Board Report 04/16/24
Tribute to Our Chief of Department Brian Hamerman
Chief of Department Hamerman,
The gratitude and pride that we feel for you today will be neverending. Your contributions to our Village and Fire Department are exemplary and generous, and we celebrate you tonight.
To you, Maria, Brian, Olivia, Jack, and Mrs. Hamerman, we share our love and very best wishes for you. May God bless you always.
Tribute to Our Village Clerk, Susan Walsh
Susan,
You are a Floral Park treasure. You know all there is to know about Floral Park, yet you are always learning more. You can do it all, and you make it all better with your expert knowledge and skills, and your extraordinary creative talents. All of this, combined with your love of Floral Park and your calling, makes our Village sparkle and shine. You have sprinkled your magic all around Floral Park for a lifetime. Susan, your are a bright star that makes us all better and will make Floral Park a great place to live, work and raise a family forever. We thank you from the bottom of our hearts. May God bless you always.
Police Department
Our Police Department continues its excellent policing, and service to our schools and community.
On a Friday night in early April, an individual barricaded himself in a building on Jericho Turnpike in Bellerose Terrace. The Nassau County Police quickly took control of the situation with many of its resources including special operations and the County helicopter. NCPD continuously contained the situation at the Bellerose Terrace location.
Throughout the evening, our up-to-date FPPD radio system enabled our Police leadership and Officers to remain in contact with NCPD and monitor that Department’s communications, as Lieutenant William Doherty remained in direct contact with his NCPD counterpart.
Simultaneously, special events involving many of our students and families were taking place at the Floral Park-Bellerose School and Village Hall. Although the NCPD activities remained contained, FPPD patrols, working with Sergeant Brian Naughton, monitored the school area and tunnel, as well as Village Hall.
The night ended safely as NCPD captured and arrested the perpetrator, and all remained safe throughout. We thank Commissioner Stephen McAllister, Lieutenant Doherty, and our Officers for their vigilance and ongoing, precise communications with NCPD, the Floral Park-Bellerose School District Administration, and the Village Board.
Other recent policing activities have included the FPPD Motor Carrier (or truck) Detail. March’s morning of truck inspections along Plainfield Avenue were conducted by Sergeant Naughton and Officer Christie Softy. A total of six inspections was conducted, and 46 VTL violations were issued. Two vehicles were towed for safety violations (improper load securement, tire violations and unsecured hazardous materials). A third truck was impounded because the registration was expired, the driver had a revoked license, and the truck had two unsafe tires. Throughout the inspections, the Officers reported that many local residents expressed great appreciation for their presence in the area and for FPPD’s attention to the truck traffic on Plainfield Avenue.
On a recent Superintendent’s Conference Day in the Floral Park-Bellerose Schools, two of our American College of Surgeons/Stop the Bleed instructors, FPPD Lieutenant Doherty and Detective Christopher Timm, conducted the program for over fifty School District employees. Teacher aids, clerical, custodial and cafeteria staff, and bus drivers participated in this life-saving Stop the Bleed training.
On Saturday, April 27th, the FPPD will once again sponsor the DEA’s National Prescription Drug Take Back Day. Between 10 AM and 2 PM, you are encouraged to drop off your unused and expired prescription drugs at FPPD Headquarters (at the corner of Village Hall). A Police Officer and Floral Park Lions Club representatives will be there to assist you and distribute helpful wellness materials. It is dangerous to keep unused prescription drugs in your home. Please keep your family and friends safe by participating in Take Back Day on Saturday, April 27th.
Floral Park Conservation Society (FPCS)
For the third consecutive year, Floral Park’s Centennial Gardens and Bird Sanctuary has been nominated as the Best Public Garden of Nassau County (now for 2024) by Blank Slate Media and our Herald Courier newspaper. Our Centennial Gardens has won this prestigious award in 2022 and 2023.
Let’s do it again in 2024 by going to: theisland360.com/contest2024 . At the Best of Nassau County site, look for the first category, Arts & Entertainment, then Public Garden. You’ll see our Centennial Gardens and Bird Sanctuary listed, then vote. And you can do it daily, so please vote again and again for our precious Gardens up until May 24th.
Visit the Gardens often too, and see why we are the Best Public Garden of Nassau County for the past two years!
Chambers of Commerce and Our Businesses
It’s a busy time of year as our Floral Park and Covert Avenue Chambers of Commerce have welcomed new businesses to Floral Park and Stewart Manor, as well as new Chamber members.
All businesses are invited to join Chamber meetings, but be sure to register first.
The Covert Avenue Chamber will meet at BC Bistro on Jericho Turnpike on Tuesday, April 23rd at 7 PM. The guest speakers will be Warren Hance and Kate Tuffy of the Emma, Alyson and Kate Hance Family Foundation. This important, local nonprofit organization promotes self-esteem and confidence building for girls and women of all ages with its renowned Beautiful Me program. The annual Hance Family Fun Day and 5K Run/Walk Races will take place on Saturday, May 18th. See the meeting details at: covertavenuechamber.org
The Floral Park Chamber next meets at Cara Mia on Tulip Avenue on Thursday, May 2nd at 6 PM. Network with our business owners and learn about all the exciting opportunities in our Village. Register at: floralparkchamber.org
Enjoy the spring sunshine, and SHOP AND DINE LOCAL, especially at our new businesses, right here in Floral Park and Stewart Manor!