Long Island Seaport & Eco Center
Long Island Seaport & Eco Center
LISEC initiates Maritime Lecture Series in conjunction with the Port Jefferson Free Library. Free registration at the library for residents and non-residents recommended but not required. Coffee and cake served.
When the Bayles Boat Shop at Harborfront Park opens its doors by the end of 2008, one of its first community small wooden boat building projects will be the restoration of a SS sailboat.
Well known in racing circles since the early 1900’s, especially on the South Shore, aficionados will be celebrating the 100th anniversary of the SS this year. Author and sailor, Meredith Murray, will share the mystique of this boat using her book, "The Magic Boat and the People Who Sailed It."
LISEC has initiated programs that bring many area school districts together.
In January of 2008, representatives of Port Jefferson, Mt Sinai, Comsewogue,
and Stony Brook Schools met together at West Hampton High School to see how its
Marine Science Director, JOK Kommer, has set up his wet lab with over a dozen
aquariums including a salt marsh which changes with the tides. Teachers had a
good chance to discuss the kind of research they want to do with their students
and how they could help each other.
On May 29, 2008, Jonathon Maletta, the former director of education at Cold Spring Harbor aquarium and hatchery who now teaches AP Marine Science at Port Jefferson High School, will lead a marine science voyage aboard the Celtic Quest. Its main purpose is to initiate the first of many anticipated black fish tagging expeditions. Little is known of black fish migratory habits and data collected will be of interest to those who regulate the fishing industry. Several schools will participate in this on going program.
The Humanities Department of Stony Brook University is also planning a major symposium on "A Village Going Green" in October and has enlisted the help of LISEC, the Port Jefferson Library, and the students of Port Jefferson High School to create a ’how to be green&Rsquo; website for the school and village. Students will also challenge families to ’live green for two weeks’ and bring their results to the meeting. Environmental scientists at the University will help the students to research facts and costs concerning recycling, waste water, use and disposal of computers and appliances etc that can make this a valuable learning experience for all. Representatives of the Port Jefferson Village Board, Brookhaven Town and Suffolk County were present at the first meeting.
LISEC is now sponsoring Geology Badges for Scouts using Harborfront Park to
illustrate the "Stories Rocks Tell" about the creation of our planet.
Here members of Port Jefferson Girl Scout Troop 8?? show off their
’story rocks.’ LISEC will be sponsoring Beach Discovery and Geology
trips for families this summer. Contact the Port Jefferson Free Library
(tel: 473-0022) for details and registration.
On March 29th over 80 volunteers, including students from Port Jefferson, Mt Sinai,
Comsewogue, and Rocky Point schools, turned up to restore a mile of pristine salt
marsh shore on the Port Jefferson side of Mt Sinai Harbor. They enjoyed it!
Over 1500 lbs of lumber, 50 large chunks of Styrofoam, four derelict boats, two sinks, a bicycle, metal strips as well as hundreds of plastic bottles and debris, fishing lures, gun shells, etc. were collected, weighing well over a ton. Salt hay was sorted of debris, woods cleaned of balloon strings and trash. The transformation was truly miraculous.
The beach cleanups are organized by Coastal Steward, David Johnson who is also a director of LISEC. The next scheduled clean up is at Cedar Beach, Mt Sinai on April 28th. For more information, including how to help with shellfish restoration, go to www.coastalsteward.org.
The windows are in, the floor is laid, the doors are being built. With more than
a year of work behind them, the completion of the building is in sight. The
faithful crew Bill Ramsden, Phil Schiavone, Charles Kenny, Charles Pieroth,
Jaques Garant and Charles Carter look forward to full completion by the end of the
year.
Keep tuned for the start of community small wooden boat programs in 2009. LISEC is looking for volunteers to work in the shop, and with our grant and education programs. Call us: 631-474-4725.