Oyster Bay Town Supervisor's Oyster Festival Run Is a Success

The view from the start.

There is something special every year about the Town of Oyster Bay Supervisor's Oyster Festival 5 Kilometer Run. Maybe it's the kind of party atmosphere that pervades Festival weekend in Oyster Bay, but this year local runners were treated to a brand-new course that really shows off the Oyster Bay area at its best, featuring a scenic uphill on Berry Hill Road and an exhilarating descent down Sandy Hill Road to the finish. Whatever it is, there were lots of happy faces at the start and at the finish.

The weatherman obviously was a factor this year. After eight straight days of rain - including a torrential downpour the day before the run that left Berry Hill Road and South Street pretty much under water - the rains stopped early Saturday morning and the weather gradually cleared by 9 a.m. that morning.

The charitable beneficiary of the 2005 Oyster Bay Run was the Maurer Foundation for Breast Health Education. Maurer Foundation Executive Director Kim Rozzi (2nd L) was on hand for the occasion along with Oyster Bay Town Councilman Angelo Delligatti (L), Run Director Mike Polansky of Plainview (2nd R), and Long Island Track & Field Long Distance Running Chair Alex Cuozzo (R).

The overall winner of this year's run was Matt Usenski of the Bellmore Striders, who crossed the finish line in 16:10, comfortably in front of runner-up Chris Webber of Sayville. The Women's OA winner was Lyndsey Webber of Sayville in 18:11.

Award winners from the local area included Michael Gerardi of Syosset (1st 14 and under), Hordan Matteo of Syoset (3rd 14 and under), Alan Cohen of Plainview (3rd 40-44), Kim Solomine of Syosset (1st woman 45-49), Kathy Hendrickson of Syosset (5th 50-54), John Del Maestro of Woodbury (1st 50-54), Bert Jablon of Syosset (1st 75-79), and Odd Sangesland of Plainview (2nd 75-79).

Oyster Bay Town Supervisor John Venditto (2nd R) congratulates Award winners Bert Jablon of Syosset (L), Odd Sangesland of Plainview (2nd L) and Dolly Finkelstein of Rego Park.

Special congratulations go to the 18 teachers from the Oyster Bay - East Norwich School District, who ran to honor the memory of the late Sal Pipitone, a school district administrator and avid marathoner, and to raise funds for the scholarship fund that has been established in his memory. The teachers all ran wearing grey shirts that said "For Sal" on them, and each of them donated their time in dollars to the fund (e.g. Kevin Cotter's 19:11 time translated into a $19.11 donation).

The run was once again conducted under the auspices of the Town of Oyster Bay, with Oyster Bay Town Supervisor John Venditto once again serving as the honorary (and extremely supportive) chairman of the event, and staged by the Town's Recreation Department in conjunction with the Greater Long Island Running Club. The club's Mike Polansky of Plainview served as the run director once again.

"We are pleased that the Town of Oyster Bay continues to be so supportive of sports and recreational programs in general and running events such as this one in particular," noted Polansky. "The Town Supervisor's Oyster Festival Run is a terrific event, and this new course makes it even better!"