Deputy Mayor Lynn Pombonyo
Animals and Wildlife
Since February and March, our Board Reports have included messages about animals and wildlife. In March, our theme was “Caring For Outdoor Animals Safely.” We described unanticipated problems that can ensue unless specific precautions are taken when feeding animals outdoors.
Briefly, these included monitoring the animal as he/she is eating your food outdoors, and discarding leftover food and the containers in plastic bags and closed receptacles immediately after feeding. Proper animal care and property maintenance will ensure that the animal you are feeding is not injured by a hungry competitor and that unwanted insects, rodents and wild animals aren’t attracted to open containers of food that remain outdoors and become an unwanted animal’s food.
We thank all who are here tonight for caring for our outdoor animal friends, and appreciate your understanding of the time that the Board has taken since January to collaborate with those who have expertise and experience with animals and wildlife, and have displayed good will.
Police Department
Our Police Department enforces laws to ensure our safety and maintain our quality of life.
Parking laws and violations have received greater attention, as our Officers have issued over 1000 parking summonses during the month of March. Parking time limits ensure that the purpose of the parking lots and our street parking in certain areas is upheld. Providing our business customers, our business employees and our commuters with parking lots with specified time limits supports our businesses by making convenient, short-term parking available to their customers and the more long-term parking available to others, meeting their needs.
Please remember that the parking time limit throughout the Village of Floral Park is four hours, unless otherwise specified. The cooperation of all in obeying our parking laws is appreciated.
Blocking the box (or intersection) is another directed patrol. During the month of March, more than twenty-five summonses were issued for violations. Always remember, even when the traffic light is green for your vehicle, you may not enter the intersection until it is cleared of vehicles and there is adequate space for your vehicle beyond the intersection.
Please be a safe, responsible driver.
Chambers of Commerce and Our Businesses
Our Floral Park Chamber of Commerce will be meeting this Thursday, April 3rd, 6:00 PM at the Villa d’Este Restaurant on Jericho Turnpike.
Business people in the area are invited to come to join in the planning for the very popular Friday evening, June 6th Street Fair on Tulip Avenue, enjoyable networking, and a delicious dinner. Visit: floralparkchamber.org for meeting registration and membership fun facts.
At the March Covert Avenue Chamber of Commerce meeting, Nassau County Comptroller Elaine Phillips presented a very interesting program that mutually benefits our County’s Small Businesses and Senior Citizens. Small Businesses are eligible for grants which they may use to offer discounts to our Seniors.
The program is described in a booklet entitled “Nassau County Senior Discount Program: Connecting Nassau County’s Seniors & Businesses.” For information, contact Comptroller Phillips’ office at: NCcomptroller@nassaucountyny.gov
The next Covert Avenue Chamber of Commerce meeting is Tuesday, April 22nd, 7:00 PM at the Trinity Restaurant on Jericho Turnpike. Stay tuned for details and visit the Chamber website at: covertavenuechamber.org
SHOPPING AND DINING LOCAL, it’s the Best of Spring!
Conservation Society (FPCS)
Bright sunshine greeted all at our Centennial Gardens and Bird Sanctuary on opening day today. From now until the end of November, you can enjoy the Gardens, seven days a week, from noon to 5:00 PM.
You can also help enhance our Gardens by participating in the FPCS first Weed Out of 2025, this Saturday, April 5th at 9:00 AM. Come to the Floral Parkway gate to meet the Volunteers who care for the Gardens, as well as new friends and neighbors.
Also coming this weekend is our annual “Photos with the Easter Bunny” event at the Gardens on Sunday, April 6th from noon to 2:00 PM. Bring your camera or cell phone and take a colorful photo of your children and family with our smiling Easter Bunny. Special Easter Bags await our little guests, too.
Let’s celebrate another year of our BEST OF NASSAU COUNTY Public Gardens and Park!
Trustee Frank Chiara
Library
The month of April has begun, and there are many exciting activities and events taking place at the Floral Park Library:
- On Thursday, April 3, 2025, from 6:30 PM to 8:00 PM, the library will offer a training course on the use of Narcan. The training will be conducted by Town of Hempstead Councilman Thomas Muscarella’s office. This session will teach how and when to use the potentially lifesaving Narcan. All attendees will receive a free Narcan kit.
- The Floral Park Library Urban Explorers will have their next outing on Thursday, May 1st. This time, they will be visiting the Mount Vernon Hotel and Gardens. There, they will take part in a guided tour of the museum, which was constructed in 1799, have lunch at the Ritz Diner, and return to Floral Park around 5:00 PM. It will be a fun excursion.
- The library is looking to form a social group for anyone who enjoys making crafts. If interested, visit the Library’s website at floralparklibrary.org to complete a quick survey. The survey will assist the library staff in forming the new craft group.
You can sign up online or at the Reference Desk for any programs. Additionally, check the Library’s website at www.floralparklibrary.org for more information about upcoming programs.
Fire Department
Our Village of Floral Park Volunteer Fire Department remains in good standing. We are grateful for their dedicated service to our community.
Trustee Jennifer Stewart
Four Village Studio
On the upcoming on-air schedule is Community Spotlight with Stephanie Larkin highlighting Girl Scout Troop 1239 Gold Award Candidates; FPFD’s Larry King (AEMT), presents FPFD Red Alert featuring Floral Park Fire Explorer Post 129 for Volunteers aged 14-17; and FPPD: Behind the Badge with Lt. Will Doherty featuring “Surviving an Active Shooter” with Retired Sgt. Dean Mayo and PO Robert Hayes.
DPW
All DPW crews and departments continue to keep our beautiful Village clean and well-maintained. Recently, the DPW has completed the following tasks: storm basins were cleaned along Charles Street, potholes were filled in the West End, spring clean-ups in the Village parks are ongoing, and the Village Hall and Police Department lobbies have been repainted.
The DPW Sanitation Department collected 61 tons of household waste, 7.5 tons of paper, 5.5 tons of commingled plastics, and 14 tons of bulk rubbish.
Additionally, I wanted to inform you that Verizon is currently looking for a location for a new cell tower. There is a possibility that Verizon may lease Village property to install the tower.
Cultural Arts Committee
I’d like to remind everyone about a new concert we’re planning, the High School/College Band Showcase, scheduled for Friday, July 25th. If anyone of high school or college age is interested in performing, please reach out to me at JStewart@FPVillage.org. We have several performers lined up and are hoping to have more talent to showcase this summer!
MTA
As many of you know, the LIRR/MTA is installing a Signal Hut and retaining wall along their right-of-way on Atlantic Avenue. They have informed us that work will take place daily from 7:30 AM to 3:30 PM, with some overnight work. We have been notified promptly about any increased hours or overnight work, and we appreciate the continuous communication from the LIRR. We will make every effort to disseminate this information as quickly as possible.
If you have any questions or concerns about this work, please contact Ms. Ana Garcia, Assistant Director of Government and Community Relations for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) for the LIRR. Ms. Garcia can be reached at (718) 558-7322 or via email at ana.garcia@mtahq.org.
If you do reach out to the MTA/LIRR, please also let me know at jstewart@FPVillage.org so we can track residents’ concerns.
Trustee Michael Longobardi
Building Department
There have been no major announcements regarding the ongoing projects in our Village. We do expect a few of them to be completed and open in the Spring and Summer. These are great events for our village and business districts and we will announce them as they happen. A Zoning Board application has been submitted for 50 Carnation Avenue (Storage Post), for the expansion of their storage building. This case will be heard at the April 10th Zoning Board Meeting.
A reminder to all residents and businesses that you are responsible in keeping your properties and adjacent sidewalks clear of weeds and debris. As you plan those Spring and Summer improvements, please call the Building Department to discuss any code issues as well as required permits for any improvements you are planning.
Recreation and Pool
Spring is here and just 11 days left to the 2025 Opening Day. Saturday morning, April 12th we will kick off the season with the annual Little League parade through town followed by the opening day ceremony at the park. Then everyone is invited to enjoy a day of activities and events for the kids. Come out and support our young rising stars and enjoy a day with neighbors and friends. Final preparations are ongoing to get the fields ready for the Spring season. Thank you to Superintendent Kurt Meyfohrt and his staff for all their hard work. A reminder to all coaches that the fields are not available for practice during this time.
The Summer Recreation and Pool book is being designed as we speak. Residents will receive a new mini version in the Village Items shortly with all the key information as well as QR codes and links to various items. The full version will be available at the usual locations when ready as well as on our new Village Website. If you have not seen it, I encourage everyone to go and visit it at www.fpvillage.org. Beginning April 12th, park hours will be 8:00 AM to 10:00 PM. A reminder to everyone that this is the time of year to renew/apply for leisure passes. They are required for Tiny Town, Basketball, Tennis, and Pickle Ball among other park activities.
Town-Village Aircraft Safety & Noise Abatement Committee (TVASNAC)
The next meeting will be Monday, April 28, 2025, at Hempstead Town Hall, One Washington Street, Hempstead. If you want to make a noise complaint regarding air traffic, you can call 1-800-225-1071. You can also visit the Village website, which has the links under the TVASNAC noise complaint contact information page on our homepage.
Mayor Kevin Fitzgerald
I would like to remind everyone of two important upcoming dates. On Monday night, April 7th, we will have our Re-Organization meeting. This annual event is where newly elected officials are sworn in, and various Village employees are appointed. Just as importantly, we will recognize all the volunteers in the Village who take time out of their days and nights to serve on various committees and boards throughout the community.
On Wednesday, April 9th, we will hold the annual Budget Hearing. As I’ve mentioned before, this is a meeting that everyone should attend. During the meeting, we will break down and review the new budget. While it can sometimes be dry, we will do our best to make it engaging and answer any questions you may have. It’s a great opportunity to learn about how the Village operates, how funds are spent, and the value we provide to our residents.
