Community Watchdog: Homeowner compensated for tree loss

Last month, we told readers about a complaint from Jay Lesser of Syosset who lost two trees that helped buffer his property from the Long Island Rail Road tracks. The trees were taken down by All Railroad Services Corp. (ARS), a Florida-based company contracted by the Long Island Rail Road to clear trees and brush along the tracks.

The trees were on Mr. Lesser's land, outside of his fence. And even though he warned ARS workers that the trees were on private property, they were removed.

Mr. Lesser had been trying since October to be compensated for the trees so he could plant new ones. Frustrated, he called us. We contacted LIRR officials, who said ARS was responsible for the damage, based on its contract, and they asked ARS to make good on the trees.

We called ARS multiple times and finally spoke to co-president Vincent Vaccarello, who said his company had been directed by the LIRR to cut the trees on Mr. Lesser's property and therefore, ARS shouldn't be responsible for the damages. "We work at the direction of our customer [the LIRR], not the property owner," he said. However, in good faith, he said, he worked out a settlement with Mr. Lesser.

LIRR spokesman Salvatore Arena, stated in an e-mail, "The LIRR informed ARS of its liability in this matter and ARS acknowledged its responsibility, under the contract with the LIRR, to replace the trees. The Railroad is pleased that ARS was able to resolve Mr. Lesser's claim with the help of Newsday's Watchdog team."

Mr. Lesser said he didn't get as much as he thought he should, based on estimates for new trees, "but it's better than nothing."

Recycling is a challenge for her

I'm an 85-year-old widow, caring for my home and the environment, I believe in recycling, but the town has given me a problem. When it comes to recycling newspapers, the town wants the papers bundled and tied with string. I can't do this because I have arthritis in my hands. Years ago, I wrote to my congressman, and he said I could put the newspapers and magazines in plastic grocery bags, which I have been doing. Recently, a friend tied them up for me, and I put the bundles in the container with my other recyclables, as always. When I went to get the bin, the papers were on the ground next to it, and the other recyclables were still inside. They left a notice about the "right" way to recycle, but why didn't they take the recyclables away? And how can I recycle my papers if I can't tie them up?

- Louise Lippmann, Syosset

More than likely, the workers were "showing" you how they expect the recyclables to be left at the curb, Mrs. Lippmann. That's the guess of Town of Oyster Bay spokeswoman Marta Kane. With all the pickups workers make, it's difficult to say exactly what happened when they left your recyclables.

It's surprising that your method of recycling papers and magazines hasn't drawn attention before this. Those plastic bags aren't part of the town's recycling program, so placing papers in them means workers have to remove the bags at the recycling center, making the process less cost-efficient for the town. In general, however, if the papers are in plastic bags, the workers will collect them.

"We appreciate our residents are making the effort to recycle," Kane said, "but those bags aren't recyclable."

Town residents with recycling questions should call the town's SORT hotline at 516-755-1839.

Kids wary of speeding cars

My block is a cut-through between Union Boulevard and Montauk Highway in Islip. There are at least 35 kids that must stay out of their front yards because of speeding cars. Drivers don't stop at the stop sign and, even worse, don't stop for a school bus when its lights flash. We've notified Suffolk's Third Precinct, but speeding remains. We need something done immediately.

- Chris Moran, Islip

We called the Third Precinct's Community Oriented Police Enforcement unit, as Mr. Moran had done, and got a quick response. Police responded by stepping up enforcement on North Ocean Avenue and leaving a digital speed-detecting machine in the area.

Insp. Jan Rios, the precinct's commanding officer, said the effort resulted in "a few summonses." However, North Ocean didn't seem to be more of a cut through than other parallel streets, he said.

COPE officers will place the road on its list of targeted locations after school reopens, since a portion of the dangerous drivers are likely teens traveling to and from nearby Islip High School on Union Boulevard, he said. Rios noted that stepping up patrols this time of year might explain why the speeding violations don't seem too severe right now.

Anyone with concerns about speeding within the Third Precinct should call 631-854-8300.

- Michael R. Ebert