Saltwater Sunday: Sharing tales of life lived on the water

“Old salts” and new can set sail at Long Island Children’s Museum (LICM) on Sunday. Visitors will have the chance to explore the sights, sounds and scents of Long Island’s waterways along with folk artists who will share the traditional ways of life passed down in their families for generations.
“I have noticed during the time I’ve been working with the kids here that a lot of them had never been fishing or to the beach on Long Island,” said LICM’s Program Director Aimee Terzulli. “We wanted to show families how much the maritime culture has to offer Long Island.”
The multi-sensory program enables kids to experience first-hand the different aspects of the region’s maritime legacy. Throughout the afternoon, families will enjoy saltwater tales and traditions as they meet 10 folk artists and see and touch the tools and materials they use, at various stations through the museum.
Nancy Solomon, folklorist and executive director of Long Island Traditions, will introduce Saltwater Sunday and the “keepers of these traditions.” The particpants include: John Buczak, a commercial bayman from Bay Shore; Bill Hamilton, a pound trap fisherman and boat builder from Patchogue; John Remsen, a killey trapper from Freeport; George Rigby, a master decoy carver from Center Moriches; Harry Saarinen, a clamshell artist from Amityville; Flo Sharkey, a second generation baywoman who works in Patchogue; Eddie Sheehan, a bay house owner from Freeport; Tony Sougstad, a dragger fisherman from Freeport; Kenny Swaine, a seashell artist from St. James; and Cory Weyant, a fish smoker from Freeport.
Kids – and their parents – can meet with these folks who keep the age-old traditions alive in the 21st century. Visitors can practice with tools used to carve duck decoys, bait traps, repair nets, build boats and create shell and nautical art. Also enjoy a tasty demonstration of chowder making and learn how a prized delicacy is caught in the animated short film, “Let’s Go Lobstering.”