Volume 2, Issue I r £•+ -~ Winter, 2001 President's Message Members of the NRPA naro to open a new fishing urgently awaiting this docu­ 0 and our Coalition Against pier. We fought the loss of ment to learn the fate of the Water Disposal civic and en­ wetlands with the Midland borrow pits off our coast H vironmental teams did not Beach Civic Association and We need your help to take a break over the holi­ Crescent Beach Civic Asso­ continue our fight for our days. We couldn't afford to - ciation. We collaborated wetlands, marshes, creeks, U there was too much work to with the Staten Island Tax­ bays, rivers, beaches and 0 be done! payers Association, Harbor harbors. Our waterways are M M We supported the Ja­ Preserve and the Protectors priceless resources, all too maica Bay Task Force in the of Pine Oak Woods to save often targeted for abuse or formation of a Blue Ribbon some properties in Great outright destruction. We U Panel to study the loss of salt Kills And that'sjust the be- have earned a considerable marshes. Our letters on this ginningf measure of respect but we h- problem went across the city We wish that we could need your input to continue u and down to the Depart­ say that the Army Corps of to battle. We are a 501 (c) 3 U ment of the Interior in Wash­ Engineers has finally issued non-profit organization and h- ington, DC. Our members the revised Dredge Materials we are all volunteers. Our O met with the staff of Brook­ Management Plan (DMMP). Board Members donate their lyn Borough President Sadly, we cannot The latest time and pay their own ex­ Golden to discuss the pro­ deadline for this document - penses out of pocket. J2 posed use of processed the end of the year - has Please join or renew U dredge material at the Penn­ come and gone. We have your membership in the U sylvania Ave./FountdinAve. been waiting for the release NRPA today - see form on T landfill sites. We also worked of this document since April, last page or view our up­ c: U i/l with Staten Island Borough 2000, but despite repeated dated website at www. oS a« TJ President Molinari and Dep­ promises from the Corps, it NRPA.com. **w uty Borough President Moli- has not materialized. We are Thank you! ** 2 1C U CO c e * E Spotlight On...The Staten Island Federation of Sportsmen's Clubs CO re c The Staten Island Federa­ serves as a Vice President of battle to dredge the channel 0 tion of Sportsmen's Clubs is NRPA. into Great Kills Harbor. The c: in 3 0 an "umbrella" group com­ The interests of Federa­ shoaling in this channel ef­ I- O _ posed of sixteen other tion member groups are fects more than just the ac­ groups When one considers quite diverse: rod and gun tivities of party boats and the memberships of the indi­ clubs, boating (the Midland pleasure boats. It is currently vidual groups, the Federa­ Beach Sportsmen's Club and so shallow that fire fighting tion is truly a force to be T „ the Staten Island Tuna Club boats cannot get in there at »- 3 reckoned with, representing are members), civic organi­ all. thousands of people. u. C zations (including the Cres­ The list of this organiza­ re The Federation was es­ o £ cent Beach Civic Associa­ tion's activities is endless! tablished in 1947 and func­ z +* tion), archery and environ­ They provide public educa­ M tions as a pipeline to com­ o C mental issues. The Federa­ tion regarding habitat pro­ CO munities and elected offi­ IN tion is leading the way in tection and restoration and cials. The Federation's capa­ supporting handicapped ac­ can always be counted on ble and energetic President, cess in woodland Adiron to pitch in for various clean O Jack Latanzio, Jr. is well O dack parks. They have also up projects. g known for his ability to 00 been working with many One member group has (C move community projects q o boat and yacht clubs in the (Continued on page 2) CL U along. Mr. Latanzio also Pugs I NATURAL RESOURCES PROTECTIVE ASSOCIATION/CAWD (Continuedfrom page I) nently featured in the first chapter formation, call Joe Scotti (718) a particularly interesting history. of the book "At the Bottom of the 356-0553. The Andrew Zimmer Fish and Harbor", by Joseph Mitchell. The For more information about Game Association was named af­ book is a classic set of tales about the wealth of activities provided ter the first Game Warden of New New York Harbor's waterways and by the Staten Island Federation of York State. He lived on Staten Is­ shoreline. The Association still Sportsmen's Clubs, please call Jack land and his job was to catch holds an annual clambake in his Latanzio, Jr. at (718) 442-3562. poachers and others who abused memory and sponsors a series of the marine ecosystem. He is promi­ youth conservation classes. For in­ The Miraculous Transformation of Pier 3 Thousands of people walked plantings and comfort stations uty Borough President James by Pier 3 every day and never should arrive by summer. Two fish Molinaro; Lee Covino and Ed gave it a second glance. It was just cleaning stations are also in the Burke from the Borough Presi­ an old Coast Guard pier, in the works. Visitors to the nearby Light­ dent's Office and Donald Biggica, shadow of the Staten Island Ferry house Museum will surely find it to the DOT Director of Dock Building terminal. In recent years, the Dept. be a wonderful addition to their Operations. DOT employees really of Transportation (DOT) used it as visit. And of course, it's the start of worked hard to get everything a storage area. what we hope will be even more "shipshape" in between all of their But you should see it now! On access to the north shore water­ other assignments. December 15, 2000, the last day front. So don't waste any time - get of striped bass season, NRPA Vice Many people deserve a round out there and enjoy this unique President Jack Latanzio, Jr. joined of applause for completing this recreational pier. Staten Island Deputy Borough project in such a short time: Dep­ President James Molinaro in cast­ ing the first fishing line from a to­ tally revamped Pier 3. NRPA Secre­ tary Kerry Sullivan and members of the Beachcomber Surf & Gun Club also took part in the celebration. In three short months, there has been a remarkable transforma­ tion. Pier 3 is huge - 800 feet long and 80 feet wide and has heart stopping views of Manhattan, Brooklyn and the Narrows. New amenities will appeal not only to fishing fans but to the entire com­ munity. Benches are already in Stolen Isfrinc! Deputy Borough President tomes Molirvirc (left) rinrj place and lighting, picnic tables. NRPA Vice President Jack latdnzio. Jr were the first to cast off from Pier John Malizia Honored The Natural Resources Protective Association presented an award to our Treasurer, John Malizia for his "Commitment to Preserving the Marine Envi­ ronment." The award was presented at the NRPA Holiday Party by President Jim Scarcella. Several years ago. Mr. Malizia successfully fought the construction of toxic containment islands in Raritan Bay and off Rockaway Beach in Queens. And he hasn't stopped since! He can always be counted on to provide insightful, rational assessments of environmental issues. Mr. Malizia, an avid fisherman and boater, is Rear Commodore of the Staten Island Yacht Club. He is also an officer of the Staten Island Tuna Club. It's truly a pleasure to work with you John! VOLUME 2, ISSUE 1 Pug. 3 NATURAL RESOURCES PROTECTIVE ASSOCIATION www. NRPA. com POST OFFICJi fiOX^50328^STA TENISLAND, AT 10305-0328' (718)987-6037 President: Annual Meeting Report Jim Scarcella The NRPA annual meet­ States of New York and also noted that for the first Stolen Island Friends ofClearwater ing was held on November New Jersey as well as time, the Army Corps of En­ 2,2000 at the Richmond the Environmental Pro­ gineers has recognized that Vice Presidents: County Yacht Club and tection Agency to channel deepening for John G. Latanzio Jr. was well attended. After prosecute those who large ships causes ecologi­ S.I. Federation of President Jim Scarcella wel­ violate existing envi­ cal damage and hoped that Sportsmens Clubs comed members and ronmental laws. the Corps would finally Tony Soma guests, Secretary Kerry Sulli­ »The NRPA supports sponsor some genuine res­ Staten Island van outlined some of our projects that will pre­ toration projects as mitiga­ Tuna Club goals: serve and protect fresh­ tion. Jack Latanzio, Jr. NRPA Secretary: «The NRPA opposes water and tidal wet­ Kerry Sullivan dumping of toxic lands. Vice President, reported on N. Y. Stale Marine dredge spoils in our *The NRPA urges that efforts to open several ar­ Advisory Council ocean and bays as well combined sewer over­ eas of the North Shore for as dumping in borrow flow abatement be in­ waterfront access. Mr. La­ Rec. Secretary: Phil Calise and sub-channel pits. creased. tanzio, who is also Presi­ Richmond County «The NRPA urges Gov­ Mr. Sullivan, who is also dent of the Staten Island Yacht Club ernor Pataki to release the Environmental Chair of Federation of Sportsmen's funding allocated to the Coastal Conservation Clubs, described the pro­ Treasurer: John Malizta New York State for Association, New York posed fishing pier at Father S.I.