From Scully

More Renovations ...

Work on Scully continued throughout October, with the pace ebbing and flowing from week to week ... even day to day. One day there would be a dozen workers buzzing around the place, the next day it'd be quiet. The painters were the most steady presence in the early part of the month (as was the near constant beeping of their hydraulic lifts). More recently it's been the electricians - they've been on site rewiring the entire first floor. Activity picked up noticeably this week with the commencement of two new jobs: insulating the attic and tiling portions of the first floor.  Here are some recent photos ...

County officials (including Parks Commissioner John Pavacic, second from left) 

pouring over plans with the GC's job Superintendent.

2008 Long Island Salt Marsh Symposium

Seatuck is joining with The Nature Conservancy to sponsor a conference on the management and restoration of Long Island's salt marshes.  The 2008 Long Island Salt Marsh Symposium is being held at the Ronkonkoma Courtyard by Marriott on November 12th and 13th.  The gathering, which will feature some of the nation's leading salt marsh ecologists and managers, seeks to help Long Island municipalities develop strategies for managing and restoring salt marsh habitat based on the best available science and experience.  

The public is invited and welcomed.  Admission is free and lunch will be provided, but registration is required.  

Download the attached flier for more information.  You can register on-line here. Please feel free to give me a call at 631-581-6908 if you have any questions or would like a copy of the conference agenda.

Enrico

Download FinalFlier.pdf

Work on the Nature Center is Underway!

After more than a year and a half of limited progress, the County has commenced work on the final phase of renovation at the Scully Sanctuary.  Contractors have been on site for most of the past two weeks and have already transformed the look of the place.  They've cleared the area for the parking lot, opened a route for a new exit driveway, and started painting the building's windows and trim.  In the coming weeks, work is also slated to start on public restrooms, a new high-tech septic system, an expanded main entrance, and new walkways, among other improvements. When this phase of work is complete, the Suffolk County Nature Center should be ready to open to the public.  The renovations are expected to be finished in early 2009.  Here's a few photos of what's been happening ...

Painters have relied on a lift to access the building's dozens of windows.

 

Turning the blue trim brown; the building's trim is returning to its original color.

Bringing down a dead pine tree that's in the way of the main walkway.

Clearing trees and brush for the parking lot.

This large spruce was spared and will grace the parking lot's center island.

Hundreds of feet of silt fence was installed to protect the surrounding wetlands.

The excavation drew curious deer for an easy meal.