Editorial: Maintenance, Maintenance, Maintenance!

Anton Community Newspapers • 132 East 2nd Street • Mineola, NY 11501 • Phone: 516-747-8282 • FAX: 516-742-5867

Editorial: Maintenance, Maintenance, Maintenance!

Friday, 13 January 2012 00:00

This weekend we pan fried a wonderful piece of salmon we bought at the Bayville Fish Market. When it came time to clean the pan (which I had already dosed with a splash of lemon juice to cut down on the strong fish aromas) I remembered the camping method of cleaning pans.

When you are out camping you need to find easy ways to clean pots and pans without having a lot of water available. So, I wiped out the remains of the oil and fish shreds with a paper towel or two that I tossed away. When the pan was visibly clean I just had to rinse out the pan.

I did the same with a pot that had held butternut squash soup. Again using a paper towel I got rid of the particles left over and that pot too only needed a rinsing.

Why am I telling you this?

Because Friends of the Bay has created a successful Watershed Action Plan (WAP) - and because in many of our areas we have cesspools to take care of. What happened Sunday reminded me that we all have to carefully look at how we handle water in our homes. (Those pots might have been put into the sink, all greasy, to use dishwashing liquid and lots of water to cut the grease.)

On the same subject, I remember years ago being invited to a Friday ladies night out at the hairdressers. Husbands encouraged their wives to have their hair done at a salon and not clog up the pipes with hair – which shows that East Norwich residents have been dealing with cesspools for years.

In the WAP they suggest regular maintenance of cesspools, since that water ultimately gets into the groundwater, and we thought you might be interested in the topic. For instance I wondered if villages could have contracts with cesspool cleaning companies to do the work on a regular basis eliminating the homeowners curse – the day the laundry sinks in the basement start to fill up.

If you live in East Norwich you know what I’m talking about. If not, count yourself lucky. So like a good car, maintenance of a cesspool system is another item the careful homeowner puts on their calendar.

On the other hand, there may be some wonderful tinkerer working in his garage to find a better septic system. You never know where the next technological millionaire is working/lurking.

– DFK

News

Slam Dunk On Budget Vote: A Landslide Oyster Bay-East Norwich Voters Say ‘Yes’

Thursday, 17 May 2012 12:08

Budget passes with 63 percent ‘yes’ votes to 37 percent ‘no’

The Oyster Bay-East Norwich school budget vote on May 15 passed by a wide margin, with 1,158 Yes votes to 680 No votes; the capital expenditure referendum passed 1,106 to 581; the OB-EN Library budget passed 1,185 to 448. Running for the school board, Robin Dando, received 1,222 votes. Scott Tepper garnered 1,249 votes for a seat on the library board. The numbers include about 20 absentee ballots.

Before a vote was counted, Superintendent of Schools Dr. Phyllis Harrington said, “We are going to do fabulously.” Resident Bob Santos commented, “You know I’m very positive. The vote is going to pass easily.”

Friday, 18 May 2012 00:00

Members and guests show their compassion for those challenged

The purpose of the Lions Club of Oyster Bay’s spring benefit is always to raise funds for the Guide Dog Foundation for the Blind (GDF) and their America’s VetDogs (AVD) as well as other worthy causes. This year’s benefit event, held at the Seawanhaka Corinthian Yacht Club (SCYC) on April 29, allowed people to get a better idea of the GDF and the people they serve.

In 2003, the GDF recognized the need for an overall assistance dog program for veterans that would incorporate guide dogs, service dogs and state-of-the-art mobility devices – especially as our nation’s veterans age and as our country’s wounded warriors return home from active conflicts abroad.

Sports

Fitting Your Dog For A Life Jacket

Friday, 18 May 2012 00:00

Boating safety tips for boat-happy dogs from the U.S. Coast Guard

Dogs can be seen taking in the sun and spray on all manner of sail and powerboats these days, and adapting just fine. But boaters shouldn’t assume that because dogs can swim that their particular dog is an adequate swimmer, or that it has the good sense not to chase that sea gull over the side.

Dogs are hard-wired to chase and swimming ability varies from breed to breed. Many with low body fat, like Greyhounds, may have trouble staying afloat. Breeds with short legs and long bodies can swim, but may tire quickly. Overboard, a dog can become disoriented and suffer the same hazards from coldwater immersion as humans.

Friday, 18 May 2012 00:00

On Memorial Day weekend, Bethpage Federal Credit Union and the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, will honor the United States Navy and its 100th anniversary during this year’s Bethpage Air Show at Jones Beach State Park in Wantagh, now in its eighth year.

Fans will be treated to performances from the world’s most elite military and civilian pilots including the T-6 and T-34 U.S. Navy aircrafts. There will also be a rare performance from the U.S. Air Force F22 Raptor Stealth jet fighter, known as by far the best and most expensive fighter jet in the world, with its advanced combination of stealth, speed, agility and unparalleled precision.