Recreation Department – Trustee Lynn Pombonyo
Come to the park to enjoy our fastest growing sport – pickleball, with classes Friday morning at 11am (registration required if you wish to participate), and ongoing practices and games on tennis court 4 and our all-purpose rink. Come out and join the fun!
Department of Public Works – Trustee Lynn Pombonyo
National Grid contractors are currently filling the curb line pavement indentations created by gas main work done previously. This work is taking place on sections of Marshall and Orchid, and on Hill, Fern, Revere Drive East and Revere Court. The repaving project, to be completed with the Village working collaboratively with National Grid, will commence in November. All of that project is paid by funding from National Grid compensating the Village to repave its gas main construction areas and from CHIPS state funding. Separately, Marshall Avenue, from Covert to Orchid, will be a full road reconstruction project.
Residents who want trees for your curb line grassy areas, please call DPW at 326-6320.
Chambers of Commerce and Our Businesses – Trustee Lynn Pombonyo
At the site of last year’s fire on Covert Avenue, new, secure fencing has been installed and anchored along the property line on Covert Avenue. This has opened up the sidewalk on Covert Avenue to pedestrians as well as the parking spaces on the street. The parking meters have also been reinstalled. The previous outer fencing on the street has been removed. Thanks go to Building Superintendent Renee Marcus, DPW Superintendent Kevin Ginnane, and our DPW staff for their efforts in resolving this issue and cleaning up the sidewalk and street to increase safety and improve the appearance of the block.
As Halloween, Thanksgiving and the holidays approach, visit our business districts on Covert, Tulip and Jericho to enjoy the festive window displays and seasonal surprises. For all your fall and holiday occasions, SHOP AND DINE LOCAL!
Conservation Society – Trustee Lynn Pombonyo
The Floral Park Conservation Society is proud to celebrate honors recently bestowed on one of their most active and dedicated volunteers, Patrick Sexton. A resident of the Village, Patrick was declared Clareperson of the Year by the County Clare Association of Ireland. Dennis McEnery, Conservation Society president, and Patrick’s fellow volunteers joined Patrick at a dinner dance at the Irish American Society in Mineola. In Patrick’s honor, the County Clare Association is donating a beautiful entranceway trellis and planters for the Centennial Gardens Giving Gardens where Patrick has grown and provided thousands of pounds of fresh vegetables for our poor and needy community members, in addition to his humanitarianism and giving throughout his life. We extend our congratulations and great appreciation to Patrick Sexton of our Floral Park Conservation Society.
And coming this Saturday, October 23rd from 1-4pm is the Conservation Society’s Fairie Forest Festival featuring tiny fairies galore and their little fairie spots hidden throughout the Gardens. Wear your fairie wings and costumes, follow the fairie trails, collect your special tokens, and then enjoy some refreshments. All of our families are invited to this very unique event created by our talented Conservation Society volunteer, Ann Moynagh. Proceeds will go to the maintenance and enhancements of our Gardens. For the exciting details and magical photos, see the Floral Park Centennial Gardens facebook page.
Around Our Village – Trustee Lynn Pombonyo
Halloween is in the air, and up and down our Village streets. Enjoy the creative, colorful and spooky Halloween displays on our homes’ front lawns, especially after dark. And remember, Halloween comes on a Sunday this year. Keep our trick-or-treaters safe and drive carefully. Happy Halloween to all!
Third Track Project – Trustee Archie Cheng
Additional conduit is scheduled to be installed under Tulip Avenue under the Railroad Station for the next two weeks. There may be traffic diversions and 3TC flaggers will be present while this work is being done. There will be a double track outage on the Main Line of the LIRR during the Oct. 23 and Oct. 30 weekends.
Finally, the Cross Island Parkway will be closed this weekend (Oct 23 & 24) due to the installation of girders for the new “Elmont” LIRR station.
Fire Department – Trustee Archie Cheng
The Fire Department held their annual installation dinner last week. Due to the pandemic, last year’s was postponed. The two most recent Ex-Chiefs, Sal Arrigo and Pat McAllister were honored and thanked for their exemplary service. The Mayor swore in the new Chief, Mike Saville and the Staff and Officers of the Department were also sworn in.
October is Fire Prevention Month. On Oct. 22, the Department will be holding School Fire Drills at JLCS, FPBS and FPM.
Please remember to change the batteries in your Smoke and Carbon Monoxide detectors. Thank you.
Trustee Jennifer Stewart
On Thursday 10/14, I was happy to attend a recognition ceremony honoring local business Uptown Taco at Hempstead Town Hall. Uptown Taco had its doors open for six days when then NY Governor Cuomo put our state ‘on pause’ in March of 2020. No one would have batted an eye if Uptown closed its doors. They didn’t. Instead, they fed first responders and doctors and nurses hard at work in hospitals, they worked hard and stayed open taking advantage of Floral Park’s outdoor dining, one of the first municipalities to offer outdoor dining to its restaurants, offering residents delicious tacos in a comfortable friendly and safe environment. Today they continue to support our community by sponsoring teams; both youth athletic teams as well as adult volleyball and donating meals where one is needed. We are so fortunate to have this wonderful business, along with many others, run by local folks, congratulations again to Uptown Taco!
On Sunday 10/17, a dream of mine came true, I was in the winner’s circle, along with Mayor Fitzgerald and Village Clerk Susan Walsh, to present the winning jockey, Jose Leczano with his first-place trophy in the fourth annual Floral Park cup race at Belmont Park.
Congratulations to Mr. Leczano and trainer Christophe Clement, it was a fantastic race!!
Floral Park Library – Trustee Jennifer Stewart
Before any Library news, I have an announcement, our very own part time librarian, Kelly Fernandez, is an author! She has written AND illustrated a kid’s graphic novel, Manu! Not only has Ms. Fernandez written and illustrated a novel, but she has also received tremendous positive acclaim from book reviewers. For example, Book List gives it a “Starred Review”, highlighting their review of this book for its excellence. Congratulations to Ms. Fernandez! We are so fortunate to have such talent on our library staff!
The great give back at the library, benefitting the NYRA Backstretch workers ends 10/31. They are accepting donations of all kinds of baby and children’s items through the end of the month.
November will begin the library’s “Food for Fines” month, bring a can of food along with your overdue or previously lost book, and your fines will disappear!!
It’s already time to start thinking about Christmas decorating. The Boy Scouts have your decorating needs covered; they will once again host their Christmas Wreath sale on the library lawn on 11/27.
I would also like to publicly recognize village employee Sal Cotilletta. He greets everyone he meets with a smile and kind word and recently has worked so hard to make physical improvements to our library. The library staff, board, and I thank him profusely. The entrance to the library looks incredible.
Mayor’s Report – Mayor Kevin Fitzgerald
Good evening. Trustee Chiara asked me to report in his absence on a few events that are scheduled. On Saturday, October 24, 2021, the Floral Park Police Department, sponsored by the CREW Committee will be participating in the Drug Enforcement Agency’s “Drug Take Back Day” from 10am to 2pm. Residents will be able to drop off and dispose of any unwanted and expired medicines at the Police Station. Each year a large amount (by lbs.) are safely disposed of. Please participate and support the good work of the Police Department and CREW.
Also, on Saturday, October 30th at the Police Station, the Floral Park Police Department is hosting its annual Halloween event from 1pm – 3pm. It is fun to see the trick-or-treaters dressed up as Police Officers (and First Responders) and we look forward to seeing all of you there. The Police Officers and staff give out treats and the kids have a great time.
This past Sunday, I attended the ‘Floral Park Stakes’ with Trustee Stewart and Village Clerk Walsh at the Belmont Racetrack. NYRA livestreamed an overview and commentary on Floral Park. It is aired on the nationally syndicated FOXSPORTS2 and thanks to NYRA, the Belmont Racetrack, Pat McKenna and Glen Kozak for this wonderful presentation and tribute.
I would like to “pre-congratulate” Fr. Thomas Fusco, Pastor of Our Lady of Victory Parish, and Fr. Rafal and the OLV administration on officially celebrating its 100th Anniversary on October 22, 2021 for opening its doors to the parishioners and residents of the Inc. Village of Floral Park. OLV is truly the heart of Floral Park and is very near and dear to myself and my family personally; and to the Village’s community with its church, school and outreach programs. Congratulations and we look forward to the many celebration events that are planned in the next month.
Thank you to Felix Procaccia of ‘Just the Facts Media’ for being here this evening.
