To the editor:
Fifteen years ago, my husband and I discovered Baiting Hollow and its bluffed sound beaches through a rental. Several years later we decided to invest in the area by buying a home in Baiting Hollow, including beach steps to a deeded beach as part of our lovely community. READ
High levels of bacteria detected at the Dorothy P. Flint 4-H Camp in Baiting Hollow has forced the Suffolk County Department of Health to close the beach.
Officials said the beach will remain closed until testing reveals water quality is acceptable.
The bacteria enterococci, associated with runoff, was detected at the beach, according to the Department of Health.
The beach will likely be sampled daily in an effort to reopen it as soon as possible, according to a release.
For the latest information on affected beaches, call the bathing beach hotline at 852-5822 or contact the Office of Ecology at 852-5760.
GOOGLE MAPS | Two people were rescued by a Good Samaritan in a kayak and Wading River firefighters Thursday evening.
A kayaker helped Wading River firefighters rescue a father and his young daughter from Long Island Sound after their boat capsized Thursday evening, Wading River fire officials said.
A 36-year-old Shirley man and his 10-year-old daughter were in a canoe off Wading River beach on Creek Road when the boat flipped over about 6 p.m. and began taking on water, said Wading River Fire Chief Jim Evans.
“Luckily they had life jackets and a whistle,” Chief Evans said.
The kayaker, a Shoreham woman who was in the area, heard the two stranded boaters using a whistle and came to their aid while fishermen on the beach called 911, Chief Evans said.
The Good Samaritan then paddled next to the flipped canoe and let the girl into her kayak, while the father clung to the side of the boat until rescue arrived.
Wading River firefighters got to the scene about 6:10 p.m. and used a department rescue boat to bring the kayaker and the father and daughter back to shore.
All three were evaluated by Wading River ambulance volunteers, but were not injured, police said. Chief Evans said the kayaker’s quick thinking helped to get the boater back to shore safely.
“She was key,” he said. “[She got] to them in minutes so they could stay afloat, and kept them visible in the water until our boat arrived and got them out.”