While at this moment Port Washington's Nassau County Legislator Barbara Johnson is confident that the Legislature will move forward and approve the much-needed and long-overdue restoration of Baxter's Pond (Original documents, and even more recent ones, spell Baxter's Pond with an apostrophe "s", In the spirit of restoring the pond itself, I also propose we restore the correct version of the name it was given.), also remember that Nassau County still owes its contribution of $15,000 to the Manhasset Bay Protection Committee for the renovation of Manhasset Bay itself! Each of the villages surrounding the bay, the Town of North Hempstead, and the other participants made their contributions long ago, but the County has not put in theirs. The problem is that while $15,000 may not seem like that much money, considering the scope of the Manhasset Bay project, the matching grants for this multi-million dollar effort require 100 percent participation. Until the county puts in its $15,000, the Bay project will be significantly compromised.

The revitalization of Baxter's Pond, however, will be great news for the Manhasset Bay Protection Committee, as the Baxter's Pond project going through represents the first step in the massive Manhasset Bay renovation effort, now well into planning phases and beginning on specific work. Baxter's Pond, and its watershed running along Central Drive, play a critical role in filtering pollutants and debris that comes down from Main Street, Central Drive, and the surrounding residential areas. A major environmental feature of the restored Baxter's Pond will be the creation of a new sedimentation pool. This pool will help prevent the Pond from filling up with debris and certain pollutants, as well as keep them from reaching the Bay. There will be a ramp leading to the pool, and on a regular basis county trucks will clean it out, safely disposing of the waste. This will have a significant impact on the health of Manhasset Bay, as well as becoming the first major step, and the "cornerstone" for the overall project.

The point is that while we soon may be able to celebrate the revitalization of Baxter's Pond, we still urgently need the $15,000 that the county has pledged for the cleanup of Manhasset Bay. Whatever residents of Port Washington can do to encourage Nassau County to go forward with their promise will help, as calls and letters clearly played a major role in getting Baxter Pond going.

Jake Eisenman

Village of Baxter Estates Environmental Representative and

Representative to the Manhasset Bay Protection Committee