Monsignor Charles "Bud" Ribaudo got a cheery "Play ball,": from Bernice Sachs after listening to him as he spoke to the East Norwich Civic Association. The monsignor was explaining the concept of new playing fields for St. Dominic's schools which includes a change in the entrance to Chelsea, located in East Norwich.

Monsignor Ribaudo has been speaking to local groups (and is willing to speak to more,) to explain the school's need for playing fields, and his mission to find them. He was out to attract members of the ENCA, to his side - after giving them all the information available about the plan, and correcting any misinformation. He is seeking favorable resident input to help sell the concept to the village trustees of Muttontown.

Several East Norwich residents were pleased that the plan will correct the awkward entrance into Chelsea Center. The entrance is offset (to the west) from the Mill River Road light. The St. Dominic plan calls for diverting the present road around the little white house (presently to the left of the entrance road); adding a traffic circle on the Chelsea property to allow visitors to turn left into Chelsea or straight ahead through the gate to the St. Dominic fields, which will be gated. The current entrance would be used as an exit back to 25A from the traffic circle.

The plan involves Nassau County giving St. Dominic's an easement to build a road across a portion of Muttontown Preserve, that stretches down to 25A. The new configuration would mean both Chelsea Center and St. Dominic's would have safer entrance and exit facilities.

The plus for the county is that St. Dominic's would pay for all the road work.

David Nardiello of East Norwich, said, "The way it is laid out, I have no objections. The county gives up this acreage and we get this safer entrance - I'm all for it." The new entrance would mean that visitors will not be using the current entrance on Muttontown Road which is accessed by going through a residential area.

The monsignor was speaking to the civic group about his plans for playing fields in Muttontown that will become St. Dominic's South Campus. He asked the ENCA to endorse his plan, but the group said they will hold a formal vote at their April meeting. They are most interested in improving traffic in East Norwich and a left hand turn appears to be a local benefit.

Monsignor "Bud" was hoping to be able to present his completed plan to the Village of Muttontown Board of Trustees in April, but the village residents want to discuss the proposed 145 ft. cellular tower at that meeting, he said.

The Stoothoff farm in Muttontown appears to be perfect for playing fields, said Msgr. Ribaudo, as opposed to the 13 sites he visited including: Goat Hill - the Vernon woods; Bermingham - when there was a question if the developer was still interested - he was; St. Francis property. The other sites were often hilly or wooded creating ecological problems when creating flat playing fields.

Ron Miller, handling the Stootoff estate was interested in the proposal. The home of J. Perry Welsh, a member of the Muttontown Board of Trustees, borders the site and he prefers fields to a development of 14 homes, said Msgr. Ribaudo. Mrs. Reilly, another neighbor of the site, "Is delighted it is to be used for children playing," he said.

To start the project, the zoning for the fields has to be changed from farming to recreation use. There are 48 acres, 1/3 of which has not been farmed in 20 years and is now totally wooded. They are not part of the field, but will be bought in the transaction.

Monsignor Ribaudo said traffic and taxes are a concern. They are solving the traffic problems but he wasn't apologizing for the child oriented project. He said, "It is legal to ask for a zoning change. It is legal to ask Nassau County for an easement."

Monsignor Ribaudo explained the usage of the fields during the warmer months, between 3 p.m. and 4:45 p.m. in time for the children to get on their school buses. There will be a summer camp for six weeks when the children arrive at 9 a.m. and leave at 3 p.m.

At first, there appeared to be an opportunity to open the proposed fields to the OBEN Soccer Club on Sunday afternoons, since "most (70 percent) are my parishioners," he said. "We'd love it, but the village of Muttontown says we can't."

There were some comments from people against the project. Msgr. Ribaudo said they met with residents of Woodstock Court and they were against the 30 acre re-zoning. He said their opinion was he could never convince them that it was better than three acre zoning, standard for Muttontown. Some said the traffic effect of the playing field would be more beneficial than 14 homes on the site.

Another benefit is that since the fields will not be used at night, "There will be no lights into my bedroom window," said a resident. After hearing the entire proposal, he preferred it.

Msgr. Ribaudo said some people have written to the village board saying they changed their minds after hearing both sides of the issue.

Tullio Bertoli said that today, there is a general dissatisfaction on how things are done. People in Muttontown are acting as if a space ship is dropping on them. He said, "Our space ship has friendly aliens not guys with ray guns."

While Muttontown may lose some tax revenue, they send some children to the Oyster Bay School District (as well as other local districts). Monsignor Ribaudo said there are about 450 students at St. Dominic's who come from the OBEN school district: 350 in the elementary school and 100 in the high school. At a cost of $16,000 a child in the public system, the parochial system is covering that $3 million more the district would have to pay for their education.

There will be 30 tax free acres in Muttontown if the plan goes through, but the monsignor said they would be willing to have it covenanted so that it will never have a subdivision. He said "The community we live in supports playing fields, churches and schools. While the church is tax exempt, it is considered a benefit. The county deems it important to its own citizens."

He said, "I'm not apologizing for the use," he said. That was because of the contribution religion makes to the morals of a community, he said. Two Victorian houses next to church property on Anstice Street were recently sold for $400,000 each. Both needed a great deal of repair work, he said. "We have elevated the value of the property," he said. It is well maintained.

Jerry Seckler, director of the Nassau County Office of Cultural Development said "For eight years I tried to change the entranceway in a similar fashion. If the parish was not here we would still be trying. It will save the county money." He said the birds and wildlife at Chelsea are amazing.

A man called out that they would be bothered by 150 children playing there practically every day.

Father Bud said "It was an active farm. They are open fields, not a nesting place."

A Muttontown resident Phil Corrigan said, "A lot of us prefer 14 tax-producing homes. They will improve the area dramatically."

Tullio Bertoli, project manager for the playing fields said, "We won't convert you," but he asked the listeners to keep an open mind.

Bud Rappuhn said at first he hadn't made up his mind about the project, but was sad East Norwich Commons had gotten their approval before it could be combined with the St. Dominic project, to beautify the area.

"East Norwich has been raped over the years. Each time East Norwich residents have sacrificed and lost."

The East Norwich Commons project is being fought. The ENCA has written to Albany to see if they can do something about the shopping center that was approved so quickly.

He called the St. Dominic project a step in the right direction. He was against "Seeing large houses as opposed to a sunset and the open sky. I am not in favor of the houses."

Jack Scheich, president of the Committee for the Beautification of East Norwich said Monsignor Ribuado has a good reputation. "People tend to trust you as an individual." He said he wasn't so sure of a pastor who would follow.

The monsignor said it was up to the ZBA to protect the community.

Rose Kester, past president of the ENCA was concerned that the town board took Msgr. Ribuado to Goat Hill. Saving it from development was the first issue that created the unity that became the ENCA, she said.

The ENCA also discussed East Norwich Commons and are awaiting a ruling by the NYS Office of Hearing and Mediation Services on their letter of complaint for the way the town approved that application.

Boulder Creek expansion is still awaiting a decision by the town.