Responsive village government requires a co-partnership between its mayor and Board of Trustees and every village homeowner, business owner and taxpayer.
From the first days of their new village administration, New Hyde Park Village’s Mayor Chris Devane, Deputy Mayor Madhvi Nijjar and the NHP Village Board have worked hard to strengthen the bonds of community spirit.
Events such as the Village’s Earth Day celebration, concerts in the park, NHP’s Halloween Parade, Diwali Celebration, Christmas Tree Lighting etc. (also under the new leadership of NHP’s Cultural Commission Chairperson Christie Cosuanco Su) have all helped to build a bigger and more inclusive tent in our village.
With every new bond of trust established with our neighbors, the board has successfully reflected a vibrant new image of New Hyde Park Village to the world.
The beauty and strength of the faces and hearts with whom we share our community continue to be the source of our renewed strength, spirit and unity, too.
Over the last several months, we’ve been reminded that although New Hyde Park is a beautiful tapestry of diverse peoples from all different walks of life and cultures, we share one unshakable bond – a love for our community and a collective faith in our new leadership. That faith has enabled us to draw new light and hope for our little hometown.
There is no power greater than a community discovering what it cares about the most. Although we may have varied visions for our future, we share a common love for our neighbors and our neighborhood. And in that space, our mayor and the board have encouraged problem-solving to flourish.
Plans that improve our parks, village hall, community center and infrastructure are well underway. Moving forward, our active engagement and respectful participation will continue to be our best assets – both in good times and times of challenge, too.
In its latest unity-building event, the Village of New Hyde Park and its Cultural Commission partnered with the New Hyde Park Fire Department to host New Hyde Park’s first St. Patrick’s Day Parade on Saturday, March 12, to honor our everyday heroes – our first responders. Despite the harsh weather, it was enthusiastically attended.
Over 16 fire departments, the Nassau County Police Department, New York State representatives and law enforcement officials, local organizations and youth proudly marched along with the grand marshal, Nassau County Police Commissioner Patrick Ryder, to pay tribute to our Bravest and Finest.
Every day we see news stories reporting such difficult challenges in our nation. We see video recordings from first-hand witnesses, we see news reporters on the scene, but who we don’t often see are the first responders who have put their lives on the line to protect our community and the lives of its citizens.
Dispatchers, police officers, firefighters, and emergency medical technicians and paramedics ensure our safety, rescue us from dangerous situations, provide supportive and medical attention and maintain peace as we carry on our lives seemingly oblivious to the challenges that surround us daily.
Whether it is fighting fires, responding to crime and disorder, providing health services and support to those most in need of critical care at times of crisis, our first responders do what needs to be done in service to others, often placing themselves at risk in the process. It was evident from the faces of those who watched New Hyde Park’s inaugural St. Patrick’s Day Parade that all attendees are humbled and grateful for their commitment and dedication.
On behalf of my family, friends, and fellow neighbors throughout our beloved village, BIG THANKS to NHP Mayor Chris Devane, Deputy Mayor Madhvi Nijjar, the Village Board and the NHP Fire Department for their leadership and partnership in making New Hyde Park Village the best it can be.
Diane Bentivegna
New Hyde Park
