Long Island briefs

PORT WASHINGTON NORTH

Tour and exhibit aim

for cleaner shoreline

A family-friendly outdoor exhibit and walking tour that will show what happens when trash is thrown into Manhasset Bay will open to the public tomorrow.

Mindy Germain, executive director of Residents for a More Beautiful Port Washington, said the "Trash Talkin' " display allows people to walk along the Bay Walk Shoreline Trail on Shore Road in the Village of Port Washington North and, through signage and illustrations, learn about the debris commonly found in the bay.

That debris often includes soda cans, plastic foam items, plastic bags and fishing lines.

Also included in the exhibit are facts about how long trash takes to decompose in the bay, along with the impact debris has on water quality, fish and other marine life.

"The goal of the exhibit is to get people to think twice before leaving plastic bags, water bottles and other debris unchecked," Germain said.

She said the display starts at the part of the trail closest to Mill Pond Road and the town dock and runs for about 100 yards.

She noted the idea for the exhibit came after a 2012 cleanup following superstorm Sandy that was done by the Schreiber Tree Huggers, an environmentalist group from Paul D. Schreiber High School, and the Guggenheim Elementary School, both in Port Washington.

Students made signs documenting the debris found during the cleanup, and that concept was used for the professional signs and illustrations for the Bay Walk Shoreline Trail exhibit. Germain said the Jagger Family Foundation, based in Port Washington, paid for the new trail signs and illustrations.

HAMPTONS

Survey rates area high in chilliness

The Hamptons is known for hosting the upscale summer crowd, but it also has a rep for being downright unfriendly, according to a recent survey by Condé Nast Traveler.

The tony towns that make up the Hamptons were lumped together in the magazine's annual Readers' Choice Survey and ranked as the eighth unfriendliest city in the United States.

Cited as being a pretentious town that is "incredible if you know someone, challenging if you don't," the Hamptons got a "friendliness" rating of only 50.6 out of 100.

Condé Nast Traveler suggests visiting in the offseason to avoid summer clientele while making it easier to get to know the locals.

For a spot far from a pompous atmosphere, Condé Nast suggested the South Fork Natural History Museum and Nature Center in Bridgehampton.

The survey ranked Newark, New Jersey, as the most unfriendly city, and Charleston, South Carolina, as the friendliest for the second year a row.

ELMONT

County assessment staff at library

Nassau County Executive Edward Mangano, in partnership with county Legis. Carrié Solages (D-Elmont), has arranged to bring the department of assessment office operations to the Elmont Public Library at 700 Hempstead Tpke. today from 1 to 3 p.m.

Department staff will process Basic and Enhanced STAR, Veterans, Senior Citizen, Cold War Veterans, Volunteer Firefighters and Ambulance Workers, Limited Income Disability and Home Improvement property tax exemption applications on site.

Homeowners can expedite the process by bringing two copies of any document required for the property tax exemption for which they plan to apply. Applications and specific documentation requirements are available at www.mynassauproperty.com

For further information, call 516-571-1500.

NORTHPORT

Former gas station site purchased

The building at 831 Fort Salonga Rd. in Northport, which has been abandoned for almost a decade, was recently purchased with the goal of giving it a new life.

The site was once a Getty gas station, but it was shuttered several years ago. Recently, it was purchased by Alexander Spivak, owner of Zanorthport LLC, based in Queens. According to the site plan application, Spivak purchased the site from its most recent owner, Power Test Realty Co.

According to Chris Modelewski, a lawyer representing Spivak, the plan is to eventually use the spot for "any lawful retail use except a tavern or a bar." Modelewski says there are no plans to expand or make additions to the existing building.

ISLAND PARK

Firefighters set for clam-eating contest

World-record- setting competitive eater Takeru Kobayashi, who holds Guinness records for eating hot dogs, meatballs, Twinkies, hamburgers, pizza and pasta, will be on hand to coach local firefighters and civilians in two clam-eating contests on Sunday at Peter's Clam Bar in Island Park.

Firehouses from Island Park, Long Beach, Lakeview, Baldwin, Point Lookout and East Rockaway will be sending some of their hungriest firefighters to compete for a $2,500 grand prize. Second place is $1,000; third place is $500. The prize money will be donated to the winners' firehouses.

The public is also invited to compete. Competitors will pay a $20 entry fee, to be donated to the winning firehouse, and have a chance to win a grand prize of $1,000, or $500 for second place or $250 for third.

The contest's organizers claim that the current world record for clam eating was set at Peter's in 2010 when Sonya "The Black Widow" Thomas consumed 26 dozen -- that's 312 -- cherrystone clams in six minutes.

Guinness World Records is silent on clams. The oyster record is held by Colin Shirlow: 233 in three minutes in Northern Ireland in 2005.

Nassau County Executive Edward Mangano will also be at Peter's to coach the competitors -- though his clam-eating prowess is not known.

Clam eating gets underway at 2 p.m. Sunday at Peter's Clam Bar, 600 Long Beach Rd., Island Park, 516-432-0505, petersclamhouse.com