Election Day

If I am allowed to have one regret today, it is that I did not appeal to local politicians to make Bethpage water an issue, as I would have liked to. However, it is an issue. So, take this as a lesson: don't let busy daily-life deter you from participating in local government. As I cannot constantly regret this, I have a new method: my new plan of action is to meet with the newly elected and try to secure their aid in assisting this movement.
As a tax-paying Bethpage citizen, I am still fed up with chlorine and want the water nature intended for us to have, and we as a community need to fight for this together. Being a college student is tough, but I'm not going to let it stop me from taking a few extra minutes of the day to make a phone call or write a letter. I suggest if you feel the same way that I do, do the same, or you can just take a look at where lack of participation landed us and be reminded.

Mad

I am mad. I am mad as hell. I am tired of having chlorine in my water when activated carbon (which we used to have) was so much better. I am tired of having to buy water when I don't need to. My hometown, Bethpage, has miraculous water. Now, Bethpage citizens are punished like Hawthorne's Pyncheon family. We are cursed with foul water because we took it for granted. Our inactions lead to chlorination, and now we pay the price. Well, I for one am tired of paying the price. I want my clean water back, and I want it back NOW. I may have been absent for some time now, but I'm back. This cause is so far from being dead.....

Making Progress, But Still Short-handed

So much has been going on since my last blog post. Besides appearing on News 12, Jackie and I were also featured in an interview with 1010 Wins radio. With the help of Rita O'Connor, the three of us have been getting our cause out there. We were at the Bethpage fair and currently have more signatures than we originally intended.
Thank you to all of you who came out and signed. As for those of you who did not, don't fear. School doesn't start for me until August 26th, so expect to see me in your neighborhood. That's right, we're doing the old-fashioned 'door-to-door' tactic.
Still, there's just one problem: there's only three of us and 33,000 residents of Bethpage. We are going to need as many volunteers as possible to get as many signatures as we can. I am still discontent with this chlorinated water. If we all unite for this cause, there is a VERY good chance that we will be heard. Please join my cause. And another thing: I keep posting, but no one is commenting. If you're out there reading this, please let me know.

Back on Track

Sorry for the week-long hiatus. Being busy does not excuse not maintaining something of great importance. There's been a lot going on with this venture that I have not yet written about, and now I will share it with you.

Two weeks ago, the 'General Meeting' I advertised to roughly two hundred people primarily consisted of my twin sister and the Bethpage Water District Commissioners. It didn't seem like much of a movement, but my twin sister has the soul of a true PR professional and was able to get some ideas out of this meeting. Still, it just didn't seem to be enough.

I have been watching how my Facebook group is developing, and I am sad to see it now moving at a glacial pace. It may be disheartening, but this cause does not deserve to go without a good fight. On a personal note, I can no longer tolerate the smell, the taste and the expense of this water. I have allergies and this chlorine is not helping. When I ingest this water, it makes my stomach feel so queasy. My family and I are forced to buy water because our town water is making us ill. A staple of my life has been toyed with and it is completely discomforting. I see that I am not alone.

Many people have been commenting on the 'Save Bethpage, NY Water - Say No to Chlorine' page. I read every post (which reminds me, some of you need to watch your language please!). I can emphathize with everyone. Everyone seems greatly perturbed by the chlorination of our water, but it doesn't seem to be enough for some people to take action. However, for others, it has inspired great efforts. Mrs. Rita Sumakis O'Connor is very valuable to the fight for this cause, and I appreciate her efforts.

You see, during this last week, we now have a petition going. After getting some legal counsel, I now know what to do to get noticed. However, Mrs. O'Connor and my twin sister were both brave enough to go out to the 'man on the street' and inform each person they came across about the effort. Enough cannot be said for the efforts of both Mrs. O'Connor and Jacquelyn Aksoy.

It gets even better. Due to Ms. Aksoy's PR spirit, News 12 is now coming to my home tomorrow morning to interview us about this grassroots movement. I truly hope that this sparks an interest in the community about the chlorination of the water and how it truly was not a necessary step. I don't know if or when it will air, but I will be sure to share it with all of you when I find out.

As for this coming week, we will have a booth set up at the Bethpage Fire Department 100th Anniversary Celebration. At this booth, we will have the petition ready for Bethpage citizens to sign. We will answer any questions we can about the situation as well.

Right now, we are taking baby steps. However, this is better than nothing. Something worse than hate is indifference, and talk is cheap. There are many who 'hate' this chlorinated water, but by not taking action, they are only being indifferent. When you take a stand on something, there's a meaning in it. It may be stupid that a nineteen year old college student is spending the majority of her time rallying for non-chlorinated water, but I justify it because it means something to me. If you feel the same way, then please help my cause.

This is getting so old already

I just finished lugging in twelve gallons of Poland Spring water jugs. I wish I could just turn on my faucet and get drinking water again. We've tried the Brita filtered pitcher, but it wouldn't fit in the fridge. Really, I just want my water back.

Heat

It's so darn hot.
All I want to do
is take a big chug of
cold, cold water
without a pound of chlorine
in it.
All I want to do is
take a relaxing shower
with the smell
of familiar water.
All I want to do
is feel refreshed
like I used to.

It is so darn hot
and now I am so thirsty.....

General Meeting

Tonight at 5:00pm, the Bethpage Water Commissioners are holding their bi-weekly meeting which is open to the public. I wish I could be there to ask questions and be a part of the conversation, but I cannot due to work. I want to see who is following up with my Facebook group and hear what they have to say. Am I the only person who feels so passionate about quality tap water? Seeing as the group now has 206 members in less than a week, I highly doubt it. I just want to meet and connect with others out there because I feel that if we all put our brains together, we can get our clean water back.

If you go, let me know. My sister will be there. I will post what she tells me about the meeting so we can all see what we need to do.

The Long Road Ahead

I never was the most political person. Yes, I believe in the value and necessity of politics, but I never took personal interest in the matter. However, I have changed. I've been reading some medical and science journals on the Internet (mostly using my college's database), and what I am reading about chlorine scares me. By-products in the water from chlorine can be cancer causing. There just doesn't seem to be enough evidence to make chlorine the "end-all" solution. Chemicals in water are never safe. Our water was just fine.....

I am trying to gather some information to share some light on why chlorine was added to Bethpage's water supply. From what I can conclude, it's because the population has grown and the state wants the local government to follow a federal guideline. However, our water has always tested clean. I can tell that we have a long journey ahead of us to get the non-chlorination waiver back. My suggestion: write to our local politicians. We voted for them, so they should be willing to talk with us. Call them, meet with them. I am taking the initiative to start a petition, but I have to find out all the rules first. In the meantime, talk with your neighbors about how they feel, write letters to the editor of The Bethpage Tribune, and write or call our local politicians. Remember, actions speak louder than words.

The Water Odyssey Begins......

Our Bethpage water was something I took for granted. I have been drinking it my entire life and never gave much thought about it. It was there, it was a part of the mundane, and I am ashamed that I never valued it the right way. Now, it's gone.

I feel like I am living in a third-world country now, having to boil my water in order to drink it. I called the Nassau County Board of Health the other day and they simply told me to leave the water out in an open container to allow the chlorine to "dissipate." Honestly, it doesn't seem to help.

I am a tax paying citizen. I might sound so spoiled by saying this, but I am entitled to clean water. I live in a democracy, I have rights. If I wanted to drink chlorinated water, I could have gone to the public pool.

I understand the safety meausures the Board of Health wants to take, but aren't we so lucky to have this water as naturally clean as it is? There is so much more to this dilemma than I can state in one blog entry.