Milana family to be honored by Oyster Bay Historical Society

The Oyster Bay Historical Society will honor the Milana family with its Legacy Award at the organization’s annual History in the Making dinner, celebrating the family’s transformative impact on the hamlet’s historic downtown.

The event, which will be held next Wednesday at the Crescent Beach Club, will feature live music by Gino Dabbicco and remarks from community leaders. It will mark the third year of the Legacy Award, which recognizes individuals or families whose efforts have helped shape the character and future of Oyster Bay while honoring its past.

Denice Sheppard-Evans, director of the historical society, said that the idea for the award arose shortly after she became director in 2017, with the first award, presented in 2023, posthumously recognizing Elizabeth Roosevelt, Theodore Roosevelt’s first cousin twice removed, for her extensive contributions to local cultural organizations.

“I wanted to highlight and promote the achievements of the community or people within the community of Oyster Bay based on their dedication to making this community a better place,” Sheppard-Evans said. “I felt that it was a great idea to start the legacy dinner with (Roosevelt), because she put so much effort and time into the historical society, not only there or here, but in other places throughout the community.”

This year, the society’s Benefit Committee, led by Maryalice Mazzara, proposed the Milana family for the award. The Milanas own and operate several downtown establishments, including Stellina Ristorante, Stellina Bakery & Café, the Audrey and, most recently, L’Etoile, in the historic former Snouder’s Drug Store building.

Sheppard-Evans said that recognizing the Milanas aligns with the historical society’s mission to preserve local history while fostering a sense of community.

“To have a family that has been involved in a community that offers so much, whether it be regular food or baked goods and all these different items that can touch different people,” she said. “So whether you’re a French restaurant, Italian restaurant, a bakery, you know, these are all things that I think (give) people the option of seeing or feeling or eating what makes them feel good. And that’s one way of bringing people together.”

For the Milanas, the recognition came as a surprise. Adriana Milana said they first heard about the honor from Mazzara.

“She has been a great supporter of our restaurants and bakeries, literally from the get-go …,” Adriana said. “And so then, she approached us in late spring, and said, ‘We would like to honor your family at the Oyster Bay Historical Society, because of everything that you guys are doing in Oyster Bay.’ It’s about the history, but also about just honoring Oyster Bay and moving forward in Oyster Bay.”

Although they weren’t very familiar with the historical society, the Milanas said they were impressed when they met Sheppard-Evans and learned more about its work. They were also deeply touched to be recognized by a group dedicated to preserving the hamlet’s heritage.

“We don’t really like too much attention on us,” Adriana said. “We like to do good things, but we try to, you know, not let it focus on us. But we just feel that the community of Oyster Bay has really welcomed us and opened up their arms to us, that this was one honor that we couldn’t say no to.”

She added that receiving an award tied to the town’s history makes it especially meaningful.

“Well, the more we became involved with Oyster Bay, the more we learned about its history, you know, with Teddy Roosevelt and some other things,” Milana said. “And it just made it feel like we are part of something bigger than us. That there was history there. There aren’t actually too many small towns on Long Island I can think of that have as much history, and the fact that we can be part of it and help revitalize it and bring the history to the forefront, you know, that’s really what it meant to us.”

Thomas Milana said the family never expected to become such an integral part of the community when they first arrived in Oyster Bay five years ago.

“When we moved to Oyster Bay, we had zero intentions of doing what we’ve done the past five years, and it just happened, and I’m glad it did,” he said. “For me, it’s very nice to be part of a community again … like a small town, and a community that is really special.”

Tickets for the History in the Making Legacy Award dinner can be purchased at the historical society’s website, OysterBayHistorical.org.