Local residents are invited to a "Clean Water Celebration" this Sunday, Sept. 15 from 1 to 4 p.m. at Allen Park in Farmingdale. This event was coordinated by CCAF (Concerned Citizens Association of Farmingdale) member Michael Kane in celebration of a town victory that forced the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to do a full cleanup of the Liberty Superfund toxic waste site, which is located adjacent to the park on Motor Avenue in Farmingdale.

"A lot of things we do at the CCAF have to do with the environment; have to do with water," said CCAF President Mike Grello, noting that the organization has dealt with issues such as the proposed power plant at Spagnoli Road, areas surrounding the Massapequa Preserve and, of course, the Liberty Site. "This event is really a coming together of the community to celebrate clean water and also to discuss what we can do about other issues."

Residents are invited to attend this event and to bring the kids; a clown will arrive for their entertainment at 1:30 p.m. In addition, free water will be provided. There will also be prizes raffled off at the event, generously donated by local business helping to promote "Spirit in Business." Many community groups will be there to join in the celebration, and to provide valuable information about what is presently going on in our community. In addition, there will be a "Clean Water Poster Contest," where children will submit posters depicting what clean water means to them. There will be awards in the amount of $15 and $20 given to the poster contest winners.

As residents of Farmingdale and nearby communities have been battling the issue of the cleanup at the Liberty Site for decades, this event was planned to celebrate the victory of having the EPA's decision regarding the cleanup reversed. Earlier this year, the EPA, after conducting several meetings with concerned residents, announced that their preferred plan regarding the cleanup of the site would only partially dispose of the contaminated soils at the property. Oyster Bay Town Supervisor John Venditto, who attended the meetings together with hundreds of residents and local elected officials, announced this spring that the town planned to purchase a section of the property to be used as parkland, ultimately forcing the EPA to administer a full cleanup of the site, known as an SL-3 cleanup. As part of the cleanup, approximately half of the site (15 of its 30 acres) will be converted to parkland.

For information in regard to this event, call 293-3616. For directions to Allen Park, call 755-1842.