Musings: Cleaning up the Island and saving its tall oaks

Something needs to be done about the disgusting littering on our roadsides and in wooded areas. It is heartbreaking to see mattresses, tires, torn garbage bags and discarded fast food packaging on the Long Island Expressway service roads, other nearby roadways and at stoplights. You name it, you'll see it.

I called the Suffolk County executive's office and was told I would need to report each area to the various highway departments and other government offices. Areas are supposedly being cleaned by community service crews. If so, where's the improvement?

I can't be the only Long Islander repulsed by this blatant disregard for our environment. It's getting worse.

Lee Akner, Medford

North Merrick is undergoing roadway improvement, including pedestrian access ramps and asphalt pavements. The project notice stated that curbs would be "replaced when necessary for grade."

In just a two-block area, seven trees are being removed because curbs and driveway lips were torn up. We're told that replacing these curbs necessitates cutting roots, which would eventually kill the trees.

Why must 100-year-old tall oaks be sacrificed? Other South Shore neighborhoods maintain trees along their curbs.

We shouldn't be cutting down trees when we need their beauty, shade, and — oh, yes — oxygen.

Kevin Adams, North Merrick

In her book "Give a Little," Wendy Smith suggests how small donations could impact our world if most people would just "give a little" to their charity of choice.

Now, let's take this one step further.

This can easily apply to saving our environment, too. We can recycle stretchy plastic bags at local grocery store drop-off bins, use reusable bags at groceries and farm stands, and reuse water bottles rather than discarding yet more plastic.

These are a few simple options, but if everyone chose just one habit, it would benefit this world's children and grandchildren and the future of our planet.

Susan Broderick, Westhampton