Deputy Mayor Lynn Pombonyo
Police Department
Our Floral Park Police Department remained busy during the very hot month of July as they were engaged in 703 incidents. Of this number, 181 were traffic stops, 32 were traffic accidents, 77 were aided cases also involving our ambulance service and Rescue Company, 10 domestic incidents, 44 suspicious person reports, 26 citizens needing assistance and 6 welfare checks.
Throughout the month of July, our police issued 148 traffic summonses. Some of the most frequent violations included failure to stop at stop signs (27); disobeying traffic control devices/passing red signals (eight); improper u-turns (six); and failure to yield right-of-way to pedestrians in the crosswalk (four).
As our FPPD focuses on parking enforcement, a total of 1036 summonses were issued in July. These included expired parking meter summonses (352); overnight street parking between 3 a.m. and 5 a.m. violations (260); parking over the four-hour limit (55) and parking under the LIRR trestle without a permit (47), an important enforcement target.
Our police officers and detectives work hand in hand on the investigation of serious crimes. This strong, collaborative partnership results in many success stories. In July, our overnight tours of officers came upon two cases of illegal mailbox fishing, stealing mail from the mailboxes outside the Floral Park Post Office. In the first, our officer determined the perpetrator’s identity enabling our Detectives and other agencies to execute an arrest. In the second overnight case, our officers caught three perpetrators mailbox fishing in the same location and were able to execute three arrests on the spot. The perpetrators had attempted to steal more than $100,000 in checks in the envelopes they pulled from the mailboxes. These three arrests yielded a total of 29 year to date for our Department.
Our FPPD continually displays a high quality of leadership, skill and professionalism in their enforcement of crime.
Library
If you saw bubbles and foam drifting through the air two evenings ago, you saw the Foam Fairies at play on our library lawn. Several hundred children and their families jumped into the piles of foam while celebrating the Children’s Summer Reading Club and enjoying tasty ices, compliments of the Friends of the Library. Enjoy the wild videos and photos of our Foam Fairies event on the awesome Floral Park Library Facebook page.
Library patrons of all ages are enjoying a summer of favorite books and fun-filled activities. Two hundred eleven book review summaries have already been submitted by the Adult Book Club members. Each week, a lucky adult reader wins a gift card for a local business. Adults, keep watching our Library events for the Urban Explorers trips coming this fall.
Our teens are having their own summer fun too as the Nassau Library System’s Techmobile recently visited our library. Using the innovative construct 3 for game design, each teen learned new computer skills, then applied them to create his/her own unique video game and program the characters. Our teens now have copies of their new creations.
Coming earlier today for our teen group was the Teens Drone Missions Event (using STEM to guide the drones) and, on Monday, Aug. 18th, it will be the Teen World of AI and robots.
And all are invited to join in celebrating our favorite Beatles songs on the library lawn at this Thursday’s Liverpool Shuffle concert in the Showmobile at 7 p.m.
Chambers of Commerce and Our Businesses
Thanks to all who have been shopping and dining locally this summer. It’s been a great time to do both right here in Floral Park and Stewart Manor.
Our Floral Park Chamber of Commerce is gearing up for the fall season with a Let’s Get Back to Business Dinner Meeting on Thursday evening, Sept. 11th. Join us at Mann Sarka Asian Bistro on Jericho Turnpike at 6:30 p.m.
In the meantime, check out the dynamic Floral Park Chamber of Commerce Facebook page for amazing videos and photos of our businesses in action, as well as news of special happenings around the village.
Visit both Chamber websites to learn more about our businesses’ products, their services, and Chamber membership at:floralparkchamber.org and covertavenuechamber.org
And, always, SHOP AND DINE LOCAL!
Trustee Frank Chiara
4 Village Studios
Four Village Studio is currently recruiting and has openings for high school and college students to join their volunteer staff. The studio has a long-standing history as a successful educational facility, offering valuable career-building knowledge and experience in media production. Interested students in the 4VS area, aged 15 and older, should contact the studio to arrange an informational interview. To schedule an appointment, please email 4vs@4vs.org or call (516)326-1150. To learn more about 4VS, visit the website at www.4vs.org.
Programming for the week of August 18 includes:
- Inspiring Stories with Bill Corbett, Jr.
- South Floral Park Mayor’s Quarterly Update with Hon. Nyakya T. Brown
- FPFD Red Alert with Larry King, AEMT
- Uncorked with Rex Whicker
- Wes Houston Presents with Wes Houston
Department of Public Works
The Department of Public Works has been extremely busy throughout the summer months. The parks department has maintained all village parks and the grounds surrounding Village buildings. They have trimmed all bushes in Memorial Park and along Floral Parkway, watered all hanging flower baskets and planted flowers throughout the village.
The maintenance department has installed signage at the library, renovated the bathrooms at Village Hall, and installed new TV monitors in the village hall courtroom. New LED lighting has also been installed inside the Magnolia Tunnel, and all village buildings have been thoroughly cleaned and maintained.
The highway department has installed 30 tons of hot asphalt and performed minor road repairs at various locations within the Village. They’ve filled potholes on the west end and northside, responded to and repaired two small sinkholes, and sealed cracks in newer roads to help preserve them. Additionally, all crosswalks within the village have been refreshed with new paint.
The tree department has been trimming trees daily. Trees to be trimmed are selected from a list created by logging all residents who call DPW to request it. Any resident who wishes to have a tree trimmed near their home should call DPW to be added to the list. Also, if any resident would like a tree planted by their home, they can contact public works to be placed on the fall planting list.
The maintenance shop mechanics have been performing routine maintenance and repairs on police department, DPW vehicles, and all other village-owned equipment as needed.
The sanitation department has collected 55 tons of household waste, eight tons of paper, four and a half tons of plastic, and 10 tons of bulk rubbish.
Conservation Society
The Conservation Society held their monthly “Weed Out” at Centennial Gardens on the first Saturday of August. Deputy Mayor Pombonyo, myself, and a number of energetic volunteers spent the day weeding one of the gardens that needed a little TLC. Not only are our volunteers incredibly helpful with the weeding, but they also bring valuable knowledge on gardening tips and can easily identify different flower types.
Anyone interested in helping with the next “Weed Out” is invited to join us at Centennial Gardens at 9 a.m. on the first Saturday of the month. In September, that will be Saturday, Sept. 6. Centennial Gardens is a peaceful place to enjoy nature at its finest.
A big thank you to the Conservation Society and all of its volunteers for maintaining and enhancing the gardens, making them a wonderful place to visit and enjoy!
Trustee Jennifer Stewart
Fire Department
The fire department is practicing hard for the annual Fire Department vs. Police Department Softball Game, set for Friday, Sept. 5, at 7 p.m. at the Recreation Center. Come out, choose your side, and cheer loudly for your chosen heroes!
For the month of July, the fire department responded to 43 calls for service, an additional six calls for mutual aid, and NYU Langone responded to 80 calls, with the rescue company responding to six, for a total of 86 rescue calls.
I was thrilled to be present on Monday night as the Chief’s Office swore in new member Keeley Dwyer to rescue company. Keeley is the youngest resident to ever join rescue company. We are pleased to have her and grateful for her desire to serve our community. As you heard earlier, the board also voted to approve firefighters Richard Millitello Jr. and Goce Janceski. The community is grateful for their dedication. Congratulations to the Fire Department Explorer Company on their successful car wash this past Sunday, Aug. 10. Thank you to all who came out and supported these fine young men and women!
Sept. 20 will mark the inaugural Halfway to St. Patrick’s Day Parade. The parade will step off from Headquarters at 11 a.m., head down Carnation to Tulip, and along Tulip back to Headquarters.
I wish to extend my deep condolences to the family of Ex-Chief Raymond Newfeld. Ex-Chief Newfeld served our community for 42 years and certainly left a positive mark on the community and particularly the Fire Department.
MTA/LIRR
The MTA will be installing the signal shed on their right-of-way along Atlantic Avenue next weekend, from Friday, August. 22, through Sunday, August. 24. This work will be ongoing around the clock, with light and noise anticipated for the duration of the weekend. Atlantic Avenue will be closed from Childs Avenue to Carnation Avenue. We are hopeful that this signals the end of construction at this site. The work is somewhat weather-dependent; in the event of stormy weather, it will need to be rescheduled. We appreciate the advance notice from the MTA/LIRR throughout the duration of this project.
Cultural Arts Committee
As the summer ends, so do the concerts in Memorial Park. Our final show will be on August. 22, Bobby Sings Bobby, at 7:30 p.m. in Memorial Park. I would like to thank all our resident performers who braved the heat and humidity to put on an absolutely amazing concert on July 25th. Floral Park was treated to a showcase of epic talent from our very own young people, with a special thanks to the Long Island Studio of Music for promoting the show and encouraging their students to come out and perform. Shoutout to Andy Sexton and John GaNun, who performed a few fan favorites and some original hits!
Mark your calendars for June 20, 2026, when Floral Park will celebrate America’s 250th birthday with a parade and fireworks. Come out and help us celebrate the birthday of our wonderful nation!
Trustee Michael Longobardi
Building Department
Since our last meeting, here are a few updates on the ongoing building projects around town:
- The construction work for the proposed restaurant at 99 Covert Avenue is expected to be completed this fall.
- Covert Avenue Fire property steel installation is now complete, and the second-floor framing is expected to start this month.
- 50 Carnation Avenue has submitted a zoning application to expand its storage buildings. This case was heard at the April 10th Zoning Meeting and the June 17th Board of Trustees Special Use Hearing. The next step is a presentation to the Architectural Review Board; the date will be announced.
- There are no upcoming meetings scheduled at this time for the proposed large-scale mixed-use development project located at 144-162 Jericho Turnpike, formerly Stella’s.
- Demolition of 32 Orchid is complete, and the construction of the new homes is expected to begin next month.
- The full renovation at 212 Jericho Turnpike, formerly Firestone, is underway.
- After a long process of issuing violations and communicating with the bank that owns the abandoned property at 35 Van Siclen Ave, the Board of Trustees authorized a contractor to make safety and façade repairs to ensure the house was secure and more aesthetically pleasing for the neighborhood. The front roof was replaced, and the front windows were temporarily boarded over to help mitigate unauthorized entry.
As a reminder, all homes and businesses are required to remove weeds and cut grass along the curbs and sidewalks adjacent to the property. Please ensure work is done in a timely manner and help the village maintain its beauty and keep away unwanted pests and rodents.
Recreation and Pool
Summer adult leagues have ended. Congratulations to all those who participated, and to the following champions: Women’s Competitive Volleyball – That’s What She Set, Women’s Intermediate Volleyball – Spike and Rally, Women’s Recreational Volleyball – FPFL, Men’s Volleyball – Paddock, Men’s Over 30 Basketball – Sportify Dawgs, Men’s Under 30 Basketball – Bellerose Beverage. Registration for Fall Programs begins September 4th. Registration will show a slight increase in rates, as the cost to run these programs has risen. Unfortunately, we have just over two weeks left of summer before Labor Day. The pool will begin modified hours from August 16th–31st, open from 12 p.m. to 8 p.m. The pool will be open on Labor Day from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., with the traditional final swim at 5 p.m. Tuesday the 2nd will be our annual senior picnic from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. You may have noticed the grandstand bleachers on Field 1 are being removed. In the short term, we will have picnic tables in that area, and you are welcome to bring a chair for any game on that field.
One safety note: The recreation center has a very strict safety rule regarding bicycles and scooters in the park. You are not allowed to ride your bike or scooter, motorized or non-motorized, through the park. Anyone with a bike or scooter must dismount at any entry gate and walk the bike or scooter through the park. This is a safety measure to protect everyone, and there is a zero-tolerance policy. Please respect this safety rule and help educate our younger residents on why it’s so important to follow.
I previously mentioned the end of the summer season, and with that comes the end of a special era at the recreation center. Superintendent of Recreation Kurt Meyfohrt will retire on Aug. 31st. He began his career in Floral Park 44 years ago, in June of 1981, as a Park Attendant. He was promoted to Assistant Supervisor in August of 2000, and then Superintendent of the Recreation Center. Over the years, he has played a vital role in the development of our premium recreation center, leaving a lasting positive impact on our village and residents. We thank you for your constant professionalism and positive attitude displayed every day. Congratulations on your retirement. We wish you and your family health, happiness, and much enjoyment in your next chapter.
Town-Village Aircraft Safety & Noise Abatement Committee (TVASNAC)
We have received phone calls and emails regarding the airplane noise and traffic we experience in our village. In my last report, I mentioned some of the processes we have gone through with our elected officials and partnering townships. These include local officials, the Town of Hempstead, the Town of North Hempstead, the Town of Oyster Bay, county officials, members of Congress and others, addressing numerous fronts. A lawsuit was initiated by the Town of Hempstead in June to order the disclosure of certain data, which would accurately present the air traffic noise and help initiate a plan to reduce the current situation, and hopefully modify the approach to our local airports. This is ongoing, and we will keep you updated as things progress. A special thanks to Andrew Weiss, fellow resident and member of TVASNAC, for all his hard work on this committee. The next meeting will be on Monday, August. 25, 2025, at Town Hall, One Washington Street in Hempstead. If you wish to make a noise complaint regarding air traffic, you can call 1-800-225-1071. You can also visit the village website, where the links are available under the TVASNAC noise complaint contact information page on our homepage.
Emergency Management
Our Emergency Management Committee would like to remind residents that hurricane season is here, and we already have one storm in the Atlantic. The National Hurricane Center urges everyone to “Be Prepared – Get a Plan!” It’s important to remember that each storm is unique, and all it takes is one storm to have a major impact. Our public works department continues to maintain catch basins throughout the village and inspect, remove, or trim trees. We have invested in several major drainage projects to help mitigate potential flooding. Our police and fire departments train and drill regularly to be prepared for these events.
Residents should also prepare and be ready—remember, you may be without electricity for three days or more. Build your supply kit for at least three days. The kit should include flashlights, batteries, medications, infant supplies, pet food, a first aid kit, water, cash, and important household documents. This is just a summary of key points. Homeland Security has a useful website at Ready.Gov. Make sure everyone knows how to contact the police and fire departments. In case of emergency, call 911 or 516-326-6400. For non-emergencies, please call 516-326-6300.
Please be prepared and stay safe!
Mayor Kevin Fitzgerald
For my update, I’d like to provide an update on the road work in the village. Hopefully, by our next board meeting, we will have a complete list and approximate dates of the roads that will be worked on and when that work will take place. You may have noticed that NYRA is nearing completion of their project to install new fencing along the border of Floral Park.
I would like to thank Glenn Kozak, Head of Operations, for always being available to me, Superintendent Ginnane, and Village Clerk O’Grady. He consistently picks up our calls and addresses the issues raised by village residents to the best of his ability.
Lastly, I’d like to thank the Long Island Press and the Floral Park Villager for being with us tonight, and for their continued coverage of our beautiful village.
