GOOD WALKERS WITH WAIVERS ONLY TODAY PLEASE! We are open today am (9.30-12.30) and pm (3-5.30) but ONLY to those who already have, and bring, a signed waiver, and who can safely take the WOODLAND PATH (starting at the yellow mini bridge). If you are OLD, SICK, INFIRM, UNFIT, HEAVY or ARE WEARING UNSUITABLE SHOES, please email me for special arrangements for your visit. This new restriction has, effectively, been imposed by the Town of Riverhead on a temporary basis. More about these developments to follow, and below.
SUMMARY: you MUST BRING A COMPLETED WAIVER AND TAKE THE WOODLAND PATH to the main viewing area. PLEASE DO NOT FOLLOW MAIN DRIVEWAY.
The hike up to the sanctuary (about a half mile) from the Riverhead Sound Ave Preserve parking lot at the beginning of Terry Farm Road is very pleasant and will provide more space in the sanctuary's own lot.
Apparently the "Terry Farm Road" sign at the entrance on Sound Ave has been removed in any attempt to confuse visitors. The entrance to Terry Farm Road is marked by large bounders, and there a several mail boxes immediately west of the entrance. DO NOT ENTER THE ENTRANCES TO THE 4H camp - one is east of Terry farm Rd, and one is west of it. Just take Terry farm Road (unfortunately now unmarked) to the end - see here. The above photo was taken yesterday afternoon at the sanctuary by Rick Mei. The hummer is feeding at cardinal flower, a 4* hummer plant which is (a) perennial (2) native to Long Island.
Some readers will have noted that today's visiting policy is a bit different from that announced in recent posts. I attended a meeting in the Riverhead Town Supervisor's office yesterday afternoon (3 lawyers and me, including a New York State Supreme Court Judge, the Supervisor, and a Town attorney). A neighbor has been complaining that visitors who go down the main driveway are using a ROW that crosses his land, and might trip there, hurt themselves and sue him. He has a valid point, especially since he has placed gravel on his short section of the ROW, creating dangerous conditions there. In response we have reverted to our previous policy that requires all visitors except those who cannot walk well to use the Woodland Path, which is entirely on sanctuary property. I realize that this creates hassles for many, but please try to use the Woodland Path unless you feel it's unsafe or impossible to do so.
I believe that anyone explicitly invited by me to visit the sanctuary (by receiving and signing the waiver) has a complete legal right to use the long-established access right of way. Furthermore, I believe that those walking on parts of the access ROW that cross neighbors' land ("servant" owners) to reach the sanctuary would not have a right to sue those neighbors if they have an accident there. Instead, they would have to sue me, as the "dominant" owner, and they abrogate any such right by signing the waiver.
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