Category — Community News

Fire Island National Seashore announced today that a sample of 
mosquitoes infected with West Nile virus (WNV) has been found on Fire 
Island. The National Park Service collected the mosquitoes on July 29 
from a gravid trap on the federal land just west of Fire Island Pines. 
The mosquitoes were from a trap set by the Park as part of its weekly 
monitoring program. Testing was done by the New York State Department of 
Health, Arthropod-Borne Disease Program, in Albany. This program is a 
collaborative effort between the Park and Suffolk County Department of 
Health Services, which announced the positive results on August 14. 
Although there have been dozens of WNV- infected dead birds throughout 
Suffolk County, none of these have been found within the boundaries of 
Fire Island National Seashore. 

The National Park Service works closely with the Centers for Disease 
Control (CDC), the New York State Department of Environmental 
Conser vation (DEC), Suffolk County Vector Control, and local Fire Island 
and Long Island municipalities to determine the best course of action to 
protect residents, visitors and employees of the Seashore. When threats 
to human health (such as the presence of West Nile virus) occur, actions 
to protect the public may include control methods such as applying 
larvicide or spraying. The public will be notified 24 hours in advance 
of any spray event. Information on the date and exact location of any 
spraying can be found on the Suffolk County web site at 
www.suffolkcountyny.gov/health or by calling 631- 852- 4939. Suffolk 
County Vector Control is currently authorized to spray within the Fire 
Island communities, including Fire Island Pines, using ultra low volume 
backpack or truck- mounted sprayers. 

The park is continuing its surveillance program to monitor the severity 
and extent of West Nile virus in the Seashore. As per the Park’s 
standard operation procedures, there will be an amplified surveillance 
in the area where West Nile virus has been detected. 

Mosquitoes can transmit both West Nile virus (WNV) and Eastern Equine 
Encephalitis (EEE) from an infected bird to humans and other animals. 
However, mosquitoes are a natural part of a healthy salt marsh ecology. 
The larvae and adults provide food for many kinds of wildlife, including 
other insects, fish, birds, and bats. Some measures taken to control 
mosquito populations, such as spraying insecticides, adversely affect 
the health of fish and other wildlife living in the wetlands. 
Insecticides may also filter very quickly through the soil to the water 
table and could possibly infiltrate the water we drink. Therefore, any 
actions taken to protect human health through the control of mosquitoes 
must be weighed very heavily. 

Residents, visitors and staff are advised to avoid mosquito-infested 
areas. If contact with mosquitoes is unavoidable, it is advisable to 
wear protective clothing and use an effective insect repellent, such as 
one containing at least 30% DEET. Non-DEET repellents (e.g. herbal-based 
sprays) are also effective. (Use much less repellent for children; DEET 
should only be used with extreme caution on children under age 3.) 
People most at risk of becoming ill from West Nile virus are those over 
50 years of age or whose immune system is impaired. Such people are 
advised to stay away from areas with mosquitoes. 

For general information on West Nile virus, please contact your local 
health department. Information can also be obtained from the CDC, New 
Yo rk State or Suffolk County WNV web sites, or one of the park visitor 
centers. 

For more information about Fire Island National Seashore’s mosquito 
program, contact Mike Bilecki, Chief of Resources Management at 
631-687-4760, or Fernando Villalba, Park Biologist, at 631-687-4769. 

For more information about Fire Island National Seashore, visit the 
park’s web site at www.nps.gov/fiis.

A new Dunewood photo site has been created at Shutterfly.  Anyone may access this site, and if you wish, you may post photos or Dunewood-related events.  To view the site, click on the following link: http://dunewoodfireisland.site.shutterfly.com

Contact Andrew Resnick if you have any questions.

Fire island Ferries is going to ask for an increase in ticket prices to cover the increased cost of fuel oil.  

In addition they are looking at cutting Spring and Fall ferry service to Fair Harbor (potentially no service Monday thru Thursday).  The full implications are unclear at this time.

I am investigating how we as a community should react to this situation.

Gene

At 11:00am on Saturday August 16th in the New Fire House the Fair Harbor Fire Commissioners will present an update on the plans and the status of the Proposed Firehouse Renovation. Based on the community feedback from this meeting the Fire Commissioners will proceed with the scheduling of a referendum to allow the Fire District to raise money for the proposed renovation. 

This will be a multi-million dollar project which will effect the taxes of all Fire Island property owners. Everyone is urged to attend this important Fire House Renovation Meeting.

Just imagine those moments when your child – grandchild – niece – nephew – friend’s child, smiles… Doesn’t your world seem so much brighter?

Komedyplast is a non-profit organization performing “life-transforming” surgery on children with congenital deformations of the head, face and neck including cleft palate and other serious deformations of the skull. Surgeons, anesthesiologists, nurses and equipment are required to provide highly specialized services to impoverished children in the slums of developing nations.

Komedyplast is unique in that it combines surgical treatment – performed by volunteer professionals – with entertainment. The organization clearly understands the value of humor and hope as they contribute to the healing process.

Our very own Dunewood second-generation resident, Dr. Peter Taub, is the Director of Pediatric Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery at Mount Sinai. Peter volunteers at least two weeks each year to perform this surgery, free of charge, in Peru. His efforts, alongside his wonderful team, make “a lasting difference in the lives of children” who might otherwise spend a life as an outcast, a pariah in their communities.

When people think about Dunewood, they often picture a lovely community with a tennis court… Wouldn’t it be our symbol of pride, if, in everyone’s mind’s eye, they pictured not only a wonderful seaside community around a tennis court but also beside it a group of children smiling? Children whose smile also lights up their parent’s and grandparent’s and aunt’s and uncle’s worlds?

Please join us on the beach at Sandpiper in Dunewood, Saturday, August 23rd at 8:10a.m.  We will walk with our Fair Harbor and Saltaire neighbors in the spirit of a summer community that cares and cares deeply!  

Please donate what you can and ask your friends and neighbors to contribute generously to this very worthy cause. 

Checks should be made out to Komedyplast. 

You can also check out their website at:        www.komedyplast.org

Details of the walkathon to follow. 

For further information contact: 

Maxine Hayden

Email: hayden.maxine@Gmail.com

On December 11, 2007, Dan Priest was re-elected to serve a five-year term as a Commissioner for the Dunewood Fire District.

The Dunewood Fire District Annual Election will be completed no later than December 11, 2007.   Commissioner Dan Priest is standing for a 5-year term.

At our end of summer community meeting it was suggested that the Board look into the Damminix Tick Control Tube program that had been once in effect in Dunewood and since suspended. Your Board has investigated the matter and taken the decision that tick control is best left up to the individual homeowner. For those who wish to explore the program further for his/her own property, Damminix Tubes may be purchased online at www.damminix.com. Thanks, DPOA Board.

Note from Kevin: re. the ingredient in the tubes and cat/fish exposure, read Wickipedia.