2011 ROUND UP: A quick look at what went on in the past year

FILM FEST II • “The American Lawn” and “Organic Lawn Care,” from the original LTV series “Long Live Accabonac,” were shown at our second annual “Film Fest” on April 13 at Ashawagh Hall. The first examines the impact on the environment of our national obsession with lawns. The second explains and illustrates in detail how to begin and maintain an organic lawn. In October, we had a lively turnout for a showing of our latest film “Dark Skies,” which explores in depth the need for better lighting policy to protect the health of birds, marine creatures and ourselves, as well as the magnificence of the night sky.

DREDGING • In January at a meeting with Jay Schneiderman, our County Legislator, we were told that Accabonac is finally on the County list for dredging, but won’t be dredged until the fall of 2012.

FORUM • On May 13 at the Springs Firehouse, “The Rising Tide” How Will Sea Level Rise Affect You?” presented detailed information and discussion of the impact of coastal storms, erosion and sea level rise on the shorelines of our local harbors, bays and creeks with speakers Joseph Tanski, Coastal Processes Specialist, New York Sea Grant and Kevin McAllister, Peconic Baykeeper

FISHERMAN’S FAIR • “GO FISH” was the new theme of our Accabonac Game, featuring photos and amazing information about fish from the new book Do Fish Sleep? by Dr. Judith Weis, which was available for signing. (They do, but they don’t close their eyes!)

PARTY • Our annual gathering was held on September 18 at the gracious, spacious and art-filled home of John and Anne Mullen, featuring sweeping views of Gardiners Bay. Judith Weis gave a fascinating talk with illustrations from her book.

POWER IN NUMBERS • We joined forces with several other East End environmental organizations to form East Hampton Environmental Coalition, creating a significant impact on the local elections by getting environmental concerns to the forefront of the political discussions and debates. We’re also joining several local organizations to support Clean Ocean Action (COA), a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the degraded water quality of the marine waters off the New Jersey/New York coast (known as the NY/NJ Bight, which includes 8 dump sites) and protecting the ocean from new sources of pollution by promoting legislation to create a Clean Ocean Zone. For more information go to
www.CleanOceanAction.org

SPEAKING OF WEBSITES… Ours is long overdue for an overhaul, which is being performed by Brook Ellis, and will be vastly improved…start checking in late June, at accabonac.org. And, if you haven’t sent us your email address yet, please do. We would be so much more efficient at getting news to you that way!