Deputy Mayor Lynn Pombonyo
Police Department
Our Police Department continues its support of our community’s nonprofit organizations. This past weekend, thousands enthusiastically participated in the Hance Family Foundation’s Fun Day races (Emma’s Mile, the 5K and Pee Wee), then joined neighbors and friends inside Centennial Gardens for games, food, music, fun and those great raffle prizes.
All the while, our Floral Park Police guided race participants through the Village, keeping the runners, pedestrians, drivers and residents all safe, both out on our streets and in our Gardens. Thank you to Commissioner McAllister, Lieutenant Doherty, Sergeants Vigorito and Cosmo, our Officers, as well as Chief Arrigo and our Fire Department’s Rescue Company and NYU Langone’s ambulance services. All helped to make both Hance Family Fun Day and Mary Quinn’s Mark Foundation’s Afternoon At Trinity beautiful, sunny successes.
Our FPPD is issuing strong alerts to watch out for advertising scams, both online and in publications. Criminal scammers now use the logos and graphics of well-known companies to entice and, often, pressure customers into purchasing and renewing contracts and subscriptions, adding costly service options, and paying bills in nontraditional ways.
We need to watch out for misspellings, unusual return email addresses or unidentifiable phone numbers, and callers who use our personal information to find out more about us. And never arrange to make payments that the scammer claims are required, no matter how legitimate they sound. Questions? Call our FPPD. Suspect that you are the victim of a scam? Report it to our FPPD immediately. Acting immediately helps our Police to prevent or minimize disastrous damages for victims.
And, following this week’s Nassau County 911 system outage, we want to assure you that, at no time did the Floral Park Police Department lose incoming or outgoing communications. At all times, FPPD was on patrol and in communication with fire and emergency services, as well as the Nassau County Police Department, via backup systems.
Village residents, who cannot directly reach a 911 operator in an emergency, are reminded that you may reach our FPPD to report a fire or medical emergency by dialing the Police Department’s direct line at 516-326-6400. Our first responders will get to you quickly.
Conservation Society (FPCS)
This past weekend, our Centennial Gardens and Bird Sanctuary was host to the Hance Foundation’s Family Fun Day. Our Gardens treasure couldn’t have looked greener or more colorful and beautiful.
Many thanks go to the FPCS volunteers and president Dennis McEnery for their loving Gardens care; the Parks Department and Superintendent Kurt Meyfohrt for their daily upkeep; the Department of Public Works, Superintendent Kevin Ginnane and Supervisor Kevin Pearsall for their outside maintenance; John Power and Con-Kel Landscaping for their seasonal maintenance; and the Hance Family volunteers for their many special preparations. It truly was A BEST DAY in Floral Park!
Now, don’t forget to see the Gardens for yourself, open seven days a week, 12-5 PM. And be sure to vote for our Centennial Gardens and Bird Sanctuary for Nassau County’s Best Public Garden of the Year three years in a row. You can vote early and often, up to Friday, May 24th at: theisland360.com/contest2024
Chambers of Commerce and Our Businesses
Our busy businesses and Chambers of Commerce never stop. The Covert Avenue Chamber will meet on Tuesday, May 28th, 7 PM at Jameson’s Restaurant on Tulip Avenue.
Town of Hempstead Receiver of Taxes Jeanine Driscoll will speak about how the TOH and her office support our small businesses. Councilman Tom Muscarella will join us, too. There will be plenty of opportunities for networking and October 5th Street Fair planning. Register for the meeting at: [email protected]
And the Floral Park Chamber is counting down the days until their Belmont Street Fair, coming the night before the Belmont Stakes race which will be run at Saratoga this year. Save the date for the FP Chamber Street Fair on Tulip Avenue on Friday night, June 7th, 5-10 PM. Come one and all!
Don’t forget that the Floral Park Chamber has been nominated as Best Chamber of Commerce of Nassau County. Cast your votes until May 24th at: theisland360.com/contest2024
Show all of Nassau County that Floral Park has and is the best, and SHOP AND DINE LOCAL!
Trustee Frank Chiara
Library
The month of May is almost over and there are lots of planned activities and events taking place at the Floral Park Library:
- On Monday, June 3rd, at 6:30 PM the library is hosting Sewing with the Pompom Queen where kids in grades 1 through 5 (with 1 adult present) can come to the library to learn the basics of sewing. There will be three sessions held in the month of June (the 3rd, 10th and 17th). The classes will start with the basics and work its way toward completing an easy project.
- On Tuesday, June 4th, at 6:45 PM the library will be hosting a Cricut Craft event with Yvette. She will teach the class how to create a simple tote bag and drink cup using a cricut. If you are 18 or older you can register for the class. Registration will take place in person and there will be a $10 (cash only) fee for materials.
Details on these and other scheduled events can be found on the Library’s website at www.floralparklibrary.org .
Don’t forget to cast your votes for the Best of Nassau County. Our Village of Floral Park Library is up for its fourth year in a row to be voted “Best in Nassau County.” To vote you can go on the Library’s Website at www.floralparklibrary.org and click on the display banner to register your vote. You can also go to www.theisland360.com/contest2024 to cast your vote. You can vote daily, so please consider doing so.
Fire Department
On Saturday May 18th, our Volunteer Fire Department celebrated their 100th Anniversary of the Active Engine Company in the West End. The celebration was kicked off with a number of local Elected Officials recognizing this milestone by giving citations for their 100th year celebration.
The afternoon was enjoyed by family and friends, sharing memories of the many dedicated services that the Company has performed over the many years. I want to congratulate the Active Company on their 100th Anniversary and thank them for their service and time they have devoted to assist our neighbors in their time of need.
On Sunday, May 19th the Fire Department had a swearing in ceremony for the Fire Explorer Post 129. Our Explorer program, which is run by volunteers, currently has 15 members. The members are all teens who have shown an interest in fire service and or emergency medical assistance.
They will be mentored and participate in fire safety training to give them an idea of what it would be like to be a firefighter or an EMT. We are hopeful that these Explores will one day volunteer to become a member of the Floral Park Fire Department.
A special thanks goes out to the Post Director Lawrence Goerke, Post Chairman John Florio, and Post Advisors Matthew Florio, Julie Choy, Dave Sparrow, Carol Ragona, Robert Gartner and Steve Dilgilo. These volunteer members dedicate their time to mentor teens in the hope that they will one day join the FP Fire Department.
Beautification Committee
Our Beautification committee was out in full force last weekend planting over 2,000 flowers throughout the Village. The committee, run by Donna Sanchez, is a volunteer group of individuals who dedicate their time planting and caring for the flowers which add to the beauty of our Village. This year the Girl Scouts Troops 1437, 1187, and 1322 came out to assist the committee with the plantings. Thank You to the committee and all the girls for doing such a wonderful job.
Trustee Jennifer Stewart
MTA
Please be reminded that the dumpster located near the Carnation Avenue intersection is for LIRR employee use only. For comments and concerns please contact the MTA at MTA.info.
DPW
I want to give a big thanks to our DPW Department for all the preparation and break down work done for two large mainstays of life in Floral Park, which were the Hance Family Foundation Family Fun Day and the Mary Quinn Mark’s Foundation Fundraiser at Trinity. Without the work of DPW, these events could not have happened. A special thanks to Supervisors Kevin Roe and Kevin Pearsall for all their efforts. In addition to these DPW continues to hang our Military Banners around the Village in preparation of Memorial Day.
The Highway Department has put down 20 tons of hot asphalt at various locations, and has swept all roads. The Parks Department has mowed and performed maintenance at all Village Parks, including a rather large clean-up at Lions Park, necessitated by a large dumping of trash at that location.
The Sanitation Department collected 58 tons of household waste, 7 tons of paper, 3 tons of plastic and glass as well as 12 tons of bulk rubbish. Village trees were trimmed and diseased trees removed. Last Thursday night a tree fell on Emerson Avenue, the Tree Department Crew responded for removal. Additionally, the Tree Department planted trees along Covert Avenue, all in an effort to maintain our status as a Tree City, USA and a most beautiful place to live.
The Water Authority has begun work on Ash Street replacing water mains. Work is expected to last through the winter on Ash Street, Willow Street, Carnation Avenue, Cypress Street, Oak Street, Aspen Street and Birch Street. Please call the Water Authority at 516-327-4100 with any questions related to this project.
4VS
Some of the offerings on 4VS next week include: Uncorked by Rex Whicker; “A Fireside Chat” with Wine Sales Representative Mostafa Nassir; and Stephanie Larkin’s, The Author Corner with Dr. Ray Ann Havasy, Director of the Center for Science Teaching and Learning.
Cultural Arts
The Cultural Arts committee has met and is busy planning our summer concert series. Keep an eye out for those dates and plan on attending our concerts in the park!
Please be reminded that our annual Memorial Day Parade and Ceremony will be held on Monday, May 27th. The parade kicks off at 10:00 AM and our annual Memorial Day Ceremony will start at 11:00 AM in Memorial Park. Please come out and support our fallen heroes.
Trustee Michael Longobardi
Building Department
This morning, the Town of Hempstead IDA was approved for the proposed development at the Covert Avenue Fire Property. Construction is expected to start soon. Construction continues at the former Centennial Hall site; projected timeline is approximately 12 months from the start.
The pedestrian walkway which will connect the Tulip Avenue intersection to the spur parking field is expected to start by the end of the month. Interior reconstruction continues in the fire property at 266 Jericho Turnpike.
The next meeting of the Architectural Review Board has been rescheduled to Wednesday May 29th. Among the applications is a re-submittal of the restaurant at 99 Covert Avenue showing the requested changes to the site plan.
We would like to remind all property owners about their responsibility to maintain residential lawns, including grass trips along the street in front of their property as well as commercial owners’ requirement to keep properties free from tall grass and weeds. The warm weather is starting and the grass is growing quickly. Please ensure everyone maintains their property in accordance with the Village ordinance. Resident cooperation is very much appreciated.
Recreation and Pool
Registration for the pool as well as the park and pool programs is ongoing. The Annual Summer 2024 Recreation Booklet is available online on the Village Website at fpvillage.org, in the lobby of the pool building, and has been posted on various social media pages. There is a QR code you can scan to have full access to the booklet.
The pool building is now open from 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM Monday to Friday for information and registration. Registration forms are also available online on the Village Website or at the pool building. Opening day for the pool is scheduled for Saturday June 8th at 12:00 Noon. We expect to start filing the pool by the end of the week.
I want to thank our pool staff for their hard work getting everything ready. There is a lot of work that goes into opening the pool for the season. Recreation session 2 programs have ended or will end by the end of this week. The Little League Spring Baseball has reached the halfway point.
We remind our residents that leisure passes are required for use of the faculties. Smoking and bicycles are prohibited in the recreation complex. John Lewis Childs School Field Days were held yesterday and today.
The kids enjoyed the beautiful weather. The pool building elevator is down for a few days; we are waiting for a part to complete the repairs.
Town-Village Aircraft Safety & Noise Abatement Committee (TVASNAC)
I would like to thank Andrew Weiss, our dedicated representative on the committee, for all his hard work attending the meetings each month, as well as taking the time last week to attend the North End Civic Meeting. He gave a brief overview of what TVASNAC is as well as some updates on their efforts with the FAA and airplane noise.
If you want to make a noise complaint regarding air traffic, you can call 1-800-225-1071. You can also go to the Village website at fpvillage.org which has the links under the TVASNAC Noise Complaint Contact Information Page on our home page
Memorial Day is this weekend. As we enjoy our families, BBQs, airshows, parades, and hopefully beautiful weather, we are reminded of what the day is all about. Please take a moment to remember those that made the supreme sacrifice serving our country so we can enjoy events like these.
Hope to see all our residents and friends on Tulip Avenue and Memorial Park this Monday, May 27th at 10:00 AM for our parade and remembrance ceremony. Have a wonderful safe holiday weekend.
Mayor Kevin Fitzgerald
Prior to the start of the Regular Meeting the Mayor requested a moment of silence for Michael Paolino who was a former Village Trustee 1979-1982.
I received information from NYRA today informing us that on Tuesday, June 4th at 6:30 PM they will be hosting an Information Session for Small Businesses. The topics will include the project overview and subcontracting opportunities that are being offered. We will be positing the information on our website at fpvillage.org and will be listing it in our bi-weekly newsletter. For more information visit https://www.nyra.com/belmont/.
PSEG informed us that they will have to do significant work with the Belmont substation, which will include the installation of two underground transmission circuits. The circuits will run from the Belmont substation to the Lake Success substation. The construction will include the installation of the transmission lines which will go under Plainfield Avenue northbound up to Emerson Avenue, east on Lowell Avenue to Lakeville Road.
The projected start date is mid to late June. There will be traffic inconveniences once the work starts. We will get the dates and times out to the public as we know more.
Hopefully we can work with PSEG to minimize the disruption of the project since they will be working on a major North/South thoroughfare. You can find more information at https://www.psegliny.com/reliability/belmont
Trustee Pombonyo added that there is a second substation in Franklin Square where there will be transmission lines installed underground and the project will take place on the south end of Plainfield Avenue from Belmont toward Hempstead Turnpike, into Franklin Square.
That part of the project won’t affect Floral Park directly however it might impact traffic. There will be two sets of projects happening simultaneously. One connecting Belmont to Lake Success and the other connecting Belmont to Franklin Square.
Lastly, I would like to mention that Monday is Memorial Day. I hope to see everyone come out. There is always an impressive turnout from the residents of Floral Park. It’s a great way of showing our appreciation for not only existing servicemen, but more importantly to the men and women who gave their lives in service to our county and its freedoms.
Trustee Pombonyo added that Floral Park is a Purple Heart Village so we always commemorate and acknowledge our purple heart recipients. This year is the 80th anniversary of D-Day at the battle of Normandy. Floral Park has several residents who are over 100 years old and have fought in the battle.
One of them won’t be at Memorial Day because amazingly he will be traveling to Normandy to participate in those ceremonies. The other gentleman is 103 and if he is healthy and able, he will be at our ceremony. Certainly, we will be honoring him and all our other heroes from D-Day who happen to come to our ceremony.
