Department of Public Works – Deputy Mayor Fitzgerald
As many of you know the work on the reconstruction of Floral Boulevard got started. They’re making good progress. While we were hopeful that no trees would have to come down, unfortunately, this week we did learn that 10 trees need to come down. Speaking of trees as leaves start to fall we remind everyone not to sweep the leaves into the street.
Recreation Department – Trustee Pombonyo
The fall season at the park continues to be busy with our Fall Recreation programs for our youth, adults and seniors. Our baseball, softball, soccer and tennis games are in full gear and will soon be joined by our Screaming Eagles Roller Hockey teams. Five divisions of coed teams span ages pre-K to young adult. Come out to cheer on all our sports teams and, now, Screaming Eagles Roller Hockey, as more and more players are now signing up for this exciting sport.
Conservation Society – Trustee Pombonyo
Centennial Gardens continues to be a highly popular destination for all of those, young and older, who love the outdoors. This past weekend, over 430 visitors came into our Gardens to enjoy nature’s changing colors on a bright and sunny fall weekend. This number easily topped 500 when you count all of those strolling on the outside brick path, spending time taking all in on the benches, or engaging in enjoyable outdoor exercise on the outer lawns. Check out our Gardens for a breathtaking experience watching nature change through the four seasons. Thanks go to our Floral Park Conservation Society volunteers, Department of Parks, and Department of Public Works for their dedication and efforts in beautifying the Gardens each and every day.
Also helping to add beauty to the Gardens is our Recreation Department’s Saturday Gardening for Kids program. The children, ranging in age from two-and-a-half to nine, are planting perennials for the spring, weeding, and doing all that needs to be done to care for their area of the Children’s Garden. Iris Island is a special garden where the children completely weeded the area, prepared the bed, and replanted many iris bulbs. Watch for Iris Island’s beautiful colors this coming spring. Not to be forgotten is Halloween with a pumpkin patch activity for our Saturday gardeners, thanks to Village Market.
Covert Avenue Chamber of Commerce and Our Businesses – Trustee Pombonyo
Thanks to all for your ongoing concern and support for our nine Covert Avenue businesses that were affected by the Sunday morning, September 27th fire. Our businesses and property owners are slowly and methodically going through the complex decision-making processes regarding their future plans. To date, the Fire Marshal’s report on the fire has not been released. In the meantime, the COVERT AVENUE STRONG theme remains the focus of the Covert Avenue Chamber’s Facebook page, with suggestions on how we can continue to support our nine Covert businesses and beautiful tributes expressed by customers and friends. Watch for publicity about LIGHTS ON COVERT, an evening of special events and sales under the bright white lights to be strung in the trees that line Covert Avenue, coming soon.
Congratulations to the Corbetts! – Trustee Pombonyo
On October 8th, a national nonprofit organ transplant organization honored our own Ann and Bill Corbett. The Hearts For Russ charity was created in 2014 to increase participation in the New York State organ donation registry and support patients undergoing transplants and their families.
Just three years ago, Ann Corbett donated a kidney to her husband, Bill, at NYU Langone Health. The successful surgery was performed by renowned surgeon Dr. Robert Montgomery, himself a heart transplant recipient, who was awarded the Hearts For Russ Physician Award. The Corbetts received the Donor Family Award. All spoke eloquently about the life changing benefits of organ donation and expressed their deep appreciation to the Hearts For Russ charity. Ann is the former Mayor of Floral Park and current president of the Floral Park Historical Society. Bill is our former Village Justice and currently an attorney practicing in Floral Park.
A large audience of family and Floral Park friends participated in the awards ceremony via Zoom and enthusiastically applauded Ann, Bill and Dr. Montgomery. Ann and Bill are thanked for their decades of contributions in the Village of Floral Park, and wished great happiness and excellent health in the future.
Floral Park Fire Department – Trustee Archie Cheng
On Sunday, October 11th there was a “Salute to our Heroes” tribute which was held at Memorial Park. The celebration started with the 10:30 Mass. Immediately after Mass, there were several speakers who spoke about their experiences and sacrifices made by the members of the Floral Park Police Department, Floral Park Volunteer Fire Department, First Responders, nurses and other medical professionals who so valiantly served the New York region throughout the pandemic. The celebration was attended by a very large crowd. We give special thanks to Father Tom Fusco, Judge Hayden and John Keenan for their efforts in making this a most worthy tribute.
Third Track – Trustee Archie Cheng
As for the third track there is no new news to report. The work is progressing and it’s not as visible as it was in the past, but things are moving along!
Floral Park Police Department – Trustee Frank Chiara
Our police department continues to serve our community providing our Village with an extremely safe environment.
Reminders . . .
Please remember to lock your cars and homes to avoid any unwanted events. Recently three vehicles were entered into on a block off of Covert Avenue which the Department is investigating. All three vehicles were not locked.
With the start of the Floral Boulevard construction project, please be alert to changes in traffic patterns around the site.
Also with the increase of bicycle activity, please be safe while operating a bicycle and drivers be cautious when observing them.
Finally, Halloween may be very different this year due to COVID, please keep an eye out for our children that may be out and about on this day.
Thank you.
Building Department – Trustee Chiara
Due to a recent uptick, our building department has been very busy processing permits for home construction projects. They are reviewing and issuing permits as quickly as possible.
Renee Marcus, our Building Superintendent, and her team continues to work with the store owners along Covert Avenue to assist them in any way possible. They are waiting for environmental testing results and recommendations from their insurance companies for damage remediation. Our building department continues to be available to the business owners in addressing their needs.
We all wish the best to all the affected business and look forward to the day they will all reopen!
Library – Trustee Chiara
Our Library is gearing up for Halloween. They are offering a Halloween –themed Trivia game to see what everyone knows about Halloween. This event is open to teens, tweens, children and adults. The winner will receive a $25.00 gift card. Details are available on the library’s Facebook and Website homepages.
Our children’s librarian, Kathy Guidal, received a big THANK YOU from the Floral Park-Bellerose Summer program for kids. They thanked her and our library for hosting the virtual ‘read-aloud’ program this summer. The children loved it. THANK YOU, Miss Kathy for this program and all the other activities that you put together.
For our young readers for Halloween, there will be a Halloween Story Walk on the library lawn beginning Oct. 26th thru Oct. 31st. Young readers are invited to stop by and enjoy this story walk!
Please don’t forget the library’s participation in the Long Island Great Giveback Program. Donations continue to be accepted of packaged new socks in the library lobby. They will be donated to children at the Ronald Mc Donald House. We thank all who have generously donated and all who wish to do so may do so until Oct 31st.
Mayor’s Report – Mayor Longobardi
As everybody knows October is “Breast Cancer Awareness Month”. Around the end of September beginning of October we always have one of our greatest events in the Village…Liz’s Day. This year it happened ‘virtually’ to adapt to the Pandemic. Congratulations to the Liz’s Day Committee on all the work that they have done in raising funds for this important cause.
On Thursday night at 6:30 pm we will be recognizing Breast Cancer Awareness Month by have a ‘Pink Tree Lighting Ceremony’ similar to last month’s recognition of Pediatric Cancer. Please come down and join us – we think it will be a great night!
The Mayor thanked Felix Proccacia of ‘Just the Facts’ media.
The meeting ended at 8:20 pm.
