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Vol. 71 No. 13
MARCH 23 - 29, 2023
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Michael Dunphy leads the parade By MICHAEl MAlASZCZYK mmalaszczyk@liherald.com
Michael Malaszczyk/Herald
MEMBERS of THE Wantagh Chamber of Commerce marched proudly down Wantagh Avenue at the third annual St. Patrick’s Day parade last Sunday. Howard Ritzer, far left, Chamber Vice President Karen Lofgren, President Cathy McGrory Powell, Vice President Marilynne Mazzella Rich and Anthony Avena were all smiles as they followed Grand Marshal Mike Dunphy.
Every day, Michael Dunphy proudly says, “God bless America,” and that pride was on full display in Wantagh last Sunday, as Dunphy led Wantagh’s St. Patrick’s Day parade as its grand marshal. Wantagh’s is the biggest parade on Long Island and a celebration of both Irish and American culture, which is why Dunphy, the longtime owner of the Wantagh Inn, was chosen to lead the 2023 parade. As grand marshal, Dunphy joined the likes of John Murray Jr., owner Continued on page 4
Bay Park’s night work draws ire in the neighborhood By MICHAEl MAlASZCZYK mmalaszczyk@liherald.com
One of the largest environmental projects in Nassau County’s history has turned into a living nightmare for some Wantagh residents. The Bay Park Conveyance Project, which has been in the works for years, with environmental reviews and public outreach taking place between February 2020 and April 2021, was designed to make the western bays safe once again for swimming and fishing. The South Shore Water Reclamation Facility in Bay Park has been pumping treated sewage
into the western bays for years, leading to high levels of nitrogen in the water. This nitrogen has been harmful to the bays, producing less oxygen in the water and killing much of the once plentiful marine life. Once the project is completed, however, the bays will be able to heal themselves, project officials said. Using aqueducts that were found underneath Sunrise Highway — which are more than 100 years old and formerly used to pump drinking water to the city from Long Island — the waste from the Bay Park plant will be diverted seven miles east to Wantagh’s Cedar Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant. Cedar
W
e are becoming deprived and experiencing mental fatigue, anxiety and psychological stress.
RoBERT IAdEVAIo neighbor
Creek does not pump the sewage into any bay — but rather takes it several miles out into the open ocean, which cleans itself much faster than any bay. The project has progressed
quickly, with workers already on Sunrise Highway in Wantagh, at Shaft Five, using “micro-tunneling” techniques. Since Sunrise Highway is a well-traversed road, much of the work in recent months has been done at night, to the dismay of Wantagh residents who live nearby. “The May 2022 meeting stated
this area would not have night work,” Robert Iadevaio, a physician who lives close to the highway, said. “The noise, light, and fumes are preventing sleep, causing nausea to adults and children in the area. The work is as close as 40 feet from residences. We are becoming deprived and experiencing mental fatigue, Continued on page 19