Board Report 02/18/25

Police Department
The winter weather is a challenge for all of our Village Departments. Driving and parking legally and safely take on even greater importance when roads and sidewalks become snow-covered and slick. Motorists need to be mindful of pedestrians and slow down. Parking may become more difficult in areas where snow has been piled, making streets narrower. For our Police, Fire Department and Public Works vehicles, turning corners can be highly difficult and is impossible when the corners are blocked.

In winter weather conditions, please drive below the speed limits and as safely as conditions warrant. On Village main roads, park only in designated parking spaces and never even stop in the crosshatched emergency zones.

We are all responsible for keeping our Village, fellow citizens and, especially, our children safe. Thank you to our Floral Park Police, Firefighters, Emergency Medical Personnel, and Public Works Department for their important work 24/7/365.

Conservation Society (FPCS)
This past weekend’s Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC) at Centennial Gardens and Bird Sanctuary was a most enjoyable success. During the shortened weekend, given Sunday’s rain-out, approximately 45 enthusiasts showed up to gather and share fun facts and stories about the birds, much of it being about the Village’s recent grackle visits to our trees and lawns, by the thousands!

In all, our Recreation Department and Conservation Society counted 2083 birds from 23 different species, and admired FPCS Volunteer and Photographer Doug Cioffi’s magnificent series of books, The Birds of Centennial Gardens (now available at the Floral Park Library and Recreation Center); listened to Recreation staff member Don Haug’s bird descriptions and stories, and GBBC’s global history; checked out Recreation Superintendent Kurt Meyfohrt’s collection of interesting and colorful ornithology literature; and learned about the Gardens and its history from FPCS President Dennis McEnery.

Following GBBC 2025, Superintendent Meyfohrt forwarded our local GBBC data to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology for inclusion in the global research on bird habitats, migration, patterns and trends.

Chambers of Commerce and Our Businesses
At a very informative February meeting with Nassau Council of Chambers of Commerce President Frank Camarano, the Floral Park Chamber of Commerce learned about many County services, featuring an upcoming Small Business Resource, Training and Development Center at Nassau Community College, available to all of the Nassau County Chambers. Mr. Camarano also announced new, exciting grant opportunities for Chambers in the Town of North Hempstead (which includes Floral Park).

The next Floral Park Chamber meeting will be held on Thursday, March 6th at 6:00 PM at the Swing the Teapot Restaurant on Verbena Avenue. For details, registration and membership, contact: floralparkchamber.org

To reach the Covert Avenue Chamber of Commerce, it’s: covertavenuechamber.org

Always remember, SHOPPING AND DINING LOCAL, it’s the best!

Celebrating FPM
Our very own Floral Park Memorial High School celebrated our history of great athletes, coaches and teams at the February 8th Inaugural Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony. Acknowledged were sixteen championship players, coaches and teams, dating back decades, with many residing in the Village of Floral Park to this day. Included were the Girls Varsity Basketball Teams of 1987-88 and 2015-16, and the Girls Varsity Softball Team of 2008-09. Special congratulations also go to our Floral Park Fire Department EMT Lynn Wille for her record-setting All State, All County, All Conference, All League and All Division Honors in Girl’s Varsity Soccer, Basketball and Softball, and Floral Park Library staff member, Bob Chalmers, Assistant Coach of the 2015-16 Girls Varsity Basketball Champions. Filling our hearts with pride, all so very impressive!

And so are our current Varsity Basketball Teams with the Boys Team holding an astounding 16-4 record and heading to the Nassau County Championship Quarterfinals against Seaford at home on Thursday at noon, and the Girls Team also holding an astounding record of 17-4 and heading to the Nassau County Championship Quarterfinals against Seaford at Seaford on Thursday afternoon.

We salute and cheer on all of our amazing Floral Park athletes!