Floral Park Village meeting minutes report by Deputy Mayor Lynn Pombonyo and Trustee Frank Chiara.
Deputy Mayor Lynn Pombonyo:
Police Department;
National Prescription Drug Take Back Day took place in October. The Floral Park Police Department had a big turnout at Headquarters and collected seventy pounds of unused medications. Drug Enforcement Administration Agents joined to provide information, respond to questions and take the drugs for disposal. Thanks to the FPPD for sponsoring this important event every April and October, and to Floral Park Lions Club members Donna Langone and Irene Caniano for distributing valuable health and wellness items to our Take Back Day participants.
Recently, two Floral Park police officers were speaking with a suspected perpetrator from outside her car when the individual began driving, hitting both of them. They sustained leg injuries which required medical treatment, but not hospitalization. We are all fortunate that our officers are well, and want to remind all to thank our FPPD for putting their lives in danger to keep us safe.
Our joyous holiday season is often the time for Porch Pirates. These are individuals who steal recently delivered packages from in front of our homes and businesses. FPPD has some valuable suggestions to avoid being a victim of the Porch Pirates: specify that package deliveries go to the side or back door; ask a neighbor or friend to watch for a package when you’re not at home or at your business; and do not schedule deliveries for weekends when you may not be present to receive them. As FPPD wishes all a happy holiday season, they want to help our residents and businesses avoid being victims of crimes.
Conservation Society;
An annual highlight of autumn in Floral Park is the Fairie Forest Festival, celebrated at Centennial Gardens and Bird Sanctuary. Under a spectacular October sky and brightly colored leaves, over 550 children, teens and adults, in Halloween and Fairie attire, were dazzled by an array of tiny, handcrafted Fairie Villages under the trees. There were Leprechaun, Halloween, Artist, Music, School and Bakery Villages, and many other creative miniature scenes to enjoy, all while Fairie storytellers were sharing their magical tales.
There are so many people to thank for this day in Floral Park. First, the FPCS Fairie leadership and Producer Ann Moynagh; Creator Marina Horan who inspired the Fairie Family House Contest, featuring all-natural tiny houses, built by our Fairie fans and now on display at the Floral Park Library; Fairie Greeters Christy Reisig and Jean Sinnott; and President Dennis McEnery. Then, there were the fifty FPCS Volunteers, families and friends; Superintendent Kurt Meyfohrt and Joann Deeks, Kathy Burrous, Lisa O’Grady and Chris Indelicato of the Parks Department; The Wheatley High School Volunteers from East Williston who did a super pre-cleanup and weeding; Superintendent Kevin Ginnane, Supervisor Kevin Pearsall and our DPW; and, most of all, Artist and Craftsman Dominick McCartan from Ireland who made the Fairies and Villages come to life. Proceeds will go to our nonprofit FPCS for even more Gardens’ enhancements.
And, after a sunny and bright 2024 season and now, late afternoon darkness, the Gardens hours are 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., seven days a week, through Sunday, Dec. 1 when the Gardens will close until April 2025. Enjoy the last three weeks!
Chambers of Commerce and Our Businesses
October is a special month for our Chambers of Commerce as the Nassau Council of Chambers of Commerce celebrates the Businesspersons of the Year in each of approximately forty local Chambers.
This year, there were three Floral Park winners:
The Floral Park Chamber of Commerce proudly announces its Businessperson of the Year Tania Lawes. Lawes is the Director of External Affairs and Community Engagement for the NY Islanders hockey team. With offices in Floral Park, she has strong connections with the surrounding communities and plays an active role in our Belmont Stakes Street Fair. And, to be continued this year is Floral Park Skates, an event when our Village will be invited to skate on the outside ice rink at the UBS Arena.
The Covert Avenue Chamber of Commerce selected Nassau County Legislator John Giuffre as its Businessperson of the Year. In addition, Giuffre is a local attorney with an office right on Covert Avenue. He is very active in Chamber activities and represented Floral Park in the County Legislature following the COVID pandemic. Always a friend to Floral Park, Giuffre has provided valuable support to our businesses.
The Lynbrook Chamber of Commerce Businessperson of the Year is one of our own. Bill Corbett is President of Corbett Public Relations, Inc. in Floral Park. Corbett’s firm has generated millions of dollars worth of media coverage for clients, and assisted them in building their brands and generating hundreds of millions of dollars in sales. Joining the celebration for Corbett was Ann Corbett, former Floral Park Mayor, Historical Society President and Corbett’s mom.
Congratulations to Tania, John and Bill! We salute you and thank you for all your contributions to our communities and businesses.
Now, be sure to save the dates for our Chambers’ coming attractions, the exciting details to follow:
Floral Park Chamber and Junior Woman’s Club of Floral Park Christmas Festival and Tree Lighting on Friday, Dec. 6 at 6 p.m. at Memorial Park on Tulip Avenue.
Covert Avenue Chamber and Village of Stewart Manor Annual Tree Lighting on Saturday, Dec. 14 at 4:30 p.m. on Covert Avenue.
FPM Shout-Out
Cheers for our Floral Park Memorial High School Marching Band as they traveled to Syracuse University to participate in the New York State Field Band Conference Championships. And for the second time in three years, our FPM Marching Band took home a Third Place trophy!
Greeting the Marching Band buses as they pulled onto Tulip Avenue were two of our FPPD cars, two of our FPFD Chiefs’ cars and enthusiastic fans. With flashing lights, sirens and horns, they escorted our award-winning Marching Band musicians and Director Matt Povolny back to a cheering crowd of families and friends at FPM.
Trustee Frank Chiara:
Library:
The month of November is starting and there are lots of planned activities and events taking place at the Floral Park Library.
During the month of November, the Library will be running their Annual Food for Fines program. Library card holders can have up to $5 of their overdue fines waived by donating foods items. The collected food items will be donated to the OLV Food Pantry to help those in need. Food items can be donated even if a patron doesn’t have overdue fines.
With Veterans Day approaching, the library is hosting a Teen Veterans Community Service Event on Nov. 8 from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. Teens will make toiletry size bottles of shampoo, conditioner and hand lotion that will be distributed to veterans in need. This program is eligible for community service credit for any teens who may need them.
On Nov. 14, there will be two events which can help participants deal with some of life’s issues:
From 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., The Family and Children’s Association will share information on case management, crisis intervention and family mediation for young people.
From 6:45 p.m. to 7:45 p.m., the Conscious Parenting Educator Diana Lourenso will give an alternative approach to traditional parenting by encouraging parents to cultivate a deep understanding of their own emotions, triggers and belief systems. By doing so it will help parents feel calmer, less reactive, and more connected.
Details on these and other scheduled events can be found on the Library’s website at FloralParkLibrary.org.
Fire Department
Just Do Good Entertainment is a production company creating a new series called “Finding Kindness”. They are identifying individuals with small businesses, despite facing challenges, who chose to give back to their community, charities and organizations. Zef Noci owner of “Zef’s Pizza Firetruck” who is a resident of the Village of Floral Park was selected to be recognized.
Noci started his business during the pandemic. He purchased a used 1985 fire truck and retro fitted it with a wood burning stove. The firetruck is driven to any location and offers a menu of indyuvial size specialty pizzas for any occasion. The firetruck is definitely an attraction and the freshly made pizzas are delicious. Noci often offers children the ability to explore the firetruck when it is on site. It is a very unique business run by an amazing individual.
Noci not only finds the time to run his business but donates a lot his time to give back to others. He donates his time, his pizzas, no matter the expenses he incurs, to many charitable organizations. He is selfless individual who truly believes in giving back by helping others.
Noci was hired to work an event being held by the Floral Park Fire Department Headquarters. After setting up at the location, Noci was surprised to find out the event he was asked to participate in was a celebration being held for him. At the event he was recognized for his kindness to others. He was given a gift certificate provided by Restaurant Depot, along with a three-month PR campaign from the Bill Corbett PR firm, and Just Do Good Entertainment gifted Noci with many cords of wood for his wood burning oven. Needless to say, Noci was flabbergasted and extremely humbled by this recognition. The entire event was filmed, to be aired on various platforms and networks early in the first quarter of 2025.
And with Veterans Day approaching I’d like to thank all our veterans for the sacrifices you’ve made in service to our country.
