Deputy Mayor Lynn Pombonyo:
Police Department:
This week, the Floral Park Police Department officers and detectives, working with Nassau County detectives and the Crime Squad, are vigorously investigating a recent North End burglary on Holland Avenue. The two departments frequently collaborate on criminal activity and evidence, including home videos, those from neighbors and fingerprints. This investigation will be ongoing.
The FPPD recommends that, if you see someone or something suspicious and you are concerned, call 911 or (516) 326-6400 right away. Every minute counts in helping our FPPD prevent and solve crimes.
Oct. 26 is National Prescription Drug Take Back Day from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in front of Police Headquarters, next to Village Hall. You are urged to use this opportunity to properly dispose of any medications that have expired or are no longer needed. Simply bring them to the FPPD, in or out of the original containers, and drop them off in the Police Take Back Day boxes. The Floral Park Lions Club will be joining us to distribute complimentary health and wellness items.
Chambers of Commerce and Our Businesses:
The Covert Avenue Chamber of Commerce welcomed Autumn with the street fair on a perfect first Saturday in October. Crowds of all ages, in the thousands, enjoyed visiting the Covert Avenue businesses, tents filled with interesting items to enjoy, a pumpkin patch, fun foods, inviting raffles, entertaining music and children’s amusements.
The Covert Avenue Chamber next meets on Oct. 22 at 7 p.m. at Jameson’s of Floral Park on Tulip Avenue. All businesses are invited to register at CovertAvenueChamber.org
The Floral Park Chamber of Commerce is partnering with the Floral Park Memorial High School Virtual Enterprises class. “Virtual Enterprises International (VE) is a high school program that teaches students about business through hands-on coursework and experience. VE students create and manage a virtual company, and conduct business with other virtual companies nationally and internationally. The program enables students to learn about careers, develop interpersonal and organizational skills, and use technology.”
Floral Park Chamber members, including president Marie Grant and vice president Shane Parouse, act as Business Mentors; visit the high school class; guide the students in selecting their company’s officers and making other important decisions; and share valuable expertise.
The next interesting meeting of the Floral Park Chamber will take place at Stella’s Ristorante on Jericho Turnpike on Nov. 7 at 6 p.m. Businesses may register at FloralParkChamber.org
Conservation Society:
It’s just 11 days until the Faire Forest Festival at the Centennial Gardens and Bird Sanctuary on Oct. 26 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Fun for children and adults alike, you’ll be amazed at the tiny Fairies in their tiny Fairy Farming, Fishing, Baking, Music, Artist, Leprechaun and Halloween Villages and more! Check out the Floral Park Centennial Gardens and Village of Floral Park Facebook pages for details about the Festival and the loveliest of Fairie photos. FPCS needs Volunteers to help out, so contact Faire Forest Festival Creator Ann Moynagh at fpcentennial@gmail.com.
The final FPCS Weed-out of the 2024 season is on Nov. 2 at 9 a.m., rain or shine.
Halloween Happenings:
Before you head to the Fairie Forest Festival on Oct. 26, be sure to stop at the Covert Avenue Chamber of Commerce annual Treat Trail from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Follow the blue pumpkins on the Covert Avenue store windows, and get your allergy free treats.
Trustee Frank Chiara:
Library:
The month of October is halfway through and there are lots of planned activities and events taking place at the Floral Park Library:
On Oct. 24, the Floral Park Library Urban Explorers are going off on another adventure. They will be taking a tour of Roosevelt Island. The tour will include a visit to the Lighthouse Park, the Four Freedom State Park and amazing views of Manhattan’s East Side. The trip will begin at Floral Park via the Long Island Railroad Station at 9 a.m. with the anticipated return of 4:30 p.m.
On Oct. 29 at 7 p.m., the library will be having a program on the basics of a popular AI platform “ChatGPT”. Karen Quinones-Smith, an AI consultant, will be providing hands on instruction of the basics to the platform. She will show participants how to log on and “chat” to get information and answers interactively. Participants are encouraged to bring their tablets or laptops to the class.
The Village of Floral Park Library is participating in the NYS Public Libraries Initiative, the Great Giveback. The library is having a warm drive to benefit Ronald McDonald House Charities. Anyone can donate new children’s hats, scarves, mittens, gloves, socks, blankets, pajamas and stuffed animals to cuddle. There is a bin located in the lobby of the Library for donations.
Details on these and other scheduled events can be found on the Library’s website at floralparklibrary.org.
Fire Department:
The Volunteer Fire Department held a 50th Anniversary celebration for two of their Reliance Engine Company’s Firefighters: Firefighter Leigh Tyrrel and Firefighter Louis DiSunno.
Both of these distinguished firefighters joined the department in 1974. They both served and continue to serve our community in various roles within the department. Their dedication has served as an example to others, both young and old.
“We congratulate them both on this amazing 50-year achievement and we thank them, along with the Village of Floral Park for all the years of volunteer service to our community, for all the service that they provide to our community, and assisting their fellow residents in their time of need. Thank You to their families, who supported them while they volunteered for the Fire Department. Congratulations Leigh and Lou!”
On Oct. 12, the Fire Department held a dedication ceremony for its new training center. The training center was named after an individual that has made an enormous impact and serves as an inspiration to so many of the Floral Park Fire Department members, Lieutenant William “Billy” Hecker. Billy served as a Lieutenant in the Alert Company.
Billy started his volunteer serviced in 1990. He served on several committees within the company and took a special interest in training others within the department. He was committed to teaching new members the proper techniques and use of the power tools. The last committee he served on was the fit testing committee. Durning the days of Covid-19 pandemic Billy still met members to be fit tested to ensure that the members would be safe during fire situations. In April of 2021, Billy succumbed to Covid-19. He will always be remembered for his dedication and unselfish attitude toward his fellow firefighters.
“The training center could not have been named after a better Firefighter, a perfect example of a dedicated volunteer who not only served his community, but always looked out for his fellow firefighters. This training center, in Billys memory, will be used by the members of the Floral Park Fire Department and other Departments in the area to provide realist base training enabling its members to hone their firefighting skills. Thank You to all of our volunteer members!”
The Alert Fire Company is having their annual Comedy Night at The Firehouse on Nov. 9. Tickets are $60 per person, which includes beer, wine, soda and snacks. Contact Kevin Shanahan at (516) 987-5732 for tickets. There is a lineup of four hilarious comedians and it will be a very entertaining night. Come out to have a fun night, supporting the Alert Fire Company.
There were a number of calls for service for the month of September, including Floral Park Fire companies that responded to 32 Calls, NYU Langone Ambulance responded to 63 calls, Floral Park Ambulance responded to 10 calls and there was one mutual aid call to assist neighboring communities.
