Bethpage-Tribune_1990-12-06

              ^ YOUR OFFICIAL HOMETOWN NEWSPAPER
Serving Bethpage, Island Trees, Plainedge, Seaford, Old Bethpage and Plainview
VOL. 24 NO. 5 Cckibrnting Our PSfi Yam December 6-12, 1990 CoU'ticitiin; Oin yilui Yt'.n 25 CENTS
GRUMMAN & DEC HOLD
PUBLIC MEETING TO
ADDRESS CONTAMrNATION
On December 4, 1990 the New York
DEC and the Grumman Corporation
held a public forum meeting at
Bethpage High School to receive
comments on their cleanup plan for
a plume, which, as reported in last
weeks Tribune, exists under the
Grumman property. This contamina­tion
plume is defined as extensive and
is said to contain trichloroethylene
and perchloroethyiene at concentra­tions
which exceed ground water and
drinking water standards.
The meeting began with a confusing
slide presentation explaining how the
next 25 months will be host to the
testing of this plume which the
Grumman Corporation and the DEC
already know exists both on-site and
off-site. The presentation was backed
up by New York State where repre­sentatives
presented no choices to the
public in a most blase and uncaring
attitude, basically stating that if
residents weren't happy with the
proposal that they should simply write
their Congressman.
Anthony Sabino stood up to the
State and Grumman as both a long
time resident of Bethpage and as
Counsel to the Bethpage Water
District. He fired question after
question at the State and Grumman
demanding an explainalion of why
testing does not include off-site
drilling when contamination has
already been discovered off-site. He
was also very upset as Counsel to the
Water District that he did not receive
notification of this meeting and also
did not receive a copy of the proposal
(some 2000 pages worth) until it
turned up at the Bethpage Library one
night before this meeting,
Anthony declared "war" on this
plan if the State or the Grumman
Corporation didn't come up with a
better and more efficient means of
remediation. He also stated that
Federal intervention may be
necessary.
The bottom line to date is that a
two year test will begin shortly which
will include the drilling of on-site test
wells to determine the size and flow
of the plume before any off-site
drilling will be considered.
A Citizens Advisory Council is a
part of this test procedure as man­dated
by the State. The members of
this Council hold no power to effect
or change the test. Residents com­mented
that this Council is a too little,
too-late community pacifier—instead
of a useful tool in remedying the
situation.
Residents who share the Grumman
fence will not begin to find out about
their property for at least 15-24
months although Mr. Sabino stated
that if you are a concerned resident
you should write to the DEC and
request that soil and or water samples
be taken from your property as part
of the testing procedure. More infor­mation
will be reported in the Tribune
as the testing begins and as the results
of this testing become known. If you
have any question you can contact the
Bethpage Water District or the New
York State Department of F.nviron-niental
Conservation (DEC).
.J ^^ ^.™.„. „,.,„.. \
The winds were blowing and the
night was cold but carollers could be
heard for blocks around and spirits
were as bright as the sparkling lights
as the Bethpage Chamber of Com­merce
held the Official Holiday
Lighting Ceremony on Wednesday
night, Dec. 5.
Children young and old took to the
streets of Broadway and watched as
the 400 lights on the Chamber's tret-were
turned on. Santa and the Pudgies
Chicken were also on hand to pass
out candy canes and lollipops to the
many children who braved the cold.
the St.. Martin of Tours C hoir
provided the splendid carolling and
Bethpage residents all joined in the
singing and cxcitcmeni oi the cerem­ony.
Dennis Brady, Chamber Presi­dent
and Gary Brctton, Chamber Vice
F*resident thanked ail the residents of
Bethpage for making this tree and all
the decorations possible. As Gary put
it "it isn't a.s big as the tree at i!AB
or Rockerfeller Center but it s ours."
Bethpage stand up and take a
bow...we all stuck together and
pitched in to make this t>nc of the
brightest and most festive holiday
seasons for Bethpage in a long time.
We should ai! be proud. Happy
Holidays!!
(More I'ontribulors listed next week)
5Wiaiii#ti sM^** aises
Bethpage Water District
Announces Tax Cuts
The comtnissioncrs of the Bethpage : I''^•' di-,;.nci LnipU>vc(.:s cais iiuituic
Water District announced a 5'7 tax ni()st iuajo! fcpansaNi-.u-.tsHL'ex pensive
decrease for the 1991 tax year. Ihis .subtontfaciors, ! he second IUCUM W
decrease represents tin; ihirtl straiuht <J sinctK hiKkxtcii p'C\cahv<' liKun
year the district has reduced the tax n-'tiaiicc psuyiafn i his ha^ kepi
rate. Over the las! three vcars laxes distnci {aeiliiies Wvtikin*./ ;u \WV,
have bcc!i reduced by'Mcents i>er$ 100 ciiicsejiev vslule avoidirii-ccs•^ll^ ?epa!i:,
or approximately 2(Y\ . Ihis hns becci "''-' fWa^aiC ot!u;r uiunscifiahtu.-.. ihe
accornphshed while eoiislr uetiiu: a one inu'd elenieMl IN ihe chisuec i<! !e;!U'('.;
nsilliOH duiiar pint ii l e a n u a plant scadinii liuieis, I hese rne-er^ ;j\sMOi
without the aid nj a %.0'-iJv i)f>(HJ isstie. : csunKifesI hiii\ :\\\iS iunno-e ui^'i:e:|
The connnissit^ners atsnbufed the cash \UVA\. Noi onis ilncs Beihpaucj
icduclions to three aiaiui lacitas. (Jne have the f)esl (aslnui \\,aler hiit alsuj
!^ ihc ciiiCKai'-y ul dislrici petsontscl. ., **ne oi she icast cxiH-nsi\>.f
Over 140 isowiers turned out osi Dec. I to take pmt m the Wiikeyson Benefit
Bowiathon sponsored by the Bethpage 'i'ributie nisd Rotary Club.
THE
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