Turtle Rescue Results in Emergency Scare for Supervisor
In his own words, Brookhaven Supervisor Dan Panico tells the tale of what happened to him when he went to rescue some turtles left stranded after the Mill Pond dam let loose during a catastrophic storm in Stony Brook:
Sometimes, the worst of times brings out the best in people. Over the past few days, I have witnessed people who don’t know each other coming together to help each other and our environment.
Councilmember Jonathan Kornreich and I were back at Mill Pond when residents spotted some turtles and a large snapping turtle struggling in the mud. So we each borrowed a set of tall rubber boots from our Chief Fire Marshal and drove around to the Head of the Harbor side to see if we could help.
Upon reaching the other side, we parked and made our way into the now-empty, muddy Mill Pond basin. Jonathan went first and slipped down the side. Seeing that, I chose to do a different path by a tree and used the tree to brace and step down along the side, unknowingly onto a yellow jacket nest, which caused a swarm while standing in the mud with these Ronald McDonald-looking boots. Needless to say, I was stung 5 or 6 times, but the effort continued soon after removing stingers with my fingernail.
Shortly after we reached the other side, others joined the effort, including the Strong Island Animal Rescue League. Some turtles were saved and relocated to a nearby pond. It is sad to think that a pond once teeming with an abundance of aquatic wildlife was now reduced to less than a handful of creatures to be saved.
As for me, after the large snapper was saved, it was readily apparent that I was having a reaction to the stings (which was a first for me). My entire face started swelling and down around my neck, with incredibly itchy ears. So after a brief visit with Stony Brook medics, Jonathan drove me over to Stony Brook Hospital’s Emergency Room, where Dr. David Cohen checked me out, fixed me up and kept my face from looking like Will Smith in Hitch.
The clean-up effort continues today, and the volunteer crews based out of the Stony Brook Yacht Club are doing amazing work removing debris from Mill Creek, filling an entire dumpster that we are emptying right now and bringing back. While everyday brings a new set of challenges, I am extremely proud to represent a town filled with people who exude such a strong sense of community.—With Councilmember Jonathan Kornreich, Stony Brook Medicine, Stony Brook Harbor Kayak & Paddleboard Rentals, The Ward Melville Heritage Organization.