That would help whatever is being planned for the area since it would consider traffic and environmental issues and would involve the community as a whole.

She complimented Billy Joel, a new local resident for his community interest. Mr. Joel has previously been generous to this community. The window in the community room at the Oyster Bay East Norwich Public Library has been credited to him although in deference to him, it has not been made a great deal of, still, he has shown his heart is in the right place.

Let the ride begin...

-DFK