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May 2013 |
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Annual Cooley's Anemia Care Walk and Music Festival |
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The annual Cooley's Anemia Care Walk & Music
Festival, a fundraiser benefiting the Cooley's Anemia Foundation, took place
on Sunday, May 5th at the Village Marina at the end of Bellport Lane. The
waterfront walk was held in memory of Michelle Palermo DiMaggio. This year
the walk raised $10,000. "Cooley's Anemia is part of a group of blood disorders in which people are unable to manufacture hemoglobin. It's a devastating disease; in order to stay alive, patients must receive regular blood transfusions (usually every two weeks) as well as painful nightly, eight-hour treatments hooked up to a subcutaneous injection pump," said Peter Chieco, a Private Wealth Advisor with the Private Wealth Management Division of Morgan Stanley and a board member of the Cooley's Anemia Foundation. "Most people have never heard of this disease and unfortunately, most carriers of its gene are never tested. It is more prevalent in the Italian, Greek and Asian communities and it is critical that we educate the public about it." Click here to see photos from the event. |
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Wertheim National Wildlife Refuge Closes Little Neck Run Due To Nesting Bald Eagles |
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The staff at Wertheim National Wildlife Refuge (NWR)
have confirmed that a pair of bald eagles has made a nest attempt along
Little Neck Run. Little Neck Run is a small tributary of the Carmans River.
Little Neck Run is closed to public access until further notice to reduce
disturbance in this location. It is believed that this is the first nest attempt by bald eagles in the history of Wertheim NWR. First year breeding birds are generally skittish and easily frightened and may not produce young this year. However, once eagles select a nesting territory they tend to use it for the rest of their lives. Bald eagles reach sexual maturity at five years of age and obtain the characteristic white head and tail. They build large nests in tall trees and prefer undisturbed areas along the shorelines of rivers, marshes and large lakes. In the northern U.S., eagles generally initiate nest building in December - January. Egg laying and incubation (33-35 days) can start in February and chick hatching and rearing takes place in March – May. Eaglets make their first unsteady flights 10-12 weeks after hatching and begin fledging in June – August. Refuge staff will monitor the nest to determine if eagle chicks are present. If so, Little Neck Run will re-open after the chicks have fledged. Bald eagles were removed from the endangered species list in 2007, but are still federally protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act and the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act. These acts help to ensure the safety of eagles and their parts (feathers, nests and eggs) from hunting, collection, harassment and other harmful actions. Favorable locations to view eagles and other wildlife exist along the Black Tupelo trail at Indian Landing and at refuge overlooks along the Carmans River, with the use of a spotting scope or binoculars. The White Oak and Black Tupelo Trails will remain open for public access. As always, visitors are reminded to obey closed area boundary signs and to adhere to refuge regulations. |
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Legislator Browning Recognizes Two of LI’s Top Young Professionals - Joshua Slaughter & John Nieves Honored Among “30 Under 30” |
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Legislator Kate Browning recently honored her Chief
of Staff, Joshua Slaughter of Shirley, and Suffolk County’s Department of
Social Services Community Relations Director, John Nieves of Bellport, on
being named Long Island’s 2013 Top Young Professionals by the Huntington
Chamber of Commerce. Slaughter and Nieves were presented with a proclamation
and glass plaque at the Crest Hollow Country Club in Woodbury. Thirty
individuals under the age of thirty from across Long Island were selected
for this prestigious recognition. Joshua Slaughter graduated from SUNY Albany in 2005 having majored in Political Science. Since 2006 he has been Suffolk County Legislator Kate Browning’s Chief of Staff. Joshua is a lifelong resident of Suffolk County who has a deep passion for his community and for public service. In addition to his government responsibilities, he volunteers his time in the community and on political campaigns. He also oversees all of Legislator Browning’s fundraising activities. Joshua spends countless hours helping civic organizations and his neighbors; most recently he responded to the devastation left by Hurricane Sandy by going door to door to provide food and supplies to those in need, and made sure vital information on recovery programs was reaching those who needed it most. Upon graduating from High School John Nieves joined the United States Army as a Satellite and Radio Communication Security Repairman. After his honorable discharge, he studied at the State University of New York at Stony Brook, and soon after began working at the Suffolk County Department of Social Services (DSS) in 2006. In 2009 John joined DSS administration as an advisor to the Commissioner on Limited English Proficiency issues, and was later promoted to Community Relations Director for the Department, where he is the LEP/ADA Compliance Officer. As a Department spokesman, he speaks on behalf of the department’s 400,000 applicants and recipients, as well as the Department’s 1,600 staff members. He is the youngest person ever promoted to a DSS executive staff position. “With so many college graduates forced to leave Long Island due to high costs of living, it’s important to acknowledge those young individuals that have established successful careers here, and who are positively impacting their communities,” stated Legislator Browning. “I know firsthand having worked with both Josh as my Chief of Staff for the last six years and John through assisting my office and constituents, that each are dedicated public servants, and will continue to make Suffolk County a better place. They are great role models for all our young professionals trying to establish themselves in Suffolk County, and are prime examples that through hard work and determination young people can succeed here.” |
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April 2013 |
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Alligators Found In Peconic River |
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Environmental Conservation Lieutenant Dallas Bengel and Officer Mark Simmons
captured four juvenile alligators from the Peconic River on the border of
Brookhaven and Riverhead on Friday, April 19th after receiving a tip from
the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation’s (DEC) tip
line. This incident occurs only one week prior to Long Island’s first
illegal reptile and amphibian amnesty day. “Alligators released into Long Island waters have become an all too common occurrence in recent years,” Regional Director Peter A. Scully said. “Unfortunately, individuals who attain these animals often find themselves incapable of caring for them as they grow, and they ultimately release them into the waters of Long Island where they are unable to survive and may pose a risk to recreationalists. We hope people will take advantage of the upcoming illegal reptile and amphibian amnesty day and these types of occurrences will decrease in the future.” At approximately 8:00am on Friday, Frank Naase was partaking in his typical routine of a morning coffee and a visit to DEC’s Connecticut Ave. canoe launch overlooking the Peconic River when he noticed an unusual animal floating by the launching dock. Mr. Naase quickly contacted DEC Environmental Conservation Officer (ECO) dispatch to inform officers of the alligator he had spotted. Lt. Bengel and ECO Simmons responded to the call. After catching an approximately two-foot alligator with a catch pole, they observed three more alligators in the water. The officers quickly collected and secured each of the animals with tape around their jaws. The alligators, whose sizes range from two to three feet, were lethargic due to the cold water they had been exposed to. They were transferred to DEC’s Regional Headquarters in Stony Brook and will ultimately be received by the Long Island Aquarium in Riverhead. Alligators are illegal to own as pets in the state of New York, and individuals wishing to use them for exhibition, research or educational purposes require a DEC permit. DEC has partnered with the Suffolk County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to allow for a one-time only amnesty program, where individuals can anonymously bring their illegal or unpermitted reptiles and amphibians without fear of prosecution. Species that do not require permits, or are not threatened or endanger will not be accepted. The program will take place at Sweetbriar Nature Center, 62 Eckernkamp Drive, Smithtown, NY on Saturday, April 27, 2013 from 12 - 4 p.m. For more information about the amnesty program, contact: Suffolk County SPCA: (631) 382-7722 DEC: (631) 444-0250 USFWS: (516) 825-3950 To report any environmental crime, please contact DEC’s toll free 24-hour TIPP hotline at: 1-800-TIPP DEC (1-800-847-7332) or Dispatch number at (631) 444-0250. DEC keeps the identity of all TIPP callers confidential. |
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LI Ducks' Fan Fest 2013 |
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The Atlantic League champion Long Island Ducks
hosted their first-ever Fan Fest at the “Duck Pond,” Bethpage Ballpark, on
April 13th. The fans were able to watch the Ducks defeat the Bridgeport
Bluefish 1-0 after nine innings in the team’s first Spring Training game of
the year. Afterwards, both teams played four extra innings to allow pitchers
to get their work in. Ducks president and general manager Michael Pfaff
said, “Our fans and the entire organization are excited for the start of
baseball season, and our Fan Fest will bring the ‘Faithful Flock’ closer to
the team than ever before.” We were lucky enough to attend the event and got some great photos for you to enjoy. Click here to take a look. We plan on being there for the home opening of the 2013 season on Friday, April 26th. The Ducks will be playing the Skeeters from Sugar Land, Texas and the game will start at 7:05pm at Bethpage Ballpark. If you’d like to get tickets for the game, just follow this link to our “Ducks” page. |
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St. Joseph the Worker Church Community Garden |
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The Community Garden at St. Joseph the Worker
Church, located on Narragansett Road just north of Montauk Hwy in East
Patchogue is a precious gem in its polishing stage. It dates back to the
late 1970s when the Bellport Self-help Gardens, under the leadership of Joop
van der Grinten, delivered seeds and seedlings directly to families with
donations from the Bellport Garden Club. In 1980, St. Joseph the Worker Church approved the use of the lot across from the friary for a community garden. Years earlier the lot was affectionately dubbed "Pinkney Park" by Joe Pinkney, who now owns a tree service company. He remembers playing baseball there with the neighborhood boys every summer but by 1980 the lot was a dumping ground. It took three years of hard work to remove the concrete blocks and debris and build the first planting beds. To this day, concrete, black top chunks, aluminum cans and various pieces of metal are still being unearthed. 25' X 30' planting beds were roped off for the first families to plant whatever they wanted with the understanding that only organic methods were to be used; no chemical fertilizers, herbicides or pesticides. Throughout the years interest in the garden waxed and waned. However, in 1990, there was greater interest in the garden when Kathy Zbazis was awarded a grant from the South Country School District to conduct an Even Start Program at the Garden. A well was dug with the help of Bellport Rotary Club member, Hugo Gianotti and later water pipes supplying Suffolk County water were installed. The children and parents involved in the early education program came regularly and supplemented their summertime meals with fresh vegetables they planted and harvested themselves. When funding ended, activity at the garden lessoned. Father Tom, a former landscaper and agricultural educator brought new life to the garden in 2007. He spent much of his free time digging, mowing and tending to the overgrown lot. When the harvest came in, he would walk around the neighborhood gifting people with zucchini, garlic, tomatoes or whatever he grew while inviting the Spanish speaking people to participate in the community. In 2009, Betty Gundlach presented a plan for the garden that included raised beds for annual food harvests and perennial edible plants for future generations. She wanted to plant flowers for beauty and to attract predator and pollinating insects. A core group of garden enthusiasts built an 82 foot diameter 'labyrinth' for perennial flowers and edibles with a grant from the Town of Brookhaven secured by Councilwoman Connie Kepert. Long Island Compost donated two tractor trailer loads of compost for the project. Steve Gundlach picked up countless loads of cardboard to suppress the weeds from the Town of Brookhaven along with beer waste from the Brickhouse Brewery, coffee grinds from Bellport Deli and seaweed from the Bay to fertilize and improve the soil. He also built all the current structures seen in the garden. In 2011, Mr. LoFrese brought his Plumbing class at BOCES to run water lines out to the planting beds. The entrance to the main pathway is graced with a pergola that supports grape and clematis vines. The grape arbor in the center of the ‘labyrinth’ was made out of black locust trees that were growing on the property. There is a rose arbor in another area that is under development. Orioles, finches, red winged black birds, cardinals and humming birds are frequent visitors to the garden along with beautiful butterflies and bees. The current garden committee hopes that the garden will be as diverse in plant life as the people are in the community. They hope the garden will be a source of community pride and nourishment as well as a restful place to walk, take pictures and enjoy nature quietly. They invite more families to participate in its growth and upkeep. Membership is open to everyone and there is no fee. If you are interested in growing your own food or food for others you will be assigned a plot when one is available. They ask only that you register with the Outreach Office at St. Joseph the Worker Church (631- 286-6356), pledge to use only organic plants and amendments, use no chemicals or genetically modified seeds or plants (GMOs), to respect the earth and the plants of others (no touching or picking) and to help in the maintenance of the entire garden. (Join them on Facebook at St. Joseph the Worker Church Community Garden and see the whole pictorial history.) |
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Swan Realty Announces their Top Sales Agents and Contributors for Q1 2013 |
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Deborah L. Galligan broker/ owner of Swan Realty Corp would like to congratulate their Top Agents and Contributors for the 1st Quarter of 2013: Top Salesperson for Q1 2013: Patricia A Trainor, LSA Top Contributor for Q1 2013: Christopher Sattler, LAB |
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March 2013 |
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"New," Old Inlet Community Informational Meeting |
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On Saturday, March 23, 2013, there was
a meeting in the Bellport Middle School Auditorium to bring the community up
to speed on the latest information regarding the “New,” Old Inlet on Fire
Island. As you can see, it was a more than packed house. Charles Flagg said that the data showed only positive changes so far in the bay as a result of the New, Old Inlet. There's been no increase in the heights of the tides, compared to the surrounding areas and the bay is clearly less polluted. Joseph Gagliano summed it all up when he said, "I hope we listen to the Marine Science people rather than the Political Science people." There seemed to be consensus that if the data at some future time shows that the New Old Inlet is detrimental to the communities on the bay, it should be closed. However, at this time, the data doesn't show any adverse effects and therefore the New, Old Inlet should not be closed or tampered with. Bellport.com Supporters Please Note: You should have received a special emailing from us with links to our audio recordings of each of the speakers. If you did not, please contact us for the links. |
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Bellport Volunteer Fireman Donates Kidney To His Father |
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Frank Furia has been a Bellport Volunteer Fireman
for over twelve years. Frank came down with a rare vascular disease that
requires dialysis three times a week, so his son, Tyler Furia who has been a
Bellport Volunteer Fireman for three years, made the big decision to donate
one of his kidneys to his dad. |
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“Everybody’s Music” by Jack’s Waterfall |
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Listening to music can be both an emotional and
physical experience. It can make you happy or sad, but for me, good music
just makes me feel good. At times I close my eyes, tap my foot, whistle, and
move with the music. Jack’s Waterfall’s new CD, "Everybody's Music," made me
experience all of the above. At times I just couldn't sit still, I just had
to move with the music. I was nodding my head and tapping my toe having a
good time listening. |
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February 2013 |
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Snow Photos! |
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Well, that sure was a lot of snow last weekend! Most
places around Bellport seemed to have at least two feet of snow! We'd love
to see your snow photos.
Email them
to us and we'll post them for
everyone to see. To kick things off, Debe Galligan sent us
the photo at the left and labeled it "trapped inside." Thanks, Debe! |
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January 2013 |
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Wallen, One Year Later |
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Next Monday, January 28th, will mark the first
anniversary of the Wallen Market’s closing in Bellport Village. It’s a
bitter sweet anniversary because while we wish Bob Wallen and his family
well, at the same time we all miss having Wallen’s on Main Street in the
Village. Main Street just isn’t the same without Wallen’s. Click here to read memories of Wallen's that we have received. |
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Update On The “New” Old Inlet |
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Charles N. Flagg, PhD, of the
School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences at Stony Brook University has been
kind enough to keep us updated on the changes taking place at the “New” Old
Inlet on Fire Island in Bellport Bay. We’re sure you’ll be interested in the
changes taking place.
Click here for Dr. Flagg’s latest report. |
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Bellport High School 2012 "Wall of Fame" Honorees |
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The Bellport High School Wall of Fame is a project intended to celebrate
distinguished graduates of Bellport High School. Nominees will be evaluated
on the basis of their contributions to their profession and their community.
Graduates may be nominated by anyone within the South Country community and
a selection committee will evaluate the application.
Click here
for the 2013 Wall of Fame Application. 2012 Wall of Fame Honorees |
 Sullivan Palermo |
Sullivan Palermo
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 Jonathan Cumming |
Jonathan Cumming
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Photo not provided |
Troy Conquest |
