Letters to the editor: East Rockaway, Lynbrook

Week of Nov. 17-23

Posted

He’s a believer

To the Editor:

I would like to congratulate the Lynbrook High School Drama Club for its stellar performances in last weekend’s sold out production of “Shrek The Musical.”

As the director of fine and performing arts, it was great to see so many wonderful students involved with the production — from the talented cast on stage, to the remarkable pit orchestra in front of the stage and the hard-working and dedicated technical crew backstage.

As the orchestra director for “Shrek,” I’d also like to congratulate the fabulous production team including the show’s director, Kevin Harrington; vocal director, Barry Wyner; art director Michael Kunz; costume coordinator, Sue Moller; lighting and sound technician Glen Davis; and costume designer Barbara Kirby, who all worked seamlessly together to provide our young people with an unforgettable musical theater experience.

Finally, I extend my thanks to the Parents and Friends of Music and its president, Nancy Chiappisi, for all their efforts during the shows, as well as the many local businesses, family and friends who served as our loyal patrons of the arts. The generous support of all helped make this production possible.

Joseph Pallotta

Director of fine and performing arts

Lynbrook Public Schools

. . .

Let’s rethink the outfall plan

To the Editor:

No one denies that the Western Bays are being choked of oxygen because the Bay Park Sewage Treatment Plant spews nitrogen, ammonia, detergents and pharmaceuticals into Reynolds Channel. Nitrogen contamination results in algae and bacteria growth, diminished oxygen, the death of shellfish beds and fish hatcheries and “brown tides” (when large concentrations of single-celled algae discolor a section of seawater murky brown).

Superstorm Sandy caused one of the worst environmental disasters in New York’s history, causing 60 million gallons of raw sewage to empty into Reynolds Channel every day for 44 days. With $810 million in federal and state aid, Bay Park is now being made more resilient against future storms. Nassau County, however, failed to fund the removal of nitrogen from the plant or approve an ocean outfall pipe before the storm. Federal Emergency Management Agency money was not allowed to go toward either improved tertiary treatment or an outfall pipe.

The current proposal to send Bay Park’s 50 million gallons per day of treated sewage, plus another 7.5 million gallons from Long Beach, to the Cedar Creek Water Pollution Control Plant would unnecessarily tear up our communities. The county proposes to lay three miles of new pipes through Bay Park, East Rockaway and Lynbrook to connect to a 140-year-old, cast-iron aqueduct that runs along Sunrise Highway for 10 miles through Rockville Centre, Baldwin, Freeport, Merrick, Bellmore and Wantagh. From there, three miles of new pipe must be laid through Wantagh and Seaford to connect to Cedar Creek’s 43-year-old ocean outfall pipe, which has had documented leaks over the years.

Instead, Clean Air Water and Soil asks that the county investigate the feasibility of digging a tunnel 100 feet under Reynolds Channel and installing a 10-foot-wide pipe for three miles into the ocean. This would be much less intrusive than the alternative pipeline, or dredging the floor of Reynolds Channel to lay the outfall pipe from Bay Park into the ocean.

Claudia Borecky, Donald Davidson and Dave Denenberg

Directors,

Clean Air Water and Soil