March 2024
This year the NCC will celebrates our 70th anniversary with a Gala and Fundraiser on May 18th at Union Sushi & Steak in Southampton. We will honor a few notable Noyac residents at this festive gathering. Please click here for details and to purchase tickets for this very special event!
The NCC is a charitable organization and believes in supporting our community. We offer annual scholarship(s) for continuing education and donate funds to our local fire department and ambulance corps and many non-profits. All this is possible with the generous participation of our NCC membership and those who donate to, and support, our annual fundraiser. Thank you all for paying your membership dues and joining in our fundraising events.
We are prospering and growing. With Zoom meetings helping to reach our community and members who otherwise are not able to join our monthly meetings in person, the need to improve the technology at the Old Noyac School House has become necessary to hold hybrid meetings there. We are working with Southampton Town and will keep you posted on our progress.
American Cruise Lines will be bringing tourists to Sag Harbor beginning in May, 2024. Approximately 80-100 tourists will arrive on each ship several times a season to tour our beautiful town and environment.
Our concern for environmental issues has prompted us to continue soliciting help from members of the community for a few ongoing tasks. One is to clean up the invasive species that is taking over Trout Pond. Noyac residents, our local scout troops, senior citizens, families, seasonal residents, and school children have all participated with the Town Parks & Rec Dept. in the clean-ups and achieved significant success by temporarily clearing an area of the pond for recreation. Another on-going task is the Long Beach restoration plantings which have yielded success to help build up the stability of the shoreline. We will continue our work to protect this jewel in Noyac. Please look for opportunities to join us in future planting events. We welcome all who want to participate. No experience is necessary!
The NCC loves Long Beach! We support our lifeguards and beach staff. As a gesture of appreciation for their hard work, we host a breakfast for them with bagels, muffins, chocolate milk and coffee. In addition, the NCC proposed ideas to Parks & Rec. Dept. regarding existing signage and we are pleased to hear the Town will be clarifying and organizing signage at our recreational areas so the public will abide by, and be more aware of, the rules.
Water quality is a primary concern for both the bays and our aquifer here in Noyac.
The events at the Sand Land Mine are a major concern since the aquifer beneath the mine is the source of our drinking water. To date, the NCC has been monitoring the latest event at the Mine and their removal of thousands of truck loads of sand outside their legally permitted boundaries, many to its Wainscott location. We understand that Sand Land has not been excavating in its Noyac location since December, 2023, however the NCC is still keeping a watchful eye on this Middle Line Highway location. Read more here.
Aircraft noise continues to be a concern in our community so we are working with our elected Town Councilman Tommy John Schiavoni and the Eastern Region Helicopter Council (ERHC) to develop a plan that is acceptable to our residents who bear the brunt of air traffic noise.
Our Town’s newly appointed Police Chief James Kiernan was a guest at a recent NCC meeting in September 2023. He discussed public safety, traffic concerns, crime and other issues with our members. He reminded us of some basic safety strategies such as simply locking your car and house doors. The NCC is so pleased that the Chief took the time to meet with us and for his dedication to accommodate our Hamlet’s needs.
Councilman Schiavoni has been working on a proposed sidewalk plan for Noyac Road and will explain it to us at our meeting on April 10, 2024 at the Old Noyac Schoolhouse. Please come to this important meeting.
Ever since 1954, the Noyac Civic Council has promoted quality-of-life issues and preserving the rural character of our hamlet through social, educational, and government interaction. Our members’ dues sustain our operations. The more members we have, the more influence we have in Town Hall. Please encourage your friends and neighbors to join the NCC! Participation with the NCC is always welcome and appreciated.
Hope to see you at an upcoming meeting!
Sincerely,
Elena Loreto, President
August 2023
The Noyac Civic Council has endured the COVID outbreak and is prospering. The enthusiasm for our organization has encouraged many new residents to join the NCC. During the pandemic, we adapted by having zoom meetings to reach those who were not able to meet in person. Now that we are back meeting in-person, we are working on the technology to hold hybrid meetings so we can meet at the Old Noyac School House and also those who will join in via zoom.
Our meetings allow for the Noyac community to gather information, question our elected and appointed officials, and work together to better our hamlet. For example, at our July, 2023 meeting representatives of the Blue Water Task Force and Southampton Town Trustees discussed what is being done to protect our fragile bay waters and promote clean water initiatives.
The East Hampton Airport noise issue affects Southampton residents more than ever since the November Route has been reopened. Aircraft are routed specifically over Noyac with this route change. So the NCC invited Southampton Town Supervisor Schneiderman and Councilman Tommy John Schiavoni to a brainstorming session with our members in an effort to develop a plan to alleviate the aircraft noise.
Our concern for our local environmental treasures prompted the NCC to participate in the Trout Pond Clean-Up of invasive species that are overtaking the pond. Clearer water and swimmable areas were enjoyed by many since the initial April, 2023 clean-up. Another clean-up is scheduled for the fall, 2023. Working together with Councilman Schiavoni and the Parks & Recreation Dept. shows what success can be achieved when we partner with our Town.
At our annual dinner dance fundraiser, held Spring 2023 after 3 years pandamic related hiatis, the NCC proudly honored the Sag Harbor Helpers. This hard-working group of volunteers in Noyac supply meals and companionship for those in need.
Councilman Tommy John Schiavoni is actively working on a plan for sidewalks from the village to the farmstand at Noyac Rd. The NCC looks forward to hearing updates on this plan to improve traffic and pedestrian safety in Noyac.
On Sunday, August 6, the NCC brought bagels, muffins, hot chocolate and coffee to thank our Long Beach Recreation staff for their unwavering support and care for our safety at our treasured beach. Then on the evening of August 9, the NCC held a social gathering with our membership, friends, family and neighbors at Long Beach. It was a perfect evening to enjoy the sunset, and the company of our fellow members. It was great meeting new members and Noyac residents who want to become members. This casual gathering was enjoyed so much that we will have this event every year.
Our newly appointed Police Chief James Kiernan will meet our members and discuss public safety, traffic concerns and other police issues in our community at our September 13 meeting, at 7:30.
We had a successful presence at Harbor Fest 2022 and look forward to more success at Harbor Fest 2023. Volunteers are always welcome to join us in that weekend celebration at Long Wharf, this year scheduled for September 16 and 17. Please stop by, say hello and learn more about the NCC.
These are some of the activities the Noyac Civic Council has been doing to improve our hamlet. Volunteers are always welcome and appreciated. Hope to see you at an upcoming meeting!
Sincerely,
Elena Loreto, President
August 2021
The Noyac Civic Council has been advocating and protecting our hamlet since 1954. With the recent COVID- 19 virus we remained active in our mission statement to protect Noyac in various ways. We have worked with various elected and appointed officials in Town Hall and Albany to make our roads safer, to make our beaches and parks cleaner and safer, to make the air space above our homes quieter, and to protect our precious drinking water in the aquifer and our bay waters.
Members are concerned with zoning issues in our neighborhoods so they call on the NCC to get the facts and speak to those in Town Hall. Other NCC members are concerned with what is being taught in our Sag Harbor Schools. Again, those persons call on the NCC to present their questions and views to our Sag Harbor School Superintendent Jeff Nichols and to communicate with the Board of Education members. All of this takes people-power.
We have reached the critical mass stage where we need more persons to get involved in working with the Executive Committee to get the job done. Here is a list of the various committees:
Parks and Recreation
Aircraft Noise
Water Safety and Quality
Membership
Roads and Traffic Safety
Marketing, Social Media and Communications
Fund-Raising/NCC Annual Charity Event
Education
Cell Tower Location
Our 70th Anniversary Celebration Event, 2024
Some members have already begun working to protect Noyac. For example, the Aircraft Noise committee has been attending East Hampton Town Board meetings and discussing how aircraft noise has disrupted our quality of life in Noyac. These NCC members deserve a pat on the back because they have made an impact. The East Hampton Town Board is now considering repurposing the EH Airport. There is strength in numbers.
If you have any interest in working on a committee, please contact me via email. Your efforts will go a long way to help “preserve and sustain” the community of Noyac. See you at our Membership Drive at Harbor Fest on September 11 and 12.
Sincerely,
Elena Loreto, President
May 2021
On Thursday, May 27, the NYS Appellate Division of the Supreme Court annulled the 2019 DEC permit allowing the Sand Land Mine to dig deeper (and closer to our aquifer) and to expand horizontally. The Court ruled that the DEC overstepped its authority in granting a permit. The DEC ignored the Town’s zoning laws and the authority to protect its drinking water when the DEC issued this 2019 permit.
Below are are the Town’s press release and two additional articles on this ruling.
The Noyac Civic Council worked tirelessly to get the DEC to protect our ground water rather than allow the expansion of operations at the Sand Land Mine when contamination in our aquifer beneath the Mine was made known by the Suffolk County Health Department.
This ruling did not just happen. There were many meetings, many tireless hours of writing letters, attending meetings, making phone calls and shedding tears of frustration by our officers and members. We thank all our members who supported the NCC in this endeavor. Also thanks to the Group for the East End, the Citizens’ Campaign for the Environment, The Town of Southampton, and the Southampton Civic Coalition for supporting this endeavor. Thank goodness that the Noyac Community cares for their environment and joined forces to get the job done. The NCC is a force on the East End.
Sincerely,
Elena Loreto, President
Press Release: Town SL Appellate Ruling 5-28-21
Newsday Article: “Court Overturns Sand Mine Ruling”
East Hampton Star Article: “State Appellate Court Sides Against Sand Land Mine”, By Christine Sampson May 27, 2021
March 2020
The DEC recently announced that Sand Land Mine applied for another permit – which happens to be in violation of Town Code, three appellate court decisions, and the DEC’s own September 11, 2018 “Modification of Permit” that materials must be removed. The NCC acted swiftly in response. We formulated a petition and sent a strongly worded and documented letter to the NYS DEC demanding that our water be protected from more contamination. Southampton Town also sent a letter to the DEC. The NCC asked the DEC to:
1) deny Sand Land Mine’s application
2) perform quarterly testing of the water beneath the Mine and
3) hold a Public Hearing on this application to voice our concerns and answer our questions.
The petition currently has 2,247 signatures and continues to gain support. It is clear people want to stop polluters from contaminating our water. Please sign if you haven’t already! We are awaiting the DEC’s reply and will keep you informed. (click here to read more)
Aircraft noise continues to be a significant problem for thousands of residents here on the East End. The volume of helicopters, seaplanes and private jets has steadily increased over the past decade and that trend shows no sign of slowing. NCC members are actively engaged in discussions with elected officials from both Southampton Town and East Hampton Town, as well as those from Shelter Island, Southold and Riverhead. Our voices are being heard and we remain optimistic that improvements will be made over the next year as East Hampton Town takes back local control of their airport operations. The FAA Grant Assurances expire in 2021. NCC members attended the Fly Neighborly Helicopter meetings in the past and will attend on March 11, 2020, from 9AM-1PM to voice your concerns along with other NCC and community members. (click here for more info) The public is invited and encouraged to go. We will do our best to keep you updated and welcome your active participation. For more information on ways to help, contact John Kirrane.
Here in Noyac, we are fortunate to have such special public places such as Foster Memorial Long Beach (with close to 1 mile of sandy shore front and 2 bathhouses) and Trout Pond, among others. The NCC works with Southampton Town Parks and Recreation to ensure facilities are well maintained such as improvements made to entrance booths, beach rule signage, trash removal and restroom areas. Many of these improvements have taken place because the Noyac Civic Council works with our elected and appointed Town officials.
The NCC has become a member of the Sag Harbor Chamber of Commerce. We just recently sponsored a “Kids Fun” craft table at HarborFrost! We are excited for more opportunities to connect and collaborate with our neighbors - many of our area business owners and employees. Remember to shop locally – you are supporting your neighbors and preserving a way of life that is quickly diminishing.
The Noyac Civic Council is the best advocate for YOU! But we can’t do it without your help. Your membership and civic engagement means neighbors helping each other to protect public values and ensure their quality of life. Please keep your dues up to date, ask your neighbors to join, and consider joining the NCC executive committee. Thank you.
Sincerely,
Elena Loreto, President
October 2019
The Noyac Civic Council has been busy advocating for our community. We continue to work with our co-litigants (the Town of Southampton, the Group for the East End, the Citizens’ Campaign for the Environment, private homeowners and the other civics and CACs in Southampton) in court to get the DEC to reverse its decision to give a known polluter, the Sand Land Mine, a permit to operate for another eight years. The NCC is pushing for the DEC to address the contamination in our aquifer, found by the Suffolk County Health Department, beneath the Mine. This is the water supply for all of us on the East End including those who purchase water from the Suffolk County Water Authority.
Our July, September and October meetings allowed candidates running for various Town and County offices to speak to our constituents. We want our constituents to become educated voters.
We will have members of the Sag Harbor Chamber of Commerce speak at our November 12 meeting. As we are preparing for the holiday season, the NCC asks that you support our local merchants. The Chamber of Commerce hosts local events, like Harbor Fest and Harbor Frost, and always needs local folks to volunteer at these events. Also, in November, the NCC will have its Fall into the Holiday Dinner Dance which is our annual fundraiser for our scholarship fund. Last year we gave two scholarships to deserving members who started college this fall. Our Dinner Dance will be at The Coast Grill on Sunday, November 24 from 4-8PM. Enjoy passed appetizers, a buffet dinner, dancing, door prizes and raffles for $60 per person (includes tax and gratuities). Tickets may be purchased at the Whalebone General Store. This is the best holiday party every year, so why not get some friends and neighbors together for a fun evening?
I have invited Governor Andrew Cuomo to be our speaker at our December 10 meeting. Perhaps he can address our environmental concerns and emergency preparedness. Hopefully he will join us.
All this has been accomplished by your involvement. Our members are the engine that give the NCC credibility with our elected and appointed officials. Please continue to look at our webpage for updates.
Sincerely,
Elena Loreto, President Noyac Civic Council
May 2019
Many thanks to the Noyac Civic Council members who tirelessly picked up trash along Noyac Road and around Trout Pond for the Great East End Clean Up on Saturday, May 4. Ella Knibb, Hannah Tuma, Isabella Hosey, Emelia Hosey, Hope Marxe, Sue Denis, Janet Grossman, Chuck Neuman, Tom McErlearn, Matt Burns, Maggie Jeager, Sharon Bakes, Emily Bakes and John Arendt spent several hours beautifying our hamlet. Many thanks to Phil of the Town of Southampton Highway Dept. who gave up his time off to help us in this yearly endeavor. Among the “treasures” we found with the usual food wrappers and beverage receptacles was a skeleton hanging from a tree (No, it was not Jimmy Hoffa). Heineken and Corona seem to be the most popular beers this year. Someone found a Tiffany diamond and emerald ring near the intersection of Noyac Road and Millstone Rd. One of the discarded Lottery Scratch-Off tickets found along Noyac Road paid $50. It pays to volunteer!
Noyac is the understated jewel in the Town of Southampton. Our residents are not afraid to make an impression quietly as the clean-up volunteers did Saturday. At other times we are more vociferous if we are protecting our water supply from contamination or our residential neighborhoods from unhealthy projects like constructing a cell tower. We are concerned with the safety and sanitary conditions at Long Beach and Trout Pond. We advocate for quality education while being mindful and attentive to our government’s spending and levying taxes. We will continue to register noise complaints from low-flying aircraft.
I am proud of my civic-minded Noyac neighbors who work together to get the job done for all of us.
Sincerely,
Elena Loreto, President Noyac Civic Council
January 2019
Here it is, January, 2019, and the contamination found in our aquifer is not being addressed by both the DEC and Town of Southampton. The Suffolk County Health Department determined in its June 29, 2018 report that the heavy metals, radioactive chemicals, carcinogens and pesticides contaminating our sole-source aquifer is a result of the operations at the Sand Land Mine. This aquifer, located beneath the Mine, is the water source for all of us on the East End. This is the water supply for those who have well water and those who obtain water from the Suffolk County Water Authority.
DEC Administrative Law Judge James McClymonds ruled on Dec. 10, 2018 that Sand Land's motion to renew and re-argue its application to expand the mine is denied. However, the DEC did give the Mine a 60 day extension to file its appeal. What about the contamination problem? So why is the DEC not doing anything to force the Mine to clean up the aquifer?
Town Supervisor Jay Schneiderman stated in his July 18, 2018 letter to the DEC that new mining is prohibited by the Town Code. (The size of the mine’s expansion application constitutes a new mine according to the DEC.) The Supervisor’s letter made progress, however, to date, no one is addressing the urgency of contamination found in our water supply. Does the contamination in the aquifer have to be declared a Super Fund Clean-Up site before the DEC and Southampton Town Council take a more active interest?
The Town of Southampton has been waiting for the judicial branch to sign an injunction for two years. I implore the Town Council to contact the Governor and the DEC to address this contamination issue, and support Assemblyman Fred Thiele who has been in championing this issue.
Sincerely,
Elena Loreto, President Noyac Civic Council
Contaminants have been found in our aquifer, our source of water for the East End. Lead, arsenic, excessive manganese, cobalt and radio-nuclei are among the contaminants found in our aquifer. These contaminants have been associated with major health problems for adults and children. The aquifer lies below the Sand Land Mine a vegetative and construction operation that no longer has sand to mine. The Mine, located on Middle line Highway between Noyac and Bridgehampton, has applied to expand despite opposition from the Town of Southampton, Group for the East End, the Citizens Campaign for the Environment, the Noyac Civic Council, the Bridgehampton CAC, private citizens and other local groups. It took 2 years and a court order to get Sand Land to allow the Health Department to install monitoring wells.
Now that contaminants have been found in the aquifer, it is paramount that private wells be tested. Here is a letter that I sent to the Suffolk County Commissioner of Health following the release of the raw data for the water tests conducted by the Health Department from the test wells at the Sand Land Mine. It is time that our members contact our elected and appointed officials to end the processing of vegetative waste above our sole-source aquifer until the extent of the contamination is known. and encourage the DEC to reject any expansion of the Sand Land Mine.
Dear Dr. Tomarken, Suffolk County Health Commissioner,
You are probably aware that the raw data from the test wells at the Sand Land Mine indicate that contaminants have seeped into the sole source aquifer. This is our water supply on the East End. Heavy metals, toxins, and other chemicals were found in the water tests. For example, manganese was detected at 87 times the drinking water standard. Excessive manganese and cobalt have been linked to developmental delays in children, along with tremors, lethargy, and mental disturbances in both children and adults. In light of these findings concluded by Dr. Stuart Cohen of CGWP Environmental and Turf Services, the Noyac Civic Council implore the Suffolk County Health Department to test the private wells down gradient of the contamination NOW and that the tests should be performed free of charge. This is a major public health issue that cannot wait for another two months until the Health Department writes its final report. The health of our Noyac and Bridgehampton residents cannot wait another day. This health threat has been ignored and minimized for too long. Please act now.
I am awaiting your reply.
Sincerely,
Elena Loreto, President Noyac Civic Council
If you agree with the arguments in this letter, please contact these elected and appointed officials:
County Executive Steve Bellone, 631-853-4000, county.executive@suffolkcountyny.gov
Gov. Andrew Cuomo, 518-474-8390, or visit govenor.ny.gov to send an email.
DEC contact@dec.ny.gov or Region 1 Director Carrie Gallagher (631) 444-0345
Suffolk County Health Commissioner Dr.James Tomarken, James.Tomarken@suffolkcountyny.gov
Released June 20, 2018: Please read Suffolk County Dept of Health Services Final Report on Investigation of Potential Impacts to Groundwater at Wainscott Sand & Gravel/Sand Land Facility 585 Middle Line Highway, Noyack, N.Y.
October 21, 2017
The NCC is pleased to announce that the Suffolk County Health Department has finished installing test wells at the Sand Land Mine to monitor the magnitude and extent of any possible contamination of our groundwater beneath the mine. Water tests done in May 2015 on the property found alarming levels of contaminants and carcinogens, including Chlordane, DEET, pesticides and radio nuclides in pools of water. NY Supreme Court Judge Joseph Santorelli ruled that Sand Land had to give full access to the SCHS department.
The Supreme Court decision follows over two years of obstruction by the owners of Sand Land to prevent water testing and allow access by health officials. Sand Land processes vegetative waste and construction and demolition debris.
Because of the involvement of the Noyac Civic Council, this crucial monitoring of our ground water has been accomplished. Thank you to all our members who contacted our Town, County, NY State and appointed officials who acted to protect our groundwater. This sole source aquifer is the water supply to all of us on the East End, including those who have well water and water from the Suffolk County Water Supply.
The NCC remains the best advocate for the Noyac community and will continue to protect our quality of life. Thank you for your active involvement and membership.
Click here to see the News 12 report on this story
Sincerely,
Elena Loreto, President NCC
March 27, 2017
Welcome to the Noyac Civic Council website!
We hope you will find it user-friendly with accessible information. For current news, go to the Events & Updates page where you will also find recent photos of meetings and activities. A calendar summary is also on the home page.
Visit the Current Projects page for issues concerning the quality of life in our Noyac community including:
Long Beach issues
Traffic calming along Noyac Road
Land use
Our charitable endeavors
You Can help Too!
We need YOU! Download our current "NEEDS LIST" and see where your talents may be best suited to help the community. As the NCC strives to improve communications, we welcome our members to contact us with any suggestions for our website, etc.
Click Action Items to:
Report aircraft noise (aircraft noise abatement)
Stay updated on water quality (Sand Land Issue)
Apply for our annual scholarship (in May) for continuing education
The Noyac Civic Council is the voice of some 500+ members and constantly strives to improve our community as a whole. As a result of our 60+ years of service, a mutual respect has been earned with our local elected and appointed officials which is paramount to servicing our community.
The NCC 2017 Membership Drive is underway. We urge all Noyac residents to become a part of the fabric of this vibrant organization. Please send in your dues today! Click here for more info.
Sincerely,
Elena Loreto, President NCC
631-725-3304
January 2017
Dear NCC Members,
Noyac Civic Council Encourages Community Involvement!
The Suffolk County Health Department just released a comprehensive investigative report on compost/vegetative organic waste management facilities (VOWM). In light of the fact that the Sand Land Mine and mulching facility is seeking to expand 40 feet closer to the top of our aquifer, our source of groundwater on the East End, this report is significant. The samples analyzed in this study document a range of contaminants including 19 pesticides, multiple metals (including arsenic, manganese, cadmium, thallium and cobalt), elevated radiological detections, and a range of pharmaceutical and personal care products which can be associated with the deposition of septic waste. The study also confirmed the contamination of private wells in excess of maximum contaminant levels for several analytes (Mn, Cu, Fe, Zn) at the only test site where residences were located in close proximity to the VOWM operations. Click here to download a copy of the report. The "Recommendations" on page 95 are noteworthy.
Please:
Contact the NYSDEC to support the recommendations of this study: Email acting Commissioner Basil Seggos or call 518-402-8013.
Send an email to your family and friends with this information.
NOTE: The Sand Land Mine's appeal of the DEC's denial of its application to expand is nearing a trial date. The NCC Executive Committee will represent you, the community, in this judicial process. We are currently waiting for the judge to rule.
Sincerely,
Elena Loreto, President
Noyac Civic Council
For updates, please see our Calendar page and like us on Facebook!
Visit our NCC Supporters page! Click here to download our 60A Journal
New! Noyac Members' Discounts