Photos by Gianna Gooch
Details to come….
Posts under ‘Creek’
The Point These Days
A picture of the Point from Saturday July 3rd of all “outsiders” bringing in Jet Ski’s, BBQ’s, and parties.
What’s wrong with this? Well it’s not really a beach that has lifeguards. We as a community do not need someone that can’t swim drown or hit by a Jet Ski. Which there was an accident recently.
The point is a no standing zone – and it’s for a good reason. All of the buses we have here in Gerritsen Beach need to turn around and they cannot make a U-turn while the Point to Seba is packed with cars.
Then have the fact that it’s not a beach! I’ve seen people and friends summonsed for being there.
You cannot launch boats, Jet Skis, from that area. Basically you can only launch canoes or kayaks.
Lastly, Do they clean up after themselves? I have one word to answer that:NYET!
Jet Ski In Gerritsen Beach from Gerritsen Beach on Vimeo.
Quad Crazies
Coming in Via Email: by George
I was at the beach on the 4th of July shooting photos of the water jets (Just testing a new 5D I have) to see the water splashes and fun people were having. I came across a couple of people who asked me to take shots of them to send to their emails. Now I have a long lens, 300mm, and I was taking a shot of a jet ski down beach when I heard this loud sound of a quad getting close to me… I lowered my camera in just enough time to see this idiot coming at me, then swerving within an inch of my feet and kicking sand up my leg. The “gentlemen” yelled to me not to take photos of him! Then sped off….
I then see him pull up to the guardrail at the end of the avenue, get off his quad and proceed to suck down a rather large beer. Now, I’m all for fun as well as anyone, but this guy is speeding down a rather crowded beach, drinking while driving (quad or car, same difference) and basically assaulting someone (me) with a lethal weapon (a rather large quad) and when I walked over and explained that I wasn’t taking photos of him, he actually tried to intimidate me and said he saw the camera pointed at him….
Well, I wasn’t taking a photo of him but I sure did after this encounter. I just want to show him how stupid and dangerous what he did was. I also hope this gets printed so he will think about his actions in the future. If I would have stepped an inch to my left he would have run me down… and for what? Taking a picture! I think that would be a little extreme. I shoot street photos in Manhattan all the time. At times people do not want to be photographed, so I respect that. I lower the camera if they ask, or I delete the shot if they ask after I shoot! It’s not a big deal!
I just cannot believe this guy tries to run me down, and then wants to intimidate me afterwards. Not that I am anyone special, but if you are going to do something like that, don’t do it to someone with a device that can capture your stupidity! Like I said to him as I walked away… “Your not too bright dude…”
Horseshoe Crab Season
For those of you not close enough to see the water on a daily basis Horseshoe Crab breeding season is here.
During the breeding season, Horseshoe crabs migrate to shallow coastal waters. Males select a female and cling onto her back. The female digs a hole in the sand and lays her eggs while the male fertilizes them. The female can lay between 60,000-120,000 eggs in batches of a few thousand at a time. Many shore birds eat the eggs before they hatch. The eggs take about 2 weeks to hatch. The larvae molt six times during the first year.
Horseshoe Crab Facts & Figures
- Despite their size and intimidating appearance, horseshoe crabs are not dangerous.
- A horseshoe crab’s tail, while menacing, is not a weapon. Instead, the tail is used to plow the crab through the sand and muck, to act as a rudder, and to right the crab when it accidentally tips over.
- The horseshoe crab’s central mouth is surrounded by its legs and while harmless, it is advisable to handle a horseshoe crab with care since you could pinch your fingers between the two parts of its shell while holding it.
- Horseshoe crabs have 2 compound eyes on the top of their shells with a range of about 3 feet. The eyes are used for locating mates.
- Horseshoe crabs can swim upside down in the open ocean using their dozen legs (most with claws) and a flap hiding nearly 200 flattened gills to propel themselves.
- Horseshoe crabs feed mostly at night and burrow for worms and mollusks. They will, however, feed at any time.
- Horseshoe crabs grow by molting and emerge 25 percent larger with each molt. After 16 molts (usually between 9 and 12 years) they will be fully grown adults.
- Horseshoe crab eggs are important food for migratory shore birds that pass over the Delaware Bay during the spring mating season. Fish also eat the juveniles or recent molts.
- In the 1900s, horseshoe crabs were dried for use as fertilizer and poultry food supplements before the advent of artificial fertilizers.
- The medical profession uses an extract from the horseshoe crab’s blue, copper-based blood called lysate to test the purity of medicines. Certain properties of the shell have also been used to speed blood clotting and to make absorbable sutures.
White Island 75% Done
There was a recent meeting about White Island – This is What is Happening with Mau Mau Now
Lets backtrack a little bit with this project and clarify that are two separate projects with White Island Mau-Mau area going on right now. One is the White Island project which is a New York City Parks project mandated by the DEC and the other is a Army Core project to rebuild the marsh land. The army core project is behind the nature center and the White Island project is what we are going to be talking about.
The goal of the White island project is to create a grassland habitat for about 4 or 5 species of birds that were forced out with the Erksine Street Shopping Center. It was part of the agreement back in 1994 that another habitat would be created on White Island so the birds that were displaced would be able to nest somewhere. $3 million dollars was allocated for White Island according to that plan. Overall ,this is a $15 million dollar project.
Here is what has already happened in Phase I
- They have already removed the phragmites with the weed killer roundup.
- They have clearing of the island of all trees, which was for an accurate survey, as well as to make room for the sand they brought in.
- They have brought in 150,000 cubic yards of sand, which is waiting to be spread out onto the island.
- The sand was placed into containment zones, and not dumped too high so the wind would not blow the sand into the creek.
- The footprint of the island has not been increased.
What still has to happen aka Phase II
They still have to bring in two ton cement stones called “Armor Stone” to place on the steeper parts of the island to contain the island. They also have to bring in environmentally friendly Articulated Concrete Blocks and Cellular Confinement Systems to help with earth control and allow vegetation to grow on top iof it.
Heres the real story.
This is a project that NYC Park is “Duty Bound” to complete with final approval by DEC. The community is pushing for the bridge, boat debris & major debris cleanup, as well as the shore sand to be cleaned. Although the horizontal pieces of the bridge and major debris are added to the project, it does not seem like there is a full commitment from parks or DEC to get this done how the community wants it. Cleaning the White Island shore is a different story. Currently it is not part of the project and will most likely have to be a seperate project. At one point parks said that to use marine engineers to clean said would be a waste of resources, volunteers would be better off cleaning the sand. The sand which is littered with glass, floating garbage, and also garbage from that leaked out of the island is a legit problem that th community wants to see addresses.
Side note: I won’t forget than the fact that I was told by Assemblyman Alan Maisel (again) not to attend the meeting because people would walk out, and I won’t forget the fact that I was told not to take pictures or record audio/video. You can safely say that I did whatever anyone else did in the room, which was take notes.
Ghost Ships
ETO & SSJ Development are Playing Tag with NYPD Harbor and DEP attempting to to dump boats in various parts of the creek.
You may be asking your self what happened those boats that were 1) floating around the creek slamming into everything and 2) the boats at the property?
Well funny story. They seem to be popping up everywhere even after being returned to ETO (Lacon Ct) twice!
The boat that was adrift: First, NYPD Harbor had returned it to after it was originally adrift, then it mysteriously showed up tied up to the DEP pumping station (a pump to pump out bathrooms on boats), Harbor had to returned it again, only to find it tied to the DEP pumping station the next day. Harbor returned it again and is now investigating.
Is the ETO playing tag?
The boat that next to the boat that sank: Tuns out someone removed the boat last week and dumped it to a local marina.
Now there are TWO abandoned boats without registration on the water.
Maybe we should call ETO for help. Isn’t that what they do???
DEC Arrests Two GB Fisherman, SSJ Still Not Issued $10,000 fine
The State Environmental Conservation Officers recently arrested two fishermen in Brooklyn for catching dozens of striped bass that were undersized and in excess of allowable limits, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) announced.
(Media-Newswire.com) – State Environmental Conservation Officers recently arrested two fishermen in Brooklyn for catching dozens of striped bass that were undersized and in excess of allowable limits, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation ( DEC ) today announced.
While on marine patrol in the Breezy Point area, Environmental Conservation Officers ( ECO ) Jamie Powers and Kevin Thomas spotted activities on a boat that made them suspect poaching and they tracked the vessel back to its dock in Shell Bank Creek off Seba Avenue. There, the ECOs witnessed John Arena of Parksville, Sullivan County, and Mark Sarubbi of Brooklyn, struggling to drag two totes full of striped bass up to a truck.
The officers then approached the men and began counting the catch. The fishermen, who realized their day of “good” fishing had just met its end, watched as the ECOs counted out 46 striped bass – the legal recreational limit for the trip for both men is only 2. The fish weighed a total of 295 pounds and the vast majority of the fish – 40 – were less than the minimum size requirement of 28 inches.
Arena and Sarubbi were arrested and charged with possession of 40 undersized Striped Bass; possession of 44 Striped Bass over the legal recreational harvest limit; possession of 46 untagged Striped Bass; taking Striped Bass for Commercial Purposes without a permit; and failing to possess a valid food fish license. Additional charges are anticipated.
Their arraignment is scheduled for early December. They are facing thousands of dollars in fines and a possible four years in prison. The Brooklyn District Attorney’s Office is prosecuting the case. The fish were seized and destroyed because Striped Bass are not permitted to be harvested for commercial sale from waters west of East Rockaway Inlet due to the potential level of contaminants in the fish.
Information on illegal harvest of any species of saltwater fish, shellfish or crabs can be reported to the Marine Enforcement Unit at ( 631 ) 444-0460 or by using the toll-free number of 1-877-457-5680.
Granted the 44 striped bass is a bit much and the fisherman accused should know the la but how is it that DEC will crack down on fisherman and not other BIGGER fish?!
In Gerritsen Beach the DEC wastes their time going after people who was their cars on their street because it washes into the creek while SSJ Development, ETO and Stephen Jemal get a free pass, for refusing to clean the docks and the boats that have been sinking!
Boat Raised Up by ETO
ETO raised up the boat today that sank off the Danza Stephen Jemals Property last week. The coast guard was on hand to observe the raising
The boat like any other boat that sinks in the creek caused a fuel spill in and around the area.
Problems Persist for ETO and Jemal
Yesterday a boat that was docked at Stephen Jemals property was floating around unattended, bumping into docks and other boats. Harbor patrol was able to secure the boat and returned it to a slip on the Jemals property.
ETO Creek Disaster
Our good friends Stephen Jemal and ETO have been up to no good lately.
First, A boat sank while docked on Stephen Jemals property at the old riveria marina and as a result the gas and oil leaked into the creek. The coast guard was notified and filed a report. Separately, On the same property a sailboat dry docked flipped over and is resting on a utility pole.
Then, the docks that were supposed to be cleared away or face stiff fines from the DEC, have started to float away and have now have ended up at various parts in the creek becoming navigable hazards.
Even more horribly an ETO worker was seriously injured, while working for ETO, receiving 35 stitches in his forehead and is facing personal bankrupcy, due to the resulting medical bills.
Looks like ETO has turned out to be a disaster on the property.
Update 10/29/09 -Â Â Email from Greg Moss Director of ETO:
Your recent article “ETO Creek Disaster” is grossly inaccurate and we would like you to make the necessary edits.
“First, A boat sank while docked on Stephen Jemals property at the old riveria marina, as a result the gas and oil leaked into the creek. The coat guard was notified and filed a report. On the same property a sailboat that flipped over and is resting on a utility pole.”
This boat had nothing to do with the ETO – there must be other people that were given permission to use the property.
“Then, the docks, that were supposed to be cleared away or face fines, have started to float away and have ended up at various parts in the creek becoming navigable hazards.”
We haven’t began or anticipate beginning any work on these docks.
“Even more horribly, an ETO worker was seriously injured, while working for ETO, receiving 35 stitches in his forehead and now no one is helping him out with his medicial bills or taking responsibility for his injury. The worker has called Jemals office with no response.”
This person had no affiliation to the ETO (and you misspelled “medical” in your article.)
I appreciate what you are trying to do here and your website is a great way for the Gerritsen Beach community to stay current with events. However, if you want to be a quality investigative reporter you should really do you homework before publishing anything.
Greg Moss, Director
Belt Parkway Rain Runoff Pouring into Creek
At the last property owners meeting it was brought up that there is a pipe across from kiddie beach, connected to the parkway, that has water pouring out of it during and after rain storms draining into the creek.
If true this is true this would be in violation of federal law. Highway water runoff has to be drained into open bodies of water. The creek does not qualify as an open body of water.
Mike Taylor, Chairman of GBCares along with George Broadhead, President of the GB Property Owners took our Assemblyman Alan Maisel for a tour where the pipe was discussed and it was promised to be looked into and followed up on.
White Island Spraying – Death to Phragmites
White Island is scheduled to be sprayed with round-out next week to kill the phragmites, that just won’t leave that island.
Coming in via Dennis Flynn, Project Manager, Brooklyn Capital Projects Division
As I am sure most of you are aware, the sand stockpiling on White Island is almost complete. We are happy to report that it looks like we will be able to get the full 150,000 cubic yards of sand necessary for the next phase of the project. Although stockpiling operations have extended further into October than we had hoped, it appears that it will still be possible to engage in a round of spraying for the phragmites before the first frost. To achieve this, our contractor must start as soon as possible- ideally sometime next week (probably Wednesday October 14th). Unfortunately this will not allow us to give the community a 30 day advance notice as we would have liked. As was requested, we are avoiding the annual event that was described as the community end-of-year celebration. The contractor expects three days of spraying (weather permitting). All spray will be limited to the upland portion of the island (above the 10’ contour) just as it was for the last spray (August 2007). The material used will be the same as the last spray [Touchdown Pro] with the same precautions and restrictions regarding wind speed and rain as required by NYSDEC. We apologize for the short notice but this second application is an important step to weaken the phragmites and help prevent it from coming back so aggressively which is critical for the success of the next phase.
So there you have it they will “probably” be spraying around Wednesday October 14th.
Be warned do not stand downwind with your mouth wide open.
Upcoming Event: Canal Party 2009
Date: Sunday, September 6, 2009
Time: 12:00pm – 10:00pm
Location: The Canal.
[Tug of War Canal Party 2008]
The Canal Party is the most unique in block party in Brooklyn!
The canal party is a semi-private event on the Gerritsen Beach Canal, which started in 1998. All residents on the canal are encouraged to have their own private party with family and friends in their back yards.
[Water Tube Races Paul Sarubbi Canal Party 2008}
Upcoming Event: Oarsome, G.G.R.M.M.B.B.R. 2009
[Shirt Design by NickLak]
Date: Saturday, September 12, 2009
Time: 12:00pm – 5:30pm
Location: At the southern most end of Gerritsen Ave.
Its that time of the year again for the “Great Gerritsen Round Mau Mau Barrell of Beer Race”.
The Boat races are being help Sept. 12th
I’m not sure how you could check out this event, if you don’t have a boat or at least a friend with a boat, but im sure those in the know can figure this out.
[G.G.R.M.M.B.B.R. 2008]
This Is Whats Happening With White Island Now
[Whole White Island Meeting at Property Owners Meeting]
Phase 1 is already semi complete, which was clearing all of the vegetation on the island (trees and fragmities)above the 10 foot contour, this was for survey purposes this was completed last July.
Now is the second phase which is the full redesign of the island. Which is broken down into two parts. The first part is to stabilize the island, not using sandbags but a more permanent solution, Armour Stone. These 2,000 lb stones will be put on the side the island where the sandbags are, right on top of as not to disturb or let loose anything being held back.
The second part is to cap the island, with about 150,000 yards of sand, which then the island will be replanted with all grassland. The 150,000 of sand is coming from a recent army core dredging project in Rockaway inlet They will be bringing in everything by barge until the end of september.
Right now they are currently stockpiling the sand until their plan is approved by NY State DEC. Which when it is approved the plan will be sent out for bid for a contractor to do the work.
They are looking to start “construction” in the spring.
They even put out a fact sheet detailing their project: [click image for a PDF]
Additional Information
- The island is now and will be off-limits to the public.
- A temporary bridge from the golf course to the Island WILL NOT be necessary since a marine based delivery system is being used to move sand onto the island.
- The sand being delivered is from an Army Corps of Engineer’s dredge contract within Rockaway Inlet.
- Sand that is being stockpiled on the island will not and cannot be moved until plans are approved by NYSDEC and a permit is granted.
- Community members have requested that the horizontal members from old bridge be removed due to safety concerns. DPR will include this scope as part of the Phase 2 reconstruction contract.
- All woody material will be cut and grubbed from the island surface in preparation for the grassland creation.
- As part of the Phase 2 construction, the White Island shoreline will be reinforced with three slope treatments:
- Armor Stone
- Articulated Concrete Block
- Cellular Confinement Systems
- Four types of grassland habitat will be created over the island: tall grass meadow, short grass meadow, maritime grassland, and dune planting.
There was also a water, sand and soil test done on the island. Here is the report.
[Warning PDF]
