With spring only a week away there are a few environmental issues and activities that we would like to bring to your attention.

As the trees begin to flower and the grass begins to turn emerald green it brings to mind a piece of land that we have mentioned several times before, the beauty of the Underhill property in Jericho. For those of you who would like to learn more about the push to preserve this beautiful site, later this spring we are planning to sponsor an evening at the Plainview-Old Bethpage Public Library for residents to view the Society to Preserve Underhill's educational video about this property.

On Thursday, March 22, the New York State Department of Transportation, Region 10, Design Department, will be presenting plans for a bike route that will be passing through our town. The NYS-DOT plans to build a non-motorized bike route utilizing the Bethpage State Parkway right-of-way, Seaford Oyster Bay Expressway right-of-way and/or local roads from the existing bike path in Bethpage State Park to the Syosset Long Island Railroad Station. The NYS-DOT design plans will be available to review at the Jamaica Avenue School from 4 to 8 p.m. NYS-DOT representatives will be present to answer questions. If you are unable to attend this Public Information meeting, you may contact Michael E. Bayard of NYS-DOT at (631) 952-6665 for more information. A portion of the bike path happens to be in direct conflict with the proposed access to the Home Depot site on the LI Expressway North Service Road. Please come down and show your support for a far healthier choice for this location. With respect to Home Depot, please continue to sign petitions and send postcards demonstrating your opposition to this spot zoning and over-saturation of the property and chain as well. We also encourage you to call the Town of Oyster Bay Town Board at (516) 624-6300 with your comments.

On April 23, in honor of Earth Day you can show your support for the environment through either attending "Earth Day-Lobby Day" in Albany, or on a more local level by attending an "Organic Lawn Maintenance Workshop." For those that choose to join "Earth Day-Lobby Day" you will have the opportunity to hear from leading environmental and government leaders and lobby for energy conservation, a moratorium on planting of genetically modified seeds in New York State, Superfund/Brownfield funding and cleanup, healthy school environments, urban open space funding and asthma emergency room data collection. For more information call (518) 462-5526 or visit the website at "www.envadvocates.org." In the evening from 7 to 9 p.m., the United Civic Association of North Oyster Bay will be co-sponsoring an Organic Workshop with the Long Island Neighborhood Network at the Robert Seaman Elementary School in Jericho. Many of you may be familiar with the Long Island Neighborhood Network for their recent success with the passage of the Pesticide Notification Act. This workshop will arm you with the basics of an organic maintenance program for your yard. Participants will be provided with how-to information, a list of Long Island retailers that carry organic products, and a list of local organic landscapers. For more information contact the Long Island Neighborhood Network at 541-4321.

In 1996 the Federal Government enacted the Telecommunications Act to promote competition, reduce regulation in order to secure lower prices and higher quality services for American telecommunication consumers, and to encourage the rapid deployment of new technology. This legislation limits our local government's control over the denial process for applicant's permits to place/construct and operate facilities for wireless communications. Further, no local government may deny a personal wireless service facility on the basis of the environmental effects of radio frequency emissions to the extent that such facilities comply with FCC regulations. After a series of failed lawsuits, the Town of Oyster Bay has decided to take example from other municipalities in identifying Town properties that would be suitable for the placement of cellular towers. This proactive approach affords the Town of Oyster Bay the opportunity to review the sites, realize the financial benefits of lease agreements on these properties, and to encourage co-location on these sites in lieu of approving random applications. This program does not guarantee total autonomy over the process; however, with the advent of our own locations it will limit further growth of private cellular towers and be instrumental in the site selection process. For more information on the proposed sites, either contact the Town Board or visit your local library to view a copy of the public notice. If you would like to learn more about this proposal, or would like your input included in the Town Board's decision, please plan to attend the April 24 Town Board Hearing at 7 p.m. at Town Hall, 54 Audrey Avenue, Oyster Bay, New York. We are concerned about the long-term cumulative effects of electro-magnetic/radio frequency energy pollution. If you are as well, we suggest you lobby your State Senators Hillary Clinton and Chuck Schumer, Congresswoman Carolyn McCarthy, Congressmen Ackerman and King and the Federal Communications Commission to encourage a return to "home rule" as well as stimulate further studies on the non-thermal effects of radiation on the environment.

Taking the time to address the conservation of our Earth reaps the rewards of an abundant supply of natural resources and a safe, healthy environment for our children.

You are always welcome to call the Concerned Citizens of the Plainview-Old Bethpage Community on 433-6001 concerning any of the aforementioned.

Carol Meschkow

President

Concerned Citizens of the

Plainview-Old Bethpage Community, Inc.