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Image provided by: Suffolk Cooperative Library System
SOUTH SHORE L.I'S LARGEST CIRCULATION WEEKLY NEWSPAPER S ervin g t h e c o m m u n ity sin c e 1966 P rin t e d on r e c y c l e d pa p e r W e b s i t e : w w w . ba b y l o n b e a c o n . com E-MAIL ADDRESS: ACJNEWS@RCN.COM VOL. 4 4 NO. 1 OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER Periodicals Postage Paid- Babylon Post Office, Babylon NY 11702 (USPS 03960-8000) FOR SUFFOLK COUNTY .TOWN OF BABYLON . VILLAGE OF BABYLON .BABYLON SCHOOLS . DEER PARK SCHOOLS •WEST ISLlP •COPIAGUEI .NORTH BABY! S m Z Q L I -1 A N 'N 0 ‘U 8 V 8 S11S 1 3AV n a v o s p£ pub^hedevj VDI*lVd .3yyMyC Eouiu c o o c u l o i i y - a v o P l l b i i M i c i b , v ^ a i m y n d i i u a i h l u ) c u iik , o | ^ Inside this week: • A round Town . . . Page 2 • O b ituaries. . . Page 5C ¿ Nice! :-!jV eek!/ Notices: Your Right to Know: .. 5, 6, 7, 8 & 6 C The Babylon Beacon is the hometown newspaper of Steve Corrado Deer Park THURSDAY, Jam :ENTS BABYLON PUBLIC LIBRARY ------- ----------------------------------------- ' v T »ABYLUIN PUBLIC LIBRARY # - . - In the News New grouP presses tor residential priority for hookups at Bergen Point WB students attend ESL camp The West Babylon School District incorporates technology into its English as a second language curriculum (ESL). Students who attended a recent ESL Technology camp were taught how to make a video presentation. One group of students used the opportunity to incorporate a lesson on tying the past to the present by creating a video on Grandmas Attic. They had a great time filming themselves in period clothing. Shown in photo are West Babylon students Jacob Cordero, Sabrina Perez, and Ingrid Meza. This past November, John Fatuzzo of North Babylon completed his Eagle Scout Leadership Service Project at St. John the Baptist DHS in W est Islip. W ith donations from NICOLOCK Paving Supplies, CJ Flag & Son and some local nurseries, John organized and, with the help o f Troop 399 North Babylon, completed the construction o f a 30x18 ft. garden at St. John’s South Campus entrance. John, his troop members and fellow senior classmates raised over $800 in preparation for the project through snack and bake sales at St. John’s. The garden, which features a 20-foot flagpole, was designed to fly a special A m e rican Flag to commemorate the three St. John’s alumni who passed away on September 11, 2001- Andrew Fisher’77, Matthew Rogan’82 and Leroy H o m e r’83. Walter D. Lace, principal of St. John’s, was thrilled with the project concept and John Fatuzzo’s coordinated efforts and leadership skills that made it all come to fruition. “John is a fine young man and a terrific leader. He was able to bring together a variety of people and resources and adapt his plan creatively as challenges were presented and additional support becam e available. We are so proud of what he has accomplished as a student leader here at St. John’s as well as an Eagle Scout candidate, stated Ms. Nan Doherty, Assistant Principal. The flag, which was a gift to St. John’s from Fr. Tim Hirten, a graduate from the class o f 1971 who served as an Air Force chaplain at Ali Air Base Iraq, flew over the skies of Iraq on December 7th, 2007 as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom. By Lena Pennino Hoping not to flush away a 30-year dream, a new group, Concerned Citizens for Sewers, have become advocates for those homeowners who want to hook into the Southwest Sewer District. At its first meeting at Deer Park Public Library, the organization heard from angry residents who decried the fact that businesses seem to be placed on the fast- track for sewers while residents’ hopes have stagnated for three decades. Much of the anger was directed at Tanger Outlets in Deer Park whose developers were allowed to hook into the sewer line, and the Wyandanch business district, which is scheduled for hook up. “People don’t matter, and the businesses matter,” said James Gallo, a resident of North Babylon. “Everyone wants sewers. Our cesspools have constant backup issues and drainage problems. Because of it, some neighbors complain about rats that come right out o f their drains.” “We need sewers,” agreed Sylvia Zuaro, a North Babylon resident. “We all have these problems in my area. Our cesspools are overflowing; there is water running down .the street. Anytime, we get our cesspool pumped it’s $500 to $600. If we have a rainy season that could mean pumping it two or three times a year.” But local county lawmakers who attended the meeting, including Legs. Steve Stem, Wayne Horsely and DuWayne Gregory, say that they’ve been laying the groundwork for residential sewer hookups for quite some time. Seventy percent of Suffolk County— 1.5 million residents-don’t have sewers, pointed out officials. They rely on cesspools, septic tanks or leaching pools. ' Sewers are becoming a hot topic, as the Suffolk County Legislature studies which areas will be sewered for environmental reasons and to attract new businesses, create jobs and allow construction for senior housing and complexes for young people. The Babylon area has dropped out o f that study and is acting independently as a result of the three lawmakers who did not want to force Babylon to compete with other areas which do not even have a sewer system in place. Already, the Southwest Sewer District plant at Bergen Point in West Babylon is scheduled to undergo a $65 million expansion in March 2010. Because of that expansion, the Suffolk County Legislature allocated $400,000 to study the financial feasibility to expand the Southwest Sewer District. On December 17, local county legislators Thomas Barraga, Wayne Horsely, Du Wayne Gregory, Lou D’Amaro, and Steve Stem published a letter explaining the steps they are taking to provide residents of Deer Park, North Babylon, West Islip, Wyandanch and West Babylon with sewers. “We have just launched an engineering and design plan,” said Stern. According to Stem, the Bergen Point expansion would allow for the sewage needs for residents in these areas, picking up on a dream that is more than 30 years old. But, if the surrounding towns were sewered, it could cost hundreds o f millions of dollars, estimated Stern. While Stern hopes for federal funds to offset some of the costs he also expects a price bump for residents. Matt Groh, who organized the meeting for Concerned Citizens for Sewers, advocates that businesses and developers who plug into the sewer district pay for homeowner J hook up. “We are not against private developers and the commercial districts hooking up,” said Groh, “as long as it can be done while still making provisions for homeowners.” Stern disagrees. “This is overly simplistic and irresponsible,” commented Stern. “I want to support area residents, but that proposal will harm area residents’ quality of life, lead to higher taxes and kill jobs. This will turn our downtowns into ghost towns.” Noting the cost to residents, “It will be up to residents to decide if they want sewers or not,” Stern said. “After the study, there will be a public referendum to vote sewers up or down.” This will be a lengthy process, said Stem. In the letter from local leaders, they outlined the process ahead, which includes: •a Request for Proposals for an engineering design plan (Continued on page 3) Eagle Scout completes garden project at St. John 's