Local residents gathered at the new Community Center at Allen Park last weekend to celebrate the victory of the Town of Oyster Bay's attainment of an approximate 15 acres of the Liberty Industrial Superfund Site. The celebration, which was organized by a member of the Concerned Citizens Association of Farmingdale (CCAF), included representatives from several local organizations, including the CCAF and fdale.com, the community's website. Also on hand were Oyster Bay Town Supervisor John Venditto, CCAF President Michael Grello, Executive Director of the Long Island Drinking Water Coalition Joe Lorintz, President of the Friends of Massapequa Preserve Richard Schary, a representative from SHARED (South Huntington Alliance for Responsible Energy Development) and a representative from the Neighborhood Network.

Youngsters who were on hand for the celebration had an opportunity to enter the "What Clean Water Means to Me" Poster Contest, sponsored by fdale.com, which awards one $50 and one $25 prize. The $50 prize was awarded during the celebration after the supervisor judged the entries. The other prize will be awarded at a later date and the entries will be judged by the community, as organizers of fdale.com will post kids' entries and allow residents to vote. In addition to the poster contest, children were also entertained by "Shebop" the clown.

Residents enjoyed free water, a juice bar, pastries and other treats at the celebration, in addition to raffle prizes donated by local businesses helping to promote "Spirit in Business," a campaign encouraging local businesses to realize the importance of community.

Donations were provided by several businesses, including Stop and Shop of Plainedge, Waldbaum's of Farmingdale, Eden's Way Health Food of Massapequa, Terry G's Grill of Farmingdale, Dinda Florists of Farmingdale, Jaylors Hairstyling of Farmingdale, Bollingers Ice Cream of Farmingdale, Creative Baskets of Farmingdale, Bubbles N Bones Grooming of Seaford, USA Roller Skates of Seaford, Total Health of Farmingdale, Stogies and Tales of Farmingdale, Taormina Pizza of Farmingdale, Ralph's Ices of Massapequa, Cafe Gondola of Massapequa, Delicious Delights of Farmingdale, Peter's Bicycles of Farmingdale and Village Perk of Farmingdale.

CCAF member Michael Kane, who organized the celebration, welcomed all in attendance and introduced the guest speakers on hand. He noted that there were several individuals involved in the victory of the Liberty Site cleanup, including the afternoon's keynote speaker, Supervisor Venditto.

"You become an environmentalist in many different ways. I don't have any fancy environmental degrees but I didn't have to study it, I lived it," Venditto said, noting that he grew up in Massapequa. "We lived in the woods, it was beautiful. It's the way I grew up. I know I can't turn the clock back so the best I can do in my role as town supervisor is to see to it that it doesn't get any worse. Lo and behold when I became supervisor in 1998, all of a sudden I'm a player in a very high stakes poker game called the Liberty Industrial Finishing Site."

The supervisor noted that for four years, surrounding himself with many individuals who know a great deal about the site and its history, a hard battle was fought and ultimately won. He said that later in the week the town board was to authorize him to sign a paper, a prelude to the Town of Oyster Bay's acquisition of approximately 15 acres of the site.

"[This] will not only double the size of this beautiful park but will once and for all end the nightmare, because that's what this is really about; ending the nightmare, making the community safe again."

The supervisor added that he has one request when the entire job is completed.

"Somewhere on the 30 acres that will be Allen Park, I would like to see a plaque. I don't want the plaque to have any names on it, but very simply, [it should read] that this beautiful park is a wonderful, perfect, beautiful example of the good things that can happen when residents who care about their community ban together, petition their local government, their local government in turn behaves in a responsive manner, this is the end result - beautiful park like this. That park should always stand as a monument of the good things that can happen when people work together along with their town government."

The supervisor added that in approximately 30 to 60 days the town will own the approximate 15 acres abutting Allen Park.

"You will all get an invitation, and I think Thanksgiving would be a very appropriate time, for all of us to be out there to take a photo together and celebrate together some welcome new land in the Town of Oyster Bay," Venditto said. "That's the timetable and we really have something to be thankful for this year."

Grello thanked the supervisor, noting that he has been very in tune to what the community wants and needs.

"We've had help from a tremendous amount of people; the list goes on and on," Grello said. "Twenty-five years ago we started this fight and didn't know how it would come out. Now we know that over 73,000 cubic yards of contaminated soil will leave our community. That paper (to be signed by the supervisor granting the town possession of the land) is the start of our future."

Neal Lewis, executive director of the Neighborhood Network, congratulated all in attendance on the Liberty cleanup victory. He noted that the Neighborhood Network hosted a seminar at a CCAF meeting in the spring about lawn care without the use of pesticides and noted that they plan to have another forum next spring. He mentioned benefits of organic lawn care and mosquito safety and said he had guides and fliers available on those environmental topics.

Schary, noting that Venditto is a "true friend to the environment" and thanking Grello for all of his efforts, discussed another environmental issue, the Long Island Transportation Plan 2000 (LITP2000). Schary noted that this plan will allow for the expansion of highways on Long Island, which he believes will increase the amount of traffic congestion. The plan is a 20-year construction plan that calls for 128 miles of highway extension or expansion, in addition to more HOV lanes. He noted a group based in Massapequa, Rethink LITP2000, which is fighting to abolish this plan.

"If we don't stop it, it will go ahead. The money is there, it comes from our gas tax," Schary said, urging residents to contact their elected officials in the county and state and noting that residents can visit www.rethinklitp2000.com for more information.

Lorintz also congratulated the community, stating that thanks to community members, the hand of the federal government was forced, although the whole experience was certainly daunting.

"You wonder, when you're taking time away from your family, you're taking time away from your pursuit of the American dream of making money and providing your family with everything you need - exactly what you're giving to your family. If you're giving your family the legacy of pollution and the legacy of not being able to live healthy in your environment, then you're not giving your family anything and all the money in the world is not going to buy it," Lorintz said. "What we've learned, working together, for common goals - you fought for your community, you fought for your environment and you succeeded."

Patricia Hsu-Park from SHARED also spoke to the audience, noting that the SHARED coalition was formed primarily to oppose the proposed KeySpan power plant. She noted some of the specific problems associated with the proposed plant, including the lack of an emergency preparedness plan and the level of ammonia at the site. She further stated that there are better alternatives to bring more power to Long Island, which are also less expensive. In addition, she assured residents that the fight is not over and that a decision regarding the proposed plant will not be made until March 2003.

"Voice your opposition to Governor Pataki, your senators and assemblymen," she said. "No matter what happens, we are out there - we're fighting. We do represent business but we realize that we have to work with the community to get our shared interests met."

All in attendance at the water celebration agreed that it was indeed a time to celebrate and in the process learned about some other important environmental issues concerning theirs and other local communities.