Supervisor, Town Council detail measures at dedication of reconstructed Halesite Marina
Huntington Supervisor Frank P. Petrone and the Town Council officially dedicated the reconstructed Halesite Marina June 27, and used the occasion to discuss measures the Town will again implement to encourage safe boating during the upcoming July 4 holiday weekend.
Joining Supervisor Petrone and Council Members Mark Cuthbertson, Susan A. Berland, Eugene Cook and Tracey A. Edwards at the dedication were: Asharoken Mayor Gregory Letica; Huntington Bay Mayor Herb Morrow; BMCS Tony Martinez, officer in charge of the U.S. Coast Guard Station at Eatons Neck; Stephanie Quarles, commodore of the Greater Huntington Council of Yacht and Boating Clubs; and past commodores Jackie Martin and Jon TenHaagen.
The $2.5 million marina reconstruction, which was completed last week with the paving of the parking lot, included replacing the deteriorated wooden bulkhead with 370 feet of new steel, epoxy coated bulkhead. The bulkhead is 37 feet deep and has 165 tons of steel.
The project also replaced all the wooden pilings for the marina’s 72 boat slips; moved utilities away from the waterfront and elevated so they can better resist storms; upgraded the electric service; and added new security gates to the marina gangways. Added to the parking lot was a storm water “pretreatment” system to lessen suspended solids and direct flow into the harbor.
Additionally, the project added a brick path that now connects Halesite Park on the north and the Town dock on the south. Ten new decorative light poles were added along the brick path.
"This reconstructed marina offers improvements functionally and aesthetically, both in the water and on land. Boaters will benefit from the new slips, and I encourage pedestrians to take in the water views from the new walkway,” Supervisor Petrone said. “But equally important are the environmental improvements aimed at enhancing water quality by reducing the amount of storm runoff that could pollute the harbor.”
After speaking about the marina project, the discussion at the dedication turned to the common concern of all of those who attended: boating safety.
As the Fourth of July weekend approaches, Supervisor Petrone, the Town Council, the Coast Guard officer, the mayors and the boating council commodores all emphasized the need for people to practice safe boating throughout the weekend, but especially as they take to the waters to view fireworks shows. The Town is aware of two scheduled shows -- the annual one sponsored by Asharoken Village, and the one presented by the Dolan family off Cove Neck.
The Town has again been working with the U.S. Coast Guard, the Coast Guard Auxiliary, the Suffolk County police department marine bureau, the incorporated villages and the Huntington, Northport, Centerport and Cold Spring Harbor Fire Departments on measures aimed at allowing people to safely get to and get home from where they watch fireworks shows. These measures include coordinating patrols, including establishing a security zone around the barge shooting the Asharoken fireworks. As has been done in the past, law enforcement boats will be strategically located throughout the area the help ensure an orderly dispersal.
The Town is again establishing a 5 MPH speed limit from 8:30 p.m. to 11 p.m. in all of Northport Bay and Huntington Bay south from the line extending from Target Rock to Buoy One in Coast Guard Cove, as well as Long Island Sound from the easternmost section of the Northport Power Plant to the westernmost end of the causeway on Asharoken Avenue. A copy of a map showing the affected areas can be viewed or dowloaded.
Additionally, while some Town facilities– Crab Meadow, West Neck/Quentin Sammis and Hobart Beaches and the Soundview Boat Ramp – will remain open past sunset, after 5 p.m., entry will be limited to Town residents, on a space available basis. Once the parking lot at a particular location beach is full, no additional entry will be allowed and there is the possibility that police will restrict access on roads leading to the facilities.
“On both land and sea, we ask all residents to be respectful of others and to follow the rules for everybody’s safety,” Supervisor Petrone said. “We hope that everyone will enjoy July 4 in a way that is safe for themselves, their families and their guests.”
This is the fourth year the Town has imposed the restrictions on July 4, spurred by a 2012 tragedy in which three children died off Oyster Bay Cove when the boat in which they were watching a fireworks show capsized as it was returning to Huntington. The Town has also worked with the Greater Huntington Council of Yacht and Boating Clubs to step up boater safety education and to encourage responsible boating. This year, during boating safety week (May 21 to 28) the Town offered a safe boating class, and over 100 participants received New York State boating safety certificates. Safe Boating Week also included a nautical fair. Proceeds from the fair will go toward the purchase of additional “No Wake” buoys for placement in the harbors.