Page 2
Spring 2016
NATURAL RESOURCES PROTECTIVE ASSOCIATION
(continued next page)
NEW YEAR’S DAY 2016
By Jim Scarcella
For the 26
th
Annual New Year's Day
Hike over 60 persons participated.
We were joined by our friends from
Protectors of Pine Oak Woods and
Bay Terrace Improvement Group.
The weather was brisk and peaks of
sunshine lifted our spirits. The Gate-
way Great Kills Park personnel were
very accommodating, making sure
we had a place to park and ensuring
safety during the implementation of
the invigorating hike.
Prior to the start of the walk we took
a few moments to remember those
who had joined us on previous
walks. Their spirits stayed with us
for this journey.
We had a photo of the beach hike on
New Year’s Day 1996 when the old
beach house was suspended on the
piling field and it was a revelation to
see the current situation, all the pil-
ings removed and a new cove creat-
ed.
The beach was beautiful, with the
exceptions of a deceased raccoon
and Gannet.
The mollusk population was repre-
sented by periwinkles, razor clams,
slipper shells, quahog, oysters and
Atlantic whelks, and I found the spi-
raling discs of a whelk egg case.
When shaken, the dried out eggs
sounded like maracas.
Portions of a century-old shipping
ANI/NIAC MEMBER PHOTO
CONTEST
The photo below, taken by Board
Member Danny Ingellis, was NRPA's
entry in the ANI/NIAC Member Photo
Contest. Over 400 entries were sub-
mitted.
Danny's photo was awarded one of
the nineteen Finalist prizes and Dan-
ny generously donated the prize
money to NRPA. Thanks Danny!
WINTER BEACH WALK
By Jim Scarcella
In mid-winter I took a walk down to
Miller Field beach on a decent day.
The wind was partially subdued and
there was some residue from the
generous snowfall of the previous
week. The seagulls were annoyed
at my presence but the three pair of
bufflehead ducks kept dabbling for
bits of food.
There was some Styrofoam and a
wooden 2' x 4' washed up. I gath-
ered the debris and placed it in a
trash can on the walking path.
Walking south towards New Dorp,
the estuary water looked almost
crystal clear. The beach has what
appears to be a native plant restora-
tion in place and the towers of the
old airplane hangars seemed to be
occupied only by the wind and spar-
rows.
At New Dorp Beach, a few of the
sand dune 'trap ' bags were ripped
open, probably by large driftwood
timbers. Some of the sand had mi-
grated further down the shoreline
towards Cedar Grove Park. The
to a buildup of toxins in the food
chain, including people who eat fish.
The toxins also accumulate in sea
birds.
We need to be more responsible
about using plastic items. It goes
without saying that it is preferable to
use items that can be reused and
recycled. If you must use plastic
items, make sure that they are dis-
posed of so that they cannot end up
on the street, the shoreline or in the
water. And please read the labels of
cleansers, etc. to see if they contain
beads. There are safer products that
you can buy that use biodegradable
items like ground nut shells instead
of plastic beads.
It’s the little things that can make a
big difference!
pier have washed up at the top of the
littoral zone of the beach, perhaps
another storm will carry the pier parts
back out to sea.
There is a new youth component for
the annual hike. For New Year’s
Day 2017, the co-leaders will be Erin
Hagen and Frank Arcabascio, Jr.
It was a spirited, uplifting hike on a
brisk sunny day.
See you for the next hike!
SHORELINE MEETING
By Jim Scarcella
In February, NYC Parks invited our
Staten Island community to weigh in
on what our East Shore will look like
upon completion of the New York
State sponsored Army Corps’ seven
mile sea wall, from Fort Wadsworth
to Gateway, Great Kills Park. It is
part of the Corps’ Coastal Storm
Risk Management Plan for Staten
Island. Commissioner Lynda Riccar-
wave action has even exposed old
foundation of a beach home from
long ago.
I attempted to drag a piece of man-
gled protective fence off the beach
but it was secured and the steel
fencing could not be easily re-
located.
This spring, NRPA will team up with
New Dorp Beach Civic and Friends
of Kivlehan Park for a beach cleanup
