By Scott Brinton
Still, even back in the 1960s, garbage could be found floating in the reservoir, and it would get stuck in a drainage culvert at the south end. So Zydor, who is currently commander of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1310 of Merrick and Freeport, would regularly organize a bunch of kids from Birch Elementary School and clean up the mess. He saw the effort as a public service and a way of protecting his fishing grounds.
Now 74, Zydor was back last Saturday at that very same drainage culvert, plucking garbage out of the water and off the ground. This time the retired New York City firefighter was taking part in a massive cleanup effort that spanned two sites in addition to the old Freeport reservoir -- the former Merrick reservoir and Muellner's Pond in North Merrick. More than 100 volunteers participated in the Earth Day event, which the Nassau County Unprotected Woodlands Task Force organized.
Of the cleanup, Zydor said with a huge smile, "This turns me on. I'm really pleased with it."
Representing the task force at the cleanup were many of its most prominent members, including its founders, county Legislators David Denenberg and Norma Gonsalves. Other representatives included state Sen. Charles Fuschillo Jr., Assemblyman David McDonough and environmental activists Robert Young of Merrick and Richard and Lisa Schary of North Bellmore.
Young noted, "I'm glad to see the public cares enough to come out and fight for the woodlands. Hopefully, this sends a message to government to fast-track establishment of a protected zone" in the forests along the Meadowbrook Parkway.
Denenberg said the state, county and Town of Hempstead are working furiously to map out such a zone and permanently protect it as a public recreation area for hiking, mountain-biking, canoeing and cross-country skiing.
Conditions were perfect for the Earth Day cleanup, with bright skies and temperatures in the mid-60s. Bob Roberson of Merrick took part in the effort with his wife, Susan, and daughter, Sara. The family belongs to a high-adventure scouting troop and deeply appreciates nature. Speaking of the Meadowbrook woodlands, Bob Roberson said, "We're hoping this will be a park."
Sara said, "This would be an awesome place to kayak. It's quiet water. Nothing scary can happen, so you can practice. It's easy access."
Mike Majikas of North Merrick helped out with the cleanup at Muellner's Pond. As a kid, he said, "I fished in here and swam in here 40 years ago." He described the pond back then as something out of a Tom Sawyer adventure.
Organizations taking part in the cleanup included the North Merrick Community Association, the America the Beautiful campaign, the Long Island Greenbelt Trail Conference, Boy Scout Troop 351 of Merrick, the First Precinct Explorers Post 1000, Girl Scout Troop 2247 of the Old Mill Road School, Cub Scout Troop 206 of North Merrick and the Kappa Sigma fraternity of Adelphi University.
Comments about this story? SBrinton@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 203.
