County Looks to Find Middle Ground to Protect Turnpike Turtles

Jay Schneiderman walks up and down the Sag Harbor/Bridgehampton Turnpike most days. The Suffolk County Legislator introduces himself to passing constituents, greets familiar commuters and, most importantly, looks for turtles.

Addressing concerns raised by members of the Friends of the Long Pond Greenbelt (FLPG) and the South Fork Natural History Museum (SoFo) that the curbs on the turnpike’s new sidewalk are hazardous to crossing turtles, salamanders and other wildlife, Schneiderman says he checks the area for animals daily.

The turnpike borders a section of the Long Pond Greenbelt, a 1,100 acre expanse of ponds, woods and wetlands, over 500 acres of which are preserved. The main area of concern for FLPG and SoFo is the impact on Slade Pond, located...| read more ››