Brookhaven/South Haven Hamlets

Happy New Year !

2011-12-31T11:23:00.000-05:00

From: Martin VanLith [mailto:vanlith@optonline.net]
Sent: Saturday, December 31, 2011 10:55 AM
To: Fire Place History Club
Subject: Happy New Year !

Goodbye 2011, hello 2012. Wishing everyone the best for the new year.

2011 wasn't exactly the best of years for me personally, but also
weather-wise with some 60" of snow, 72" of rain, cold spring, hot summer, an
Aug. 18 microburst (ask Bob), Hurricane on August 28, a whole bunch of
nor'easters and, for me, flooding.

However, our history club seems to be a big hit in the community, especially
John's website. We are often called upon from from government, historical
societies, newspapers, schools and interested people for historical
information related to our community.

We started the year with a Newsday article by Patrick Whittle, ostensibly
about the Woodruff Cemetery, but it I made it an opportunity to publicize
that the Town was in contempt of court for maintaining the seven cemeteries
we asked to be maintained. This article seems to have gotten things going,
we'll see how long that lasts.

In March, after odors from the landfill sickened 100 children and closed the
elementary school, our History Club was asked to join the executive board of
the Brookhaven Community Coalition, along with the Fire Department,
Ambulance Company, School District, Bellport Chamber of Commerce and 24
other organizations. I gave a presentation about the history of the landfill
at a high school meeting, attended by about 350 people, on June 2, and have
attended dozens of BCC meetings since then.

On June 15 we showed the film "Saving Carmans River" at the BVA's annual
meeting. Also in June I met with Tom Langman, Maurice Wertheim's grandson,
and will work with him again sometime this winter or spring to work with the
Wertheim Refuge for the grand opening of their new visitor center.

Other interesting people John and I met with last summer were Richard and
Thomas Corwin, descendants of our Fire Place resident Richard Corwin. We
took them on tour, had lunch with them and will work with them in the
future.

On August 11, Kathy Curran, director of the Suffolk County History Society,
invited me to give a presentation about the history of Wertheim Refuge and
South Haven Park at their exhibition in Riverhead titled "Private Places
Public Spaces." This was attended by a number of people representing
various groups and historical societies and was well received.

On October 12, I did a cemetery presentation for the Fire Place Literary
Club at the Bellport Library. A member of the Middle Island Civic
Association was there and asked me to give the presentation to his group,
which I did on November 17 at the Longwood Library.

But, for me, the most fun I have doing Fire Place history is getting
together with you and just talking about our interesting and beautiful
community.

Happy New Year,
Marty

First Lady Commends Town of Brookhaven for "Preservation of Its Heritage Assets" and "Protecting Historic Assets" REALLY?

2011-11-29T14:53:00.001-05:00

Why we are cynical of the Town of Brookhaven! For years the Fire Place History Club has been battling the Town to maintain our historic cemeteries--something they are mandated to do by New York State law. Even after we get a court ruling in our favor, the Town has dragged its feet. The work required is relatively low cost. And we are in danger of loosing grant money because of it. I wouldn't call this a job well done.

Is she really recognizing the Town of Brookhaven for its efforts in protecting "historic assets" and preserving "its heritage assets." From what we see, and is reported in the media, the Town of Brookhaven is at the bottom of the heap.

First Lady Michelle Obama Designates Brookhaven Town as a Preserve America Community

November 23, 2011

Farmingville, NY – Supervisor Mark Lesko has announced that the Town of Brookhaven will receive a certificate of designation signed by First Lady Michelle Obama announcing that Brookhaven Town is now a Preserve America Community. Communities designated through the program receive national recognition for their accomplishments in preserving special places and telling the nation’s story.

Many Preserve America Communities are featured in “Discover Our Shared Heritage” National Register Travel Itineraries, as well as in the “Teaching with Historic Places” curricular materials created by the National Park Service. More than 850 Preserve America Communities have been designated in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and two U.S. territories, including historic neighborhoods within large cities and tribal communities. Benefits include the use of the Preserve America logo on educational and promotional materials; a community sign; listing in a web-based directory that showcases Brookhaven’s preservation efforts and heritage tourism destinations; and other support. The Town of Brookhaven is one of only 4 Long Island communities to receive the Preserve America Community designation. The other designees are Oyster Bay Hamlet, Shelter Island, and Great Neck Plaza.

“I thank the First Lady for recognizing Brookhaven Town’s efforts to preserve our heritage and tell the story of our 356 year history,” said Supervisor Lesko. “We have many fine examples of restored historic properties including the Longwood Estate in Ridge, Hobbs Farm in Centereach; and the Swan River Schoolhouse in East Patchogue that are open to the public and used for educational programming.”

Another important component to the designation is a focus on cooperative projects between government and not-for-profits, including Hobbs Farm, the Swan River Schoolhouse, the Long Island Music Hall of Fame building in Port Jefferson, the historic photo exhibit at Town Hall and the Terryville Union Hall/Cumsewogue-Terryville Historical Society. The Town of Brookhaven is home to a remarkable number of historic sites, including 46 Town-designated landmarks, 23 New York State Registered Landmarks, 33 National Register Properties, and one National Historic Landmark.

Preserve America is a federal program that encourages and supports community efforts to preserve and enjoy our priceless cultural and natural heritage. The goals of the program include a greater shared knowledge about the nation’s past, strengthened regional identities and local pride, increased local participation in preserving the country’s cultural and natural heritage assets, and support for the economic vitality of our communities. Since the program’s inception in 2003, the First Lady of the United States has been involved in supporting and promoting Preserve America. Permanent authorizing legislation for the program was passed by Congress and signed by President Obama in March 2009. Among the many

Preserve America Community designation is granted to eligible communities that submit an application and meet three general criteria:

The community has recently supported a historic or cultural preservation project that has promoted and/or is currently promoting heritage tourism or otherwise fostering economic vitality, and also involved a public-private partnership between government entities and at least one civic association, non-profit, and/or business enterprise.
The governing body of the community has adopted a resolution indicating its commitment to the preservation of its heritage assets.
The community meets at least five criteria specified in three broad categories: discovering heritage through historic places, protecting historic resources, and promoting historic assets.

Detailed information on all aspects of this initiative can be found at www.preserveamerica.gov.

To learn more about the history and heritage of the Town of Brookhaven, go to www.brookhaven.org or our tourism website at www.visitbrookhaven.com and click on Things to Do in the menu bar.

Division of Public Information * Office of the Supervisor
One Independence Hill • Farmingville • NY 11738 • Phone (631) 451-6595 • Fax (631) 451-6258

Brookhaven Hamlet History Quiz

2011-11-24T11:55:00.001-05:00

Brookhaven Hamlet History Quiz

Here's a challenge from the students in the Bellport High School History Club! It's time to get out your history books and visit the library for a little research on local history (or visit http://BrookhavenSouthHaven.org). Search for the correct answers and return the completed Hamlet History Quiz for your chance to win the 1st, 2nd or 3rd prize. Members of the History Club will select the winners at their January, 2012 meeting. You can submit your answers to the BVA website (http://www.brookhavenvillageassociation.org) or at the Hamlet History Quiz box in the Brookhaven Free Library.

Entries are welcome from individuals, a family or a class in the South Country Central School District. Winners and the correct answers will be announced on the BVA website in January. Good luck and have fun learning some local history!

• What was the original name of Mott Lane?

• This publisher of the Long Island Advance had his house down on Beaver Dam Road, by the landing.

• Frank Forrester (pen name, Henry William Herbert) had been in South Haven with Daniel Webster in 1827. What famous artwork are they portrayed in?

• Until 1871, Brookhaven Village was known as ...?

• Name three famous magazine publishers who resided in Brookhaven?

• How did Brookhaven get its name?

• What are the boundary lines for Brookhaven Hamlet

• Who is the artist/sculptor who had a summer home and studio on Beaver Dam Road?

• What resident of Brookhaven designed the US postage stamp, "Atoms for Peace"?

• He was the President of the American Institute of Architecture and had a large estate on Bellhaven Road. Who is he?

FW: Newsday Editorial on LI Compost

2011-11-02T21:07:00.001-04:00

From: Sharon - Brookhaven Community Coalition [mailto:sharon@BrookhavenCC.org]
Sent: Wednesday, November 02, 2011 8:30 PM
Subject: Newsday Editorial on LI Compost

http://www.newsday.com/opinion/state-dec-right-to-raise-a-stink-1.3292296

State DEC right to raise a stink

November 2, 2011

Though composting is an important element in managing our region's solid waste, a large facility for handling the raw materials of compost can be smelly, dusty and hazardous to the health of neighbors. So the state's Department of Environmental Conservation has done the right thing in cracking down on Long Island Compost in Yaphank.

Composting converts organic materials into rich soil and reduces the solid waste going to incinerators or getting shipped off-Island. That's useful. But big facilities can cause big problems.

This one receives leaves, grass clippings and wood chips, sends material to farms to be composted, and bags and sells compost and mulch. Its owners have tried to reduce the impacts, and promise to reduce future grass clippings they take in. But odors and dust persist.

Last week, DEC formally notified its operators about a change in the permit that has governed it since 2000. The agency will now require the company to construct a building to contain its yard-waste transfer operations and reduce the piles of wood chips. That will help nearby families that have been living with the dust and stench to breathe easier.

Long Island Compost disputes the DEC findings and recommendations and is appealing. But the agency seems justified in tightening the rules. For the sake of the long-suffering neighbors, we hope the appeals process and some ultimate resolution will not drag on for many more months.

FW: Victory! DEC MANDATES ENCLOSURE OF LI COMPOST

2011-10-26T19:14:00.001-04:00

From: Sharon - Brookhaven Community Coalition [mailto:sharon@BrookhavenCC.org]
Sent: Wednesday, October 26, 2011 6:16 PM
To: sharon@BrookhavenCC.org
Subject: Victory! DEC MANDATES ENCLOSURE OF LI COMPOST

PRESS STATEMENT

For immediate release:
Wednesday, October 26, 2011

For more information contact:

Adrienne Esposito, Executive Director, Citizens Campaign for the Environment, 516-390-7150

Monumental Community Victory! DEC MANDATES ENCLOSURE OF LI COMPOST

VOICES OF BROOKHAVEN RESIDENTS HEARD ACROSS LONG ISLAND AND IN HALLS OF ALBANY

Farmingdale, NY – Today, Citizens Campaign for the Environment (CCE) and the Brookhaven Community Coalition celebrate a landmark victory after the NYSDEC announced they are have issued a modification to Long Island Compost’s permit. After a thorough and thoughtful permit review the DEC is revoking the variance given to Long Island Compost/Great Gardens to operate an open air facility at the Yaphank location. For too long, nearby residents have suffered from strong odors and particulate matter emanating from Long Island Compost and the nearby Brookhaven Town landfill. The enclosure of LIC is an enormous leap forward in giving the people of Brookhaven back what they deserve; the right to breathe clean air, watch their children play outdoors, and have a quality of life comparable to other areas on Long Island.

This victory comes after a diverse group of stakeholders including CCE, Brookhaven Fire Department, Brookhaven Fire District, Yaphank Taxpayers and Civic Organization, South Yaphank Civic, Brookhaven Village Association, South Country Ambulance Company and more, joined to address the environmental, public health, and quality of life issues in southern Brookhaven. For months, the groups met with local and state elected officials and agencies to address concerns that the facility was not operating within their permit allowance and should have never been given the exemption to operate in an unenclosed facility. On August 11, the group authored a letter and formally requested the DEC to take this action. CCE and the BCC are delighted and heartened by the DEC decision.

Other stipulations of the modified permit include:

- All processing, tipping, storing, storage, and compaction areas must now be located within an enclosed building.

- Limit the on-site storage of wood and/or mulch… which requires storage pile size restrictions, time limits, and cover requirements for processed or unprocessed materials.

- Prohibit the on-site storage of compost products that are not completely cured or matured.

- Mandate the facility to submit a written narrative and site plan delineating all activities conducted within the Great Gardens LLC and Long Island Compost Corporation properties, a schedule for implementation of the enclosure requirements and an updated Part 360 Operations and Maintenance Manual.

Newsday article LI Compost "Deal"

2011-10-12T11:05:00.001-04:00

From: Sharon - Brookhaven Community Coalition [mailto:sharon@BrookhavenCC.org]
Sent: Wednesday, October 12, 2011 9:43 AM
Subject: Newsday article LI Compost "Deal"

Deal aims to cut Yaphank landfill odor

Originally published: October 11, 2011 9:55 PM
Updated: October 11, 2011 10:11 PM
By SOPHIA CHANG sophia.chang@newsday.com

Photo credit: Randee Daddona | Charles Vigliotti, chief executive of Long Island Compost stands in front of a mountain of compost on company grounds in Yaphank. His company is providing the compost for trees being planted at the 9/11 Memorial. (Oct. 29, 2010)

An agreement to slash intake of grass clippings to Long IslandCompost in Yaphank will hopefully address years of neighborhood complaints about the odor from the site, officials said Tuesday.

State Sen. Lee Zeldin and Assemb. Dean Murray announced they reached an agreement with operators of LI Compost to reduce by 90 percent the intake of grass clippings, a main source of stench during decomposition.

"There obviously have been a lot of groups and community residents who have been very concerned about the odor, and this responsiveness is the next step in reducing the complaints," said Zeldin (R-Shirley).

Neighbors of the compost site have complained of stench and dust emanating from the facility, as well as from the nearby BrookhavenTown landfill.

"It's great to show that they are willing to work with us and the community, and try to be good neighbors," said Murray (R-East Patchogue). "This is a step for them to move their business in a different direction."

The compost site will no longer accept 35,000 tons of grass clippings shipped from another Long Island town, which LI Compost president Charles Vigliotti declined to identify. "It was a voluntary act on our part, recognizing that there was some legitimate concerns," Vigliotti said.

He expects revenue loss of more than $1 million a year, though the 62-acre facility will continue to accept a "small" amount of clippings from local landscapers. "It's a recognition that we want to be good neighbors," Vigliotti said.

Local environmentalist Adrienne Esposito, who is a member of the landfill-focused BrookhavenCommunity Coalition and has called for enclosing the open-air compost site, said it is an important but small step in the right direction.

"While it's good news, it's far from what we need to rectify the problem," Esposito said. "The problem is inundation of odors and dust and nuisance issues and public health issues."

She said mulch and decomposing yard waste are also sources of odor; and completely enclosing the compost site is the best way to combat the impact on surrounding neighborhoods.

Vigliotti said the rest of the LI Compost operations were not affected.

"We're here to stay," he said. "We perform a critical environmental and quasi-municipal function, but we do recognize the fact that ours is an industrial operation and you have to be forever cognizant of the impacts."

The site's last scheduled delivery of grass clippings is Saturday.

Sept 21, 2011 BCC/LLC Meeting Minutes

2011-10-03T16:26:00.001-04:00

From: Tara Bono <tbono@citizenscampaign.org>
Date: September 30, 2011 11:09:18 AM EDT
To: undisclosed-recipients: ;
Subject: Brookhaven Community Coalition Meeting Minutes

Brookhaven Community Coalition – Landfill Liaison Committee Meeting (BCC/LLC)

Wednesday September 21, 2011

Commissioner Mike Verni commenced the meeting with a pledge of allegiance and then introductions. s

Marty Van Lith briefed all on the background and current undertakings of the BCC/LLC and history of the Landfill.

Adrienne Esposito explained why all are in attendance tonight; to address the landfill and compost issues in the Town. Two main goals of the BCC are to 1. Close the landfill early and 2. Rescind the compost variance to get it enclosed. She cited examples from across the country which are similar in size to LIC that are enclosed and successful.

At the request of Commissioner Verni, Adrienne read the letter to the Commissioner from Joe Williams, Suffolk County. The letter provided information on how and where emergency responders to the 2010 compost fire should get tested. SUNY Stony Brook Medical Center will be providing testing to emergency responders. The letter also stated that the County is currently developing a list of contaminated properties to share with fire districts so they may be prepared going into fires.

Adrienne announced the new campaign "If You Smell Something, Say Something" and passed out signs and magnets to community members with the phone number for the DEC odor complaint hotline.

Commissioner Verni introduced Town of Brookhaven Supervisor Mark Lesko, Brian Bendenbender and Matt Miner. Supervisor Lesko thanked firefighters and emergency responders and gave an update on Landfill and Compost. He mailed a letter to DEC Commissioner Martens asking him to consider BCC’s concerns. He stated that he urged Regional Director Peter Scully to be aggressive and to do a top to bottom review of the facility. He clarified that the Town’s responsibilities at the LIC are limited to height, width, spacing of piles as well as noise and odor. He said he was in the middle of the fire last year and may also get tested at SUNY Stony Brook medical center for exposure to radioactivity. He gave a list of the complaints and the Towns response to recent events at LIC. One event in August, Code Enforcement shut down operations after a noise complaint. Another noise complaint on September 14 was responded to, but no noise was occurring when workers arrived. On September 13, Fire Marshalls did an unexpected visit and found that the height and width were in compliance. The Supervisor said he met with the owner of the facility and requested that he install poles to determine the proper height of the piles and he seemed pretty open to it. As far as radioactivity, he said that they were in contact with the County and are waiting on the results. The County Health Department told Supervisor Lesko that based on preliminary findings, there are no health risks.

Adrienne asked him to clarify. Based on what? What are the levels? She asked if that meant that the test results found no radionuclides nor manganese. Supervisor responded that he didn’t know and the question would have to be asked at the County level – suggested that they and the DEC are present at future meetings to answer questions.

The supervisor also clarified some concerns regarding sludge at the landfill. He said the Town will not take in anymore sludge – it is no longer permitted, and it is a done deal.

Matthew Miner, Waste Management, Brookhaven responded to the complaints that the odors recently have been worse than usual. He said this is because they are beginning to do the capping of 15 acres of the landfill and to do this, there has been some cutting occurring. This process causes odors to escape. The cutting process is near completion and they don’t plan to do more in the foreseeable future. As far as the plastic bag issue, the Town has notified all C&D vendors that the products are unacceptable and they must change, or the Town will revoke their privileges. He also said that because the next section of cell 6 is being built in a different location, there will not be a big issue of odors because of the wind.

Supervisor also updated the BCC on the status of the Solar Panel RFP. They’ve hired TRC as the energy consultant and are looking at 10-15 sites including the landfill, Town Hall, car ports, etc. to install solar pv. RFP to go out in early October. He also wanted to let everyone know that he’s still working on getting a ‘one-stop-shop’ phone number for the Town, County, and DEC. He is looking into other options on how to increase Town revenue, to plan for the landfill closure. He said they welcome discussion on funding options. One possibility is reconstruction of Town government so they are not so dependent on the landfill for income. One option would be for BCC to get it on the ballot and let the people decide. Right now, about 40-45% of the Town’s revenue comes from the landfill.

The meeting was opened up for questions.

Rob Deshler asked about the DEC letter from the Supervisor. He told the Supervisor that he didn’t actually state his position in the letter – why? Supervisor Lesko responded that he wants to wait until the DEC tells him what to do, and that he does not "throw bombs." He will work with the DEC Commissioner and Regional Director and will not make decisions without all information. He also said that because the variance would only force them to cover a portion of the site, that doesn’t cover the whole problem.

Marty pointed out that many other elected officials have written support to implementing regulatations on compost. We need local Government support for DEC to go in and regulate, who can’t right now because their hands are tied. He told the Supervisor "we need your help."

Adrienne said that they were never made to comply to the consent order issued years ago and should have been. She explained that the BCC wasn’t "throwing bombs", it is a legitimate request and they never should have gotten a variance in the first place. She expressed strong disagreement that a community fighting back shouldn’t be mischaracterized in such a derogatory fashion. We DO need to tell the DEC what the community needs, not wait to be told how things work.

Supervisor Lesko said that is not what he does. The decision is under the jurisdiction in which it lies.

Mark pointed out that the issue of garbage in the roads that was discussed at the last LLC meeting has still not been addressed. Even today, if you drove around, the roads are full of litter and there are stronger odors – just getting worse.

Supervisor Lekso responded that he purpose of the LLC is to have a productive conversation, not throw around accusations. He said that no other Supervisor has done what he has done and he expects these meetings to be constructive.

Commissioner Verni pointed out that it was the Supervisor who asked for the meeting at the fire house with emergency responders present. Supervisor Lekso agreed this was true, but said he does not appreciate being on the receiving end of accusations. He said he wants to identify then solve the problems.

John O’Hara from the Brookhaven Industrial Group said that this administration did not bring these companies here, but they are dealing with them. The County is now trying to sell the old Grucci plant into several different plots, but there is a plume under that property. Potential buyers did groundwater testing and consequentially backed out of purchasing the land when they found levels of alpha and beta. He said that there are few industrial things in the area that may be the source of the problem. Adrienne corrected him and said that we do know the source of the radioactivity is the LI compost. We will be able to look closer at all levels when the data is released.

Resident Jim stressed the horrible odors living downwind from the landfill – can’t go outside, enjoy the BBQ or pool. Poor quality of life.

Art Governale asked if anyone knows of any health agencies that have done blood tests. Stated knowledge of "Aspergillus Niger" found in blood of those sickened by compost exposure. (This is a fungus known commonly as black mold.) Mr. Governale also asked if the people at the landfill thought to cover it every day and cited examples of daily cover in Mass. Matt Miner responded that they do use alternative daily cover – over 300,000 tons a year as an alternative to sand.

Jeffery Davis from the Middle Island Fire Department stated that he is happy to hear Suffolk County will be offering testing. He wouldn’t have known about the issues around the compost if he didn’t pick up the paper at all. He said the Town/County should have contacted them by now about it. He pointed out that you can’t test until you know what to test for. Suggested holding a meeting with other fire departments. Adrienne agreed that another meeting should be held when the data comes out.

Mike Brown asked if there is anything you can do with burning methane to help on rainy days when it is the worst? Matt Miner responded; yes, that is why we are capping the 15 acres – it helps with control. The more gas they pull out, the less in the community.

Supervisor Lesko wanted to stress the importance of recycling. He said we need to increase recycling rates to record highs and possibly go to single stream recycling.

Johan McConnel mentioned that the Town Composting Committee made recommendations but there was never a resolution to accept them. They have not gone anywhere, we should revisit those. Supervisor Lesko says there was a report from the Committee Chair; Councilwoman Kepert. He said they were accepted, but the issue got tied up in the Manorville Facility. This is an action item for the LLC.

Chris Roseyt address the July 2010 fire. He said black soot was everywhere around his house for months. He asked if testing was only available to the emergency responders, or if residents could get tested also. The Town/County will look into that. He also asked if it was possible to monitor and limit the inventory of the compost facility. Supervisor Lesko responded that mulch isn’t regulated by DEC. Adrienne pointed out that there are other models that are 100% enclosed. Supervisor Lesko asked for a list of facilities.

Claire Goad asked how many inches of Landfill cover were used every day. Matt Miner responded that ash and alternate daily cover are enough to cover the C&D. Don’t have daily numbers.

Don Seubert suggested that the Town should include mandatory enclosure to the Town Code. Supervisor will look into this.

Mark Knowles said there has been exponential growth for 17 years, and asked how it can continue to grow. How high will it get? Which percent is recyclable? Why wasn’t the sludge tested? Supervisor Lesko said there was absolutely no health risk whatsoever, it was an odor issue. He said there were no haz-mat suits.

Resident Malcolm corrected the Supervisor on his statement that no Supervisor has done what he has done. Malcolm said "Jim Hyle sat where you sat." He said he used to fly over the dump every day and he noticed that everything to the south of it began dying. The leachate destroyed the community. He said there should be fines for people who don’t do what they are supposed to do. He said that more people showed up to the BCC meeting than did to the Town Board meeting the evening before – shows people care. He asked if the Supervisor was going to continue threatening business owners with jail time if they didn’t pay the new fees. The Supervisor said it is a new state mandated requirement – he must enforce it.

Ronnie asked if all the hurricane debris has been burned. Town responded not yet – there is a plan to chip and burn all by October 1. He asked if the landfill is needed for revenue, why isn’t the empire zone taxed? The Supervisor said the empire zone doesn’t exist anymore, but some companies still enjoy tax abatements to keep them here and to supply jobs. Many of them pay partial taxes.

Robert Dorsey addressed the noise issue. He said when we call, they come, but the problem is that at night, the gates are locked and workers can’t get in. Supervisor was not aware of this, will talk to code enforcement – they need to be able to get in.

Supervisor Lesko concluded that he sees this coalition as a positive entity. He relates to the emergency responders and there needs to be a clear protocol to provide service. He urges all in attendance to stay involved with the coalition, they can get you the info you need.
--

Tara Bono

Program Coordinator

Citizens Campaign for the Environment

225a Main Street, Farmingdale, NY 11735

(516) 390-7150

Long Island Advance article: DEC looks at mulch site regulation

2011-10-03T16:15:00.000-04:00

From: Sharon - Brookhaven Community Coalition [mailto:sharon@BrookhavenCC.org]
Sent: Friday, September 30, 2011 12:04 PM
Subject: LI Advance article: DEC looks at mulch site regulation

	DEC looks at mulch site regulation Story By: LINDA LEUZZI, Editor

	29 September 2011
	Department of Environmental Conservation Long Island Regional Director Peter Scully said the state agency was hoping to roll out proposed revisions to Part 360 regulations by the end of the year that would address sites like Beaver Industries in Yaphank, where a combustible fire erupted last week. “It accepts land clearing debris and ships it into a mulch product,” Scully said of the facility at 275 Main Street. “It’s located on residentially-zoned property. The town took it to court to bring it in compliance. The current solid waste regulations specifically exempts those facilities with land clearing debris and it is possible [the regulation] could be amended.” “[Beaver Industries] is just blatantly illegal,” said Supervisor Mark Lesko. “They’re not in compliance with town zoning. We sued them and urged the court to close the facility there. The judge denied a temporary restraining order but that doesn’t mean they denied the request to shut them down. He said ‘I’ll hear the lawsuit and make a decision.’ It’s a bad situation.” When contacted, a representative from Beaver Industries commented there was no one who could talk about the fire and hung up. Legislator Kate Browning said the DEC could create regulation over land clearing debris and mulch sites, which she’s been pushing. “The state health commissioner and state health officials have balked at regulation,” she said. “Beaver Industries, I believe their piles were at 40 feet. You’re talking about air quality in residential communities. If you don’t regulate them, they’ll continue to do what they’re doing and local residents will wind up with health problems.” Browning contacted Fire Rescue Emergency Services Commissioner Joe Williams the day of the fire, who sent a representative to the site as well as Suffolk County Department of Health. “My chief fire marshal was there and I was told [the piles were] 40 feet in height,” Williams said. “I recommended and it’s a fact that it’s best to wear self-contained breathing apparatus, even in building fires, that’s a national standard. Brookhaven Fire Department second assistant chief Tom Connors said his department was activated at 11:16 a.m. Thursday morning. “I was directing all the big tankers needed for water,” he said. “I saw a lot of smoke. It came under control about 1:30 p.m. Councilwoman Connie Kepert, who headed the town’s compost committee, said a number of recommendations were made and passed by the town board Oct. 2010. “We passed a sense regulation recommending the DEC amend mulch exemption and sent a copy to Scully as well as to Senator Lee Zeldin and Assemblyman Dean Murray,” she said. “Then we had numerous conversations about air quality standards. They are regional and not site specific.” Kepert said another sense resolution was passed. “If we have the DEC going to Long Island Compost, for example, and they do a sniff test and also measure the particulate matter, if it doesn’t affect the entire region, which is Long Island, then it’s bogus and they can’t regulate it. We also asked them to enforce preferred practices at all facilities within the town.” The Yaphank fire erupted hours after the Brookhaven Community Coalition and community residents met with Lesko last Wednesday night at the Brookhaven Fire Department. Their topics included concern about the town supervisor not asking the DEC to rescind the Long Island Compost permit which would require them to enclose the facility. “The actual oversight primarily lies with state DEC and Suffolk County Department of Health,” Lesko told the Advance. “That site has been regulated by those entities and they have to date not shut them down nor have they made them enclose. I don’t know specifically why the DEC and county Department of Health have made those decisions, the enclosure issue could be the size. But the Brookhaven Community Coalition gave me information about large enclosed facilities. If I’m going to take a definitive position I want it to be an informed one. With Long Island Compost, the enclosure would only address about 15 percent of the property. You have 85 percent of the rest with mulch piles. So, even if you went to enclosed processing, you are really not solving the major problem. I sent my letter to DEC to review the issue and had a personal phone call pursuant to my request and the coalition’s request. The DEC is not only looking at the variance but are conducting a top-to-bottom review of the way they regulate the facility so the coalition is getting more than they ask and that’s a good thing. There’s no doubt Long Island Compost negatively impacts the lives of residents within the vicinity so I have no problems urging the DEC, the county Department of Health and Long Island Compost to improve their quality of life standards.” BCC Executive Board member Marty Van Lith, who attended the meeting, said Lesko took questions from the audience for well over an hour until after 9 p.m. “To give him credit, at least he’s meeting with us,” Van Lith said. “No previous supervisor has done that over the last 40 years.” Van Lith cited the Delaware County MSW Co-Composting facility in upstate Walton, New York, just one of several enclosed processing facilities in the country. Citizens Campaign for the Environment Executive Director Adrienne Esposito who is steering the BCC’s issues, commented there was concern and anger regarding Lesko not committing yet to the BCC’s request to enclose Long Island Compost. “There was an honest dialogue about the compost facility and the landfill and we are moving ahead,” she said.

LI Advance article: DEC looks at mulch site regulation

2011-09-30T12:41:00.001-04:00

From: Sharon - Brookhaven Community Coalition [mailto:sharon@BrookhavenCC.org]
Sent: Friday, September 30, 2011 12:04 PM
Subject: LI Advance article: DEC looks at mulch site regulation

	DEC looks at mulch site regulation Story By: LINDA LEUZZI, Editor

	29 September 2011
	Department of Environmental Conservation Long Island Regional Director Peter Scully said the state agency was hoping to roll out proposed revisions to Part 360 regulations by the end of the year that would address sites like Beaver Industries in Yaphank, where a combustible fire erupted last week. “It accepts land clearing debris and ships it into a mulch product,” Scully said of the facility at 275 Main Street. “It’s located on residentially-zoned property. The town took it to court to bring it in compliance. The current solid waste regulations specifically exempts those facilities with land clearing debris and it is possible [the regulation] could be amended.” “[Beaver Industries] is just blatantly illegal,” said Supervisor Mark Lesko. “They’re not in compliance with town zoning. We sued them and urged the court to close the facility there. The judge denied a temporary restraining order but that doesn’t mean they denied the request to shut them down. He said ‘I’ll hear the lawsuit and make a decision.’ It’s a bad situation.” When contacted, a representative from Beaver Industries commented there was no one who could talk about the fire and hung up. Legislator Kate Browning said the DEC could create regulation over land clearing debris and mulch sites, which she’s been pushing. “The state health commissioner and state health officials have balked at regulation,” she said. “Beaver Industries, I believe their piles were at 40 feet. You’re talking about air quality in residential communities. If you don’t regulate them, they’ll continue to do what they’re doing and local residents will wind up with health problems.” Browning contacted Fire Rescue Emergency Services Commissioner Joe Williams the day of the fire, who sent a representative to the site as well as Suffolk County Department of Health. “My chief fire marshal was there and I was told [the piles were] 40 feet in height,” Williams said. “I recommended and it’s a fact that it’s best to wear self-contained breathing apparatus, even in building fires, that’s a national standard. Brookhaven Fire Department second assistant chief Tom Connors said his department was activated at 11:16 a.m. Thursday morning. “I was directing all the big tankers needed for water,” he said. “I saw a lot of smoke. It came under control about 1:30 p.m. Councilwoman Connie Kepert, who headed the town’s compost committee, said a number of recommendations were made and passed by the town board Oct. 2010. “We passed a sense regulation recommending the DEC amend mulch exemption and sent a copy to Scully as well as to Senator Lee Zeldin and Assemblyman Dean Murray,” she said. “Then we had numerous conversations about air quality standards. They are regional and not site specific.” Kepert said another sense resolution was passed. “If we have the DEC going to Long Island Compost, for example, and they do a sniff test and also measure the particulate matter, if it doesn’t affect the entire region, which is Long Island, then it’s bogus and they can’t regulate it. We also asked them to enforce preferred practices at all facilities within the town.” The Yaphank fire erupted hours after the Brookhaven Community Coalition and community residents met with Lesko last Wednesday night at the Brookhaven Fire Department. Their topics included concern about the town supervisor not asking the DEC to rescind the Long Island Compost permit which would require them to enclose the facility. “The actual oversight primarily lies with state DEC and Suffolk County Department of Health,” Lesko told the Advance. “That site has been regulated by those entities and they have to date not shut them down nor have they made them enclose. I don’t know specifically why the DEC and county Department of Health have made those decisions, the enclosure issue could be the size. But the Brookhaven Community Coalition gave me information about large enclosed facilities. If I’m going to take a definitive position I want it to be an informed one. With Long Island Compost, the enclosure would only address about 15 percent of the property. You have 85 percent of the rest with mulch piles. So, even if you went to enclosed processing, you are really not solving the major problem. I sent my letter to DEC to review the issue and had a personal phone call pursuant to my request and the coalition’s request. The DEC is not only looking at the variance but are conducting a top-to-bottom review of the way they regulate the facility so the coalition is getting more than they ask and that’s a good thing. There’s no doubt Long Island Compost negatively impacts the lives of residents within the vicinity so I have no problems urging the DEC, the county Department of Health and Long Island Compost to improve their quality of life standards.” BCC Executive Board member Marty Van Lith, who attended the meeting, said Lesko took questions from the audience for well over an hour until after 9 p.m. “To give him credit, at least he’s meeting with us,” Van Lith said. “No previous supervisor has done that over the last 40 years.” Van Lith cited the Delaware County MSW Co-Composting facility in upstate Walton, New York, just one of several enclosed processing facilities in the country. Citizens Campaign for the Environment Executive Director Adrienne Esposito who is steering the BCC’s issues, commented there was concern and anger regarding Lesko not committing yet to the BCC’s request to enclose Long Island Compost. “There was an honest dialogue about the compost facility and the landfill and we are moving ahead,” she said.

BROOKHAVEN COMMUNITY COALITION CALLS ON DEC TO ENCLOSE COMPOST/MULCH FACILITIES

2011-09-29T20:06:00.001-04:00

PRESS RELEASE

For immediate release:
Sunday, September 25, 2011

For more information contact: Adrienne Esposito, Executive Director

Citizens Campaign for the Environment 516 390-7150 (office) - 631-384-1378 (mobile)

BROOKHAVEN COMMUNITY COALITION CALLS ON DEC TO ENCLOSE COMPOST/MULCH FACILITIES

ANOTHER NEEDLESS FIRE STRIKES YAPHANK DUE TO UNREGUALATED AND OPEN AIR COMPOST/MULCH FACILITIES

Brookhaven, NY - Throughout the Town of Brookhaven, compost, mulching, and landfill issues have plagued communities with odor, dust, debris and noise without proper oversight, regulation and code enforcement. The mulch fire at Beaver Industries in Yaphank on September 22 is just one more incident that illustrates the need for these facilities to be regulated and enclosed to protect public health and safety. The 28 organizations of the Brookhaven Community Coalition (BCC) are continuing their call for immediate full enclosure of all Composting and Mulching operations – starting with Long Island’s largest; Long Island Compost/Great Gardens.

“The Yaphank Civic Association strongly supports BCC's efforts to rescind the exemption granted to LIC/Great Gardens. This huge facility was thrust upon a residential area and has consistently through the years been an unfair detriment to our community and seriously deteriorated our quality of life,” said Chad Trusnovec, President Yaphank Taxpayers and Civic Association and a BCC member.

Fire fighters arrived to a serious fire of burning organic material last week at the Beaver Industries mulch facility. Emergency responders spent hours fighting a fire on a mulch pile that was much taller than the allowable limit of 25 feet. This scene was all too reminiscent of the massive fire at Long Island Compost in July, 2010 where 26 fire companies responded to flames shooting up 60 feet in the air, fueled by compost, mulch and other unregulated yard debris.

“It is critical that the first responders racing into these fires know what they are walking into, and if there are any risks to their health. It is my job to make sure that these people are prepared and taking the proper preventative measures, but we rely on our government and agencies to ensure that these places are following set codes and regulations, and are operating in a safe manner. If these facilities were enclosed and properly taken care of, it is likely these fires would have been avoided.” said Mike Verni, Commissioner of Brookhaven Fire Department and a BBC member.

The BCC has requested the Commissioner of the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation take swift action to enclose the LI Compost/Great Gardens. An enclosed structure would not only eliminate the odors and dust that plague Brookhaven communities but it also allows for temperature and humidity to be controlled thereby reducing the risk of fires.

“The LI Compos/Great Gardens was given a variance by the NYS DEC that allows them to operate in open air. The BCC has called for the immediate revoking of this exemption, as it should have never been permitted in the first place,” said Adrienne Esposito, Executive Director of Citizens Campaign for the Environment and a BCC member. “The DEC should put the public interest ahead of corporate interest and require the LI Compost facility to be enclosed. The public has suffered for 11 years, enough is enough.”

“There is nobody taking responsibility for these facilities. They are given free rein to operate in an unsafe manner. These facilities are negatively affecting the quality of life of neighbors and threatening the public health of emergency responders. I have lived in this community my entire life. The Long Island Compost is having negative impacts on our communities. It is time for Brookhaven Town and the DEC to come up with a constructive plan to help us protect our neighborhoods,” said Mark Magnani a member of the Brookhaven Community Coalition.

Across the country, compost and mulching operations operate successfully and safely in state-of-the-art enclosed and filtered facilities. In Delaware County, NY the IPS Composting system operates in a stainless steel structure and processes 42,000 tons of organic waste per year. In Los Angeles County, a 453,900 square foot building houses processes necessary to produce 250,000 tons of compost a year.

The Fire Place History Club celebrates the amazing story of the Brookhaven hamlet area's people and environment, including the founding of the Environmental Defense Fund, our nation's largest environmental organization. It is painful to see that the story's present chapter is dominated by the pollution coming from the Town landfill and Long Island Compost. New York State and Brookhaven Town need to do the right historic thing now and take steps to protect our community and others affected by these facilities. As a first step, the state should require the enclosure of LIC,” said Marty Van Lith, chair, Fire Place History Club and a BCC member.

“The residents of the South Yaphank Community have suffered for the past eleven years with the odor, dust and noise from the Long Island Compost facility. It is now time for the DEC and the Town of Brookhaven to protect the health and safety of our community. The civic and the community are in support of the effort of the BCC in requesting that the facility be enclosed. The time has come that government agencies need to act,” said Johan McConnell, President of South Yaphank Civic Association and a BCC member.

"The Brookhaven Village Association is dedicated to preserving the quality of life we had until the Landfill and LI Compost became a burden and a blight on our community. We respectfully but strongly urge ALL of our elected officials to do the right thing and simply enforce the laws that are already in place. It's not rocket science, it's common sense!" said Kathleen Schiebel, a BCC member.

Brookhaven Community Coalition

Affiliated Brookhaven Civic Organizations; Atlantic Point Apartments; Bellport Teachers Assistants & Associates; Bellport Teachers Association; Bellport Chamber of Commerce, Brookhaven Fire Department; Brookhaven Fire District; Brookhaven Free Library; Brookhaven Industrial Group; Brookhaven Village Association; Citizens Campaign for the Environment; Fire Place History Club; Friends of Wertheim National Wildlife Refuge; Greater Bellport Coalition; The Longwood Alliance; Manor Park Civic Association; Medford Taxpayers & Civic Association, Overton Preserve Coalition; Post Morrow Foundation, Inc.; South Country Ambulance Company; South Country Board of Education; South Country C.S.E.A.; South Country Community Conference; South Yaphank Civic Association; Sungate Homeowners Association; Yaphank Fire Department; Yaphank Taxpayers & Civic Association, Inc.

BROOKHAVENCOMMUNITYCOALITION.ORG

Press Release: LEGACY VILLAGE PARCEL PRESERVED

2011-09-20T13:33:00.001-04:00

From: Sharon - Brookhaven Community Coalition

Sent: Monday, September 19, 2011 2:47 PM
Subject: Press Release: LEGACY VILLAGE PARCEL PRESERVED

September 19, 2011

LEGACY VILLAGE PARCEL PRESERVED

Legislator Browning Adds 23 Acres of Controversial County Land to Southaven Park

(Pictured Left to Right: John and Johan McConnell, South Yaphank Civic Assoc., Martin Van Lith, Post Morrow Foundation, Robert and Audrey Kessler, Yaphank Historical Society, Tom Williams, Post Morrow Foundation, Sharon Wiesmann, resident, Chard Trusnovec, Yaphank Taxpayers & Civic Assoc., and Legislator Kate Browning.)

Yaphank, NY – In 2010 County Executive Steve Levy proposed the development of 253 acres of county land in Yaphank, also known as “Legacy Village”. The land is located in the Carmans River watershed and surrounds the historic community of Yaphank. A piece of the county holdings, known as Parcel A, was originally proposed to have two 5,000 seat arenas constructed on it. Legislator Kate Browning (WF-Shirley) whose district includes Yaphank, led the fight to stop Legacy Village, and last Thursday she secured the unanimous support of her colleagues at Suffolk County’s legislative meeting to transfer 23 acres to the Department of Parks and Recreation. This portion of the county owned land is now forever preserved. What was once slated to be two massive arenas along the shore of the Carmans River is now an extension of Southaven Park.

The Legacy Village proposal was immediately met with opposition from residents and environmentalists when County Executive Levy finally unveiled the plan after years of meeting with developers behind closed doors. Soon after Legacy Village was released the Town of Brookhaven began work on the Carmans River Protection Plan. The town plan made it clear that areas surrounding the river should not be developed and any waste water credits should be directed away from the river. The economy also continued to weaken and support for Legacy Village quickly dwindled. The Suffolk County Legislature eventually approved legislation that prevented the county from moving forward with “Legacy Village”.

“Legacy Village was an unsustainable plan from the start, and was in direct conflict with the Town of Brookhaven’s efforts to preserve the Carmans River,” stated Legislator Browning. “Killing the County Executive’s project was only the first piece of the puzzle.”

However, the legislature still voted to surplus some of the property in Yaphank to the highest bidder, which Legislator Browning opposed, so she immediately introduced I.R. 1267-11 to preserve the most sensitive land in order to prevent any sale of this important buffer. The 23 acres is all wooded and falls within the 0-5 years contributing area of the Carmans River., and also contains the old Almshouse cemetery. The county is still trying to sell other county land in the area.

“This land should never have been proposed for development,” stated Legislator Browning. “It is directly adjacent to the Carmans River and would have had a negative impact on the environment. I am grateful that my colleagues saw the importance of preserving this parcel.”

“The Yaphank Historical Society wishes to thank Kate Browning for preserving another small piece of our beautiful town,” stated Historical Society President Robert Kessler.

“A special thanks to Legislator Kate Browning for all her dedication to the environment,” stated South Yaphank Civic Association President Johan McConnell. “The protection of this parcel is another example of her listening to the residents and responding to the issues that matter.”

“The Yaphank Community is extremely grateful for Legislator Browning's efforts,” stated Chad Trusnovec, President of the Yaphank and Taxpayers Civic Association. “Because of this, another piece of environmentally sensitive land will forever remain protected.”

“This preservation broadens the protection efforts underway to safeguard the Carmans River Watershed and our ground water,” stated Sharon Wiesmann, a Yaphank resident who owns property adjacent to the Carmans Rivers’ Upper Lake. “The preservation of this property is a remarkable illustration of the ability of all involved to protect this precious environment in our area. We applaud and thank Legislator Browning for recognizing the importance and for making this land preservation come to fruition.”

The bill is still awaiting the signature of County Executive Levy.

Better Late Than Never - Hurricane Irene Views

2011-09-18T14:54:00.000-04:00

Hurricane Irene, Brookhaven Hamlet, NY, 27-28 Aug 2011

Some Views of Brookhaven Hamlet Following Irene,
27-28 August, 2011

Hurricane Irene, by the time it made landfall on Long Island, had been downgraded to a tropical storm—that is, less than a category 1 hurricane. Rarely did wind gusts exceed 50-60 mph in our area. While there was some coastal flooding, in Brookhaven it did not much exceed that of other major coastal storms we have experienced in recent times. The major effect was the widespread loss of electrical power, although many sections of the hamlet did not lose their power. For those who did lose power, it was out for around 3½ days, less than for Hurricane Gloria. The eye of storm was in New Jersey to the west of us. Unlike other areas affected by the storm, rainfall was not a major factor.

Town and County emergency management authorities issued "mandatory" evacuation orders for most of Brookhaven hamlet—"all that area south of South Country road." Even given what was known of the storm at the time these decisions had to be made, most residents felt this order was greatly excessive. Except for those with health or physical disabilities, or convenient alternate residences, most seemed to have stayed. I was particularly disturbed by one press conference, where county and town authorities were calling for these evacuations to see the mandatory posed "staff" in the background apparently telling jokes to each other—this while senior citizens were trying to decide what to do. It's not as if we who live on the coast were making recklessly uninformed decisions. The time to education the public is not a few panicked hours before a perceived disaster, but rather through regular communication of emergency protocols based on rational planning models. See, for example, the Flood and Surge maps this site.

By 11 am Sunday, the storms winds had greatly subsided and folks emerged from their homes to see the results. This was near the time of high tide in our area, and this combined with the residual winds was still pushing water onshore. It appeared as if the water in the Carmans river and Beaver Dam creek was 5, perhaps 6, feet above normal. These estimates are confirmed by where observed water levels reached when compared with the land elevations recorded on the Suffolk County land use information maps.

Click image for enlarged view.

Beaver Dam road at Beaver Dam creek., looking east.

249 Beaver Dam road

249 Beaver Dam road, looking west toward Beaver Dam creek
(you may be able to faintly see the Champlain cottage on the banks of the creek)

Fire Place Ln. looking west toward Beaver Dam Creek & the Fire Place (Gould's) marina

River Lane
River Lane runs parallel to Beaver Dam Creek

18 River Lane

Brookhaven resident Marty Van Lith works at righting tree in his backyard.

East end, Beaver Dam road, looking east toward the Carman's river and Squassux Landing
The elevation at this point, according to the Suffolk County land use map, is five feet.
Water was still rising, perhaps to another eight inches.

365 Beaver Dam road.

Tree limb at 12 Locust road pulls down electrical wires.
Power was out for 3½ days.

These houses, on Ocean Place, are the only home which face directly on the Great South Bay,
This picture, taken Monday, shows sand washed onto the street in front of the houses.
The day before, this area was completely flooded.

FW: CCE Event Alert: Meeting on Landfill/Compost with Brookhaven Supervisor

2011-09-17T10:55:00.002-04:00

From: CCE Member Communication [mailto:members@citizenscampaign.org]
Sent: Friday, September 16, 2011 11:35 AM
To: CCE Members and Friends
Subject: CCE Event Alert: Meeting on Landfill/Compost with Brookhaven Supervisor

View this message as a webpage.

CITIZENS CAMPAIGN FOR THE ENVIRONMENT
EVENT ALERT

Save the Date!
Meeting on Landfill/Compost with Brookhaven Supervisor

Brookhaven Community Coalition and Supervisor Lesko to discuss landfill and LI Compost issues

Brookhaven Community Coalition will be holding a meeting with Supervisor Lesko and the "Landfill Liaison Committee" to address concerns about the landfill and Long Island Compost facility.

All emergency responders, BCC members, and residents are encouraged to attend.

Topics to be discussed include:

Plan for closing the landfill
Pending results of tests on radiation found at/near the Long Island Compost facility
Rescinding the DEC variance to enclose Long Island Compost
Increased odors throughout the community from the landfill and Long Island Compost

When: Wednesday, September 21, 2011, 7:30pm
Where: Brookhaven Fire District, 2486 Montauk Highway, Brookhaven, NY

If you plan to attend, RSVP to:

Fire Commissioner Mike Verni: shady21@optonline.net; or
Tara Bono: tbono@citizenscampaign.org

Thank you for joining us. We hope to see you there!

Sincerely,

YOUR FRIENDS AT CCE

Citizens Campaign for the Environment

225A Main Street
Farmingdale, NY 11735
Phone: 516-390-7150 | Fax: 516-390-7160
6 Regional Offices in New York and Connecticut

CONNECT WITH US:

Brookhaven Town Snookers Residents - Developers Win Again!

2011-08-20T09:57:00.004-04:00

Carman's River Protection Plan law passed by State doesn't match what the public has been told.

When Brookhaven Town Supervisor Lesko's Carmans River Study Group had nearly finished its work, we were told in an article in Newsday that the plan would "steer development away from 9,100 acres."

That information is wildly inaccurate.

According to the Long Island Advance and Newsday, the actual law that was passed "protected" a maximum of 1,100 acres. But "Protected" isn't the right word, since the plan only moves development away from some of the acres very near the river to an equal area of land that is more distant.

Particularly upsetting is that when the tax map of the acres that were to be protected in NY State Senator Zeldin's office in June, just before the state passed the bill, the properties didn't match what had been presented to the public when the plan was before the Town Board at the end of March.

Then, after the state passed the bill, it was revealed on 20 Jun 2011 that the properties included in the bill were not all going to be "protected" either.

The new law allows the Town to remove properties from the list included in the bill!

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

From Newsday:
http://www.newsday.com/long-island/suffolk/move-to-protect-carmans-river-watershed-1.2672017

Move to protect Carmans River watershed
Published: February 8, 2011 9:34 PM
By PATRICK WHITTLE patrick.whittle@newsday.com

Steering development away from 9,100 acres of sensitive Carmans River watershed is the crux of a landmark environmental protection plan scheduled to be approved Wednesday by a committee assembled by Brookhaven Town Supervisor Mark Lesko. . . .

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Long Island Advance Editorial Article

Thursday, June 23, 2011

Carmans plan voted by Senate

Brookhaven Town Supervisor Mark Lesko was on the Senate floor when the state Senate passed the Carmans River Protection Plan, amending the Pine Barrens Protection Act of 1993 by adding 1,100 acres to the core preservation area.

“It will add a list of properties to the core of the Pine Barrens but the town needs to adopt the Carmans River Plan and the Pine Barrens Commission has to approve it as well,” Lesko said. “It has to happen in nine months or it’s repealed. The next step is to finalize it at the town level and finish the environmental impact study. Then it goes to the Pine Barrens Commission and then to the state.” Lesko said the list was less than 200 properties.

But the Affiliated Brookhaven Civic Organization President Mary Ann Johnston said the plan passed by the state was essentially different than the one presented to the town board on March 29. “It’s difficult to say it’s an improvement,” she said. “We saw the tax map in Senator Zeldin’s office last Friday morning for the first time.”

Johnston has received support from the Patchogue-Medford and Middle Country school boards who are against the plan, as is. The Patchogue-Medford’s stance is an unusual and important point, she pointed out.

The Long Island Advance received a letter from Pat-Med Board President Brett Houdek that at a recent business meeting, the BOE agreed with ABCO’s findings, specifically citing the process for the preparation of the protection and management plan was the antithesis of community-based planning and that it would allow for large multi-family development throughout the town’s commercial and J-business areas, much of it discussed being on the Medford Route 112 corridor, identified as an ideal location.

Johnston said she met with Senator Zeldin last Thursday afternoon. “He said he was told that our objections were about not being included at the table.

What’s disturbing is that it took him to this point to reach out. He missed the point of the Pat-Med Board of Ed. vote.

In the beginning the town said they were saving 9,100 acres and now it’s down to 1,100. We’re trading on a 12 to 1 ratio.”

Johnston pointed out those large projects already in the pipeline are going forward. “Lesko said they were very far along,” Johnston added. “State law says unless there is a shovel in the ground, it is not exempt.”

Johnston said her group doesn’t want to scrap the plan. “We want a really good plan that really works. You’re saving a thousand and you’re saying you’re saving a river. The Meadows at Yaphank project is 338 acres, which is better than a third of that number. You’ve already wiped that out by developing.”

– Linda Leuzzi

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

From The North Shore Sun:
State approves expansion of Pine Barrens core preservation area
By Jennifer Gustavson | June 20, 2011

. . .

The bill, which the Brookhaven Town Board endorsed at its June 14 meeting, was passed unanimously through both houses of the State Legislature last week.
. . .
The next step is for the Town Board to finalize the list of new properties that will be added to the core preservation area. Mr. Lesko said the Town Board can only subtract — not add — to the list approved by the state, which identifies property locations by Suffolk County tax map numbers.

Mr. Lesko said . . . the 322-acre proposed redevelopment project called The Meadows at Yaphank slated for the former Parr Meadows race remains excluded from the list. Members of the town’s Carmans River Study group have said it wasn’t included because the project was too far along in the planning process when the Carmans River plan was being developed.

Mr. Lesko also said that not all properties located within the zero-to-five year groundwater contributing area . . . will be added to the core preservation area.

Once the Town Board approves the new list of properties, land owners added to the core preservation zone will need approval from the Pine Barrens Commission if they wish to develop their properties.

Barteau Cemetery, Brookhaven, NY, June 30, 2011

2011-07-21T15:16:00.003-04:00

From: Martin VanLith
Sent: Thursday, June 30, 2011 11:49 AM
Subject: Barteau Cemetery, Brookhaven, NY, June 30, 2011

Ron called yesterday from his cell phone (collect, of course) to tell me that there were three Town trucks with lawnmowers on them near the Barteau Cemetery. HOLY COW! They actually cleaned up the cemetery.

There is still a lot to be desired, mainly having a right of way access, which they did not attempt to clear. So, we're still dependent on the friendliness of the adjacent neighbors, currently a group home with the legal right of way bordering it. This may work for the Town mowing the lawn twice a year and maybe us going in, but it doesn't work well for Hollis Warner who needs to get his truck as close as possible with the cement mixer and other equipment. Also, Hollis may not feel comfortable using the group home driveway for entrance and maybe the group may not let him. Not sure what to do about this. Suggestions?

Then there's the condition of the cemetery, which is not good. Anyone available later next week? Here are some pictures I took this morning.

Coming in from Montauk Highway via the driveway of # 2619. This part of the path leading to the cemetery is the legal right of way.

Look what crawled out from under a stone:

It's been several years since the Barteau cemetery has been cleared. It was a big job and the the Town did a very good job with it. Looking north:

Looking East:

There are 8 - 10 visible broken stones partially buried. I suspect there are some not visible, we'll probably have to probe:

Looking from the northwest corner toward #2619 and the entrance:

view from the northeast corner:

Some of the downed stones look to be in such bad shape as not to be repairable:

David Hawkins Cemetery, July 1, 2011

2011-07-21T12:10:00.002-04:00

From: Martin VanLith
Sent: Friday, July 01, 2011 6:00 PM
Subject: David Hawkins Cemetery, July 1, 2011

Once again, Brookhaven Town came through. I just returned from the David Hawkins Cemetery, which is located west of Old Barto Road and north of the RR in the Wertheim Refuge. They did an incredible cleanup job in this cemetery, see attached pictures. They even removed the small trees within the cemetery proper as well as the briers and brush around the perimeter. And they put up the interpretive sign I had left on the ground.

The Town has now done all the cemeteries we have asked them to do. I'll write a thank you letter to Councilperson Kepert's office and ask it be forwarded to the Parks Dept personnel who did the work. It's fitting that the Town did both the Barteau and Hawkins cemeteries in the same week. The Barteaus and Hawkins were neighbors and friends for almost two centuries.

Here are some pictures taken about an hour ago.

I went with Sally and Ricard Pezza, who live in the last house on Old Barto Road bordering the refuge. They are "watchdogs" for the refuge and report to refuge security when people break, or go around, the gate, like they did last week.

If we still have money left in the BVA cemetery account after the Barteau Cemetery is repaired I'll order split rail fence for this cemetery, probably ~ Oct - Nov.

Have a great 4th of July !!

Kayak rental agreement approved

2011-06-24T11:11:00.001-04:00

Kayak rental agreement approved
Long Island Advance, 16 June 2011, p. 8 (see also BLOG 20 May 2011)
Peggy Spellman Hoey

The Brookhaven Town Board on Tuesday approved a lease agreement for the rental of the former Carmans River Kayak and Canoe Center in Brookhaven, but not without its intended use coming into question by members of the public and lawmakers.

Under the lease agreement, Brookhaven resident Brad DeSantis will make about $70,000 in capital improvements to the site including a new dock, landscaping work, and a nature and educational center that will be open to members of the public. DeSantis will rent the site, which is located across the street from the Wertheim National Wildlife Refuge, for about $26,000 and run a kayak and canoe rental business. Residents with their own kayaks will not be affected by the lease agreement and will be allowed to access the site for free.

But Affiliated Brookhaven Civic Organization President MaryAnn Johnston questioned whether the property, which was preserved by the town in 2008, could be reused as a kayak rental center again because open space funds were used in its purchase, something she contends implies only passive use. Johnston also alleged the property had previous issues with a cesspool leaking into the Carmans River.

Brookhaven Town Supervisor Mark Lesko said that the information board members have from the town planning and law departments, as well as the State Department of Environmental Conservation indicate a kayak and canoe rental is an appropriate use for the property.

Councilman Tim Mazzei also questioned Johnston’s argument about the cesspool and questioned if anything could be done to safeguard the property from releasing effluent into the river such as the placement of a pump-out station.

John Turner, the town’s director of environmental protection, said he could not recall any issue with a cesspool, although he did point out the site had a fuel tank that needed to be reclamated.

“This is the first time I am hearing about this,” he said.

Like Johnston, Councilman Dan Panico also questioned whether leasing the property out for a retail use would be an appropriate for a property purchased with open space funds. Panico questioned how passive the use of the center would be in light that other areas such as the Nissequogue River in Smithtown utilize rentals, but they are mobile and the bathrooms are also self-contained port-o-potties. “So you can argue that is more a passive use as opposed to what is going on here,” he said.

But Councilwoman Connie Kepert, whose district includes Brookhaven, argued the merits of DeSantis’ application. “I think this is a good application,” she said. “I think it will get more people on the river, more people to appreciate what the Carmans River is and I am not quite understanding what the point is.”

Brookhaven Parks and Recreation Commissioner Eddie Morris also touted the merits of DeSantis’ proposal by pointing out it would not only allow greater access to the river, but it would place a presence at the property and ward off past problems such as squatters and looters. “I think it is a win-win for the town,” he said. DeSantis was not immediately reachable for comment by deadline.

The lease agreement came on the heels of the board sending a home rule message in support of State Senate and Assembly bills, which will put into place measures to protect the Carmans River Watershed including expanding the core preservation area of the central pine barrens region. "I'm glad that town residents will be able to soon enjoy canoeing and kayaking from this gateway to the Carmans River, one of our most beautiful and natural resources," said Supervisor Mark Lesko after the vote was taken. "We also expect the existing building, which has steadily deteriorated, to be refurbished."

Horseblock Road Investigation, Yaphank, Suffolk County, New York

2011-06-24T10:30:00.002-04:00

This letter, by Adrienne Esposito, Executive Director, Citizens Campaign for the Environment, concerns a composting site at the northern boundary of Brookhaven Hamlet in the Hamlet of Yaphank. In addition to the relatively low level alpha radiation found near the site, there are many citizen complaints of strong odors and dust. At the June 2, 2011 community meeting (see BLOG, Stop the Sludge Community Meeting), there was considerable "buck passing" between Brookhaven Town, Suffolk County, and New York State agencies as to who, if any, had jurisdiction or regulatory authority over the facility.

See related story: Residents raise stink about mulch plant, Long Island Advance, 23 Jun 2011, p. 5. This particular plant is in nearby Medford, but is producing similar complaints of odors.

New York State Health Commissioner
Nirav R. Shah, M.D., M.P.H.
New York State Department of Health Corning Tower Empire State Plaza Albany, NY 12237

June 20, 2011

RE: Horseblock Road Investigation, Yaphank, Suffolk County, New York

Dear NYS Health Commissioner Shah,

I am writing in regard to the above named investigation concerning contamination of unexplained radionuclides in groundwater, surface water and compost samples found on and south of Long Island Compost/Great Gardens located in Yaphank, Long Island.

Citizens Campaign for the Environment (CCE) is gravely concerned that compost from this facility is continuing to be distributed to farms and the general public across Long Island while under investigation for radionuclide contamination.

Data from groundwater samples immediately south of this facility contained gross alpha concentrations of up to 58.4 picocuries per liter. This contamination was found at shallow depths (20 – 25 feet) and therefore could only be attributed to a very close source. Samples of compost at Long Island Compost/Great Gardens were taken in the northwest and the southeast quadrants of this facility, both samples contained unexplained levels of gross alpha and gross beta radiation. Since alpha and beta radiation was found in the compost materials and surface water samples at the Long Island Compost/Great Gardens facility, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) and the Suffolk County Department of Health Services (SCDOHS) both agree this facility is the source of the radioactivity in groundwater.

A second round of sampling is underway and is anticipated to be completed in the next two weeks. Samples will be analyzed by both the NYS DOH and SCDOH. Results are expected in approximately six weeks. I am certainly aware that the additional testing will provide useful information in allowing us to address this concern with greater certainty however, greater clarity is currently needed for public inquiries. CCE is receiving calls and emails from members of the public asking if compost purchased from Long Island Compost/Great Gardens, is safe. They are specifically asking if the radiation can concentrate in their homegrown fruits and vegetables. Given the logical concern that a compost transfer facility should not be producing alpha and beta radiation, and that an investigation is underway, I find this a legitimate question. It would be very helpful for NYSDOH to provide a statement addressing these public concerns and clarifying why no caution has been issued concerning the distribution and use of the compost materials. Therefore, I am respectfully requesting a statement from your office that can provide the needed guidance to the public on this important matter.

I was present at a meeting on May 26, 2011 at the DEC’s Stony Brook office where representatives of the NYSDOH participated via phone. They informed the meeting participants that radioactive levels in the compost materials were relatively low and the public should not be concerned. They also suggested the cause could be "natural". I am currently unaware of any natural process where alpha radiation may result from the degradation process of leaves and grass. It appears too early in the investigation to offer such an explanation as to the origins of the radiation.

If you have any questions regarding this request please do not hesitate to contact me at 516-390-7150.

Sincerely,

Adrienne Esposito
Executive Director

Cc:
Senator Charles Schumer
Senator Kirsten Gillibrand
Congressman Tim Bishop
NY State Senator Lee Zeldin
NYS Assemblyman Dean Murray
NYS Assemblyman Robert Sweeney
DEC Commissioner Joe Martens
DEC Region One Director, Peter Scully
Suffolk County Executive Steve Levy
Suffolk County Legislator Kate Browning
Suffolk County Health Commissioner Dr. James L. Tomarken

A [Brookhaven Hamlet] Postcard From 1912 Returns to Brooklyn

2011-06-18T10:28:00.004-04:00

A post card of the Trinity Holiday House in Brookhaven Hamlet, mailed in 1912 to Brooklyn, was recently received by the current residents at the Brooklyn address.

Story as it was published in the New York Times.

The Trinity Holiday House was one of the many summer hotels/guest houses that could be found along the south shore of Long Island, including Brookhaven Hamlet, in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. This particular guest house was owned and operated by the Church of the Holy Trinity in Brooklyn Heights as a vacation destination for mothers and children.

The "Miss E.F. Iggulden" of the 1912 post card described in the New York Times article was of little doubt Elizabeth F. Iggulden, a daughter of Charles and Anna C. Iggulden. As noted in the NYT article, they appeared at the address in the 1910 census. Charles was a jobber carpenter; Anna was a dressmaker who worked at home. Charles and Anna were of English decent who immigrated in about 1895. In 1910, they had had six children, of which only three were still living.

I have a post card of the Holiday House dated June 15, 1910 from a D. G. Marshall to "Miss A. Iggulden" posted to the same Brooklyn address. Its salutation is "Dear Alice," and she is no doubt Elizabeth's older sister, born about 1895.

Women only: Building boats and connections

2011-06-16T17:27:00.005-04:00

Originally published in Long Island Newsday, June 10, 2011.

When temperatures across Long Island began to plummet last December, Ann Bell had no difficulty deciding how to occupy her time. To dispel the winter blues, she signed up for a challenging task, joining six other women at the Carmans River Maritime Center in Brookhaven Hamlet for its inaugural women-only boatbuilding class.

During the program's three-hour sessions on Sunday afternoons, starting in early December and lasting for about six months, she constructed her own kayak from a kit, complete with a seat, seat back, footbraces and a hatch. It was her first building experience of any kind. ...

Read full Newsday article

Includes Pictures

Maurice Wertheim Grandson Visits Wertheim National Wildlife Refuge

2011-06-09T19:43:00.006-04:00

On Tuesday, June 7, 2011 Tom Langman, grandson of Maurice Wertheim, visited the Wertheim National Wildlife Refuge and shared with the refuge staff family history and remembrances. He hopes to be able to be present at the dedication of the new Refuge headquarters building, along with some of his cousins.

The deck of the original Wertheim family hunting lodge on the banks of the Carman's River. To left is Marty Van Lith, Brookhaven hamlet historian and environmentalist.

l.-r: Tom Langman, furthest back is Ann Bell, Public Affairs, and in foreground is Michelle Williams, Director of the Long Island National Wildlife Refuge Complex.

Peacock Seen Wandering the Woods and Yards of Brookhaven Hamlet

2011-06-09T18:14:00.001-04:00

Update on our Fire Place Cemeteries

2011-06-06T14:23:00.002-04:00

From: Martin VanLith

Sent: Sunday, June 05, 2011 7:42 PM
Subject: Update on our Fire Place Cemeteries

Dear All,

I toured our historic cemeteries today and had to pinch myself to see if I was imagining things. It seems that the Town has finally started maintaining them. It only took six years and a lawsuit to get to this point. Too bad the Miller cemetery was excluded from Judge Tannebaum's decision. However, today I received permission from the homeowner on Brook Nursery Drive, whose backyard abuts the cemetery, to cut a path to it between his property and a Town Sump fence to the west of him.

I was especially encouraged with the work done at the Southaven Church cemetery. Not only did they mow the grass but they also replaced broken fence pieces and have started grinding down the many stumps. And with the Carmans cemetery they mowed a 10' border outside the fence.

Councilwoman Kepert's office has been nudging the Parks Department about once a week for the past several months. Below is my reply, with pictures, to an e-mail I received from her office on Friday.

--Marty

Begin forwarded message:

From: Martin VanLith
Date: June 5, 2011 6:59:25 PM EDT

To: Liz Krolik
Cc: Connie Kepert
Subject: Re: cemeteries

On Jun 3, 2011, at 4:02 PM, Liz Krolik-Alexander wrote:
Hi Marty,

I'm hearing that work is getting done at the cemeteries. Share any info you have.

thanks, Liz
Hi Liz,

Yes, there has been work done on the cemeteries. Two weeks ago I met with Town Parks Department district 4 supervisor Ed Halvison and one of his aides (Chris) and we toured the cemeteries. Ed Halvison was a very pleasant person and said he would do the Brookhaven hamlet cemeteries. However, at least one of them, the Barteau cemetery, might require a survey before he could clear the right of way to get it.

This weekend I toured the cemeteries and found that Halvison had done at least four since we met. An additional two of the easily accessed cemeteries were mowed in mid-May, so six of the eight cemeteries have been done. Halvison may have also mowed the David Hawkins cemetery, I haven't checked this one in over a week.

Here are some pictures of the cemeteries I took today:

This is the Rose Cemetery located off Jared's Path. I believe it was mowed in mid-May-

This is the Azel Hawkins Cemetery off Stillwood Road adjacent to Brian and Mary Jane Cullen's house. This was the first one that Halvison did a little over a week ago. They did a great job with it-

This is the Hulse cemetery along Fire Place Neck Road. The Town has been maintaining this cemetery for over a year now (easy access) and was mowed in mid-May-

Next two pictures are of the old Southaven Church Cemetery just off Montauk Highway near the Carmans River.

Halvison also ground-down some stumps that were in the Southaven Church cemetery-

The next two pictures are of the Carmans Cemetery, after whom the river is named. It is located in the former Robinson farmland-

Looking west over the Carmans cemetery. Again, Halvison did a great job here-

The next three pictures are of the Richard Corwin Cemetery off Beaver Brook Drive. A hugh tree had fallen across it this winter and Halvison cut it up and gave the firewood to the homeowner living near it-

After Halvison removed the fallen tree I put up the interpretive sign for the cemetery (Richard Corwin, a personal body guard for George Washington, was at the battle of Yorktown and the surrender of Cornwallis).

This picture of the David Hawkins cemetery was taken two weeks ago, so I don't know if Halvison got to it yet.

This last picture, like the others was taken today, is of the overgrown Barteau cemetery, the one Hollis is waiting to repair-

In short, I am delighted to see all the work that Ed Halvison has done in the two weeks since we met. If you have an opportunity please get the word to him that Marty and the Fire Place History Club say thank you.

--Marty

Stop the Sludge Community Forum, June 2, Bellport High School, 7 pm

2011-05-22T20:36:00.004-04:00

Click Image for enlarged view

Former Howard Robinson Store in South Haven May Be Nature Center

2011-05-20T09:29:00.003-04:00

Picture: Marty Van Lith, 2005

Nature center eyed at vacant town building

Originally published: Long Island Newsday, May 19, 2011 7:39 PM
Updated: May 19, 2011 8:28 PM
By PATRICK WHITTLE patrick.whittle@newsday.com

A Brookhaven Town-owned building that has sat vacant onMontauk Highway for about three years could be the site of a new nature center.

The town is planning a June public hearing on whether to allow a Brookhaven Hamlet man to use the facility at 2979 Montauk Hwy. in the hamlet as an environmental education center and kayak rental business. The center would provide access to the Carmans River.

Brad DeSantis would pay the town $26,100 per year to use the facility, according to documents filed at Town Hall. DeSantis also would make about $70,000 in improvements to what town officials describe as a rundown facility in need of repairs.

"The dock there has been deteriorating. It's great that we are getting someone in there," said Councilwoman Connie Kepert, who represents the area.

"It's difficult to be able to get into the Carmans down there." The town board is scheduled to vote Tuesday to set a public hearing on the contract with DeSantis. The hearing will likely be June 14, Kepert said.

The contract would allow DeSantis to manage the facility for five years with a two-year option to renew when it expires, at the town's discretion, town documents state.

The property was the site of a Glacier Bay Sports facility. The building is about the size of a medium-sized single-family home, said Parks Commissioner Ed Morris.

"They are going to offer educational-type tours of the river," he said. "It's going to offer recreational opportunities at that location and it's also going to bring revenue to the town."

The property was purchased by the town for $490,000 in June 2008. It is near the junction of the Carmans River and Great South Bay.

The Carmans River is the subject of the Carmans River Watershed Protection and Management Plan, which would attempt to preserve the river by steering new development outside of its watershed. The town is attempting to shepherd the proposal into law.

Grave Endeavor

2011-05-16T18:08:00.003-04:00

http://www.newsday.com/long-island/suffolk/brookhaven-to-care-for-forgotten-cemeteries-1.2871163

Brookhaven to care for forgotten cemeteries

Originally published: May 11, 2011 6:57 PM
Updated: May 11, 2011 7:33 PM

By PATRICK WHITTLE patrick.whittle@newsday.com

Fire Place History Club member talks about the work Brookhaven Town needs to do to maintain�abandoned 18th and 19th century cemeteries, such as Woodruff Cemetery in Brookhaven Hamlet. Videojournalist: Patrick Whittle (May 4, 2011)

Martin Van Lith stepped gingerly around the four headstones in the
Woodruff family burial plot -- an overgrown piece of Bellport woods
-- and silently read the inscription on the grave marker of Esther
Woodruff, 1775-1851.

"We have loved her on earth, May we meet her in Heaven."

Her husband's marker, however, lay broken in half. The Woodruff burial ground, and about 20 like it in Bellport and Brookhaven hamlet, have gone largely unmaintained for years. But thanks to the efforts of Van Lith and his group of local history buffs, Brookhaven Town will soon begin caring for some of the forgotten cemeteries.

Van Lith and the Fire Place History Club have for years pressured Brookhaven officials to comply with a state law that requires towns to maintain abandoned cemeteries. The ones in Bellport and Brookhaven hamlet mostly date from the 18th and 19th centuries; the number of graves in each range from two to 40, Van Lith said.

Prompted by the club's lawsuit, State Supreme Court Justice Melvyn Tanenbaum last year issued a decision requiring the town to begin maintaining nine of the burial grounds, deemed by the club as historically significant. Brookhaven is set to begin the work "within the next three weeks," said town spokesman Jack Krieger.

Van Lith said his group will assist with maintenance if the town provides access to the sites and mows lawns. Such tasks are too much for the club to undertake; many sites are overgrown with vegetation that makes them inaccessible by foot, he said.

"The average age of my group is 68," he said. "We can't do it."

Councilwoman Connie Kepert said the town will work with the club, and said the graves show the area has "enormous history that we take for granted." Town Historian Barbara Russell welcomes the help, but said the club should consult the Greenfield, Mass.-based Association for Gravestone Studies.

"It's not a matter of going to the stone and getting some glue," Russell said.

The nine cemeteries to be maintained are located south of Sunrise Highway between Wertheim National Wildlife Refuge to the east and the Bellport train station to the west.

The Woodruff ground, located off South Country Road in Bellport, is one of about a dozen abandoned cemeteries in the area not slated to be refurbished. Van Lith said he would like to see the town maintain more cemeteries, but added "it's not like we're going to ask them to refurbish every cemetery in town."

Sharon Miller, whose home abuts the tiny Woodruff cemetery, said she would like to see the site maintained. The burial plot includes the final resting places of Matthew, Stephen and Esther Woodruff and Esther's husband, Stephen Robinson -- all of whom died between 1851 and 1875.

"We would be thrilled if the town did something with this," Miller said. "It gives respect and integrity."

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT: DECLARATION AS SURPLUS AND SUBSEQUENT SALE - COUNTY OWNED LAND IN YAPHANK

2011-05-02T13:06:00.004-04:00

April 28, 2011

Re: DRAFT GENERIC ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT FOR DECLARATION AS SURPLUS AND SUBSEQUENT SALE OF 255 ACRES OF COUNTY OWNED LAND IN YAPHANK FOR MIXED USE DEVELOPMENT PURPOSE

Dear Members of the CEQ Board,

Let me begin by commenting that it is unclear to most in the Brookhaven hamlet community that the DGEIS for Legacy Village was still an ongoing process given all of the new developments related with this same land. To begin, it should have been tabled during the time while Brookhaven Town is undergoing a Carmans River Preservation Plan.

This week the CEQ should have put the plan aside and announced either a postponement or cancellation after the County Legislature voted to kill the Legacy Village proposal and replace it with their own plan. This is all extremely confusing to the lay people whose lives will be very much affected by the proposal.

Equally distressing is that DGEIS comments are due immediately after the report that Legacy Village’s author has been convicted of improprieties by the district attorney. It’s no wonder that public confidence in government is at an all-time low.

The Fire Place History Club, like the rest of the Brookhaven hamlet community, has been opposed to the idea of building a mini-city on 255 acres of County land in Yaphank since it was first introduced by Executive Steve Levy in 2005.

For the past 60 years, there has been an ongoing effort to protect Carmans River, beginning with the donation of 1,500 acres along the lower river by Maurice Wertheim in 1947. In 1962, New York State began a program of stream corridor protection by condemning Ken Hard’s 1,600-acre game preserve, today’s Southaven Park. In 1974, through the lobbying efforts of this community, the Carmans River was included in the NYS Wild, Scenic and Recreational Rivers Act. Since then millions of taxpayer dollars have been spent acquiring Carmans River
watershed land, the most recent last week with NYS’s purchase of 99 acres adjacent to Cathedral Pines, for $5 million.

This proposal to sell 255 acres of publically owned land for the purpose of intense development in the Carmans watershed flies in the face of 60 years of preservation efforts. It is incomprehensible to me to be addressing a DGEIS concerned with things like traffic, parking, jobs and payroll, entertainment, etc, when the whole concept of undoing past preservation efforts is absurd. This is the very land that we are spending millions of dollars to protect.

Even more distressing is the intellectual dishonesty that was used to push this ludicrous idea to this point. Throughout the County Executive’s five-year promotional period there was no mention of the existence of the adjacent Carmans River. It seems clear to me that Carmans River was intentionally omitted from all literature to avoid environmental concerns. As far as I know, there was only one exception to this general deceit, an early discarded proposal named
something like The Villages at Carmans River, which showed a diagram of a boardwalk leading from the development out to the river.

The whole process that led to this DGEIS is questionable and seems to be a sham:

The signing of contracts with a developer before the legislature voted to declare the land surplus. The plan and the contract calling for massive development on land that is not zoned by the Town for this kind of density. And using taxpayer money for the propaganda promoting the plan.

The DGEIS lists four areas, A – D. My understanding of the SEQRA law is that this is segmentation, but I’ll let others more familiar with the law address this. No matter what else comes from this plan, the FEIS should recommend that area A be transferred to the County Parks Department to become part of Southaven Park.

For the areas B, C and D there is no meaningful discussion of a preservation alternative, such as turning these areas into a nature preserve or parkland.

The Draft EIS was prepared at the same time as the Town’s Draft Carmans River Plan, where the Town’s goal is for the nitrogen level in Carmans River not to exceed .7 ppm. The Town’s plan should be considered in a revised EIS before any consideration is given to declare this land surplus for the purpose of auction.

Sincerely,

Martin Van Lith, Chair

Caithness Grant for Historic Cemetery Restoration

2011-05-02T12:54:00.004-04:00

March 29, 2011

Re: Caithness Grant for Historic Cemetery Restoration
Brookhaven Town Resolution 7609

Dear Councilwoman Kepert,

I have recently been informed that the Caithness Committee will be meeting, perhaps for the last time, in June. However, we still need a little more time to complete the restoration of one more of the six cemeteries that we had hoped to repair with the grant money.

This last cemetery is the Barteau Cemetery. The restoration work is being held up waiting for the Brookhaven Town Parks Department to open the access road leading from Montauk Highway to the Cemetery. Until this is done we cannot clear the cemetery of brush and inventory the headstones that need repair, nor can our stonemason, Hollis Warner, get his equipment into the cemetery.

I am writing to request that the Fire Place History Club’s remaining grant money, $1,685, be held until the Parks Department opens the access road to this cemetery so that the repairs can be made.

I would also like to urge you to please contact Commissioner Ed Morris asking him to make opening the access road to the Barteau cemetery his number one priority.

Thank you for your consideration of this request.

Sincerely,
Martin Van Lith, chair

Opera and More .. Becker/Gambles Spring Concert

2011-04-25T11:10:00.003-04:00

A voice and organ recital featuring:

Michael Douglas Jones, bass

Andrew Fuchs, tenor

Samantha Pruyn Guevrekian, soprano

Carol Weitner, organ

Daniel Ragone, piano

Performing works by Handel, Mozart, Puccini, Quilter, Schubert and Smetana

Saturday, April 30, 2011, 5 pm

Old South Haven Presbyterian Church, Brookhaven

Corner of South Country and Beaver Dam Roads

Tickets at the door $25.

Stop the Sludge Coalition

2011-04-23T09:49:00.003-04:00

From: "STS. [Stop the Sludge] Brookhaven"
Date: April 22, 2011 11:15:29 AM EDT
Subject: Follow-up to last night's meeting

Good Morning,

Just following up on last night’s STS Coalition meeting. Two of the photographs that are attached were taken at the landfill approximately two weeks ago. They are installing new diesel fuel tanks for Town use inside the landfill, by the recycling area. The third photograph was taken from the Town Council’s Conference room on the 3rd floor at Town Hall.

The Executive Board held a productive meeting with Councilwoman Kepert on April 15th. She will prepare a resolution for the creation of a Landfill Advisory Board. We preliminarily compiled a list of organizations that will be appointed to the Advisory Board. In addition we are also reaching out to others with special expertise. Some of these individuals and/or agencies include: Larry Swanson; Ed Hubbard, S.C. Health Dept., BNL, DEC (Air Quality), EPA, as well as someone from SC Leg. Kate Browning’s office. We will be refining this list and identifying specific representatives from each organization as well as drafting purpose, goals and tasks of this board, after our meeting with Supervisor Lesko next week.

We discussed hosting a public meeting for all residents from the surrounding communities. We are tentatively looking at June2nd at 7 PM for this meeting. We need to confirm with our elected officials that they are available. A brief outline of an agenda was discussed. At our next meeting we will finalize these plans.
Our next meeting is scheduled for Thursday, April 28th at 7:30 PM. We will report on our meeting with Supervisor Lesko, finalize the list of appointments to the Landfill Advisory Board, and the agenda for the public meeting.

Last night we were asked to distribute the list of questions we were “required” to submit before Supervisor Lesko would schedule a meeting with us. The email correspondence has been inserted below.
Finally, just a bit of housekeeping information. During the process of forming the STS Coalition, we distributed information to our members on the list-serve. One of our initial messages was forwarded to someone outside of our Coalition – who then forwarded to someone else and so on. This provided access to our email contact information – which for many is a “personal” email account. For a handful of us we were besieged with emails. Having realized what occurred, it was determined that all future emails to our list-serve would be distributed as Bcc. Our current list-serve has grown considerably since the initial un-intentional released list. We are taking every precaution to protect our contact database. We just wanted to clarify for all that when you receive an email from sts.brookhaven@gmail.com, that information is being distributed to all on our list-serve. If any member of our Coalition wishes to distribute information to the list-serve, you can forward it to us and we will disburse your information. Hope this explains why our emails appear to be addressed to the individual recipient.
We wish everyone a Happy Easter and/or Happy Passover!
Regards,
Sharon

Dear Brain,

Thank you for agreeing to arrange a meeting between the STS Coalition executive board and Supervisor Lesko. As you requested, below you will find the questions and topics we are seeking to discuss. I look forward to hearing from you so that we can schedule this important meeting.

. Creating an advisory or liaison community based board to work with the Town in matters regarding the landfill. The objective is to enhance communication and allow for community involvement.

2. STS would like to have clarity on financial information regarding the landfill. Much has been said in the press but we would prefer to better understand the Town’s numbers and budget. Such questions include
· What amount of funds does the landfill generate per year for the Town Budget?
· What is the breakdown on the gross income projected for the landfill? How much revenue is generated from C&D, Ash, recycling, yard material, etc?
· Can you provide last year’s budget for the landfill – with the actual numbers for income and expenses and a breakdown of both?
· Does the Town have long term projects of income for the landfill? If so, what are they?
· Can our budget discussion include general operating and maintenance costs?

3. STS wants to discuss Cell 6 and Cell 7. This discussion would include such topics as
· When will Cell 6 close?
· When will Cell 7 open?
· How many phases of 7 are being planned?
· How will Cell 7 be used?
· What is the expected lifetime of this cell?

4. STS wants to discuss any future plans or ideas for reducing the Town’s solid waste. For instance, there was a “pay as you throw” committee and we are not sure what happened with that work.

Adrienne Esposito
Executive Director
Citizens Campaign for the Environment

Woodruff Cemetery Explored

2011-04-14T21:44:00.004-04:00

Richie Davin, owner of Davin's Funeral Home along Montauk Hwy in Mastic has been asking me to go with him to the
Woodruff cemetery for nearly a year, which is behind his sister, Sharon's, house. Sharon is on left of 1st pix, her house is about 100 yards directly behind her to the north. Sharon was a classmate of mine at William Floyd. We poked
around and came up with one complete stone and big pieces of two other stones.
--Marty Van Lith

L. to R.: Sharon, Betty Bundy, Diane martens, Richie Davin

Stephen Robinson gravestone

Hannah M. Woodruff, wife of Matthew Woodruff

Name not found

Stop The Sludge Coalition

2011-04-03T12:38:00.002-04:00

The Stop The Sludge (S.T.S) Coalition was formed to address noxious and unacceptable odors adversely affecting residents, schools, businesses and the quality of life for all in the vicinity of the Brookhaven Town landfill. Since 2008, the Town accepted non-hazardous sludge from Long Island municipalities, including Huntington, Riverhead and North Hempstead. In June 2010, they also began receiving 10,000 tons per month of bio-solids from several New York City waste water treatment facilities.

On March 25, 2011, the New York State Department of Environmental & Conservation (DEC) modified the Town’s permit to remove the authority for the Town to accept non-hazardous sludge at the landfill.

While the Town Supervisor has indicated they will comply with DEC’s decision, we believe further action is needed to prevent future contracts by the Town of Brookhaven that negatively affects our communities.

• Our residents should NOT be required to bear the harmful impacts of NYC or any other communities’ disposal needs.
• We don’t want to fill the budget hole by filling the landfill with sludge.
• We believe community involvement is critical to shaping Brookhaven’s future. A Landfill Community Advisory Board is needed to guide Brookhaven’s future landfill decisions.

Visit the S.T.S. web site at http://www.stsbrookhaven.org/Welcome.html for further information

L.I. Pine Barrens Society February Update

2011-02-18T09:31:00.003-05:00

From: Pine Barrens Society victoria@pinebarrens.org>

Date: February 16, 2011 5:52:06 PM EST

Subject: [PineBarrens] February Update!

Long Island Pine Barrens Society – February Update

The Carmans River Protection Plan: What Is It? What’s In It?

Good news for the future of the Carmans River and its surrounding community! A draft of the Carmans River Watershed Comprehensive Protection and Management Plan has been submitted to Brookhaven Town Supervisor Mark Lesko and the Town Board for approval (Click here to see the draft plan on the Town’s website). This undertaking to prevent further degradation of the river concludes over three months of work by an appointed Study Group composed of leading environmentalists, builders, town government and Pine Barrens Commission. The plan seeks to protect 9,100 acres of the Carmans River Watershed, and redirect development to areas away from the river and residential communities. In addition, it would preserve water quality, save natural habitat, reduce impacts of current land use, remediate contaminated groundwater and allow monitoring of possible future degradation of the river and the surrounding land.

What Happens Next? How the Public Can Participate.

To help ensure that the Town Board votes to formally adopt the current plan, it’s important for residents and concerned parties to remain informed and stay involved in the process. There will be three public information forums held, prior to a public hearing on March 29^th, 6 PM, at Brookhaven Town. The first forum will be hosted by the Carmans River Partnership on Saturday, February 19, 12:00 PM, at Longwood Public Library in Middle Island. Brookhaven residents are encouraged to attend.

For more information on the Carmans River protection plan, please visit the Town’s website for more information:

Below are links to recent press:

Newsday Article from 2/8/11

Newsday Editorial from 2/9/11

News 12 TV coverage from 2/9/11

Sunday Newsday- Rick Brand column 2/13/11

Town of Brookhaven’s Carmans River Protection Plan press conference coverage from 2/10/11

As always, we’ll continue to keep you updated and strive to do our part to help keep Long Island healthy and clean!

In Memory of a Friend and Environmentalist

On a very sad note, Dan Morris, an ardent and effective environmental advocate has died of Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma at the age of 63. He and his wife, Marilyn England, created and led the Open Space Council to a long series of environmental victories and made enormous contributions to the enactment of the Pine Barrens Protection Act of 1993. He will be sorely missed.

You are subscribed to the Pine Barrens Society email-list. The Pine Barrens Society is a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization in the State of New York. To unsubscribe or invite a friend, please call (631) 369-3300 or email info@pinebarrens.org. As a subscriber, your contact information will be kept private.

School of Documentary Filmmaking to be named for local Brookhaven resident George Stoney

2011-02-07T20:51:00.003-05:00

SPECIAL EVENT SPONSORED BY THE PLAZA MEDIA ARTS CENTER

ALL MY BABIES Screening & ceremony naming of a new School of Documentary Filmmaking after local Brookhaven resident George Stoney

DATE: February 23, 2011 — TIME: 7-10 PM

PLACE: Brick House Brewery, 67 West Main Street, Patchogue

THE FILM: In 2002 the Library of Congress deemed All My Babies a "culturally, historically and artistically significant work" and included it in the National Film Registry. Shot in 1952 in the deep south amidst racial tensions, George Stony ventured in with a camera crew to follow the practices of midwife "Miss Mary" Coley, an African-American, as she delivered babies. Screened as a landmark film for its realistic artistry this film has also been used around the world by UNESCO.

THE FILMMAKER: George Stoney has made over 1 00 documentaries. As an advocate of video as a tool for social change, he was one of the leading figures behind the creation of Public Access Television, a "free-speech forum" for ordinary people to create and broadcast content on cable television systems. By 1969, having secured broadcasting rights for citizens, Stoney went on to co-create the Alternate Media Center to train people in video production. Mr. Stoney was recently appointed Emeritus Professor at NYU's Kanbar Institute of Film & Television, where for forty years he has inspired and mentored generations of new filmmakers.

THE PLAZA MEDIA ARTS CENTER: Following in George Stoney's footsteps, The Plaza Media Arts Center will be offering classes geared towards helping participants write, film, direct and edit quality short films, narratives and documentaries, that merge social activism, the art of filmmaking and journalism, to make proactive change in their community. Spring classes start March 21 and are taught by filmmakers and experienced teachers.

Collaborating with Huntington's Cinema Arts Centre, The Plaza MAC will resume screening the latest independent and foreign films by summer 2011. A special Italian Film Festival is slated for fall 2011.

The Plaza MAC team is currently working with politicians, developers, community organizations and businesses to renovate the old Plaza Theater and to build a Media Arts Center that will become the creative media arts hub with studios and equipment for classes and film production.

Town of Brookhaven Studies Carman's River

2011-01-07T15:15:00.001-05:00

A Town of Brookhavens study committee has been undertaking since the Fall of 2010 to put together a preservation plan for the Carman's River. The plan is still coming together and the town places updated information on this web site. The plan is due to the Town supervisor on January 20^th.
http://www.brookhaven.org/Departments/PlanningEnvironment/Planning/CarmansRiverConference.aspx

Fifty Years Ago, the South Haven Presbyterian Church moved to Brookhaven Hamlet

2010-12-27T23:03:00.000-05:00

On December 29, 1960, under the leadership of the Rev. Charles Kellogg, the historic South Haven Church building was moved from its original location at the "goin' over" of the Carman's River at South Haven, to its present location in Brookhaven. As part of this move, the church also acquired and renovated the Post Carriage House (built about 1900) which became their Parish Hall, and built the "gallery" addition at the rear of the church.
The church building original stood on the south side of Montauk highway, a few hundred feet west of the Carman's River. The old church grave yard is still located there.
The church was moved by Davis Brothers Engineering, the same building movers who raised the Carriage House as part of its recent renovation.
The route of travel was east on Montauk highway to Arthur avenue, to Beaver Dam road, to the present site. There it sat for several months while the new foundation was built and allowed to cure. The church was moved with the steeple and interior plaster intact. The move necessitated the cooperation of the then Patchogue Lighting Company, the then New York Telephone Company, Western Union, the Long Island Rail Road and state, county and town highway departments. The utilities dropped their wires, perhaps as many as 150, and ramps were laid, to permit the church to roll over them. It was estimated that it took some 50 people to move the building the four miles.

Earliest known picture of the church in South Haven, thought to be about 1900.

Church ready to be moved.

Moving down Montauk Highway.

Overhead wires dropped and ramps put in place, at intersection of Montauk Highway and Arthur Avenue

Turning the corner from Arthur Avenue onto Beaver Dam Road

The church building at its new home. Notice the Post Carriage House in the background

Photographs of the move courtesy of Catherine Kellogg.

George Washington Lodge

2010-12-13T21:42:00.011-05:00

Purchase of Washington Lodge Estate Approved by Suffolk County

Beaver Dam Creek Partnership of the Post Morrow Foundation, Brookhaven Town, and Suffolk County, NY, To Jointly Purchase Environmentally Sensitive Property

Suffolk County has joined with the Post Morrow Foundation and the Town of Brookhaven and approved the purchase 9.6 acres of the old George Comfort Washington estate near the western edge of Brookhaven Hamlet. The estate, also known as the Washington Lodge, has in recent years been owned by the Marist Brothers of Schools, Inc., and used as a retreat and summer residence. It is one of the few remaining undeveloped parcels of land in the Beaver Dam Creek watershed area.

Front: Brookhaven Town Councilwoman Connie Kepert; Suffolk County Legislator Kate Browning; Marty Van Lith, Brookhaven Village Association historian; Anita Cohen; Jen Puleston Clement.
Back: Ron Kinsella; Ken Budny, Facilities Manager, Post-Morrow Foundation; Bruce Wallace, President, Post-Morrow Foundation; Tom Williams, Vice-president, Post-Morrow Foundation; Patricia Trainor, proprietor, Bellport Restaurant and preservation advocate

County legislator Kate Browning, Town councilwoman Connie Kepert, Post-Morrow Foundation president Bruce Wallace and vice-president Tom Williams, along with members of the Brookhaven and Bellport. NY, communities gathered Monday, December 13, 2010, at the site of the acquisition to announce approval of the partnership, which was passed at the Suffolk County Legislature's meeting on Tuesday, December 7, 2010.

Under the agreement the Post-Morrow Foundation will acquire 2 acres with the Town of Brookhaven. The Foundation will be required to manage and maintain the property going forward, and plans to demolish the Washington Lodge estate house. Suffolk County and Brookhaven Town will take ownership of 7.6 acres and will begin the process of creating public access to the site for passive park use.

The 7.6 acre site will be acquired by Suffolk County, which is paying 70 of the $653,780 purchase price while the Town of Brookhaven is covering the remaining 30 percent. Brookhaven Town is also paying 62 per cent on the 2 acre parcel while the Post Morrow Foundation the remaining 38 percent for a total of $262,050. Together the 9.6 acres will be purchased for $916,810.

Proposals for purchasing the site have been under development for over two years. Another section of the estate to the north, of approximately 27 acres, was sold a few years ago to developers, but remains undeveloped. Proposals have been put forward to purchase this parcel as public preservation land. A planning steps resolution was approved by the County for the parcel earlier this year.

Legislator Kate Browning
and Marty Van Lith

"The Post-Morrow Foundation has worked tirelessly to preserve this important watershed," stated legislator Browning. "The organization approached me two years ago about executing a public-private partnership and I knew it was a win-win proposal. I am thrilled we were able to get the deal done so that we can preserve this important watershed for future generations."

"When the members of the community and the Post-Morrow Foundation came to me with their plans for the parcel, the benefits for the community and environment were clear," stated councilwoman Kepert. "When I learned the purchase of the property would be a collaborative effort between my office and Legislator Browning's office, I had no doubt that this was an excellent use of the Town's preservation funds."

Bruce Wallace, President,
Post-Morrow Foundation

"The Foundation applauds the assistance of the County and Town with the preservation of this site from future development as it continues to protect the rural character of Brookhaven Hamlet," said Bruce Wallace of the Post Morrow Foundation. "Directly north of South Country Road and in close proximity to the Dennis Puleston preserve and Deer Run Farm to the south, both of which were also county assisted preservation projects, this acquisition in which the the land is protected solidifies the rural country-like character of the hamlet."

“The Post-Morrow foundation is very pleased that Suffolk County has been able to purchase the Marist Brothers property here in Brookhaven Hamlet,” stated Thomas Williams Vice-president of the Post Morrow Foundation. “For many years we have felt this property was an important piece to be protected. It is part of the Beaver Dam Creek watershed and acts as a gateway to the Hamlet. Protection of the Marist Brothers property serves as further insurance that the Creek and important open space in this environmentally sensitive area will be forever preserved. We thank the County for partnering with the Town and the Foundation to make this important acquisition of land a reality.”

“The environmental significance of this week's joint acquisition of the 9-acre Marist Brothers property, by Suffolk County, Brookhaven Town and the Post Morrow Foundation is well understood,” stated Martin Van Lith, Brookhaven Village Assoc. Historian. “But few may be aware that this land is also significant in terms of historical preservation. In 1678, nearly 100 years before the signing of the Declaration of Independence, Samuel Dayton, the first English settler in this area between Bellport and Brookhaven, built his house on this very piece of land. Then, as now, it was a choice piece of land. Congratulations and thank you for this wonderful Christmas present.”

Most consider George Constant Louis Washington (1871-1946) to have been the inventor of instant coffee, or at least to have made it a commercially viable product. He established the Brookhaven estate principally as a summer residence about 1915, and was a notable fixture in the Brookhaven-Bellport communities. He is remembered for the menagerie and small zoo he maintained on the estate. When plans to build his coffee factory near the Long Island Rail Road at the north end of his estate did not come to fruition, he relocated to Morris County, New Jersey, about 1926. He also had a large mansion in Brooklyn. He continued to own the property well into the 1930s.

(More on George C. L. Washington.)
(More on the Washington Lodge estate and its history)

Marist Brothers Property, south 2 acres. Fall, 2010.
North left. South Country road to right.

USGS Survey of 1952: Carman's River

2010-11-28T16:31:00.003-05:00

Originally distrubuted by Richard Thomas, 22 Nov 2010. This report provides a historical benchmark of the ground water in the vicinity of Brookhaven National Laboratory. Most important to this site is the information provided on the Carmans River watershed. In addition to the reference posted at the end of this commentary, a link to a copy of the report may be found at http://brookhavensouthhaven.org/history/HistoricSitesLinks.asp?InventoryCode=SH01.1-S.

I just discovered a report of the US Geological Service, that is over 400 pages long, that has detailed information on the Carmans River basin.

It's from 1952!

Guess who hired the USGS to do this exhaustive study of the hydrology of this middle part of Suffolk County.

It was the Atomic Energy Commission. They wanted the study done because of "the construction and operation of atomic research facilities at the Brookhaven National Laboratory."

Actually, the War Department made the first request of the USGS to get involved in determining water-supply at Upton in the fall of 1946.

The 1952 report was based on work that began in March 1948.

The USGS drilled many "shallow test wells" of 100 to 200 feet deep and also drilled two deep test wells 1,600 feet deep to determine how the water flowed.

The most interesting chapter is Chapter C that covers things like the "rate of movement of ground water" in the area and the direction of movement.

There is a section on the Carmans River and the relation of its flow to ground water levels and to the "ground water contributing area" (p. C-110).

It has lots of graphs and figures, but some of the larger maps are fold-out pages, and Google didn't bother to unfold them.

What I found interesting was how much a very heavy rainfall increased the flow of the Carmans River.

When there is exceptionally high rainfall in a short period, the water doesn't flow directly into the ground, but instead flows to culverts, ditches, and streams, and directly to the Carmans, Forge, and Peconic Rivers. They call this "overland runoff." See attached.

The USGS has had a gaging station was at the Long Island Rail Road track at Yaphank since 1942.

The report says that the "overland runoff" that increased the flow of the Carmans River came from a 71 square mile drainage area above the gage.

They did measurements on the sandy soil and computed the rate of the "downward travel of ground water" as a function of saturation and the size of a "spill." It could be as high as 140 feet/day for saturated soil and large spills or as low as 1 to 3 feet/day for small leaks.

From the western 40 percent of the Laboratory area, most of the ground water moves underground toward the Carmans River, reaching it somewhere between the railroad crossing at Yaphank and Route 27.

The USGS made actual ground-water velocity measurements to determine the rate of flow using "ammonium chloride tracer solutions," but explained that the results were good only over very short distances because of "many complications" of using tracers to measure the direction and rate of ground-water flow.

So they used "test-pumping" wells to determine the "coefficient of transmissibility" of the soil instead, which allows flow rate and direction to be computed.

They measured the flow of the Carmans River at South Haven, but the flow there was "difficult to measure because the flow here is affected by the tides."

The discussion on the contributing area to the discharge of the Carmans River begins on page C98.

STREAMFLOW
INTRODUCTION
The three principal rivers in the Upton area, the Carmans, the Forge, and the Peconic, are fed a]most entirely by ground water; that is, they receive very little direct overland runoff [except during very heavy rainfalls -- RT]. For this reason, and because the apparent topographic drainage areas of these streams do not correspond with the ground-water contributing areas, the flow of these streams bears little relation to the area apparently drained by their valleys. Instead it is determined by the configuration of the water table. The differences between apparent topographic drainage areas and the actual ground-water drainage areas are shown in plate 8.
Plate 5 shows profiles of Carmans River from Route 25 to Bellport Bay. Plate 6 shows profiles of channel bottom, stream level, and water table for the Peconic River. Figure 37 shows topographic drainage areas for streams in the Upton area. Plate 7 shows water-table contours, ground-water flow lines, and areas contributing ground-water flow to selected gaging stations. The maps on plate 8 show a comparison of topographic and ground-water drainage area for the Carmans, Forge, and Peconic Rivers.
The valleys of both the Carmans and Forge Rivers may be divided into upper, middle, and lower sections. In the upper sections the streambeds are normally dry because they are above the water table; they carry water only on rare occasions when heavy rain has fallen on soaked or frozen ground. All other precipitation not lost by evapotranspiration soaks into the ground to join the water table. The ground-water flow in these areas may be in quite a different direction from the slopes of the streambeds, as in the upper valley of the Carmans River where the ground water flows north although the valley slopes to the south. Because the water table stands high above sea level in these areas, some of the ground water moves downward to recharge the deep aquifers in the Magothy (?) and the Lloyd.
In the middle and lower sections of the Carmans and Forge Rivers and in the lower half of the Peconic, the flow is perennial and is fed by ground water that moves in laterally and also upward from the lower part of the upper Pleistocene aquifer. The relation of ground-water flow to streamflow was used to calculate the transmissibility of the upper Pleistocene aquifer adjacent to the middle section of the Carmans River.
In the lower sections of the three rivers, streamflow is sluggish and is periodically slowed or even reversed by tidal fluctuations in the bays. In these areas the ground-water inflow from the water-table aquifer is augmented by water moving upward form the deeper artesian aquifers. Because of these complexities, quantitative streamflow measurements in the lower reaches of the streams are difficult to make and difficult to interpret and were attempted only for the Carmans River. In the following sections, the Carmans, Forge, and Peconic Rivers are described with the aid of maps (fig. 37 and plls. 7-9), profiles (plls. 5,6) and tables of streamflow measurements.
CARMANS RIVER
DISCHARGE

The topographic drainage area of the Carmans River is about 100 square miles, but this figure is deceptive because only about half this area contributes water to the river. Some 34 square miles of the apparent drainage area lies north of the ground-water divide, and precipitation falling in this area infiltrates to the water table and then flows north to Long Island Sound. South of the ground-water divide on the west, there is a second area of some 15 square miles that contributes ground-water flow, not to the Carmans River, but to several small south-flowing streams which lie to the west of the river. If the terrain of Long Island were not so very permeable, there would be surface runoff from these areas to the Carmans River, but under the existing circumstances they are drained entirely by ground-water flow. The total area contributing to the flow of the Carmans River is, in fact, only 48 square miles, about one half its apparent drainage area.
Pereimial flow of the Carmans begins at Artist Lake, where the river is crossed by Route 25, 3 miles west of the north entrance to the Laboratory, and ends 8 miles to the south at Bellport Bay. The distance, some 12 miles in length as the stream flows, will be divided into three main segments for the purposes of this discussion (plls. 5, 7).
The first section, roughly that part of the river valley which lies north of and which traverses the Ronkonkoma moraine, extends from an indefinite point north of Artist Lake to Bartlett Road. After a series of wet years, resulting in a high water table, the flow of the river probably begins in a small lake just north of Artist Lake, but after several dry years the flow in late fall, when the water table is low, probably begins near Bartlett Road, more than a mile and a half to the south. Five and a half miles south of Artist Lake at Yaphank, where the river is crossed by the Greenport Division of the Long Island Rail Road, a stream-gaging station has been operated by the U.S. Geological Survey since July 1942. Monthly and yearly records of streamflow for this station from 1942 to 1953 are listed in table 11, and more recent records are available in the publications of the U.S. Geological Survey. The flow of the river at this point is in some measure controlled by the two small artificial ponds upstream. The ground-water contributing area upstream from the gaging station is 21.5 square miles, and the average flow for the period of record at the station is 21.76 second-feet, or about 1 second-foot per square mile, which represents an average annual recharge of 13.5 inches. For other points on the stream there are only scattered measurements (table 12).
The second section of the stream lies between Bartlett Road and the dam just above Route 27, 6.2 miles downstream, on the outwash plain south of the Ronkonkoma moraine, which it has slightly dissected. The streamflow at Route 27, just below the dam, was measured on July 29,1952, at a time when the flow was probably close to average. At this point the stage and flow of the stream are somewhat affected by the tides in Bellport Bay, and corrections for this and other factors were required. From 9:13 a.m. to 10:34 a.m., when the stage was falling because of the falling tide in the bay, the discharge was 52.8 cfs. From 12:54 p.m. until 2:13 p.m., when the stage was rising, the discharge was 36.5 cfs (fig. 38). After corrections for changes in pond and bank storage, the average discharge during this period of normal streamflow was computed to be 47.8 cfs. Partial measurements on one or two other occasions tended to confirm this figure.
The apparent gain in streamflow between the gaging station at Yaphank and the bridge on Route 27 is, therefore, the difference between 47.8 and 21.76 cfs, or about 26 cfs, but two small corrections must be made. About 6.1 cfs was being diverted through the Carmans River Duck Farm upstream from the highway bridge, and the rising change in stage of several small ponds in the Suffolk County Game Preserve represented the holding back of about 0.55 cfs, a total ungaged flow of about 6.65 cfs. The corrected flow at the bridge, therefore, is about 54.5 cfs, and the gain in flow in the 2% miles of river upstream is between 32 and 34 cfs.
The third section of the river, from the highway bridge to the mouth of the river at Sandy Point, a distance of about 3.15 miles, crosses the outwash plain south of the Ronkonkoma moraine. In this section, however, the river is a tidal estuary; it has been aggrading its bottom and its small flood plain. Tidal fluctuations in Bellport Bay and Great South Bay are the main cause of variations in stage of this part of the river which, at the bridge on Route 27, varies from a maximum of 3.82 feet above sea level, to a minimum of 0.34 foot above sea level. The average daily range at this point is 0.83 foot.
The discharge of the stream at its mouth could not be measured, but the flow at this point has been estimated to be 72 cfs.
RELATION OF STREAMFLOW TO GROUND-WATER CONTRIBUTING AREA
The average discharge of the Carmans River at the gaging station in Yaphank for the period of record through September 1953 is 21.8 cfs, and the area contributing ground water to the stream, as determined from the water-table map, is 21.5 square miles. The average runoff thus is the equivalent of 13.5 inches of water. During these years the rainfall averaged 43.5 inches; because about 22 inches was lost by evapotranspiration, the recharge to the water table must have averaged 21.5 inches. The difference between this recharge and the 13.5 inches of streamflow, or about 8 inches, probably represents recharge to the deeper aquifers, the Magothy(?) Formation and the Lloyd Sand Member of the Raritan Formation.
The measured discharge of the river at the bridge at Route 27, at a time of probable near average flow, was between 54 and 55 cfs. The water-table map shows a contributing area of 36.5 square miles, which represents an average annual runoff of about 20 inches, or 6.5 inches more than at Yaphank, and an amount only slightly less than the average annual recharge. The increase in flow in the 2.75 miles of stream between Yaphank and the bridge is 32 cfs and the contributing area is about 15 square miles; runoff for this area is therefore about 30 inches, or somewhat more than the recharge. The excess over the recharge is due to upward leakage from the aquifers below the Gardiners Clay, but, because the average flow for the total area of some 36.5 square miles contributing to the flow at the highway bridge is only about 20 inches, it is apparent that not all the deeper recharge has come back to the water-table aquifer at this point. There must be considerable additional upward leakage into the area south of Route 27, and the estimated discharge of 72 cfs for the mouth of the Carmans River at Sandy Point is based on the estimate that the 48 square miles of area furnishing this flow contributes an average 22 inches of runoff.
RELATION OF STREAMFLOW TO GROUND-WATER LEVELS
Because the streams are almost entirely supplied by ground water discharge, a close correlation exists between the height and slope of
the water table and streamflow (pl. 7). The relation is, however, not always simple or direct, and the seasonal high or low in a particular observation well may come earlier than, at the same time as, or later than the seasonal high or low discharge at a point on a neighboring stream. The more important factors influencing this relation are (1) the depth to the water table at the well site, (2) the position of the well in the pattern of ground-water flow, (3) the distance of the well from the stream, (4) the hydrologic characteristics of the aquifer in question, (5) the hydraulic gradient, and (6) the variations in the amount of water in storage in the aquifer.
Well S3533 (pl. 1) is about 1 mile east of the nearest point on the Carmans River, and about 3.2 miles N. 16° W. of a point on the river at Bartlett Road, on the ground-water flow line passing through the well. By trial and error a good correlation was found between the water-level stage in this observation well and the flow of the river at the gaging station in Yaphank, although the high and low stages in the well lag about 6 weeks behind the corresponding high and low flow in the river. This relation is shown in figure 39, and is used in figure 40 to calculate streamflow from the well hydrograph.
The derived value for streamflow is within a few percent of the gaged value, except for periods such as August 1947 and November 1952 when there was long, intense rainfall. A somewhat similar empirical relation can be worked out between streamflow and the water level in almost any nearby observation well, whether it is in the area contributing ground-water flow to the stream or not, because both are strongly influenced or even controlled by the cumulative recharge to the water table. For example, the water level in well S3532, about 3.5 miles northeast of Artist Lake and 0.5 mile north of the groundwater divide, can be closely correlated to the flow of the Carmans River, although in this case the stage of the well lags about 2.5 months behind the streamflow.

You can download the entire report as a PDF file.

Unfortunately, only the online version at Google Books is searchable.

http://books.google.com/books?id=jotjAAAAIAAJ&pg=SL3-PA109&dq="Carmans+River"+suffolk&hl=en&ei=gJ_qTLfyN4OClAeS78yTDA&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=5&ved=0CDUQ6AEwBDgU#v=onepage&q&f=false

Richard

The incorporators of The Suffolk Club, aka the Suffolk County Society

2010-11-18T11:59:00.001-05:00

In this email from researcher Dr. Richard Thomas, brief biographical research notes on the incorporators of the Suffolk Club is given.

From: Richard Thomas
Sent: Thursday, November 18, 2010 2:15 AM
To: Van Lith, Marty; Deitz, John
Subject: The incorporators of The Suffolk Club, aka the Suffolk County Society

The incorporators and first directors of The Suffolk Club, as shown in the act of 11 Apr 1860, were:

Jones Rogers,

Isaac M. Wright,

Henry A. Coit,

J. Anthony Constant, and

Daniel H. Tompkins.

Jones Rogers

According to passport records, a Jones Rogers was born 08 Dec 1823 in New York City and was still living on 03 Mar 1869, the date the passport was issued. At age 45, he was 5 feet 9 inches tall, had a medium forehead, gray eyes, an ordinary nose, a medium mouth, round chin, brown hair, florid complexion, and oval face.

According to the census, a Jones Rogers lived at Castleton, Staten Island, in 1850. According to the 1864 IRS tax assessment list, he and Frances Rogers resided at 246 5th Ave. Frances's income was $6,709, and the income for Jones Rogers was $2,326.

In 1864, Jones Rogers was taxed $2 for one carriage, and Frances was taxed $4.62 for 154 ounces of silver.

In 1865, Jones Rogers was taxed on income of $4,400 at 5% ($220) and on income of $376 at 10% ($37.60) plus $1 on the first carriage and $2 on the second carriage, and $2 on one watch.

In 1866, he was taxed 5% on income of $4,136, $2 each on his two carriages, and $2 on his watch.

According to the census, another Jones Rogers born about 1803 and lived in the Town of Southampton in 1860 and 1870 and on Fishers Island, at age 77, in 1880. During the Civil War, this Jones Rogers living in Bridgehampton in the Town of Southampton was taxed for on his hogs.

Isaac Merritt Wright

Isaac Merritt Wright's father, William M. Wright, was known as the "Quaker merchant;" he and his grandfather, also Isaac Wright, were the founders of a line of packet ships, famous in the first half of the last century [1800-1850]. The grandfather was born 02 May 1760 (some say in Flushing, some say Long Island City) and died of cholera at age 72 on 09 Aug 1832.

William Wright was born 06 Dec 1787 and died 26 Feb 1850.

Isaac M. Wright, son of William, was born 07 Jun 1812. He was for some years the official representative of the United States at Vienna, Austria. Isaac Merritt married Mary Bedford, and they resided in Hempstead, Long Island, and New York City.

Isaac Wright, like Joseph Grafton, married well. His wife, Mary Bedford, was the heir to two fortunes from the Bedford estate of the late Lord Beresford.

He was also the part-owner of the line of Liverpool packet ships, the Black Ball Line. His brother, John D. Wright, was the founder of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children.

He was interred in the Bedford vault (no. 37) in the New York City Marble Cemetery, a small cemetery in the East Village. There is a neighboring cemetery with a similar name, New York Marble Cemetery, but otherwise not connected with this one. There is no interment date listed, but there is a removal date of 13 Jun 1869, the same removal date as for Henrietta A. Bedford (d. 16 Feb 1845).

Another Isaac M. Wright is listed in vault 163, interred 12 Nov 1868.

Aliza A. Bedford, Charles C. Bedford (d. 03 May 1866), Gunning S. Bedford (d. 07 Sep 1870), Henry Moore Bedford (d. 23 Aug 1880), and Jane M. Bedford (d. 31 Aug 1890), who were also interred in vault 37, all have a removal date of 12 Apr 1893.

The Old Merchants of New York, 2d Series, Chapter 25.
Up to 1815 there were nothing but transient ships. Then was first commenced that regular line of packets, such as the world had never before seen. The merchants of the city of New York led off in this undertaking. In 1815 a line of Liverpool packets was established. The ships were to leave New York and Liverpool on the first day of every month. Isaac Wright & Son and Francis Thompson were the proprietors of that line, and they ran it with such success, that after seven years' trial they determined to run a second line, starting from Liverpool and New York simultaneously on the 16th of each month. Additional ships were added, and they were all of the first class, in mercantile observation.
New York Evening Post, 1835.

NOTICE is hereby given, that the Copartnership heretofore existing, under the firm of ROSKELL, OGDEN & CO. at Liverpool, and WRIGHT & CO. at New York, will expire by its own limitation on the 31st instant,
JAS. D. P. OGDEN,
WM. WRIGHT.
The undersigned will continue as usual, under the firm of
ROSKELL, OGDEN & CO. at Liverpool, and
JAMES D. P. OGDEN & CO. at New York.
JAS. D. P. OGDEN.
NICHOLAS ROSKELL.
THE firm of WRIGHT & CO. will be continued, composed of Isaac M. Wright, Daniel H. Tompkins, and William Wright, for a limited term.
And Notice is hereby further given, pursuant to the provisions of the Revised Statutes of this State, that the two former are the general partners and the latter a special partner, who has contributed this day to the Capital Stock of said firm Fifty Thousand Dollars in Cash, which partnership will commence on the 1st January, 1835, and continue until the 1st January, 1838.
ISAAC M. WRIGHT.
DANIEL H. TOMPKINS.
WM. WRIGHT
New York, 20th December, 1834.

Henry A. Coit

Henry A. Coit was a New York City importer and merchant. He was born in New London, Connecticut. In 1815 he began business on South street as a shipping merchant. He was a director of the Union National Bank and served as it's Vice President for a time. He also served on the board of directors and as a trustee of the Atlantic Mutual Insurance Company. He was married in 1822 to Miss Talman, a sister of a man who later became Vice President of the Farmers' Loan and Trust Company.

He died 19 May 1876, probably the oldest merchant in New York at that time, according to the Times.

J. Anthony Constant

J. [Joseph] Anthony Constant was a conservative Democrat. He graduated from Union College, Schenectady, New York, in 1826 and was a lawyer. He was appointed a judge by the governor before 1844, and he served in the New York State Assembly in 1845 as a representative of Westchester County. He married Eliza Sinclair, daughter of William Sinclair of the U. S. Navy. In 1828 he built a house on a 30-acre estate at Hastings-on-Hudson, which he to Robert Minturn, the owner of the world's fastest clipper ship, in 1850.

He died before his daughter's marriage in 1868 (Eliza Ackley Constant to James C. Kempton, Esq. of Philadelphia). The Union University alumni journal, says that when he entered the college in 1826 he lived in Peekskill and is in agreement with the New York Times in giving his death as 1860 in Louisville, Kentucky. The Times gives a date of 18 Mar 1860 when he was 54, even though that would have been the month before the New York State legislature passed the act of incorporation. He owned parcels of land at the south end of Manhattan (19 Barclay St. and 24 Park Place) which were conveyed by his executors, Eliza S. Constant and William S. Constant, to his daughter, Eliza A. Kempton for $250,000, on 21 Oct 1872.
CONSTANT. -- At Louisville, Ky., on Sunday, March 18, JOSEPH ANTHONY CONSTANT, Esq., in the 55th year of his age. The friends of the family are invited to attend the funeral, on Friday, at 1 o'clock P.M., from Trinity Church. [N Y Times, 23 Mar 1860.]

Daniel Hyatt Tompkins

Daniel Hyatt Tompkins was the son of Daniel D. Tompkins.

Daniel D. Tompkins (1774-1825) was the son of Jonathan Tompkins and Sarah Ann Hyatt. He was a Democratic governor of the state of New York from 1807-17, and the youngest governor in New York state history. He was the Vice-President of the United States during the two terms of the James Monroe administration from 04 Mar 1817 to 03 Mar 1825. He died three months and eight days after the end of his term on 11 Jun 1825 on Staten Island. He was said to be exceptionally handsome and to have "a face of singular masculine beauty."

http://nationalheritagemuseum.typepad.com/.shared/image.html?/photos/uncategorized/2008/07/25/daniel_tompkins_portrait_web.jpg

http://www.senate.gov/artandhistory/art/common/image/Sculpture_22_00006.htm

Tompkinsville on Staten Island, Tompkins Square Park in Manhattan, and Tompkins County are named for him.

His son, Daniel H. Tompkins, was born 17 Mar 1810 in White Plains (some say Somers), New York, and died 2 Sep 1875. He had a residence at 331 E. 14th St. in NYC.

Daniel H. Tompkins married Elizabeth Wright, the sister of Isaac M. Wright, above.

He was involved in a legal dispute with Alexander Bell over the ownership of a lot of land in New York City that had been owned by William Wright (father of Isaac M. and Elizabeth Wright). In that dispute, his name appears as "Thompkins" instead of "Tompkins."

He was a representative of New York and a speaker at the first Republican National Convention in 1856 (also spelled "Thompkins" here).

His second wife was Tamar Oakley.

In 1866, Daniel H. Tompkins served on the board of managers of the New York Institution for the Blind, on the Committee on Finance. Joseph Grafton also served on the board of managers of this institution in 1866.

He was appointed Deputy Collector of the New York Custom-House in November 1869.

Of the incorporators, only the name of Jones Rogers is known to have purchased property at South Haven, but searches have not been made on the other names above.

None of those above are listed as members of The Suffolk Club in articles in the New York Times.

Richard

The Suffolk Club, the act of incorporation, 11 Apr 1860

2010-11-18T11:38:00.003-05:00

The Suffolk Club was incorporated by an act of the New York State legislature on 11 April 1860. This email contains notes by researcher Dr. Richard Thomas on its incorporation. Included is a link to the actual act of incorporation.

From: Richard Thomas
Sent: Wednesday, November 17, 2010 5:30 PM
To: Van Lith, Marty; Deitz, John
Subject: The Suffolk Club, the act of incorporation, 11 Apr 1860

Attachments: SuffolkClubIncorporation.pdf

Even though I found the act of incorporation of The Suffolk Club in an index of laws passed by the State of New York last month, I didn't realize I had found it, so I didn't look up the act indicated by the item in the index.

Today I searched for it in a different way.

Ever since you sent me the copy of the renewal of the lease I have been trying to find out who Jones Rogers was.

I knew Joseph Grafton (husband of Elizabeth Remsen) had been the President of the Suffolk Club for much of its life, but I had never heard of Jones Rogers.

The 04 November 1872 Lease Renewal between the Suffolk Club and Henry W. Carman, states that the 15-year renewal is being done under the "covenants and agreements" contained in the lease of 01 Jan 1858 between Samuel Carman and Jones Rogers.

That implied Jones Rogers had been an important person in The Suffolk Club before it was incorporated, perhaps a president or treasure or secretary of the association.

I have come to the conclusion that Google Search learns from your searches and which results you click on which results you are most likely to be interested in and moves those closer to the top.

Last week I googled "Jones Rogers" and came up with very little.

So I decided to go to Riverhead.

1846	45	154	Charles Cook and others	Jones Rogers	Suffolk Club	deed has not been examined, may not be for Suffolk Club
Dec 1858	102	56	Samuel Carman and wife	Jones Rogers	Suffolk Club
15 Nov 1864	129	122	Charles V. B. Homan and wife	Joseph Grafton	Suffolk Club	between Carman's River on north and River Road on south
15 Nov 1864	129	126	Charles V. B. Homan and wife	Joseph Grafton	Suffolk Club
Jun 1865	131	518	John Shirley, Sheriff	Joseph Grafton	Suffolk Club
Jun 1865	131	520	Jones Rogers	Joseph Grafton	Suffolk Club	appears to be an exchange of properties, deed not yet examined
Jun 1865	131	522	Joseph Grafton	Jones Rogers	Suffolk Club	appears to be an exchange of properties, deed not yet examined
Feb 1866	135	522	Sarah Nicoll	Jones Rogers	Suffolk Club	deed has not been examined, may not be for Suffolk Club
Jun 1866	138	418	Samuel Carman	Jones Rogers	Suffolk Club
Jun 1866	138	420	Samuel Carman	Jones Rogers	Suffolk Club	15-year lease
Jun 1866	138	425	Joseph Grafton	Suffolk Club and assorted others	Suffolk Club
Jun 1866	138	488	James B. Johnston and wife	Jones Rogers and others	Suffolk Club
Nov 1868	154	86	Sylvester Homan and wife	Joseph Grafton	Suffolk Club	This may be a private purchase rather than one for the Suffolk Club
Jun 1870	170	133	Denning Duer	Suffolk Club	Suffolk Club
01 Jan 1875	214	121	Joseph Grafton and wife	Suffolk Club	Suffolk Club	$10, between Carman's River on north and River Road on south
01 Jan 1875	214	122	Henry W. Carman and wife	Suffolk Club	Suffolk Club	$20,000, 305 acres - descriptive of dam and plume
25 Jun 1875	216	472	James N. Platt	Suffolk Club	Suffolk Club	$10, farm formerly occupied by Gilbert B. Miller, ~4.25 acres, south of South Country Rd
May 1877	228	243	John M. Bowers and Susan B. D., his wife	Frederick Schuchardt and the Suffolk Club	Suffolk Club	north South Country, east of Gerard
May 1888	310	480	James N. Platt	Suffolk Club	Suffolk Club
Oct 1888	313	327	James N. Platt	Suffolk Club	Suffolk Club
Oct 1893	402	1	Nathaniel Miller and another, executors	Suffolk Club	Suffolk Club
Jan 1896	431	558	Wm. E. T. Smith and others	Suffolk Club	Suffolk Club
Aug 1901	510	61	Frederick A. Schermerhorn	Suffolk Club	Suffolk Club
Nov 1901	511	575	Frederick A. Schermerhorn	Suffolk Club	Suffolk Club
Sep 1908	657	576	Wm. H. Eagleson and wife	Suffolk Club	Suffolk Club	Guardian of Charles Gerard sold property to W. H. Eagleson
Nov 1910	745	520	Charles E. Gerard	Suffolk Club	Suffolk Club	Same as Eagleson property, to insure title, Charles Gerard now of age

When I googled on "Jones Rogers" today, Google must have been ruminating on the results I preferred from my searches of last week and produced exactly what I had been looking for, the law that incorporated The Suffolk Club.

However, it wasn't incorporated as the Suffolk Club!

It was incorporated as the Suffolk County Society. (This is really a very unfortunate name, since articles about the Suffolk County Agricultural Society often leave out "agricultural" when the name of the group is repeated in an article.)

They may have chosen that form of the name because of the way New York corporation law allowed another type of volunteer association, a congregation, to incorporate. A congregation in New York incorporated as "a religious society."

The "Suffolk County Society" was incorporated by an act of the New York State legislature on 11 Apr 1860.

(Eight days after a horseback rider started off from St. Joseph, Missouri, on the first mail delivery of the Pony Express and three days before the mail arrived in Sacramento, California; and one year and one day before South Carolina fired on Fort Sumter.)

The act states that the corporation is to have five directors, and the first five directors are to be:

Jones Rogers,

Isaac M. Wright,

Henry A. Coit,

J. Anthony Constant, and

Daniel H. Tompkins.

The only name I recognize is Jones Rogers.

Richard

August Belmont and his relationship to The Suffolk Club, a member?, an organizer?, an incorporator?

2010-11-18T11:22:00.006-05:00

This email, by researcher Dr. Richard Thomas, are notes on the subject of August Belmont and his relationship to the 19th century Suffolk Club of South Haven, L.I., New York.

Although several secondary sources name August Belmont as an organizer, incorporator, and a member, Richard found little contemporary evidence in support, although on at least one occasion he visited the club, perhaps as a guest.

This is the first of several follow-on emails.

From: Richard Thomas
Sent: Wednesday, November 17, 2010 3:44 PM
To: Van Lith, Marty; Deitz, John
Subject: August Belmont and his relationship to The Suffolk Club, a member?, an organizer?, an incorporator?

Several different secondary sources say that August Belmont organized the Suffolk Club. The authors of Long Island Country Houses and their Architects, 1860-1940, (published 1997), say that the Suffolk Club was organized in New York City on April 6, 1858, by August Belmont "in concert with Walt Sherman, W. Butler Duncan, and others," [p. 1823].

One secondary source, the New York Times of 24 Feb 2001, http://www.nytimes.com/2001/02/24/nyregion/blocks-cedar-artifacts-worth-gold-hunting-decoys-outlived-their-usefulness.html?pagewanted=2, says August Belmont organized a Suffolk Club in Wyandanch, New York.

The various editions of Nick Karas's book, Brook Trout mention August Belmont in connection with the Suffolk Club. (The first edition was published in 1997.)

In the latest edition, Brook Trout, Revised and Updated, published in 2003, he states,

These men were forerunners of the club organized by August Belmont in New York City in 1858. This group included John Van Buren, the president's son, Peleg Hall, W. Butler Duncan, Walter Sherman, and Joseph Grafton. Webster was never a member of the club; he died in 1852. The Suffolk Club, as they were called, bought piecemeal, from 20 owners, a total of 1500 acres around the pond and the old mill. [p. 172]

There is no footnote that reveals where Karas got his list of names.

Nick Karas's book is filled with errors, and, as is usually the case, many sentences combine a statement which is true with one that is false.

(For example, he says the South Haven Presbyterian Church was moved to Brookhaven hamlet "to make way for the highway." The South Haven Presbyterian Church was moved to Brookhaven hamlet in December 1960, but the four-lane Sunrise Highway extension had nothing to do with why it was moved. The sentence is, at least, an improvement over the reason Karas gave for moving the church in his Sports Illustrated article on Webster and the Big Fish that was published prior to 1967: "Over the years the congregation dwindled to the point where the church was of little use.")

[The comment that "Webster was never a member of the club" is also misleading. The Suffolk Club surely existed informally, and with that name, long before it was incorporated. This is supported by the Club's purchase of a pew in the South Haven Presbyterian Church. In 1840, the congregation decided to purchase back pews and make them freely available to anyone who wished to worship in the meeting house, so the Suffolk Club almost certainly purchased its pew before that date.]

In Suffolk County, Long Island, in Early Photographs, 1867-1951, [Dover, 1984, p. 102], the authors write, "Groups of monied anglers bought up large blocs of land and built luxurious clubs, such as the Great South Bay Angler's Club, the South Shore Rod and Reel Club, the East End Surf Club and August Belmont's exclusive Suffolk Club in Bellport."

Oddly, one of the most well-known clubs for "monied anglers," the South Side Sportsmen's Club, Oakdale, does not appear on the list. Surely Mr. William Vanderbilt and Bayard Cutting would qualify as "monied anglers."

In 1889, the Brooklyn Daily Eagle Almanac lists these clubs (p. 38) as the largest and most prominent on Long Island: 1) Suffolk Club, Brookhaven; 2) Amagansett Club, 3) North Side Sportsmen's Club; 4) Robin's Island Club, Peconic Bay; 5) Rod and Reel Society; 6) Suffolk Sporting Club; 7) South Side Sportsmen's Club, Oakdale; 8) Olympic Club, Bay Shore; 9) Hampton Club, Southampton; 10) Meadow Brook Hounds, Hempstead; and 11) Rockaway Hunt Club, Far Rockaway.

The Suffolk Club was certainly not one of the largest clubs on Long Island, since membership in the Club was limited to 15. So it must have been listed first because of its prominence.

An earlier secondary reference that links August Belmont with the Suffolk Club is in one of Helen Morrow Ewing's "Brookhaven" columns published in the Long Island Advance on 22 Sep 1933. She writes:

Among the members [of the Suffolk Club], over a period of years, were August Belmont, George W. Wickersham, Frances [sic.] Augustus Schermerhorn, Commodore Robert Bourne, Joseph Grafton, William Meyer, Thomas Meyer, John Cadwalder [sic.], Charles Strong, Fred D. Tappan, John Campbell, Daniel B. Fearing, John Schuyler, Anson W. Hard, A. J. Smith, Henry Von L. Meyer, George Von L. Meyer, Dr. George Wheelock, and Evelyn Roosevelt.

Of course, in 1933, the Suffolk Club no longer existed.

August Belmont had his own trout fishing pond, so it seems odd that he would need to go somewhere else to fish. His "great stock farm" of 900 acres was located near Babylon. He called it "The Nursery."

New York Times, 06 Jun 1878
Many of the guests paid a visit to the splendid private trout pond which stretches in front of the house. It covers 50 acres, and has two island in it. It is fed by a brook four miles long. An attempt was recently made to clean the pond, and in transferring the fish the majority of them died; so that it will have to be restocked.

Nineteenth century newspaper articles and books sometimes list a few of the members of the Suffolk Club. The total number of members was quite small, fourteen or so.

August Belmont does appears in two early articles or lists of people who visited the Suffolk Club or who were members of it.

The first is this cryptic article that appeared in an article entitled "Long Island's Trout Ponds" in the New York Times on 28 Jul 1872:

At Fire Place there is the long-famous pond known as Mr. Samuel Carman's. It covers about forty acres, and is valued at $20,000. There is, in conjunction with this pond, a very fine clubhouse, which is used by the New-York Associations, and occasionally by Mr. August Belmont.
At Bellport there is a pond, known as Osborne's, covering fifteen acres, and valued at $15,000.
At Islip there is a well-known pond, which is used by the South-side Club, and a second pond has only lately been finished. The main pond covers thirty acres, and the other about four acres. Both are very find, and are valued at $100,000.
. . . At Patchogue is what has long been known as Swan Creek Pond--a large and very beautiful body of water, which covers twenty acres, and is valued at $20,000. The water is excellent, and the privileged sportsmen who have thrown their fly in it, consider it the "handsomest stream on the South-side."
. . . Babylon is noted for its several private ponds, which are owned by men of presumed extraordinary wealth. Here, in connection with his residence and somewhat famous stables, Mr. August Belmont, the banker, has a very fine small pond, valued at $9,000. Mr. Royal Phelps of New-York, has one on his place, which is valued at $8,000. Both gentlemen have find lodges on their grounds, and also notably attractive improvements.

Contemporaneous sources include these individuals:

Suffolk Club Members (or who fished there)
June 1875
1. Joseph Grafton
2. James N. Platt, partner in the law firm of Platt & Bowers, died 16 Jun 1894

May 1877
1. John M. Bowers, partner in the law firm of Platt & Bowers, died Mar 1918

April 1, 1880 (the following had gone to Yaphank to be present at the opening of the Suffolk Club [for the season])
1. August Belmont
2. Fred Schuchardt
3. Henry Fearing
4. George Fearing
5. Henry Meyer
6. Thomas Meyer
7. Peter Townsend

April 2, 1882. Fourteen total members.
1. Capt. Joseph Grafton, President
2. Henry Fearing
3. James Platt
4. John Campbell
5. Peleg Hall
6. J. L. Cadwalader
7. Thomas Meyer (Suffolk Club also mentioned in letter from nephew in April 1905)
8. Peter Townsend.

March 31, 1894 (The NYTimes confuses the location of the Suffolk Club with the baseball club of the same name in Huntington.)
1. C. H. Horsman
2. Charles E. Strong
3. John Cadwalader
4. H. Fearing

Aug and Nov 1901.
1. Frederick Augustus Schermerhorn, died 20 March 1919. ("He never married although his tastes were distinctly domestic.")

April 1905
1. Thomas Meyer (in George von Lengerke Meyer: His Life and Public Service, p. 145.)

Also, in 1908, Augustus Haviland was the attorney for the Suffolk Club. (The Suffolk Club was one of the "objectors" to New York City's application to take water from Suffolk County.)

There was a very exclusive Wyandanch Club on the Nissequoque (the Willow ponds) near Smithtown. However, it seems to have adopted that name after 1892.

The New York Times reported on the opening of the trout fishing season on 02 Apr 1882. About halfway through, the article reports on the Suffolk Club, saying:

The Suffolk Club, a very exclusive association, which has a membership of 14, owns a charming sylvan retreat at South Haven near Yaphank. The club-house is snugness itself, and the cellars and cuisine are praised by those who have been so fortunate as to be entertained as guests. It has two tree-embowered lakes in which the trout grow very large. The water is exceedingly pure and so full of nourishment for the Fontinalis that they are, to all intents wild trout as they are never fed. The current through the lake to the east is Carman's River. It takes its source at Virgin Springs, on the pine forest plain, and after crossing the highway below the lakes broadens into a wide, lively, pleasant brook terminating in the Great South Bay two miles from the club-house. Recently the Suffolk Club obtained control of Carman's River, and grand fashioning for estuary trout is looked for. The river will be improved and stocked, and will be in the near future the main attraction of the club. It is navigable from the Great South Bay for a long distance, partly under a thick growth of timber, and where the trees are it is cool in the hottest weather. The country is sparsely settled in the neighborhood and only one house is seen from the club-house to the mouth of Carman's River. Capt. Joseph Grafton is President of the club, but be is now in Europe. The opening day was observed by Messrs. Henry Fearing, James Platt, John Campbell, Peleg Hall, J. L. Cadwallader, Thomas Meyer, and Peter Townsend. The members are not limited to any number of trout to be caught in one day. The amount of their "catch" is regulated by their consciences and their skill.

That same article then goes on to report on an estate at Sayville, then says about Mr. Belmont:

Mr. August Belmont will probably fish on his preserve near Islip. Some of his friends have been invited to go there.

An article published in the New York Times, 31 Mar 1894, mentions the South Side Club at Oakdale, the Wyandank Club, at Smithtown, (a Brooklyn organization, formerly, the Brooklyn Gun Club), and the Suffolk Club. It then mentions August Belmont, whom the reporter supposes will be fishing at his famous private preserve on his estate.

August Belmont Sr. was never a member of the South Side Sportsman's Club either. His son, August Belmont Jr., was admitted as a member of the Southside Sportsman's Club in May 1900.

The Southside Sportsman's Club developed out of the property of Eliphalet 'Litt' Snedecor on the banks of the Connetquot River. He ran a tavern and inn there. George Lorillard (tobacco magnate), William K. Vanderbilt, and William Bayard Cutting fished at Snedecors and decided they wanted it for themselves. They purchased his property in 1866 and created the South Side Sportsman's Club.

http://www.ihff.com/connetquot_history.html
Over the years, they continued to purchase land along the river, eventually totaling 3,473 acres. Their main interest was hunting and fishing so they maintained the land and water for the protection and propagation of game, birds and fish. The Club established a trout hatchery in 1870. Although it has had two prior locations, its present location has been propagating fish successfully since 1890.

In 1963, the Club sold the property to New York State for $6.2 million. The Club leased back the property for an additional ten years. In August of 1973, the facility officially became a New York State Park

Frederick G. Bourne joined the South Side Sportsman's Club in September 1890. See: http://books.google.com/books?id=NOA-AAAAYAAJ&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false

Next, I checked the New York State laws, hoping to find a charter for the Suffolk Club. I found that the New York State legislature had chartered many clubs and companies, including:

Suffolk Co. Steamboat Company - c. 90, 1839.
Suffolk Co. Society - c. 272, 1860.
Clever Fellows' Club - c. 383, 1864.
Izaak Walton Fishing Club, De Ruyter, c. 184, 1864.
Southside Sportsman's Club, Long Island, c. 346, 1866.
Cortland Co. Sportman's Club - c. 675, 1866.
Sportsman's Club, Kinderhook - c. 811, 1866.
Long Island Club - c. 156, 1871.

None of these appeared to be The Suffolk Club, but that was not the case. See next e-mail.

Richard

Note on Peter Townsend: Peter Townsend was born on the Sterling Iron tract, a huge iron deposit in Orange and Rockland Counties that runs down into New Jersey. The tract was owned by the Sterling Iron Works that had been founded by his grandfather. He was born on 13 May 1803 and later lived at 32 E. 23rd St. in Manhattan where he died on 26 Sep 1885. "Mr. Townsend had a striking figure. He was tall and powerful and weighed over 240 pounds." according to the New York Sun, 27 Sep 1885.