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2004-03 . TOWN OF WAPPINGER Conservation Advisory Counell ~ ~ Newsletter SPEAKING F OR CONSERVATION Volume V March 2004 II LITTERING II The Town of Wappinger has a Littering Law which states in essence "that no person shall throw or deposit litter in or upon any street, highway, right-of-way or other public place within the Town, except in public receptacles or in authorized private receptacles for collection..." Most of us have the good sense to contain garbage and refuse in receptacles. But there are others who think the law, good common courtesy and plain sense are meant for others-not for them! Notice, there is not one street you can travel on that is free of debris thrown from cars by non-caring people----<>therwise known as boneheads! And some of the debris comes from receptacles that have no lids - or the lids were not properly set making them an easy target for strong winds or roving animals. The "land of the free" is being abused, dumped on and defiled on a daily basis-which goes well beyond garbage and debris issues! The Town of Wappinger has litter laws having several DO-NOTS! (Following is condensed). . Do not sweep litter, debris, mud, stones, etc. into gutter of Town streets; building contractors on construction sites to take the same precautions. . Do not throw litter from any vehicle upon any street or other public place. . Do not use a truck or other vehicle within the Town to move, unless it is so constructed to prevent any load, contents or litter from being blown or deposited upon any street. . Do not litter parks, rivers, ponds or streams. Litter to be placed in public receptacles. If there is no receptacle, people are to carry out their own litter. . Do not litter private property. . Do not accumulate garbage or refuse to be stored on any premises-except for garbage collection. . Do not burn garbage or refuse in an open fire or in a metal basket, can or drum. . Owners, lessees or occupant of any residence are to provide outside garbage receptacles with covers for pick-up. . Dumpsters have their own special requirements of do's and don'ts regulations. ~ ~ NOTE: Persons violating any of the provisions shall be punished upon conviction, by a fine not exceeding $500.00. Continued violations may cause the Town to institute an action or proceeding, including an injunction. Florence Graff II ENVIRONMENTAL POEM II Poem by Greta Akili (retrieved from the Internet) WETLANDS O'Wet1ands! How I mourn for you, Death is close at hand, I am called many names, Estaurine, mangrove swamp, marsh, bottomlands And surrounded by mangrove forests, With oysters stuck to my roots, fishes live and depend on me, to feed, spawn, and grow, Crabs have homes, tunnels of holes around me, Turtles pay a visit every year to lay, And birds of green, little blue and yellow night herons Reflect upon me. I also help to protect you, I take in carbon and Release oxygen for you to breathe I function like a strainer and a sieve to filter pollutants from the sea, making it safe for you to swim. I hear two thousand a new millennium Will I be here for my eco-system and other sisters to survive and flourish? I am now threatened. I have been cut and I am bleeding. Garbage is dumped in and around me, I cannot breathe Filth - Sewage flows into me - I will become sick. Development hotels and airports are building around us. We are dying. Who are the powers that be? Does anyone care? Will we be saved? Is it already too late? I hope that we can be saved, Because in saving us the benefits and gains are so rich, That we can become millionaires together with MOTHER EARTH. II WETLANDS ~ In 2003, the Bush Administration had submitted a proposal to remove federal protections to as much as 60% of the nation's wetlands, as reported in the Poughkeepsie Journal. The Army Corps of Engineers had in the past jurisdiction of isolated wetlands under 12 acres, which was being threatened by this proposal. Through the efforts of environmental groups and concerned citizens, the proposal was withdrawn. The "2001 Supreme Court decision that limited federal oversight of 'isolated' wetlands, still stands." The Town of Wappinger Town Board is presently drafting legislation for a wetlands ordinance, to protect smaller parcels of wetlands not under the protection of the DEC or the USACOE. The CAC of the Town of Wappinger is in full agreement with having a wetlands ordinance which will protect these sensitive areas from being destroyed and abused. Deterrents should include buffer zones, posting of wetland signs, do not litter signs and issuing fines to those not complying with the ordinance. Wetlands ordinance enforcement is essential. Florence Graff j Partial Wetland areas in Town of WaD Din2er 1. Zone 1: Permeable deposits directly overlying the aquifer. Contaminants can move directly downward to the underlying aquifer with little or no natural filtration. la. The area bounded by Wappinger Creek, Route 376 and Hackensack Road. lb. A much smaller area bounded by St. Nicholas Road, Hackensack Road, the creek feeding the pond by the Jewish summer camp. 2. NYS DEe Wetlands: 2a. Cranberry housing development. 2b. Area bounded by Smithtown Road, Osborne Hill Road and southern border of the Town of Wappinger. Donald F. Stein FISH KILLS (Summary from Poughkeepsie Journal article of November 13, 2003.) Millions to billions of fish eggs and larvae are killed due to this old technology used by Entergy's Nuclear Indian Point power plant in Buchanan, which was used for decades and also used by Danskammer and Roseton power plants. Through court suits brought by environmental organizations such as Hudson River Sloop Clearwater and Riverkeeper, DEC was ordered by the Supreme Court to draft new permits for water withdrawals at Danskammer and at Indian Point. The present method used by these plants where river water is sucked up to cool condensers (2.5 billion gallons a day at Indian Point) -which also suck up millions of fish eggs and larvae, endangering the abundance of the fish population. The return of heated water to the river, may have "potential environmental effects." "The Clean Water Act require the plants to use 'the best technology available' to reduce damage to Hudson River fish." The proposal to Entergy is to build and install a "closed cycle cooling" system which would re-use the water and reduce the fish kill by approximately 97%. A new cooling system, estimated by Entergy, would cost $1.6 billion, require a 170 foot tall structure, and be at least 700 feet wide. Entergy has been granted two years of study time. Meantime, Indian Point is to use equipment which will "prevent a smaller percentage of fish from being killed." Also, during the spawning season, they are to stop or slow down plant operation. Florence Graff II DID YOU KNOW? Danskammer power plant, using fossil fuel (coal) emits the following chemical poisons into the air: . Chromium, manganese and nickel compounds, cobalt, sulfuric and hydrochloric acid, mercury, lead and hydrogen fluoride (just to name a few). * (This information is from the EP A updated Facility Report of July 25, 2003.) II SPEAKING FOR CONSERVATION Following are notes taken/rom the book entitled - "GLOBAL WARMING" 1. Carbon Dioxide gas in the atmosphere has increased by 30% since 1700. 2. The ten hottest years in recorded history have all occurred since 1980. 3. Earth's atmosphere extends to approximately 500 miles into space, having five layers of gases. These "greenhouse" gases are made up of carbon dioxide, methane, ozone, water vapor and other atmospheric gases. 4. The "greenhouse" effect is due to the process of how these gases capture and absorb the reflected solar energy. 5. An increase of even 1 degree F of surface temperature would affect the global atmosphere, causing an increase in heat, drying up of land, reduction of water, and an increase in forest fires, etc. 6. Increase in carbon dioxide is caused by burning of wood, fossil fuels (gas, oil, coal) which release large amounts of carbon dioxide. An increase in the concentration of this gas into the atmosphere causes an increase in "trapping" more heat - causing temperatures to rise. 7. Deforestation of the rain forests in South America and in several Asian countries contributes to the increase in carbon dioxide. Rain forests naturally absorb atmos- pheric carbon dioxide, thus releasing oxygen through the process of photosynthesis. 8. Temperature changes accompany changes in patterns of intensity of rainfall, flooding, heat waves and droughts, and affects an increase in sea level. As sea levels increase, salt water seeps into ground water (affecting drinking water). 9. There are concerns in the intensity and frequency in hurricanes, cyclones and tornadoes. 10. These dramatic changes affect farm land production, increase vector-borne diseases (Malaria and Yellow Fever in tropical countries), heat stress mortality, shift in the boundaries of many eco systems, diminishing plant and wildlife diversity. Diminishing of biological diversity would affect sources of food, fibre and medicines. 11. Increase in Methane Gas in the atmosphere may also contribute to global warming. Some believe it may also be a consequence of global warming. 12. Largest producers of Methane are landfills, coal mines, termites, livestock and wetlands such as peat bogs and rice paddies. 13. OR another thought: Glacial ice formed 38 to 44 thousand years ago contained large concentra- tions of Methane. As ocean temperatures rise, it is believed that melting frozen Methane crystals rise to the surface and into the atmosphere. 14. OR another view is that solar sunspot activity coincides with global temperature changes, which may have more of an effect on the earth's climate than carbon dioxide does. 15. More than 6 billion tons of carbon dioxide is being released into the air each year. Three billion tons of carbon accumulate in the atmosphere, with the rest being absorbed by oceans and forests . 16. Warmer climate due to greenhouse gases buildup will produce more severe droughts, stronger hurricanes and more destructive floods, cause forest fires and rising seas could flood coastal cities and islands. Not all scientists agree on everything, but one wonders why our weather has been so erratic~ why so much rainfall, flooding~ and tornadoes~ why more powerful hurricanes~ why heat waves in countries which never experienced intense heat before~ why the springing up of flowers in Antarctica-a land usually enveloped in miles of frozen ice~ and why the huge loss of wildlife both on land and in the oceans? Florence Graff "..." ...... ~./ . "r ,...,c., WAPPINGER CREEK WATERSHED (Internet notes taken from the EMC web page.) There are so many interesting and informative articles found through this medium of communication. You may find the following worthwhile. 1. From Stissing Mountain in Pine Plains begins the headwaters of the Wappinger Creek. 2. A watershed or drainage basin is the land area that drains runoff to a stream or other water body. 3. The three primary sources of water are surface water (lakes, streams, ponds, rivers), groundwater (water that seeps into the ground from surface water and precipitation), and aquifers. 4. The Wappinger Creek and its tributaries drain approximately 210 square miles, draining an area 30 miles long before entering the Hudson River at the Wappinger- Poughkeepsie town border. 5. The lower portion of the Creek which is influenced by the Hudson River tides, is a significant coastal habitat. 6. The Wappinger drainage basin includes parts of the towns of Pleasant Valley, Washington, Pine Plains, Milan, Stanford, Clinton, La Grange, Wappingers, carry passengers between the dock at currently being tested on a regular and Poughkeepsie. Spring Street and the Little Falls basis by the Department of Health 7. Much of the land along the Park. and has proven to far exceed the Wappinger Creek and its DOH requirements for swimming. tributaries are subject to flooding. In the 1960's the Wappingers Lake 8. Due to housing and commercial was offered for sale to the Village of In compliance with the Village of growth, the Wappinger watershed Wappingers Falls. Through a Wappingers Master Plan, the is experiencing environmental referendum, the people voted to buy members of the Wappingers Lake degradation affecting the lake and the lake and water rights for Committee have met with a local lower portions of the watershed. $100,000, with a clause that the seller landscape architecture firm to begin 9. Pollution sources include sediment (B.N. & A Realty) would have the plans to improve the waterfront and runoff and stream bank erosion, free use of the lake water for the park area at the south side of the runoff from highways, parking generation of electric power for a ten- Lake. Plans include: lots, construction sites, agricultural year period. 1. Update the adjacent park lands, chemical lawn fertilizer, 2. Improve the roadway to the Lake residential use of pesticides and New York State aid was granted to 3. Create a boat launch area leach field percolation from the Village ofWappiners Falls for 4. Install lavatory facilities residential septic systems. recreational purposes. The state paid 5. Make the park more accessible to 10. Unfortunately, before zoning was $75,000 and the Village $25,000. the physically disabled established, there are some older 6. Create a swimming area for local homes along the Wappinger Creek residents. who have been discharging sewage Through decades of non-stop housing into storm drains that empty into and commercial building - The Wappinger Lake Committee is the creek. 1. The lake has been threatened with anticipating that the Village Board of serious siltation problems. Trustees will soon authorize the funds II WAPPINGER LAKE II 2. Over many years, the Lake has necessary to begin the research and been filling up with silt and mud design phase of the proposal to , (The following is a shortened version washed downstream during the restore the Lake to the valuable of a write-up submitted by Janice high water flooding each year. recreational assets that were once Hilderbrand, a member of the Village 3. Vegetation growth, such as water enjoyed by the Village residents. , Board of Trustees and the Wappinger chestnuts and eel-grass, covers Lake Committee.) most of the shallow water and acts as an impediment to fishing (During the mid-1950's, when I In 1840, Mr. Benjamin Clapp and boating. lived by the Lake, swimmers had to constructed the first dam in 4. The mean depth has dropped be careful because the lake had Wappingers to store the Creek water from 15 feet to 6 feet. Snapping Turtles!) and flood the low lying lands, thus 5. The lake did have a high coliform Florence Graff creating the Wappinger Lake. This count; today the coliform count is helped the water wheels at the flour about 100, far below the DOH II MASTER PLAN II mills to operate during the dry months, requirement of 2400 or less. and enabled various industries to use 6. In 1989, the Village applied to the Announcement! the water as a source of power. The Environmental Protection Agency Town of Wappinger Master Plan Lake was used by boaters and Clean Lakes Program for funding Committee will be distributing a new swimmers and for fishing. In the a study to identify problems and Town Survey in the near future. winter, the lake was frozen to evaluate long term solutions to This survey is very comprehensive accommodate ice skating and other the eutrophication of the lake. and will playas a key input and winter sports. During these early Seems the proposal was turned modification of the Town's Master years, the water was clean! down by the EP A. Plan. An outdoor recreation center just above The Village recently acquired a weed Please take the time and become part the upper Little Falls was established harvester which has helped to reduce of setting the future directions for the by Mr. Albert Brower in 1908. They the amount of growth and Town of Wappinger. had baseball and other sporting events. dramatically lessen the amount of Supervisor Joseph Ruggiero There was even a large motor boat to weeds in the Lake. The Lake water is I CARNWATHFARMS NEWS CELEBRATION OF A VICTORIAN HOLIDAY DECEMBER 12-13, 2003 The Town of Wappinger celebrated the first Camwath Farms Victorian Holiday at the Manor Home and in the Chapel of this historic site located on Wheeler Hill Road! It was very successful and hundreds of people attended the festivities. Several area businesses contributed to the decorating of Christmas trees, curtains for windows, loaning of period furniture, setting up the beautiful dining room table, adorning the fireplaces, decorating the huge Chapel in holiday splendor, and loaning of hayride equipment enjoyed by so many happy children and adults. The success of this event is attributable to the organization and hard work of Ralph Holt, Chairman of the Recreation Department, employees of the Recreation Department, the Department of Senior Citizens, various volunteers, the office staff of Supervisor Ruggiero and many others. If you wish to become a volunteer for Friends of Carnwath. donate funds for restoration or offer special labor skills, please call Town of Wappinger Supervisor Joseph Ruggiero at - 297-2744 i ..t ',1 ! Top Photo: Dining Room Middle Photo: Chapel Bottom Photo: Poughkeepsie New Yorkers singing group OUR THANKS IS EXTENDED to the following for loaning furniture, decorating and donating items towards our successful Victorian H olidav event at Carnwath Farms. AC. Moore, decorating trees & wreaths At Home in the Woods, loaning of furniture & curtains Cindy Stark, Town ofFishkill Senior Center Director, and assistant, decorated Chapel Cold Spring Galleries, loaned rugs Durant's Tents & Events, loaned and set up dining room table & table setting Past Tense Antiques, loaned furniture Flowers By Reni, donated mantle arrangements Home Depot, donated Poinsettia plants Rosemary Flower Shop, decorated staircase Sunny Gardens Greenhouse, donated Poinsettia plants Wappingers Senior Center artists, donated art work Peggy Roe Recreation Dept. Secretary CRANBERRY HILLS This 320 acre property with 70 acres of wetlands located off of Widmer Road, is still in limbo. DEC has yet to okay the building of 232 cluster housing homes. A group of citizens has drafted a petition, which is being circulated to homeowners, to have the Town purchase this property. Getting this on a special referendum will require at least 1200 signatures. Meantime at a Jan. 12/2004 Town meeting the Town authorized the commissioning an appraisal of the property, and additional legal steps necessary to enable the Town to acquire the "Cranberry Hills Subdivision." WHAT'S HAPPENING IN BUILDING PROJECTS? As of November L 2002 through 2/24/03 556 homes were on the drawine: board. comoleted or conceotual. As of2/24/2003 Tree Line Estates - 6 lots, 5.84 acres, on Myers Corners Road Meadowview Subdivision - 13 1015/13 houses, off Old Hopewell Rd. Baisley- VanBenschoten - commercial landscaping, on Airport Drive, having 8.14 acres to subdivide into 2 bldg. lots & to build (2) 10,500 sq.ft. buildings. Lawrence Farms Market Sauare Approval to construct a 6,108 square foot retail building as an addition to the existing 28,000 square foot retail plaza. ALSO - approval to convert 2,227 square feet of second floor office space into three apartments. Central Hudson - North Chelsea Substation Exoansion - Approval to construct an 11,564 square foot expansion to the existing 39,650 square foot substation. SLD Holdines wish to construct a 5100 sq.ft. professional building on Rte. 9 Tolin Subdivision - 4 lots on 5.20 acres at 34 Losee Road - pending. Hudson Ribs & Fish, Rte. 9. Received approval to build a 30x30 ft. fence enclosed patio (900 sq.ft.). Was previously approved for a 20x30 ft. enclosure. Woods Ede:e Subdivision - 8 lots on 27 acres located on Robinson Lane. 11 acres to be given to Town in lieu of fees. As of January. 2004 - 577 homes were on the drawing board, completed or conceptual. RIVERKEEPERS Here are a few notes I came across by Riverkeepers. 1. Public Trust Doctrine is an important law. The Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, Endangered Species Act and National Environmental Policy Act - best understood as "a modern guarantee of the protection of ancient public trust rights in an industrial age." 2. Law of Nuisance - is the second ancient doctrine that underlies modern environmental law. "A separate body of laws protecting the public trust, private property and other community values from malefactors attempting to enrich themselves by harming the community. " 3. Law of Nuisance restricts uses of private property that might injure the public: - Air pollution, bad odors, health threats, threat to wetlands by dumping and filling in, threat to clean drinking water. (It could cover the restriction of access to rivers and lakes by private ownership of surrounding lands. Could cover unsightly visual appearances of both residential and business property, or unsafe buildings, keeping of diseased animals, storing explosives, obstructing a highway or navigable waterways. Florence Graff ANNUAL FREE TREE SEEDLING DAY! ANNOUNCING our annual Free Tree Seedling give-away which will take place on- SATURDAY APRIL 24TH 10:00 am to 12 Noon (Or until gone) AT Schlathaus Park Myers Corners & All Angels Rd. For Town of Wappinger residents only. Sponsored by: Conservation Advisory Council If GREAT PLACE TO VISIT! MANITOU POINT PRESERVE Garrison, N.Y. II THE WAPPINGER WALKERS CLUB, visited this lovely area which is past Boscobel. The area has at least 4 miles of walking trails, and a continuous view of the Hudson PROTECTING THE WAPPINGER AQUIFER The Town's largest aquifer sits under the Dutchess County Airport. Due to the fact that many areas in Dutchess County and surrounding areas are experiencing water shortages and in some areas have contaminated wells, it is of the utmost importance that the Town of Wappinger begin to restrict development where it would harm the water supply to existing homes. This would require Central Water construction of Town wells. Water is not unlimited! All over the globe countries are being depleted of good groundwater being consumed due to overpopulation, corporate farm methods, increased industrialization by the West and in Europe. Third World countries are going into high gear with industrialization due to huge manufacturing plants going overseas, wherein they then begin to use that country's existing water supplies for manufacturing purposes. River as you walk along the narrow path. Here is a picture of some of our members. Florence Graff So we cannot wait for the worse to happen here. Our aquifers are our last line of resource for obtaining fresh drinking water. If the aquifer runs dry-as it has happened in several countries-we will be up the creek! In fact in Texas, which contains the Ogallala Aquifer -largest in the U.S.-stretching from the Texas Panhandle to South Dakota is already affected. It contains about 4 trillion tons of fossil water. Due to unrelenting water mining "by over 200,000 wells" irrigating 8.2 million acres of farmland, water is being extracted at the rate of 13 million gallons of water a minute!! The Ogallala is unable to recharge itself fast enough, experiencing a huge depletion of its water reserves. Since 1991, the Ogallala water table has dropped three feet! Right here in Wappingers, the Southeastern Container Co. at Air- port Park, opposite Dutchess County Airport - require approximately 500,000 gallons of water a month (16,000 gallons a day) for cooling purposes. (They make soda bottles.) Untold millions of gallons of water are used monthly by existing large development homes that are connected to town wells-not counting the thousands of other non- development homes who have private wells! How long can water supplies last! Access to fresh water is a human right, not to be commodizied by corporate profit-oriented raiders. Communities and local governments should take control of and be the keepers of fresh water systems. Florence Graff LAND USE LEADERS TRAINING CERTIFICATION PROGRAM As a member of the Conservation Advisory Council, I had attended a Training Certification Program sponsored by the Dutchess County Legislature and the Dutchess County Planning Federation, and presented by the legal instructors of the Land Use Law Center of the Pace Law School This took place on December 8, 2003 at Mount GuIian Society in Beacon lasting from the early morning to 4:30 PM. Participating in the program were five people representing the Town of Wappinger: J. Howard Prager, Zoning Board of Appeals, Barbara Roberti, Planning and Zoning Board Secretary, Mary Schmalz, Donald Francis Stein, CAC Member, and June Visconti, Planning Board Member. The purpose was to sharpen the skills of local planners and zoning board members. Due to the fact that Town Planning Boards are dealing with a more intellectual group of developers and their lawyers, it is imperative that Town Board and Planning Board members be trained in basic land-use law, balancing development, open space preservation and build an accord with this group. The end result is for one to become certified in the Dutchess County Land Use Leadership Certification Program. This training involves the latest techniques for controlling development and can allow the "boards to be creative and innovative in regulating land use, as long as they are not violating property rights. " The agenda was comprised of six sections as follows: I. Land Use Systems 2. How to Meet Housing Needs 3. Land Use System/Local Boards 4. Economic Development, Transportation and Open Space Preservation 5. Involving Citizens in Land Use Decisions 6. Small Group Discussions The sections touched on many aspects of the subject matter in an orderly manner and the "students" were encouraged to ask questions. A wealth of information was dispensed. Small controlled debates developed. Each of the "students" were supplied books of the material covered and information to obtain additional subject matter. Thanks to the knowledgeable instructors, I believe we all left with a II broader understanding of how to . improve our town,. I did enjoy the time spent and thank everybody for this opportunity. Don Francis Stein 2004 SUMMER CONCERTS AT SCHLATHAUS PARK Time 7:00 PM June 24 Thursday The Klassics July 1 Thursday Johnny Dell July 15 Thursday Hot Rod Band July 22 Thursday Bob Martinson July 29 Thursday Heart and Soul Aug. 5 Thursday Thunder Ridge Aug. 12 Thursday *West Point Band * In case of inclement weather, concert at Roy C. Ketchum H.S. FAMIL Y FUN NIGHTS HELD AT SCHLATHAUSPARK . Fridays only . FREE Entertainment and family- oriented movies. FREE popcorn will be served. Each playground is involved in sponsoring Family Fun Nights. June 2 Bob Martinson 7:00 PM D.J. Party Hosted by Castle Point Playground July 16 Ned Gelfars 7:30 PM Comedy, Juggling etc. Hosted by Martz Playground July 23 Dave Levitan 7:30 PM Magic & Mind Reading Hosted by Quiet Acres Playground July 30 Arts& Crafts 7:00 PM Hosted by Spook Hill Playground Skip Rottkamp Town of Wappinger Recreation GREENWAY NEWS II The Wappinger Greenway Committee will again be entertaining the annual - PADDLE FESTIVAL on SATURDAY - JULY 10TH From 12:00 Noon until dark at TEMPLE FIELD in the Village of Wappinger Fails. This event is to welcome Paddlers to an overnight encampment who are on a journey from Albany to New York City. Many events are planned and the committee is looking forward to a good turnout. Any questions can be directed to Greenway Committee Chairman, Joe Ennesser 297-7026 OR Event Chairman Alan Michlein 297-6071. The Wappinger Greenway Committee at the request of Town Supervisor Joseph Ruggiero, will begin to look into trail networks within the Carnwath Farms complex, and will create another step toward a Wappinger/Fishkill connection. The Committee will do some preliminary mapping work the latter part of Spring and review recommen- dations with the Town and Fraser Consulting Engineers. Joseph Ennesser ~ ~ ~ Another major Trail event is set for - September 19th known as - THE RAMBLE This event covers many towns and Hamlets throughout the Valley for the purpose of getting people interested in the trail facilities being offered, as well as the historical sites associated with these areas. This year's event is being chaired by Committee Member - Mary Schmalz and looks to be a great day! Any questions can be directed to Mary Schmalz at 297-9520. Joseph Ennesser COULD HEAVY RAINS SEVEREL Y IMPAIR OUR WASTEWATER SYSTEMS? (Following From Honolulu Advertiser. com) January 4, 2004. The Island of 0' ahu had experienced at least three days of heavy rains, which overwhelmed the capacity of their sewage wastewater treatment systems causing overflows to pollute their beaches, streams and other waterways. Sewage also overflowed from manholes and areas that use cesspools and septic tanks. Although this was a rare event, the island had no back-up systems to take care of the overflow problem. WELL! This was not so a rare event. During the first week of March 2004, it rained heavily again-and again sewage pipes were overwhelmed that some of them burst and spilled their contents unto the streets. Didn't help the beaches! Town of Wappinger sewage disposal plants have not had problems such as described above. They are monitored on a regular basis. If you would like a pamphlet entitled "About Wastewater Treatment," call Florence Graff at 298-7029. ALSO, you may wish to have a pamphlet entitled ''Water Conservation at Home," which is also available. Florence Graff ON THE FARM! I visited Meadowbrook Farm on Old Myers Comers Road. Amongst their varied animals (ducks, Guinea fowl, and visiting Canadian Geese) I came across two white turkeys. However, it was the size of the White Rock Tom Turkey which caught my eye. Below he is pursuing a female but can hardly catch up because he is so heavy, and his legs can hardly hold him up. The male turkey decided to fluff up his feathers, and when he does-he attains the look of a Super Turkevl I He weighs 52 pounds and is only 9 months old! As he walks towards you-making himself look bigger, you begin to walk backwards! He's telling you to get out of his way! Florence Graff Town of Wappinger - 20 Middle1ush Road - Wappingers Falls, N.Y. 12590 - 297-5771 Town Supervisor: Joseph Ruggiero Town Board Members: Robert Valdati, Vincent Bettina, Maureen McCarthy & Joseph Paoloni Lesrlslative Aide: Vincent Fabiano Town Clerk: Gloria Morse Deputy Town Clerks: Florence Hannon Sandra Kosakowski Dorothy Groark Court Judees: Carl Wolfson and Heather Kitchen Town Plannine Board Members: Phil DiNonno, Chairman June Visconti, Vice Chairman Regina Pace, Guy Gagne, Robert Walker, Ricky Harrison Zonine Administrator: Tatiana Lukianoff Deputy Zonine Administrator: Susan Dao Zonine Board of Appeals: Victor Fanuele, Chairman Gerald diPiemo, Member Douglas Warren, Member J. Howard Prager, Member Tom DeUaCorte Town Assessor: (Open position) Receiver of Taxes: Patricia Maupin Hiehwav Superintendent: Graham Foster Buildine Inspector: George Kolb (new) Deputy Buildine Inspector: SaI Morello, m Fire Inspector: Mark J. Liebermann Chairman of the Recreation Committee: Ralph J. Holt Director of Recreation: Skip Rottkamp Recreation Committee Members: James Chappas Joseph Ennesser Ronald Friedman Ellen Kon James Kennedy Nancy Cito Senior Citizen Director: Kathi DeLisa Comptroller: Jerry Terwilliger Attomev to the Town: Albert Roberts Planner to the Town: Daniel Wery Ensrlneer to the Town: Joseph E. Paggi, Jr. PE Conservation Advisorv Council: Co-Chairpersons: Florence Graff & Louis DiCocco 298-7029 297-6960 Members: Donald Stein, Larry Murphy, Scott Leroy, Dr. Matt McMahon, Chris Iverson Doe Warden: Jerry Owen Wappineer Greenwav Trail Committee: Joseph Ennesser, Chairman 297-7026 Eileen Sassman, Wappinger Greenway Secretary & Vii. Rep. Brad Barclay, D.C. Dept of Public Works Jay Levine, Scenic Hudson Eric Hollman, Town of Pok. Planning Dept. Chris Iverson, Environmentalist & Educator Holley Sullivan, Hudson River Valley Greenway Conservancy CaI Lawrence, Mayor Village of Wappinger Allan Michelin, T.ofWappinger Resident Mary Schmalz, Wappinger Historical Society Laura Staerker, Dev. Manager Greyco Programs January 12, 2004. Meeting of the Wappinger Town Board Members. Top: Left to right Robert Valdati, Vincent Bettina, Joseph Ruggiero, Supervisor, Maureen McCarthy (new), and Joseph Paoloni. Others: Florence Hannon, Gloria Morse, Joseph Paggi, Albert Roberts, GrahamFoster, Marco Caviglia, Gina Basile, Vincent Fabiano, and Daniel Wery. Hiehliehts of Meetin~ · Wetland, Waterbody and Watercourse Protection Law drafted by Town Planner Dan Wery, to be revised. · A 45 foot water pipe loop to be constructed in place of reconstruction of the Maxwell Place Tank. . Assessment on parcels owned by Herbert H. Redl reduced from $1,478,000 to $950,000.