Members of the Bayport and Blue Point communities crowded the Bayport Flower Houses last Wednesday to come together as “Two towns, one community” for one of the largest Bayport-Blue Point Community Expo’s ever hosted, according to organizers.
The Bayport-Blue Point Chamber of Commerce hosted its biennial event on Oct. 21, where dozens of nonprofits, businesses, first responders, and civic organizations networked with residents while giving away free merchandise and raffles.
“Wonderful turnout,” said Bayport-Blue Point Chamber of Commerce president Ronald Devine. “Community spirit is very alive and well. People are very happy, and they’re enthused about what they see here and what transpires throughout the community.”
Over 50 organizations signed up for tables, with civic organizations including the Bayport and Blue Point Civics, Bayport Aerodrome, and Sayville Rotary Club in attendance. Local businesses and organizations within the Bayport-Blue Point School District also hosted tables, with each group giving away different merchandise.
Bayport-Blue Point student musicians and students with South Bay Arts performed live music near the expo’s entrance, and student athletes signed autographs alongside fundraisers hosted by parent-student-teacher groups from across the district.
The radio stations My Country 96.1 and WEHM (92.9 and 96.9) were also featured, with the latter streaming live from the event- broadcasting community leaders across Long Island’s airways.
“We want everyone from businesses, organizations, civic associations, fire departments, under one roof to showcase what we have,” said Bayport-Blue Point Community Expo chair and owner of The Fish Store, Seth Needleman, on the radio station WEHM.
Looking around the venue, Karl Auwaerter, owner of the Bayport Flower Houses and Bayport-Blue Point Chamber of Commerce treasurer, said the event had one of its largest turnouts on record. Parking at the flower houses expanded and lots maxed out, Auwaerter said, as crowds streamed in throughout the night. The Bayport Flower Houses has hosted the community expo every other year for around 30 years.
Seeing community spirit alive, as his fellow chamber board member Devine put it, Auwaerter said the event provides a unique, in person networking opportunity for anyone in the community to get involved in civic or commercial life.
“Where else can you mix business and community?” Auwaerter asked. “I’ve never been to anything like [what] we’ve created here… It’s a nice mix.”
To learn more about the Bayport-Blue Point Chamber of Commerce, visit www.bayportbluepoint.com.
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