The-Leader_2007-03-29

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Welcome to The Leaders special Spring Issue!
SHIRLEY GALOPPE AND HER GRANDDAUGHTER ABBY FONZO were thrilled to meet! the Easter bunny at the Baldwin Chamber of Commerce's annual pancake breakfast.
bv Laura Schofer
It has been called the nautical nurs­ery, a place where the ocean's fish come to spawn and lay eggs.
It is supposed to be a place rich in oxygenated water, but each year, as the nitrogen le\'el rises in the Western bays of the South Shore Estuary, fewer eggs hatch due to hypoxia. "They suffo­cate," explained Rob Weltner. presi­dent of Operation SPLASH.
That's why Mr. Weltner. along with Maureen Dolan of the Citizens Campaign for the Environment, are spearheading a project to study water quality issues in the Western Bays. This body of water is part of the Hempstead Bays and includes the Western Ba\s. the Middle Bays and the East Bay.
The Hempstead Ba}s are the most westerly section of the South Shore Estuary that encompasses major embayments and extends approximate-h' 75 miles from the Nassau/Queens county border at East Rockaway inlet to the Eastern shoreline of Shinnecock Bay at Heady Creek in Southhampton.
Rob Weltner points to a nautical map. "At the present time we are con­cerned with this 11 mile [or 10 nautical mile] area that extends from the .Atlantic Beach Bridge to the Wantagh Parkway, with our greatest concern for the Western Bav and Reynolds
Channel." Mr. Weltner explains that although the water in the Baldwiii/PreeportMerriek area as well as Wantagh is "pretty good," the Jones Beach Sewage Treatment plant, run by the New York State Parks, is discharg­ing treated effluent into the bay just off of Jones Beach State Piu-k. "There is the smell of chlorine and ammonia. from the outflow pipes that go into the bay." explained Mr. Weltner.
But it is the four other sewage treat­ment plants and one utility that present the most pressing problem in the Western bays at this time. The largest of these facilities is the county-run sewage treatment plant at Bay Park in East Rockaway, as well as the treat­ment plant from the city of Long Beach.
"Both are dumping into the same inlet." explained Mr. Weltner. "Bay Park was built in the 1950s and there weren't many people, but the plant has expanded. They process about 55 mil­lion gallons [of effluent] a day. The others make up about 9 1/2 million [gallons] a day."
Mr. Weltner calculates that "they are discharging 64.5 million gallons of effluent in the estuary every day and in the last few years these plants ha\e recorded 86 \iolations of their permits."
"What we are hoping to accomplish
is to get the state to move forward on a
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The Easter Bmiiiy eame to Baldw^iiil
by Joan Delaney
Once again, the Easter Bunny accept­ed the invitation of the Baldwin Chamber of Commerce to attend its annual pancake breakfast, and he arrived in all his fluffy and fuzzy mag­nificence at Baldwin Middle School on Saturday, March 24.
Hundreds of families showed up, and eventually ticket sellers Barbara Fullerton and Marianne Dean had to stop sales until more food was brought. Who could resist such a bargain break­fast - $2 for pancakes, bacon, juice, cof­fee, and various Danish and treats along wqth a special plastic Easter egg, prizes, a chance to take a picture with the Easter Bunny and a pony ride outside in the warm Spring air?
Explaining the food dilemma to one parent, Mrs. Fullerton said, "We always have a lot of people, but not like this."
Delight was evident on the faces of the littlest children who, despite expo­sure to sophisticated television pro­gramming and movies, seemed entranced by the in-person presence of
this exuberant seasonal creature who . high-fived his fans.
Town of Hemp,stead Councilman Anthony Santino joined the festivities and his aide noted, "We've been coming every year. He never misses it." Mr. Santino briefly assisted members of Baldvwn High School's Key Club, who are loyal helpers at all of the chamber's events.
In the summer, the chamber hosts a picnic and in the winter, a holiday songfest, tree lighting and menorah lighting at the LIRR station. All of their events are intended to say "thank you" to the community and to instill commu­nity spirit and pride.
However, it is the community who should say "thanks" to these business people who not only help to fund these activities, but who roll up their sleeves to do the work as well. Always present, quietly doing so much of the. heavy work, is Ralph Rose who, along with other chamber directors, cooked bacon, poured drinks, and most especially, flipped flapjacks.
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