'Didn't Think They Could Damage A $200K Boat:' Picnic Tables, Shopping Carts Found In Manhasset Bay

PORT WASHINGTON, NY — This wasn't your typical debris: Town of North Hempstead bay constables spotted two large, metal picnic tables in the Bay by Port Washington's Town Dock, officials said.

Commissioner of Public Safety and the Town of North Hempstead Harbor Master Derek Skuzenski said one of his bay constables, who was on a land-based patrol, Ralph Moniello, observed a large table sticking out from the Manhasset Bay during low tide on March 20.

He realized two eight-person tables were missing from Port Washington's Town Dock.

High tide would soon be coming, and they wouldn't be able to see the tables anymore.

"They would become a navigation hazard, as well as bad for the bay," Skuzenski said. "Imagine you're on a boat with a propeller that sticks down a few feet below the boat, and the metal items are under the water, you can't see them, and they can crack the propeller or cause damage to the hull of the boat."

He said they couldn't retrieve the metal objects until it became low tide again, and they had to wait until morning. On Saturday, Moniello and Maggio Ventura, bay constables, coordinated efforts to get them removed from the bay and went out on the Marina 5 patrol boat. They were able to get close enough to wrap a line around the benches of the tables and secure them to the boat, towing them back to Town Dock.

They found two large picnic tables and two large shopping carts in the bay.

"If we left it there, it could've become a big problem for boats, and littering isn't great," Skuzenski said, adding that this looked intentionally done. "We never know what size boats will come into the dock."

There are three main floats in that area — the harbor patrol float that the bay constables use, the public float, which the public uses for the pumpout station and for their boats, including dinghies, and the third float on the other dock is for the water taxi.

"This was a safety and pollution concern," Skuzenski said. "The bay is there for everybody to use and we want our waterways to be clean and navigable," he said. "There are lots of restaurants over there, and a lot of different things to do in the bay, like kayak, paddleboard, and more. We're very fortunate to live so close to a beautiful waterway."

Skuzenski said that in the two years he has been commissioner, this was the first time his team noticed something large, hazardous, and intentionally thrown into the bay.

"It's not uncommon for marine debris to wash up," he said. "Things do happen. Sometimes, broken parts of a float, hull of an abandoned boat, can wash up. We remove all sorts of debris."

Every fall, the TONH hosts a bay cleanup to keep the waterway clear. Two years ago, a large, industrial freezer floated ashore. Last year, a dead seal washed up on Sands Point. Docks have floated up to people's beaches, as well: "Debris happens."

But this was not typical debris.

"They probably didn't think they could damage a $200,000 boat," he said.

An email was sent to the Port Washington Police Department, but a formal report wasn't filed, according to Skuzenski.

Bay constables do all they can to ensure the safety of the community, officials said.

"We enforce fishing regulations, safety regulations, in addition to rescues," he said, adding they add navigational buoys, pumpout stations, and more.

His crew helped save 23 people from a burning fire on a boat last year, he added.

"They're busy and have a very versatile function and promote public safety in every way they can," he said. "We want to protect the environment, too. We do our part to keep the town residents safe. Sometimes we're enforcing fishing regulations, sometimes it's a large-scale water rescue rescuing people from a boat on fire. No two days are the same."

North Hempstead Supervisor Jennifer DeSena said throwing objects into the bay is unacceptable.

"Whoever thought dumping shopping carts and picnic tables into the bay was funny made a mess of a shared resource," she said. "But I’m proud of our bay constables for stepping in and hauling it out. That’s exactly the kind of stewardship our community deserves."

Councilwoman Mariann Dalimonte added a message on her Facebook, sharing that she was upset to hear about this incident.

"I was deeply saddened to learn that public amenities placed at Town Dock for everyone to enjoy were deliberately thrown into Manhasset Bay," she said. "These spaces are meant to bring our community together, not be damaged or destroyed."

"Acts like this not only impact the environment but also take away from the shared resources our residents value," Dalimonte said. "I am grateful to our bay constables for their swift response in recovering the items. We all share a responsibility to take care of our community and protect the places we call home."