________________ LONG BEACH _______________
HERALD Also serving Point Lookout & East Atlantic Beach
MSSN gets $1M donation
Singing hits to bring smiles
New backpacks for school year
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Vol. 35 No. 35
AUGUST 22 - 28, 2024
$1.00
Adaptive surfing, with sprinkles Surf for All, Dunkin’ collaborate on a new board for the disabled By BRENDAN CARPENTER bcarpenter@liherald.com
Bob Arkow/Herald
Surf for All volunteers came out to see the debut of a new adaptive board, courtesy of Dunkin’.
If you took a walk on the boardwalk on Aug. 15 and strolled past the Skudin Surf shop, you no doubt saw the massive crowd spilling into the bike lane, and a Dunkin’ iced coffee with legs wandering around. But why? Just over a year ago, Brandon Klein, who volunteers with Long Beach’s Surf for All, had an idea: an inclusive surfboard with a seat, to help those with special needs learn to surf. Klein, a junior at Jericho High School at the time, did some research, and found the British organization Cerebra, which helps children with brain conditions and has ContinueD on pAge 10
Hempstead’s Western Bays now boast cleaner water By ANGElINA ZINGARIEllo azingariello@liherald.com
The water quality of Hempstead’s Western Bays continues to show progressive improvement, according to a report presented Aug. 15 by officials from the Long Island Regional Planning Council, the Town of Hempstead, and Hofstra University’s National Center for Suburban Studies. The report, shown at a briefing held at the Town of Hemps t e a d M a r i n e L ab o r at o r y, revealed significant decreases
in nitrogen, ammonia, and other harmful pollutants that have historically degraded the water and damaged local coastal wetlands. “Hempstead Bay and its major tributaries, known as the Wester n Bays, help drive a multi-billion-dollar economy,” said Richard Guardino, executive director of the LIRPC. “It’s fueled by recreation, bathing, boating, fishing, and seafood harvesting. The Western Bays contribute greatly to the quality of life we enjoy right here in the Town of Hempstead, and
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he Western Bays contribute greatly to the quality of life. RIChARD GUARDINo Executive director, L.I. Regional Planning Council it’s one of the most beautiful coastal areas in all of the nation.” Despite the promising results, officials cautioned that work remains to fully restore
the bays’ health. They emphasized that multi-level efforts to reduce nitrogen pollution in the waterways should remain a top priority. Excess nitrogen is recognized as the leading cause of water quality deterioration in the region, contributing to toxic algal blooms, low oxygen conditions, fish kills, and the destruction of vital marine habitats. It also poses a significant risk to Long Island’s d r i n k i n g w a t e r, b e c a u s e g roundwater serves as the island’s source of freshwater.
The Hempstead Bay Water Quality Monitoring Project, initially launched in the 1980s and revived in 2019 under the Long Island Nitrogen Action Plan, has been key in addressing water-quality issues in the area. The project collects water samples from various locations in the bays and inland areas to measure levels of nitrogen, ammonia, and other pollutants. “This is an investment in the environment. This is an investment in the economy,” Councilman Chris Schneider said. “It’s ContinueD on pAge 4