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BaBylon _______________
HERALD BEaCon
Also serving Babylon, Bay Shore, Copiague, Deer Park, Farmingdale, Lindenhurst, North Babylon, West Babylon, West Islip and Wyandanch
Michael Durso seeking reelection Page 5 VOL. 58 NO. 37
SPECIAL BACK TO SCHOOL EDITION Inside SEPTEMBER 12-18, 2024
It’s football season again Page 6 $1.00
Babylon gets grant for Green Homes Program Funds to help homeowners make their homes more energy effecient By CAROLYN JAMES
Photo Credit/Herald
Shown at the event are Donna Consola, Babylon Village Historical Society Treasurer; Sean Goodwin, Babylon Village Historical Society Trustee; Karen Petz, Babylon Village Historical Society Corresponding Secretary; Wayne Horsley, Babylon Village Historical Society Vice President; Steve Kuhn, Program Speaker (re: Clam Power) and Judy Skillen, Babylon Village Historical Society President.
Clammer shells out stories about his life on the Great South Bay By CAROLYN JAMES cjames@liherald.com
Steve Kuhn quickly dismisses any illusion that a life of clamming along the Great South Bay is glamorous. “It’s hard work,” he said. “Really hard work.” In fact, “Hard Work,” is the title of his book outlining the 50-plus years he has supported himself and his family as a clammer. Kuhn spoke recently at the Babylon Village Historical Society with about 75 people attending. Complimenting the presentation was an offering of traditional clam chowder provided by the Post Office Café.
Despite the hard work, clamming offers the chance to be out of doors and many other benefits that traditional jobs don’t,” Kuhn told the audience of approximately 75 people who attended the event. “I always loved being in the water, I don’t know why but I just did,” he said. His life as a clammer began unremarkably when he was working as a landscaper earning money while attending Suffolk County Community College. A friend asked him if he wanted to go out on his boat clamming for the day. “I remember that day vividly,” said Kuhn. “I was about 19 or 20 and strong. I loved the
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cjames@liherald.com The Town of Babylon is the recipient of a $235,330 conservation block grant from the Department of Energy. The funds are to be used to support the town’s Long Island Green Homes program, which helps residents increase home energy efficiency while saving them money on their energy costs. “We are really excited about this, particularly since we are the only town in New York State that got it,” said Supervisor Richard Schaffer. Funds will be allocated to purchase new heat pump systems and other necessary equipment for approximately 40-50 households, with a focus on lowincome communities. Babylon is also expected to develop a new marketing plan to raise awareness of the program and better engage disadvantaged communities through printed materials, digital social media advertisements, and in-person events. The Town’s Green Homes program is self-financing residential retrofit program for upgrading the energy efficiency of existing homes exclusively in
the Town of Babylon. The program, established by former Town Supervisor Steve Bellone, enables homeowners to make their homes greener and healthier at little or no out-of-pocket cost. Most homes—even newer ones —have not been constructed to building performance standards that conserve energy, said town officials. With fuel costs at all-time highs and in a region where utility rates are among the highest in the nation, homeowners can no longer afford to waste energy. Donna and John Deodato of Babylon recently opted into the program installing a new HVAC system throughout their home and said they feel fortunate to be living in the Town of Babylon, which offers the program directly. “The process was easy, and the workmanship high quality.,” said Donna. “We got the work done and everything went very smoothly.” The savings comes through the low interest loan the program provides and the better rate PSEG provides, giving the CONTINUED ON PAGE 3