RSS 2.0 FeedThursday, December 15, 2011, Weekly editorial
Save Tackapausha and Garvies Point!
Guest editorial by Betty Borowsky, Ph.D.
The South Shore Audubon Society is shocked and dismayed that County Executive Ed Mangano has said he plans to close Garvies Point and Tackapausha Museums after 2 p.m. on weekdays and on weekends, and to lay off the full-time staff. The two sites house the most important natural history museums in Nassau County, and Mr. Mangano’s planned action will effectively close them to the public, who visit after school hours and on the weekends.
We are urging the county to keep them open with their current staff. Closing or downgrading these facilities would be a huge loss to the Long Island community. They are designed to educate our children about the unique natural history and environment of Long Island, and there is no other comparable place for them to obtain that knowledge.
Tackapausha is of special concern to our chapter and dear to our hearts. SSAS (South Shore Audubon Society) adopted this important local site many years ago. We note, with great chagrin, that the $1 million renovation of Tackapausha Museum and Preserve is almost completed. The improvements to the museum will provide even better and more informative exhibits.
Meanwhile, the museum continues to house a unique collection of live animals that are the cornerstone of its educational programs. These can only be maintained by appropriately licensed personnel. At a time when monies are so scarce, it is absolutely unacceptable to waste any amount, never mind $1 million – especially when it is already spent and, with so little more added, would benefit the community so much.
We have been informed that it costs about $250,000 per year to run Tackapausha – a truly modest sum compared with other county expenditures, such as the $2 million that was spent on a special election this past summer for a bond issue, and especially considering how much that money buys for the residents.
Long Island’s museums and preserves contribute enormously to the outstanding quality of life that draws people to and keeps them on Long Island in spite of its huge tax burden. Remove these attractions and the Island will suffer the loss of its middle class, and consequently a large part of its tax base.
To help Tackapausha, a new support group, “The Friends of Tackapausha,” has been formed and is working to establish its nonprofit 50l(c)(3) status. Members of SSAS are urged to join and lend their support to this new organization.
We also call on our members to either call or write Nassau County Department of Parks, Recreation and Museums’ Commissioner Carnell Foskey. Urge the commissioner to keep these museums open. It is of the greatest importance to us and to all the residents of Long Island that both Tackapausha and Garvies Point Museums be saved from even partial closure and curtailment of services. The facilities are unique, irreplaceable institutions in Nassau County, and their loss to the public would deprive our children of a priceless educational resource.
Letters can be addressed to Commissioner Carnell T. Foskey, Nassau County Department of Parks, Recreation and Museums, Eisenhower Park Administration Building, 1899 Hempstead Turnpike, East Meadow, 11554. He can be reached by phone at 572-0200.
Also call, write, or e-mail your county Legislator and tell your representative to do everything possible to keep these important parks and preserves fully staffed and fully open to county residents.
