TOBAY Notebook: New Term Begins

, six elected representatives vowed to serve the people who elected them this year.

, three town board members and two town-wide elected officials took the oath at a ceremony at Oyster Bay Town Hall Tuesday afternoon. With family members at their side, Venditto and the others placed their hands on a Bible dating back to 1854. 

The town GOP swept the November elections and Republicans currently hold all nine elected offices in Oyster Bay.

Hockey Legend Visiting

The Town of Oyster Bay will host NHL star Willie O’Ree on Jan. 18 at the Town of Oyster Bay Ice Skating Center in Bethpage.

“Willie O'Ree is often referred to as the ‘Jackie Robinson of ice hockey’ due to the similarities of both as trailblazers in their respective sports,” said Supervisor John Venditto. “The Town of Oyster Bayis fortunate to have Mr. O’Ree as a special guest at the rink."

O’Ree’s visit will include an instructional hockey clinic for those enrolled in the Town of Oyster Bay hockey program from 7:15 p.m. to 8:15 p.m. The Town of Oyster Bay will then proclaim Jan. 18 as “Willie O’Ree Day,” and the proclamation will be presented at a special ceremony open to the public at 8:15 p.m. O’Ree will then have the honor of dropping the ceremonial first puck at a high school hockey contest between rivals Bethpage High School and Cold Spring Harbor High School beginning at 8:45 p.m.

O'Ree will remain on hand to autograph pucks and photos for all in attendance. Read more about O'Ree here.

General Tax Deadline

TOBAY residents are reminded that the first half of the 2012 General Tax Levy is due on Jan. 1 but can be paid without penalty through Feb. 10. Officials remind residents to be certain to sign your check, make it payable to James J. Stefanich, Receiver of Taxes, and indicate your property’s S.D. Code, Section, Block, Lot, and phone number on the check.

“By law, a taxpayer has a 40-day grace period from the date the tax is due during which payment may be made without penalty,” Stefanich said. “After the 40 days, a one percentpenalty is added for each month the tax remains unpaid, retroactive to Jan. 1.”

Residents can pay in person, by either cash or check, at the Tax Office (Oyster Bay Town Hall West, 74 Audrey Ave., Oyster Bay) or by check only at the new Receiver of Taxes office located in the Town Clerk’s Office (Town Hall South, 977 Hicksville Road, Massapequa). In addition, the Hicksville Annex, located in the TOB Parking Structure (55 Duffy Ave., corner of Newbridge Road) will be accepting payments bycheck only, from 9 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. on Feb. 3, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10.