Crescent Beach in Huntington is Closed to Bathing

James L. Tomarken, MD, MSW, MPH, MBA, FRCPC, FACP, Commissioner of the Suffolk County Department of Health Services, said today that Crescent Beach in Huntington is closed to bathing due to the finding of bacterial levels in excess of acceptable criteria. 

The following beaches have also been closed in recent weeks: Benjamin Beach in Bay Shore, Tanner Park Beach in Copiague and Lake Ronkonkoma Beach in the Town of Islip. These beaches will remain closed to bathing until water samples indicate that they are safe for bathing.

 For the latest information on affected beaches, call the Bathing Beach HOTLINE at (631) 852-5822, contact the Department’s Office of Ecology at 852-5760 during normal business hours, or visit the website link below and in the Popular Links box, click on “Beach Advisories Map” (http://www.suffolkcountyny.gov/health).

Outpouring for Smithtown Family Who Lost Home in Fire

PHOTO BY JEFF BRESSLER

by Erica Jackson

Today is Katie Byrnes’ 11th birthday, but rather than happily marking the occasion with family and friends at home, her family must spend the day sifting through the rubble that was once their home. 

 

Around 3:20 on Tuesday afternoon, the Byrnes family lost everything when their house, located at 66 Amsterdam Road in Smithtown went up  in flames. Katie and her older brother, Peter were home with a friend, when they smelled smoke and ran from the house.  Within minutes, the house was in flames.It was nothing like neighbor Lynda LaCour had ever seen before.  “I was taking my son to his friend’s house when I saw the smoke, I sped down the road and saw the kids running in the road.  It was wild.  One side of the house was completely on fire.”

 

LaCour said police and firefighters were on the scene within minutes.  According to Jeff Bressler, public information officer for the Smithtown Fire Department, when fire fighters arrived they found the house fully engulfed in flames. “Lines were stretched and firefighters operated hoses both in the interior and exterior of the structure,” said Bressler, but soon, the roof on the right side of the building was in danger of collapse and the house was evacuated. The house was secured and when deemed safe by the fire chief, firefighters reentered the house and doused the remaining flames.  It took firefighters nearly three hours to completely extinguish the fire. 

 

Several firefighters, said Bressler, where treated on the scene for heat exhaustion, fatigue and dehydration.  The cause of the fire, said Bressler, is still under investigation by the fire marshall. ( Pictures and information about the fire can be seen at the Smithtown Fire Dept.website  www.smithtownfd.org)

 

The Byrnes family is staying in a local hotel and over the past few days they have been working to take an account of all of their salvageable belongings. “Basically, they have lost everything,” said neighbor and friend Barbara Smith.  “Thank God they are all safe, but they are so devastated and lost so much. They can rebuild, but there is only so much that they can get back.”

 

Smith said she saw the fire first hand and watching her friend’s house crumble in the flames, she knew she had to do something to help.  “Watching it, it was enough to make anyone want to reach out and help.” Just a day after the fire, Smith and her children started a collection for the family. Her children, have been going door to door asking for donations. So far, they have collected $700.  Their efforts have prompted neighbors and friends to drop off clothing and other needed items to the Smith home over the past few days.  “The outpouring has been great,” said Smith, who says there is so much more the family needs from basic toiletries and clothing to back-to-school supplies and food.  And eventually, she said, they will need furnishings for temporary living quarters either in an apartment or rented home. Smith said she is continuing to collect donations at her home at 5 Mulberry Drive in Smithtown. People can stop by and drop items off or if they chose, they can make cash donations or gift cards, which Smith says will be beneficial.

 

Smith will also be holding a fundraiser on September 11 from noon to 2:00 at the Sports Arena in St. James.  The cost will be $25 per family and 100 percent of the proceeds will go directly to the Byrnes family.  Smith said families can spend an afternoon at the arena roller skating, playing dodge ball and kickball.

  

In addition, items for a Chinese auction are being collected for the event and people looking to donate items for auction can reach Smith at Barbsmith96@yahoo.com or by calling her at 265-7925. Aside from the September 11 fundraiser, Smith says fellow neighbor Jeannie Weller is working on a community garage sale to benefit the Byrnes. Details for that fundraiser are still being worked out.

 

 LaCour and her family are also working to collect items for the Byrnes family.  Via her website, Smithtownmomstown.com, LaCour is asking for donations.  “I wanted to get the family help,” said LaCour, “I also have a resource [the website] that can help.”

So far, LaCour says the response has been amazing. “Women who don’t even know the family have brought over clothes and kitchen wear,” said LaCour.

LaCour says she will continue to collect donations for the Byrnes family and anyone wishing to make a donation, can call her at 656-0216 or e-mail her at lynda@smithtownmomstown.com.

EPA Invites Public to Vote in Rachel Carson Contest

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is asking the public to vote for their favorite entries in the fourth annual Rachel Carson Sense of Wonder Contest. A panel of judges selected the finalists in five categories: photography, essay, poetry, dance and mixed media (photography and a poem or essay). Finalists were selected based on originality, creativity, use of an intergenerational team, and ability to capture a sense of wonder.  

Carson is considered to be the founder of the contemporary environmental movement through her landmark book, “Silent Spring.” Using the title of another of Carson’s books, “The Sense of Wonder,” the contest sought submissions “that best express the ‘Sense of Wonder’ that you feel when observing the sea, the night sky, forests, birds, wildlife, and all that is beautiful to your eyes.”

The deadline for voting is November 1. The winners will be announced later that month. They will receive a certificate for their accomplishment and will be recognized on EPA’s website.

The contest is sponsored by the EPA in partnership with Generations United, the Rachel Carson Council Inc., and the Liz Lerman Dance Exchange.

To vote: http://www.epa.gov/aging/resources/thesenseofwonder/2010/vote.htm

Note: If a link above doesn’t work, please copy and paste the URL into a browser. 

View all news releases related to awards and recognition

SCPD Arrest Two At Hauppauge Massage Center

Chun Zhi Bates, 55Chun Zhi Bates, 55Suffolk County Police today arrested two women for offering prostitution at a Hauppauge massage center.

Fourth Precinct Crime Section officers, working with Fourth Squad detectives and Community Oriented Police Enforcement (COPE) officers, conducted an investigation into prostitution activity at the Qi-Gong Relaxation Massage Center, located at 471 Townline Road, which resulted in the arrest of two Flushing women at 4 p.m. The center’s employees were also performing massages without a required New York State License.

Massage tables, assorted body oils, towels, a computer and cash were also seized after a search warrant was executed at the business.

Chun Zhi Bates, 55, was charged with one count of Prostitution and one count of Unauthorized Practice of a Profession. Weili Cai, 53, was charged with two counts of Prostitution and one count of Unauthorized Practice of a Profession.

Bates and Cai, both of 41-25 Kissena Blvd., will be held overnight and are scheduled to be arraigned at First District Court in Central Islip on August 13.

Grausso Property In Kings Park Protected

By Erica Jackson

Public officials gathered in Kings Park today to announce that the county has acquired 6.5 acres of environmentally sensitive property that sits within the Nissequogue River watershed. The property, known as the Grausso property, was purchased via the county’s 1/4 percent Drinking Water Protection program for $521,000.

 

“It behooves us to purchase and preserve this property in its natural state,” said Suffolk County Legislator Lynn Nowick, who was instrumental in the property’s acquisition.  “It is a good purchase for the county.  We have to try and preserve whatever we can.”

 

According to Nowick the parcel now adds to other county-preserved properties in the area, including ten acres of contiguous land and another 20-acres, which was bought four years ago. The state also owns a 75-acre parcel that sits adjacent to the Grausso property.  That land has been transformed into a park, known as the Nissequogue River State Park.

 

The acquisition of the Grausso property, said Suffolk County Executive Steve Levy said, “is a major step forward in our process of protecting the Nissequogue River, which is vitally important to the Long Island Sound tributary.”  He added, “Our efforts, combined with action taken by New York State officials, will ensure that more than 100 acres of mature, contiguous oak forest will ultimately be preserved forever.”

 

Kings Park Civic Association President Sean Lehmann praised the purchase. He said, “The Kings Park Civic Association appreciates the efforts of Suffolk County Executive Steve Levy and County Legislator Lynne Nowick to preserve one of Kings Park’s last remaining open spaces. This land acquisition not only preserves the Kings Park Greenbelt, it also protects an important part of the Nissequogue River watershed area from future development.” Mike Rosato, head of the Nissequogue River Foundation agreed and added, “County Executive Steve Levy and Legislator Lynne Nowick really get it.  They understand how important these acquisitions are are to our environment, quality of life and to help stabilize our tax base.” Kings Park resident Ed Maher, who also serves as chair of the Smithtown Democratic Committee, also applauded the county’s efforts. He said, “As a resident of Smithtown and Kings Park I am pleased that this environmentally sensitive land is protected.”