Trustee Lynn Pombonyo
Fire Department
Chief of Department James Dodson and First Assistant Chief Brian Hamerman were introduced and thanked for their volunteerism and service.
October was National Fire Prevention Month and commemorated with fire safety education conducted by our chiefs, firefighters, rescue EMTs and others in our Village, at our schools, and at civic associations.
At the North End Civic Association, former Floral Park Mayor and Chief of Department Kevin Greene offered important fire prevention guidelines and statistics. Chief Greene reported that, per a National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) September 2021 publication, fire departments are responding to a fire every 23 seconds, with 73% of those being house fires.
Chief Greene also emphasized key fire safety and prevention practices, four of which are especially helpful during the upcoming holiday season:
Electric – Power strips are for small electronics (computers). Extension cords are for temporary use. Don’t overload them or place them under the carpet.
Chimneys and boilers – Keep them clean and well-maintained.
Candles – Locate candles safely and avoid free standing candles.
Heating equipment – Combustibles and other objects/materials should not be placed near boilers, fireplaces or portable electric heaters. Inspect the equipment before use, and clean as directed.
The 2022 Fire Prevention theme is: FIRE WON’T WAIT. PLAN YOUR ESCAPE! Thanks to Chief Greene for his service and valuable safety tips.
Department of Public Works
New drains and basins, included in the Spooner Street project, are now complete.
The road reconstruction will continue with paving on Spooner Street, Flower Avenue (from Jericho to Spooner only), and the Spooner parking lot, beginning Wednesday. November 2nd, weather permitting. Vehicles must be removed from those locations by 7am Wednesday. At 5pm Wednesday, residents will have access to their driveways again. Paving looks to be a one day project at this time.
Thanks go to DPW for all the October village and neighborhood activities the staff has supported with their preparation and clean-up work and equipment, enabling these activities to be successful and fun for all.
Chambers of Commerce and Our Businesses
Congratulations to our Chamber of Commerce Businesspersons of the Year: Nancy Millus of the Covert Avenue Chamber and Michael Jakob of the Floral Park Chamber! Both were honored at a recent Nassau Council of Chambers of Commerce breakfast at the Crest Hollow Country Club, where over thirty other Businesspersons of the Year from our Nassau Chambers were also honored.
Mike Jakob is a Board member and Past President of the Floral Park Chamber as well as a Principal and Co-founder of the Carriage Trade Insurance Agency right here in Floral Park. In addition, Mike has worked with multiple Social Service Agencies, including foster care, adoption,
homeless shelters, child and adult daycare centers, food pantries, schools for children with special needs, and many nonprofits that serve individuals “in time to make a difference.”
Nancy Millus has been an active member and officer of the Covert Chamber for many years. We all fondly recall Nancy’s important work for the two Villages, businesses and organizations as the Artistic Director of the Gateway newspaper. Nancy and her family are active with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention through the Mary Elise Millus Foundation, founded in her daughter’s name.
When you see Nancy and Mike around our business districts, please thank them for their commitment to our villages, as well as their meaningful contributions to those in need.
It will be a busy holiday season as our businesses kick it off with Small Business Saturday on the 26th, Thanksgiving weekend. The Villages of Floral Park and Stewart Manor have suspended parking meter fees in the business districts of both villages, so be sure to take advantage by SHOPPING AND DINING LOCAL that day.
Highlights of the year in our villages are our Christmas tree lightings and festivals. Save the dates for our Floral Park Chamber of Commerce and Junior Woman’s Club, Our Lady of Victory, and Village celebrations on Tulip Avenue on the evening of Friday, December 2nd, and the Covert Avenue Chamber and Village of Stewart Manor festivities late Saturday afternoon, December 10th.
Celebrate your holidays right here in Floral Park!
Conservation Society (FPCS)
First, our Centennial Gardens weekend hours will continue to be extended, 9am to dusk, throughout the month of November, so enjoy every minute there!
For a real Gardens treat, take some time to delight in FPCS volunteer Ann Moynagh’s FLORAL PARK CENTENNIAL GARDENS FACEBOOK PAGE. View over one hundred fascinating photos of last Saturday’s magnificent Fairie Forest Festival, attended by over 750 of us on a bright sunny day. Tiny, unique fairie villages of all shapes and sizes came alive under the trees for the fairie guests of all ages.
This imaginative creation was the vision of the very talented Ann Moynagh, working alongside FPCS president Dennis McEnery, lead fairie volunteer Christy Reisig, and more than fifty other fairie volunteers at the festival.
And how did this festival come about? Over a conversation at Swing the Teapot, Ann Moynagh persuaded Fairie Forest artist Dominick McCartan from County Down, Ireland to bring his fairie villages to Floral Park, and he did, along with his wife Molly, amazingly a native Floral Parker. This best story turned into a best day in our Village. Thanks to all for sharing in the magic of our Gardens!
Trustee Frank Chiara
Police Department
On Saturday October 29th, our Police Department held its annual Halloween event. They invited children to come to Police Headquarters dressed as police officers. Many children did respond for the police roll call dressed up as young Police Officers. All were greeted by our police staff and given treats from the police department vehicles. For an added treat, there were two mounted officers on their horses welcoming all who attended. It was an enjoyable event.
Thank you to Lt. William Doherty, Sgt. Matthew Viscusi and PO Kelly Murphy for organizing this annual Halloween event and greeting all who attended. A special THANKS goes to the Nassau County Police Department for having their Mounted Unit along with their horses come celebrate Halloween in our Village. Everyone that attended had a great time.
Our Police Department would like to remind all of our residents to please lock your vehicles and to not leave the keys inside the cars. Also, it is not advisable to leave your vehicles running unattended. Unfortunately, there was one incident in the Village of an individual stealing a car that was left running and unattended.
This past month along with 241 car stops, 157 school visits 123 aided cases, the police performed 43 directed patrols. These directed patrols are in response to quality-of-life issues, speeding or not stopping at stop signs are some of the reported issues. Our officers are deployed to these areas of concern. Along with educating our residents about these issues, there will be enforcement in problematic areas. So please obey the traffic regulations and drive safely.
Building Department
Both of the major building projects in the Village, Centennial Hall and Covert Avenue, are moving along. The developers are in the process of submitting detailed construction drawings to the building department for review. Our Building Superintendent, Renee Marcus, is working with these developers to move these projects along as quickly as possible.
Trustee Jennifer Stewart
It was so wonderful to attend so many fun events this past weekend here in Floral Park such as Rhatigan’s Run sponsored by the Knights of Columbus, the Fairie Forest Festival in our beautiful Centennial Gardens, and the Halloween celebration at our Police Department Headquarters with a special appearance by the Nassau County Police Department’s Mounted Unit. The spirit of volunteerism is alive and well.
Recreation Center
For the Recreation Center, the time has finally arrived, demolition on the multi-purpose rink begins Wednesday 11/2. The conversion of volleyball courts to pickleball has been veery successful. The recreation center staff, under the direction of Superintendent Kurt Meyfohrt is working hard to maintain the fields and fun for leagues, teams, and residents during this construction period.
LIRR/MTA
LIRR employees were hard at work at the Floral Park station today. Power washing was done under the station and pigeon netting was reinforced under the trestles. Work is being done to install a switch station along the right-of-way at Atlantic Avenue. Board members and Village Administrator Gerry Bambrick continue to visit various work sites in the Village and maintain open lines of communication with the various department heads throughout the vastness that is the MTA/LIRR.
As always, we encourage residents to reach out to the MTA/LIRR with questions and concerns at contact.mta.org and/or 516-203-4955. Please consider informing the village if you do log a complaint, this will help us follow up on residents’ concerns.
Trustee Michael Longobardi
Floral Park Library
This past Wednesday was at Trivia Night at the Library. There were many great Halloween costumes, a full-house and some great trivia games. Thank you to our Friends of the Library organization for another great night in support of our Library and to all the residents and friends who came out in costume to make it a success. The next meeting of Friends of the Library will be Wednesday, November 9th from 1pm – 2pm. Please consider stopping by and joining this great group who do so much to make our Best in Nassau Library what it is today.
Construction upgrades are set to begin shortly on the Library. These include the new ADA ramp and front entrance as well as a new roof. Please pay attention to signs and directions during that time as we work to upgrade access to the Library.
November is Food for Fines Month. The Library will waive fines up to $5.00 in exchange for non-perishable foods to be donated to the food pantry. It is a great way to clear your account and help another great service in our Village.
Saturday, November 12th at 3 pm families with children three and over are invited to join the Library on a tour of our Best of Nassau Centennial Gardens. Registration opened today for a DIY class for grades 3 – 5 which will be on Tuesday, November 15th from 4:30 pm – 5:30 pm to make leaf shaped clay bowls for a fall project. Saturday, November 5th is another Literacy Nassau Class English Language Learner. Please contact the Library for more information on this.
Monday, November 7th is the return of Game Night for Grownups, a popular night to bring your own board games and have some fun. Thursday, November 10th is another defensive driving class. This is a great way to help lower your auto insurance costs.
Don’t forget our Library of Things where you can check out many interesting items to reserve for use. Newly added is an ice cream/frozen yogurt/sorbet maker which you can take home for two weeks and try the amazing recipes in the cookbook. Details for these and many other events are listed on the Library website: www.FloralParkLibrary.org.
Four Village Studio (4VS)
This past weekend was the 10th anniversary of Superstorm Sandy. Currently running is “Sandy: 10 Years after!”; 30 minutes of photos and videos that captured local damage and cleanup days after the storm highlighting all the hard work by our various Village departments as well as our residents to restore our great Village.
Reminder, the studio currently has openings for high school students residing within the four-village area to join the volunteer staff. Students age 15 or older can join the staff and learn how the studio operates while getting real hands-on experience to learn about a possible career in production. No experience necessary. Please call 516-326-1150 or email the studio if interested.
Please visit www.4vs.org for the complete list of shows, dates, and times.
Mayor Kevin Fitzgerald
Last Thursday, Building Superintendent Renee Marcus, Village Administrator Gerry Bambrick and I toured the new Grand Central Madison, the new terminal along Madison Avenue between 43rd and 48th streets that will accommodate LIRR trains for east side access. It is amazing and it will be exciting when it opens. The new terminal will definitely attract more people to want to live in Floral Park with the commute to midtown now being only 33 minutes. And for baseball fans, it will also be easier to travel to Yankee games.
The Village expects a written response from the MTA/LIRR very shortly regarding the proposed vehicular gate at the Tunnel Street location. We will keep you posted.
We just had a great weekend here in Floral Park. There were so many events taking place with the Floral Park Police Department, the Knights of Columbus, the Covert Ave and Floral Park Chambers of Commerce and the Floral Park Conservation Society. It was great to see so many Village employees, elected officials and volunteers so involved and enjoying everything. It was the first time I attended the Fairie Forest Festival at Centennial Gardens and it was amazing to see so many families there and to experience the uniqueness of the very different Fall event – it was wonderful. Thank you to all of the volunteers for your time and talent. Floral Park truly “is a great place to live and raise a family”.
Friday, November 11th is Veterans’ Day. Please come out and join the American Legion Post #334 and all of us for the parade to salute our veterans. We will gather on Tulip Avenue at the Atlantic Avenue extension at 10:30AM and march to Memorial Park for the 11AM ceremony. Let us remember to honor our veterans who sacrificed so much to protect our freedoms.
Thank you to Felix Procacci, “Just the Facts Media” and Brandon Duffy from Blank Slate Media for attending the meeting tonight.
