Live Oak In New Orleans
I recently went to New Orleans on a river boat cruise. New Orleans is a very old city that is proud of its very rich history and heritage. The thing that made the greatest impression on me was that, despite the constant onslaught of hurricanes, floods and storms that this area receives, they have managed to preserve the buildings and the landscape – both in the city limits and out on the highways and byways, including the plantations (which, although historic sites, some are privately owned and open to the public).
As you can see from the pictures, I was enthralled by the Live Oak trees (so named because they are always green). These trees can live up to 1,000 years. Many that I saw were 500-750 year old. They have seen a lot of hurricanes and floods. Can someone tell me why other areas can do this and Suffolk County cannot?
On another tree note, I was glad to learn that the mega apartment complex being built by TriTech is on the old Tour College property in Bay Shore. Rather than destroying yet another piece of natural habitat, as some other mega contractors are able to do, they will be repurposing land that has already been destroyed and black topped by adding gardens, green space, and trees.
On that same note, if you are interested in helping to make positive changes, contact your local legislator, expressing your environmental concerns. Ask them:
- To consider passing legislation that disallows the clearing of open space and insist that we want abandoned shopping centers to be repurposed and revitalized rather than forested lands being cleared.
- To consider making it a requirement that native trees, bushes and plants to be used in gardenscapes of residential and industrial building complexes.
- For strict, enforced laws in regard to the cutting of any large trees, including privately owned, unless it is diseased and truly threatening to life and home – not just an inconvenience. Ask that tree removal companies be liable for not following regulations.
Enclosed in this newsletter is a list of the current legislators and their districts. They are all terrific people who live in Suffolk County and who have an interest in the health and vibrancy of their communities. Please – get to know them. Explain to them the importance of protecting the living environment, for everyone’s sake.
recent posts
A Closer Walk
I am a backyard birder. When I joined Audubon, I envisioned that I would soon be running through bushes all over the place, my little safari hat in place, identifying birds and their calls. I thought that ornithology would become as second nature as horticulture is to me.
Feeder Survey Fall/Winter 2022-2023
Writing this in the beginning of October, I was going to comment on the dry summer we just experienced, but Mother Nature did a turn around and we are now experiencing the dregs of Hurricane Ian, the final consequences of which are yet to be seen.
Montauk Nature Walk Recap
It was a cold, overcast, blustery day out in Montauk for the chapter’s field trip on January 7th. But there was a good turnout of participants willing to brave the elements and see some birds that are most easily seen at ‘The End’.
AL KRUPSKI, S.C LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT 1
– AI.Krupski@suffolkcountyny.gov
BRIDGET FLEMING, S.C LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT 2
– Bridget.Fleming@suffolkcountyny.gov
JAMES F. MAZZARELLA, S.C LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT 3
– Jim.Mazzarella@suffolkcountyny.gov
NICHOLAS CARACAPPA, S.C LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT 4
– Nick.Caracappa@suffolkcountyny.gov
KARA HAHN, S.C LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT 5
– Kara.Hahn@suffolkcountyny.gov
SARAH S. ANKER, SUFFOLK COUNTY LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT 6
– Sarah.Anker@suffolkcountyny.gov
DOMINICK S. THORNE, S.C LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT 7
– DominickS.Thorne@suffolkcountyny.gov
ANTHONY PICCIRILLO, S.C LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT 8
– Anthony.Piccirillo@suffolkcountyny.gov
SAMUEL GONZALEZ, S.C LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT 9
– Samuel.Gonzalez@suffolkcountyny.gov
TRISH BERGIN, S.C LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT 10
– Trish.Bergin@suffolkcountyny.gov
STEVEN J. FLOTTERON, S.C LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT 11
– Steven.Flotteron@suffolkcountyny.gov
LESLIE KENNEDY, S.C LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT 12
– Leslie.Kennedy@suffolkcountyny.gov
ROBERT TROTTA, S.C LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT 13
– Robert.Trotta@suffolkcountyny.gov
KEVIN J. McCAFFREY, SUFFOLK COUNTY LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT 14
– Kevin.McCaffrey@suffolkcountyny.gov
JASON RICHBERG, S.C LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT 15
– Jason.Richberg@suffolkcountyny.gov
MANUEL ESTEBAN, S.C LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT 16
– Manuel.Esteban@suffolkcountyny.gov
TOM DONNELLY, S.C LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT 17
– Tom.Donnelly@suffolkcountyny.gov
STEPHANIE BONTEMPI, S.C LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT 18
– Stephanie.Bontempi@suffolkcountyny.gov
