Dear Editor: With all the focus of recent days on the Gulf Oil spill I can’t help but comment on what seems to be a trend of local importance.

The past year has seen an ongoing effort by Nassau County to “upgrade” the path that runs through the Massapequa Preserve. Several million dollars have been spend on this most worthwhile project and it soon will be finished. Thispath is one of the few re­maining

places where one can jog, walk, skate or ride a bike through undeveloped woodland that is virtu­ally the same as it was a hundred years ago. So, how do I compare this to the soiled shores of the Gulf states and the effort that is underway to clean it up? That answer lies in the amount of trash that is carelessly left by those who seem to be oblivious to the fact that plastic bottles, beer cans and other assorted refuse will somehow disappear on its own. Themost egregious example concerns animal waste. While dogs are “not permitted” in the Preserve, many are walked there on a regular basis. Now, you and your readers will find this hard to believe, but some of these dog owners will actually go through the trouble of picking up aftertheir pets and then disposing of it along the path. That’s right, dog waste wrapped for eternity and left behind for all to enjoy. I mean, how lazy and careless can you get?

I know this all too well having lived near the Pre­serve for nearly 40 years. I am now retired and have more time to enjoy this priceless resource. I would hope that those who do the same will take the extra effortto take out whatever they brought in.

James Burns, Massapequa Park