Queens Gazette

APEC Celebrates Estuary Day





The “Dibble Queen” taught children  a dry version of the game “Dibble”.

The “Dibble Queen” taught children a dry version of the game “Dibble”.

On Saturday, September 25, the Alley Pond Environmental Center (APEC) in Douglaston held its annual Estuary Day, also known as the Little Neck Bay Festival. Children from local schools joined in the free event, taking part in a number of educational and entertainment activities.

The Little Neck Bay Festival’s goal is to educate children about the local estuaries—bodies of water consisting of fresh and salt water mixed—and what they can do to help protect and restore them. Little Neck Bay is home to the Little Neck Clam, famous in the 1800s for its unique taste, but now inedible due to pollutants in the water. 

“We’re trying to restore the health of the bay by educating people,” APEC Education Director Dr. Aline Euler said. “We’re trying to teach the kids that if they litter, the litter gets washed down the street into the sewers and pollutes the estuaries.” 

The day began with the Sintsinck Ceremony, named after a Native American word for Little Neck Bay meaning “bountiful bay”. The ceremony opened with a performance of The Star-Spangled Banner by The Queensmen Barbershop Quintet and featured elected officials state Senator Frank Padavan and Congressmember Gary Ackerman as guest speakers. At the conclusion of the ceremony, poet and five-time Estuary Day speaker Juanita Torrence-Thompson read her poem, “She Has Become The Bay”, commemorating Little Neck Bay and commending its protectors.

The Queensmen Barbershop Quintet opened the Sintsinck Ceremony by leading the audience in The Star-Spangled Banner.

The Queensmen Barbershop Quintet opened the Sintsinck Ceremony by leading the audience in The Star-Spangled Banner.

Since the Little Neck Bay clam became inedible, APEC has spent $125 million reclaiming and restoring the land around Little Neck Bay that was once used as a dumping ground.  “The area used to be literally used as a dump,” Community Board 11 Chairperson Jerry Iannece said at the Sintsinck Ceremony. “Now you can walk through the forest and not even know you’re in New York City.” 

Attendees enjoyed a number of free events, such as canoe rides, nature walks and arts and crafts. Children were treated to an appearance of the “Dibble Queen”, who taught them a dry version of “Dibble”, a game in which the dibbler jumps into a body of water and submerges a wooden Popsicle stick. Dibblees await the resurfacing of the stick and dive in after it. The winner is the first to grab the stick and shout, “Dibble”. Through such games and other activities, children were reminded throughout the day that even the slightest effort from each individual helps a great deal in protecting the environment.

Congressmember Gary Ackerman (at lectern), with state Senator Frank Padavan  (l.) was a guest speaker at the APEC Estuary Day event.

Congressmember Gary Ackerman (at lectern), with state Senator Frank Padavan (l.) was a guest speaker at the APEC Estuary Day event.

The event also included a raffle for free bicycle helmets and a number of educational exhibits by New Yorkers For Parks, Bayside Anglers Group, Douglaston Garden Club, U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary and many more. Exhibits of animals both live and stuffed that can be found in estuary environments and around New York City were on view inside the center and local beekeeper Ross Ber and his wife hosted a honey tasting and taught guests about natural honey made in New York City and the processes involved in its harvest. The festival also featured a performance by St. Elvis Band and a dance workshop hosted by Long Island City-based Dance Entropy.

State Senator Frank Padavan was one of two guest speakers at the APEC Estuary Day event September 25.Photos Cristina Guarino

State Senator Frank Padavan was one of two guest speakers at the APEC Estuary Day event September 25.Photos Cristina Guarino

–Cristina Guarino

 

 


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