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Friday, June 9, 2017
Vol. 77, No. 23
Environmental group to perform unified water study
SPRING PLANT SALE
BY GARY SIMEONE
On Friday May 12th,The Robert Seaman PTA hosted its annual Spring Plant Sale. Students and parents came ready to pick out their plants for their mothers, aunts, grandmothers, family members and friends as well as for themselves. Above, fifth grade boys pose with plants. See page 22.
Nominations sought for town’s “Salute”
Nominations are currently being sought for the Town of Oyster Bay’s Veterans Volunteer Awards, which will take place prior to the Town’s Annual “Salute to America” on Tuesday, July 11th, at John J. Burns Town Park in Massapequa, according to Oyster Bay Town Supervisor Joseph Saladino. “If you know of a veteran who deserves special recognition for their continuing advocacy or exemplary community service, or an individual who has staunchly supported veterans, please submit a completed
nomination form to the Town of Oyster Bay’s Department of Community & Youth Services no later than June 20, 2017,” Supervisor Saladino said. “Forms are available by calling the Town of Oyster Bay’s Department of Community and Youth Services at (516) 797-7925 or downloaded on the homepage of the Town’s Website at www.oysterbaytown. com.” Nominations are being accepted in three different recognitions, a Lifetime Achievement Award, a Volunteer of the Year Award and the Non-Veteran (Friend of
Veterans) Volunteer of the Year Award. Supervisor Saladino noted that “Salute to America,” a patriotic evening of top flight musical talent and fireworks, is a thank you to all of our veterans and active military for protecting the freedoms we enjoy each and every day as Americans. “The program stands as an important reminder that their sacrifices are remembered and greatly appreciated,” Supervisor Saladino said.
The Long Island Sound will receive a complete health inspection thanks to the efforts of the local Environmental group, ‘Save the Sound.’ The group plans to collect a massive data trove, testing water samples twice a month from 116 locations in the Sound to determine the impact of pollution. “The unified water study has been designed to allow us to quickly and cost effectively get out on all the bays and harbors on Long Island Sound and measure the impact of nitrogen pollution on these systems,” said Tracy Brown, Director of Save the Sound. Friends of the Bay, an environmental organization located in Oyster Bay, has partnered with Save the Sound to conduct monitoring tests in Oyster Bay and Cold Spring Harbor estuaries. Paul Deorsay, Executive Director at Friends of the Bay, said a direct reading instrument would be used to record data and a water quality report would be derived from the data. The report will be sent to the Department of Health for further analysis. He said the unified water study was part of the National Estuary Program, and is a standardized sampling program to check for excess nitrogen in our waterways. “Twice a month we’d be sampling for both elevated chlorophyll A levels and dissolved oxygen levels which is an indication of excess nitrogen in the water,” said Deorsay. According to Deorsay the main reason for the elevated nitrogen levels comes from on-site septic systems that leak sewage into the bays of Long Island Sound. He said that if he had to take an educated guess that Nassau County alone had a total of 350,000 on-site septic systems. “They are probably the biggest contributor but nitrogen can come from our atmosphere and from runoff into the bays from fertilizers and other things.” The tests will be conducted in the warmer months from May to September and will be focused on seasonal changes and long term trends in the Sound. “This is not about taking a snapshot in time and drawing conclusions,” said Deorsay. “It’s about the long term trends and the bigger picture.”
“Street Beat” performs at Berry Hill PAGE 10 Jericho Jewish Ctr. barbecue & bonfire PAGE 17