GC Chamber of Commerce Honors: Joanne K. Adams, Honorable Allen S. Mathers and Nasser Samman
The eighth annual Pineapple Ball was held on April 23 at the Garden City Hotel. The Garden City Chamber of Commerce honored the following distinguished members of our community: Joanne K. Adams, community relations director, New York Racing Association as Citizen of the Year; Honorable Allen S. Mathers, Village Justice Incorporated Village of Garden City with the Community Achievement Award; and Nasser Samman, general manager of the Garden City Hotel, as Business Person of the Year. I would like to congratulate each of the honorees on their well-deserved recognition.
Police Enforcement of Speeding in he Village
I have personally noticed and I have received complaints from residents about speeding within village boundaries. I have asked the police department to enhance their vigilance and issuance of tickets to those driving in the village at speeds in excess of the 30 mph village speed limit.
Storm Water Pollution
Storm water pollution is anything that gets in the path of a raindrop. Every time it rains, storm water is carried directly to our surface waters. That means that storm water pollution can have detrimental effects to creeks, lakes, rivers and the oceans into which it drains. Storm water can carry sediment, trash, automotive fluids such as used oil and antifreeze, grass clippings, leaves, yard waste, excess fertilizers, animal waste, pesticides and anything else that gets in its way.
Something that we can do as citizens to prevent storm water pollution are:
• Never dump anything down a storm drain. All storm drains flow directly to creeks and lakes.
• Take used oil, paint and other household hazardous waste to recycling centers.
• Check your car for oil and/or other leaks.
• Pick up after your pets. Dispose of animal waste properly in a trash receptacle or flush it down the toilet. DO NOT throw it in the storm sewer.
• Apply fertilizers and pesticides exactly where you want them. Avoid over spraying them onto sidewalks, driveways or streets.
• Reduce the amount of fertilizers you need to apply by testing the soil in your yard first.
• Adjust sprinklers so that you’re not watering the street or sidewalk.
• Redirect roof gutters to lawns, natural areas or rain gardens.
• Take your car to a car wash instead of washing it on the driveway.
• Sweep up yard debris instead of washing it away.
• Bundle yard waste at the curb for pickup.
• Blow leaves and grass clippings back into your yard instead of leaving them in the street to wash down the storm drain.
• Use a compost bin to turn yard waste into a useful gardening product.
• Replant bare areas to avoid soil erosion.
• Keep invasive plants from growing in your yard. Remove them before they have a chance to grow and spread.
• Avoid planting exotic plants. Select only plants that are native to this area.
• Report spills, dumping or suspected water pollution to the Village.
• Clear clogged storm drains as blocked drains cause drainage problems.
• Participate in communitywide clean up days and other events.
• Alert neighbors to the storm water pollution problem.
Long Island Power Authority – Rebates Available
I have been informed by the Long Island Power Authority (LIPA) that they are offering a new Cool Homes Retirement program, allowing customers to replace aging central air units (installed prior to 2004) with a qualifying high-efficiency model. Depending on the energy efficiency rating of the new unit, customers will be eligible to receive up to $700 in LIPA rebates, as well as possible federal tax credits. Central air-conditioning systems 10 years or older can be as much as 40 percent less efficient than new, high-efficiency models. A new high efficiency unit can save customers an average of $250 a year. The program information is available by visiting the following website: http://www.lipower.org/residential/efficiency/programs/coolhomes.html for more information.
LIPA is also incentivizing residential customers to rid themselves of old energy consuming refrigerators or freezers. The Refrigerator Recycling Program provides customers with the opportunity to receive a $35 reward when they have their old refrigerator and freezers picked up free of charge. Recycling the old appliance may result in saving $100 or more per year in energy costs and it assures that old unit will be properly recycled, preventing up to 95 percent of it from entering the waste stream. The program information is available by visiting the following website: http://www.lipower.org/residential/efficiency/programs/refrigerator.html.
Board of Trustees Meetings
The next board of trustees meetings will be on Thursday, May 6, and Thursday, May 20, at 8 p.m. The meetings are held in the boardroom at Village Hall.
Village’s Website
I encourage residents to periodically utilize the village’s website for information regarding the village’s operations, as well as items of seasonal and special interest. The address is www.gardencityny.net. For your convenience, listed on the village’s home page under the heading of Police Department is a sub-heading “Traffic Safety,” which highlights the measures that the Garden City Police Department takes to ensure the safety of the village residents.
