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Public gives its wish list to Oyster Bay for SEA Fund $$$
Not unlike children waiting on line to see Santa, dozens of residents came out to give their wish lists to Oyster Bay Town Supervisor John Venditto, who described the bonding projects as vital to maintaining the quality of life in the town. "As everyone knows I have lived here for 58 years and have watched the area become overdeveloped," said Venditto. "We need to stop the insanity, and one of the most important tools we have to do that are these environmental bond issues." Held in Massapequa, it was a standing-room-only crowd, courtesy of the SEA Fund (Save Environmental Assets) Committee. Half of the $60 million is slated to acquire environmentally sensitive land and open space. The other $30-million will pay for park and recreational improvements. "The residents of the Town of Oyster Bay get it," said Venditto whose advisory committee was made up of town leaders and several environmental agencies. "They see the pressures on the Town and know we have to preserve the quality of life to make it even better." In 1992, 71 percent of residents voted for SEA Fund. In 1994, and 1997 the borrowing was again overwhelmingly approved. Last year, voters approved additional bonds by a wide margin. "I have spent a great portion of my life on our Great South Bay and have watched it become polluted and kill our clams," said Massapequa resident Victor Consiglio. "The pollution is the result of storm water runoff from our lawns and roads, and because they closed up inlets when they made Ocean Parkway. It's not even safe to swim sometimes...something needs to be done." Along with Consiglio was a representative of Operation Splash (Stop Polluting, Littering and Save our Harbors), a volunteer organization based in Freeport that works to clean up the Bay. "Our waters are so polluted that no marine animals can live in it; we need to refresh the water by adding oxygen and we can do that by installing a flushing pipe with valves," said the volunteer who told the town officials that average ocean water oxygen rates are 17, while more in-land rates are nine where marine animals and fish cannot survive and the shoreline is down to a two or three. "The bays need to breathe and they need help." Town leaders agreed. "This is very important," said Deputy Town Superintendent Leonard Genova. "Even if the SEAFund money doesn't cover your idea, I promise we will look into it." Other requests were varied; one resident requested a community center. "I am here for the seniors of Farmingdale," said Adelaide Ketchum, coordinator of the Farmingdale Senior Center. "Since we are acquiring more land from the Liberty Site, I would like to ask for a community center that can hold more than 200 people." "You can go back and tell your seniors you may get your center," said Genova. "During the late spring we will be having a meeting about redesigning the 40-acre (Ellsworth Allen) park, and we can talk about it." Another was seeking a place to exercise her dog. "I moved to Massapequa from the city and there are no dog parks here, which amazes me," said Patricia Rizzini. "The community needs one for both exercise and the social outlets." This resident was also told her wish might come true, as the Town was contemplating such as project. Massapequa Park resident Rosemary Bauer urged the Town to consider "going green." "I am new to the interior design business and greening," she said. "I think it would be great if you could update your community centers with recycled parts, save energy and educate residents how to save energy." The Town is expected to review all of the requests and come up with an official list of approved projects in the upcoming months.
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