14’ GREAT WHITE SHARK SIGHTED AT
ASSEMBLYMAN SALADINO’S 3rd ANNUAL MARINE EXPO
On Sunday, September 7th, Assemblyman Joseph S. Saladino held his third annual MARINE AND OUTDOOR RECREATION EXPO at the Jones Beach West End Boat Basin. This free event attracted some 4,000 Long Islanders who were treated to a day of boating, fishing, kayaking, recreation activities and environmental conservation education. Along with a Kiteboarding Air show by Best Kiteboards, a highlight of the day was a concert featuring one of Long Island’s original rock & roll music bands “The Trees” and Bluegrass and country rock with “Tornado Alley.” Nothing grabbed the public’s interest more than the sight of a great white.
Attendees watched in awe as a fourteen foot long predator was created by Farmingdale’s Merritt Bakery. “Mike the Baker” Benes (MikeTheBaker.com) delivered 13 large sheet cakes to the event. Assembly Saladino and Mike cut, shaped and positioned the pieces to form the shark before the wide eyes of scores of children. Kim and Danielle of Merritt Bakery iced and colored the life-sized shark dessert to closely resemble the star of Jaws. The process created the largest fish-shaped cake in New York State history! In 2006 they created a striped bass and in 2007 a nearly 14’ fluke.
Assemblyman Saladino said, “Our Expo was a huge success. I’ve spent my entire life on the waters of the Great South Bay and Atlantic Ocean, learning about and enjoying Long Island’s shores and marine life. This event is an excellent opportunity for us to educate our children about the local marine environment in a fun and engaging setting. This is also a powerful opportunity for us to instill the need to protect and conserve our vital marine resources, our wetlands, and our sea life, so our children and future generations can enjoy it as we have. This year we placed a large emphasis on teaching the public about such worthy subjects as solar energy, hydrogen and bio fuels, conservation of water and lifesaving, water safety, and CPR instruction.”
This year’s event introduced the crowd to scores of hands on activities. Groups such as SUNY Farmingdale’s Science Department, Built Well Solar, and environmental organizations from all over Long Island taught families about the need to conserve energy and natural resources and save money in the process.
As a new addition this year, the Expo included a kite-boarding air show by Best Kiteboarding of Amityville, which excited all who watched. This air show built upon Long Island’s tourism and recreational opportunities in an effort to improve recreational and eco-tourism in our region.
This expo is designed to bolster Long Island’s economy, introduce families to marine sports and educate the public to sustainable environmental technologies and ways of life. Assemblyman Saladino is a member of the Environmental Conservation Committee, as well as the Education Committee in the New York State Assembly.
