Floral Park Board of Trustee reports – June 7

0
Floral Park Board of Trustee reports – June 7
Teddy Tong Photo Credit

Trustee Lynn Pombonyo

Fire Department
Our Alert Company honored three members for their outstanding service to the Department and Village. Citations were presented to twice Ex-Captain Wayne Beers, Jr.; Ex-Captain Justin Hughes; and Firefighter and Rescue Company member Gary Gronert for his 50 extraordinary years of service. Thanks to these dedicated men from a grateful Village.

For the month of April, our Rescue Squad had 81 calls, with total calls for Fire Department assistance numbering 107. Recently, our firefighters responded to and extinguished weekend fires, and we thank the FPFD, who left their homes during the weekend to protect our homes and businesses.

Department of Public Works
Preparations for our 2022 road reconstructions are under way. Spooner Street and the Spooner parking lot projects will begin at the end of the school year, with Marshall Avenue (Covert Avenue to Orchid Street) to follow, probably early in July. The DPW Superintendent and Village officials have met with residents to provide an in-depth overview of the projects, including the scrutiny and attention that will be given to preserving our trees. This scrutiny includes obtaining the recommendations of an arborist and engineer to determine the viability of the trees with respect to their roots and potential damage to lawns, sidewalks, curbs and streets. The goal of our tree and road reconstruction program is to safeguard and protect as many trees as possible, and replant new, vibrant trees where needed. Residents will receive advance notification of tree removals and road reconstruction project dates. Hinsdale Avenue (Jericho Turnpike to Lowell Avenue) and Clayton Avenue are also included on the 2022 project list.

Conservation Society
Exciting gardening opportunities for children come with our Recreation Program, Gardening For Kids, coordinated and taught by our Conservation Society expert, Mrs. Laura Trentacoste. At a recent Saturday Gardening For Kids class in Centennial Gardens, about twenty small children, their siblings, parents and I spent the morning planting flowers, watering seedlings, exploring the Girl Scout Sensory Garden, checking on the progress of vegetables growing in the Eagle Scout planting beds, and delighting in the beauty and wonder of it all. See the online Pool and Recreation, Summer 2022 booklet, page 3 for registration information for our two-week youth gardening camp sessions with Ms. Laura.

Also coming this Friday evening, June 10th, is the Conservation Society’s Annual Garden Party at the Gardens. Bring your own picnic basket and enjoy refreshments provided by the Conservation Society. Take in nature at sunset. It’s breathtaking!

Chambers of Commerce and Our Businesses
Closing out the Belmont Stakes weekend will be our Floral Park Chamber of Commerce Street Fair this Sunday, June 12th on Tulip Avenue. There’ll be interesting merchandise and crafts, tasty foods and beverages, and fun-filled entertainment. Come to support our Floral Park and Covert Avenue businesses, and enjoy the afternoon with family and friends. Keep an eye out for traffic detours in the area.

AARP (American Association of Retired Persons)
The Floral Park chapter of AARP is pleased to announce its new officers for next year. I was proud to administer the oaths of office and congratulate incoming president Tom Lucas and treasurer Sal Bonagura. Great appreciation is extended to outgoing president Sunta Redvanly for her strong leadership and advocacy. AARP will resume their monthly meetings in the fall. It’s the perfect place to meet new friends, engage in social activities, and get the latest information that is helpful and vital to Senior Citizens.

Trustee Frank Chiara

Building Department
I would like to provide an explanation for the permit fee increases that were mentioned here tonight from the Building Department. These minor changes are due to increases in the publication rates from local papers. Individuals whose applications require legal notices are posted in these papers. The rates were changed thereby necessitating the increases.

Architectural Review Board (ARB) and Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) meetings are posted on our Village website. The dates, times, agendas and legal notices are contained in the postings. The Village has recently been sending out email blasts also containing the information on these meetings. Residents can register for these email blasts at https://fpvillage.org/notifications/.

Police Department
With all the current tragic events that have been occurring throughout our country, our Floral Park PD addressed the Floral Park Bellerose School Board last evening to discuss what their response will be for an “active shooter” scenario. Our PD is continually training for the many different scenarios that may present themselves and is currently undergoing their semi-annual re-qualifications. They not only are trained in the proficient use of their weapons but also discuss different scenarios.

The Floral Park PD are well trained and will continually prepare for any of these scenarios. I pray that we will never have to be subjected to any of these tragic events in our community. I offer my heartfelt condolences and prayers to all the victims and their families dealing with these recent horrible events.

Trustee Jennifer Stewart
First, I’d like to thank The American Legion for a wonderful Memorial Day Parade and Ceremony. It is important to take the time to reflect on the supreme sacrifice many have made defending our freedom.

I extend congratulations to all our residents who graduated from college in recent weeks, our private high school students who celebrated graduation this past weekend and those that will graduate in the coming weeks. Remember, wherever you go, whatever you do, Floral Park will always be your home. We are proud of you, go out and do great things!

Recreation Center
Our Recreation Center is nearly ready for summer; adult league teams are forming, and schedules are being created and morning sports programming is being finalized. We are looking forward to hosting the annual Firefighter Michael Davidson Little League Tournament. Please be reminded that fields will be open only to those teams participating in the tournament Thursday evening 6/16/22 – Sunday evening 6/19/22.

Opening weekend at the pool was a great success! The weather was wonderful, and a great time was had by all. Big thanks to Recreation Superintendent Kurt Meyfohrt, Pool Director Tom Dillon and Gena King and her wonderful office staff for handling the avalanche of new memberships this past weekend. The pool staff and I are looking forward to a happy, safe 2022 Pool Season.

LIRR/3TC
As work continues on the LIRR, the Village is committed to its positive relationship developed with the LIRR and 3TC. We will always try our utmost to look out for the residents’ best interests. The Village will keep you apprised of new work scheduled to be performed as soon as we are informed. Look for emails and bulletins from us for LIRR information. Thank you.

Trustee Michael Longobardi

Floral Park Library
For the adults, the morning and evening Book Clubs and Made with Love Knitters Groups will continue to meet this month. Check the calendar for specific dates and times. Floral Park resident and author, Bob Todaro, will give an author talk on his new book Souls on Monday, June 20 at 7 pm. The Library will be showing a matinee of the 2022 Academy Award winner Belfast on Monday, June 13 and the Defensive Driving course will be held on Thursday, June 16 with in-person registration.

Our teens continue to come to Exam Cram study times. Kids from Pre-K – Grade 5 can design their very own mug as a gift for Father’s Day. The Library will host a Summer Reading Club Launch with a BBQ on the Library Lawn on Sunday, June 26. Adults, teens, tweens and children should bring picnic blankets or chairs, sign up for summer reading and enjoy.

These and many other events are listed on the library website: www.floralparklibrary.org.

Four Village Studio (4VS)
Shows currently running include Wes Houston Presents with this episode highlighting “Americana Rock Quartet”. Let’s Be Franke with Patty Franke is also airing. All episodes are available under the “Watch Now” tab on the 4VS website where you can select any episode of any show. Please visit www.4VS.org for a complete listing of shows, dates and times.

Mayor Kevin Fitzgerald
I would like to echo Trustee Stewart regarding this weekend’s Pool opening, which was a huge success. Thank you to Recreation Superintendent Meyfohrt, Pool Director Dillon, Gena King, the staff, and especially Trustee Stewart. Thanks Jen, you did a great job getting the Pool open early and must have had an inside track on the Farmer’s Almanac with our great weather!

As a result of the Main Line Expansion, the LIRR service to Manhattan’s east side is improved with the opening of the new train concourse, Grand Central Madison. I looked at the planned timetable schedule and am happy to see that there is an uptick in trains scheduled for the Floral Park station. The LIRR will hold information sessions in June/July and a public meeting to allow for public comment on the timetables on July 13, 2022. More information can be found on https://new.mta.info/grandcentralmadison.

I am happy to report that we were just notified that the NYS Legislature has enacted legislation to allow for Floral Park to establish its own parking permits for designated streets negatively impacted by the Belmont UBS Arena. This will help Floral Park better manage the traffic and street parking for our residents when there are events happening. Thanks to the efforts of my fellow Trustees, and especially, Village Administrator Gerry Bambrick for their hard work. I’d like to acknowledge Senator Kaplan and Assemblywoman Michaelle Solages for their support.

This Saturday, will be the 154th Running of the Belmont Stakes and although attendance is limited to 50,000, the Village anticipates an uptick in traffic. Police Commissioner McAllister has developed a traffic plan and it will be posted on the Village and Police websites.

I would like to thank Brandon Duffy from Blank Slate Media and Felix Procaccia from Just the Facts Media for attending. Thank you.

No posts to display

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here