The-Leader_2008-09-25

              FREEPORT MEMORIAL LIBRARY
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Here Kitty, Kitty.
KITTEN RESCUE: The Freeport police were called to the corners of Washburn and Columbus Avenues on Sunday for a.report of a child inside the sewer.'When Freeport police Officers IVIichelle Haslam, Michael Levine and Donny Ethier arrived, they found out it was not a child, but a small kit­ten. They realized the kitten could not survive and they needed help to get
it out. They called the Freeport Fire "Department for help. Both firefighters and Freeport police went into the sewers and rescued the kitten. The kitten was taken to an animal shelter were it will be checked out. Thanks to the effords- of the Freeport Police and Fire Departments the kitten will find a happyand warm home. photos by BMI Bennett'
Treasures in our own baclcyard
by Laura Schofer
A group of eight birders stood at the water's edge, holding their binoculars to scan the horizon. . ~
It was early morning down at Cow Meadow Park in Freeport and members of the South Shore Audobon Society and other interested naturalists had come to observe and document the birds that nest in the area as part of the county's first BioBlitz that took place on Saturday, September 20.
A mockingbird' broke the birders' silent concentration. Then one birder turned to the other,.-'Do you see it? It's a palm-warbler arid there," he pointed out, "that's a-killdeer."
Lorraine Avitabile of Freeport nod­ded and wrote down each of the species of birds that were observed. Just before 10 a.m. the naturalists had already spot­ted 25 different kinds of birds including
osprey, hawks and black belly plovers, not to much the numerous kinds of ducks, like field ducks and shoveler ducks.
All of this was done as part of an effort to document what lives along the Meadowbrook Corridor, a ribbon of green that runs along the Meadowbrook Parkway from Jones Beach to the Northern State Parkway.
This is a unique and varied habitat that includes grassy plains, marshes, woodlands, freshwater wetlands and salt marshes that are in danger of being lost forever due to abuse, neglect and ~ development.
"That's why we've asked for your help," Legislator Norma Gonsalves told the several hundred volunteers who showed up at the BioBlitz orientation program Friday evening.
"The Meadowbook Corridor needs
our protection. We have tried to get the
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A preserve for Goes Neck
By Laura Schofer
The 33-plus acres of property on Goes Neck Road, now an,abandoned brownfield in North Baldwin, may remain "forever wild" if county legisla­tors pass legislation to keep the land a perpetual preserve.
Legislation, sponsored by Legislator Kevan Abrahams with the support of Legislators David Denenberg (D-Merrick), Roger Corbin (D-Westbury) and. Norma Gonsalves (R-East Meadow), will be presented to the entire legislature at its October 3 meet­ing that would keep the property from being developed now or in the future. This would eliminate any ball fields or park facilities from the area, keeping it as a passive nature preserve.
County Executive Thomas Suozzi, at a September 16 meeting of the Baldwin Oaks Civic Association, told residents
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he would support the community's wishes. "I won't do anything you don't want to do," he told the standiiig-room-only crowd.
Mr. Suozzi told residents he would not support MoUoy College's proposal to develop the property for athletic fields to be used by the college for school events as well as providing the public with additional playing fields.
In July, Molloy's Vice-President Ed Thompson presented a plan to the Baldwin Civic Oaks Association and other members of the Baldwin commu­nity. He told therh the college wanted to build athletic fields along with a walk­ing path, pond and two nature paths.
However, many of the residents opposed this project because of traffic and parking concerns in the middle of a residential neighborhood.
In August, the Open Space, and Parks Advisory Committee voted
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