Bethpage-Tribune_1991-04-26

              YOUR OFFICIAL HOMETOWN NEWSPAPER
Serving Bethpage, Island Trees, Plainedge, Seaford, Old Bethpage and Plainview
VOL. 24 NO. 21 April 26-May 2, 1991 25 CENTS
AN EAGLE FLIES
Eagle and 3 New Fire Vehicles Dedicated
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On Sunday April 21, the Bethpage
Fire Department had an impressive
dedication ceremony with the addition
of 3 new fire fighting vehicles and a
proud eagle which is displayed on the
front of the fire house.
The eagle which stands an impres­sive
5 feet tall by 11 feet wide, was
donated by Chase Bank in Bethpage
and has quite a remarkable history.
In 1974 Chase Bank, then called
Seaman's Bank commissioned an
artist from Massachusetts to carve the
eagle. He made it out of teak wood
and a very special and expensive wood
imported from the Philippines. After
many years the eagle began to show
signs of wear and tear and actually
began to rot. It was at that time that
the banking facility commissioned a
company to create a mold of the eagle
and create a replica out of fiberglass.
This replica which is the only copy
of the original rendering is the one
that now flies proudly over our
firehouse. The original carving has
been put to rest in a museum in
Massachusetts. John C. Wagner, Jr.
who was Vice President of Chase
Bank at that time, but since has been
transfered to a different branch, was
present for the dedication along with
his wife and children. He told the
crowd about the eagle's historical past
and said that there is not a more
deserving or appropriate place for her
to lly. He thanked Jim Comerford of
the Bethpage F-^irc Department lor
helping him find such a fitting home
for the eagle.
1 he next unveiling of sorts was the
christening of 3 brand new fire lightinii
vehicles which will be added lo the
lire deparinicnis existing 10 lire
trucks, 3 ambulances and 4 chief cars.
Two pumper engines boasting the
slogan "Some Like It Hot" were
proudly displayed at the ceremony.
Each pumper engine has a cost of
between $250,000 - $300,000 and has
a life span of about 20-30 years. The
other vehicle which was added to this
impressive fleet was a Rescue Van
which is a heavy recsue vehicle and
incident command post which costs
$350,000. This van replaces the 1968
model which was being used. Chief
Brian Durr who offciated at the
ceremony said that the additon of
these three vehicles will not only
enable the fire department to serve the
community better but also has pro­vided
Bethpage with the most state
of the art equipment in Nassau
County. The Rescue Van was dedi­cated
to the memory of the late Fire
Commissioner Al Castaldi whose wife
Stella attended the ceremony. Durr
went on to thank our Fire Commis­sioners
and Chiefs and Past Chiefs as
well as all those who worked so hard
on truck committees to enable the
vehicles to be purchased. The cerem­ony
concluded with the actual break­ing
of champagne bottles over the
vehicles bumpers as well as the
blessing of the trucks by newly
appointed Fire Department Chaplain
Father Pi/iano.
Congratulations to the entire Beth­page
Fire Department. May the
newest additions lo their impressive
lleet keep them as well as our coni-munilv
sale for man\ years to come.
(See page 5 for more pictures courles>
of Jim "Flash" C omerford).
GRUIWIIVIAN
GROUNDWATER SUMMARY
FINDINGS
Residents are urged to read and respond to sunnmary findings
PUBLIC ANNOl NCKMENT
A responsiveness summary, which addresses the comments questions raised
during the recent comment period and public meeting held regarding the
Remedial Investigation Feasibility Study (Rl FS) Work Plan lor the (irumman
Aerospace Inactive Hazardous Waste site in Bethpage. has been compiled
by the New York State Department of Fnvironmental Conservation. An Rl
FS determines the nature and extent i)l contamination associated with a site,
explores clean-up alternatives, and recommends owe of these tor implemen­tation.
The responsiveness summary, can be read at the Bethpage Public
Library, 47 Powell Avenue, in Bethpage, but is being printed in its entirely
below so that residents can have their own copy.
The public is encouraged to read the summary. You are weleome to coniac!
NYSDEC Citizen Participation Specialist Joshua Fpslein al NYSDIX-Stony
Brook (751-7900, Ext. 343, 399) for further information about the repositories.
RESPONSIVENESS SUMMARY
Grumman RI/FS - Public Comment
There were several significant i.ssues raised during the December 4. 1990
public meeting held at the Bethpage High School as well as in the letters
the Department received subsequent to the meeting. I hese issues include:
- off-site investigations, length of the project schedule, annt)uncemem of
the public meeting, and miscellaneous issues.
The Department's responses to these issues are presented in the lolK)wing
subsections.
Off-Site Investigations
In a June 2, 1989 letter from the Department to Cirumman, the Departmeiu
requested that a ba.se map be prepared on which the locations of all private
wells within a three-mile radius of the site are shown. I his was later amended
to an area two miles north to three miles south of the center of the site.
As a resuU of this request, Geraghty & Miller, Inc., on behalf of Cirumman,
developed Figure 2 and Tables 1-3 of the Work Plan.
The reason for the aforementioned Department request was that the
Department needed a base map to u.se as a guide for determining what off-site
work needed to be done. It has been the Department's position from
the on-set of this project that off-site work will be required.
The United States Geological Survey (USGS) and the Nassau County Health
Department have conducted a groundwater study in the vicinity of the
Grumman and Hooker, RUCO sites. Ii was suggested during the public meeting
and in subsequent letters that the data generated during the UStJS study
be used to design an off-site groundwater remedial (clean-up) program which
could be implemented immediately. While it appears that the existing data
is extensive, it is insufficient lo develop a remedial program al this lime.
(C ontinued on page 11)
YOUNG GIRL
SEXUALLY ASSAULTED
ON BICYCLE PATH
The New York Slate I'olice, I rot)p
"L", with the assistance of the long
Island State Park Police, and the
Nassau County Police Department,
are investigating the sexual assault of
a 13 year old girl that occuicd on April
24. 1991. at appro\iniatcl> 4.00 PM.
The incident t)ccurcd in a woockii
area, just iiorili ol the Souihci n Stale
Paikv\a\ and \\c'.i ol \W Hci!i[ia,uc
Stale ^'alkv^a\. I lie \Knm uas \\alk
mg along the bike path, grabbed from
behind and dragged into the woods
where she was assaulted. Wanted is
a white male approximately d leei tall,
brown hair and brown nuislaehe.
Aiuoue who saw ainoiie or ainiiung
that was suspicious oi who nia\ ha\c
mlormalu)n thcs ihmk mas he \al-uable,
IN icqueslcti lo call the Ncv\
\ ork Siaic Police al (SU>) "^('1 I/O,
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