In 1967 Art Cooley, Bellport, New York school teacher, noting a decline in the osprey population on the river was one of the founders of the Environmental Defense Fund which was to lead the fight to ban DDT.
The communities included in the 7th Legislative District include Blue Point, Patchogue, East Patchogue, North Patchogue, most of Medford, and smaller portions of Coram, Farmingville, Holtsville, Ronkonkoma, Bellport, and Fire Island.