Politics & Government

Baby Goats Named After Popular Lawnmowers

The Steinbergs, of Merrick, chose the names for the nine baby goats at Levy Preserve.

The nine Nigerian dwarf goats born at Levy Preserve this spring can officially stop calling each other Goat A, Goat B, etc...

Hempstead Town officials announced last Friday that after taking name suggestions from residents, the Steinberg family, of Merrick, which includes Marcia, Dara, Julie and Marty, had won the honor of naming the baby goats. 

The Steinbergs named the goats after popular lawn mowers: Snapper, Cub-Cadet, John Deere, Grasshopper, Lawn Boy, Bob Cat, Toro, Murray and LawnBott.

Find out what's happening in Merrickwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The Steinbergs received a "goat trophy" and a town citation.

The Town of Hempstead bought five Nigerian Dwarf goats in May 2009 — four doelings and one buckling — at a cost of $240 apiece to help eradicate the overgrowth of brush and grass at the preserve.

Find out what's happening in Merrickwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

On April 29, mother "Happy" gave birth to the first two new members of the preserve's Nigerian dwarf goat family, Murray said.  Two days later, mother "Bashful" delivered three goats and finally on May 4, "Sleepy" added four more kids to the herd.

On Friday, town officials also welcomed New York City officials who are in the process of converting the former Freshkills Landfill into an environmentally friendly park, to Levy Preserve, which served as the Merrick Landfill until 2000.

"We're very pleased and genuinely committed to working with New York City officials on our mutual goal of making our planet 'greener and cleaner,'" Hempstead Town Supervisor Kate Murray said. "The town is also proud of the Steinberg family for participating in the baby goat-naming contest at Levy Park, thereby increasing awareness of this one-of-a-kind nature preserve."

 


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