July 8, 2013

Good morning Cherry Grove

Many people have expressed a desire to have Suffolk County Vector Control spray Cherry Grove for mosquitoes. Here is how it works....

SCVC has informed us that they first need to see that there is community support for spraying. That is why we need to take a vote. Because this falls under the category of a "health issue”, every resident of Cherry Grove, both owners and renters get to vote. That means every person who lives in Cherry Grove...not house guests or day trippers. That is why the ballot requires the house and the address. You also do not have to be a member of CGCAI to vote, but our emails are sent to our membership. Ballots were sent out via email, they were delivered via walk captains last week, they can be downloaded from the CGCAI website (to open or download the PDF, use this link - http://www.cgcai.org/docs/62813mosquitovote.pdf ), and ballots will be available at the Community House on July 13 at noon.

Since we have not been sprayed in well over 20 years, SCVC will not consider spraying unless we can show Community support. From what I have seen thus far, I believe the vote will show that there is Community Support. Once SCVC receives the results of the vote (assuming that it does show community support) they will make a determination as to the effectiveness of spraying based on the "No Spray" map of Cherry Grove. A homeowner, and only a homeowner, can register their house as a "No Spray" house. A "no" vote in the ballots DOES NOT register a house as "No Spray", it simply counts in the tally for or against Community Support. In order to register a house as "No Spray", the homeowner must go to the SCVC website, fill out the form and register that form with SCVC. The "No Spray" listing is new each year, so you must re- register each calendar year.

I have received some ballots via email (http://cgcai.org/Contact.html ) with an electronic signature, and some via regular mail (do not send it certified). Those will be counted along with the ballots that are handed in next Saturday, July 13 at noon. We will be receiving and counting ballots between noon and 1 pm. Please bring your ballot in filled out to expedite the process. IF you do not have a ballot and do not have a way to download it and prepare it ahead of time, we will have ballots at the Community House at noon.

Please be aware that we are simply receiving and counting ballots to give SCVC the show of Community Support that they require. We will not have a meeting. We will not be discussing the issue. Most people know exactly how they feel about this issue. If you do not, go to the SCVC website and read the information, or talk to your neighbors.

Please remember that spraying will kill the adult mosquitoes...it is equally important, some say more important, to kill the larvae. STANDING WATER creates an infestation. SCVC does come to Cherry Grove every Monday to inject pellets into standing water to kill the larvae. You can and should also use dunks in any standing water on or near your property. Water sitting in garbage cans and garbage can lids are a large source of standing water...drill holes in your cans and lids.

We will post the results of the vote and turn it in to SCVC next Saturday at 1 pm. Hopefully we will get their determination by Monday and we will communicate immediately.

Best, Diane