Deputy Mayor Lynn Pombonyo
Police Department
The year 2026 has gotten off to a challenging and memorable start. Several weekend storms, especially the snow and icy storm of Sunday to Monday, January 25th to 26th, have brought together the collective planning efforts, hard work, unrelenting perseverance and heartfelt dedication of our Police Department, Department of Public Works, Fire Department, NYU Langone ambulance, our Rescue Company, and our Village Hall staff. I will focus on our FPPD, although we all acknowledge and commend the ongoing communication, collaboration and full engagement of all of these Village first responders to the storm and its serious emergencies. We applaud them all.
In addition to their routine patrol duties, our Police Officers, collaborating with Commissioner McAllister and led by Lieutenant Doherty and Sergeants Lauria and Cosmo, manually (by hand) pushed numerous vehicles that were stuck in deep snow and blocking our streets, plows and emergency vehicles. FPPD worked with the other Departments to clear the front steps and sidewalks so that many of our very sick and injured residents could be carried out to waiting ambulances or connect with family members.
In the case of a car that broke down on a Village street while traveling from a hospital to a home in the Rockaways, our Officers assisted a brand new mother and father and their two-day-old infant. With our Officers’ support, the young family was welcomed into one of our Floral Park homes for several hours until relatives could take them home to Rockaway. Thanks also go to the caring Floral Park family who took in this tiny baby girl and her exhausted young parents, and provided shelter, food, warmth and comfort.
Sadly, a number of our Village residents have passed away in 2026. Our Police continue to be there for all of us at emergencies, working to save lives, guiding hospital trips, communicating with families, and organizing and supporting funeral services.
A great deal of our Officers’ time during and after the storm was also spent interacting with individuals who parked their vehicles in the street and those who blew and pushed snow into the street, seriously compromising DPW snow removal and curb-to-curb plowing protocols. Our Officers issued warnings to those who did not comply and who created hazardous situations for others.
Our FPPD urges all residents to park in your driveways until parking along the curbs is again possible.
The Library
With February come commemorations of this month’s very own special occasions, holidays and events. Our Floral Park Public Library, including the Adult, Young Adult and Children’s sections, all have books and other resources to enhance our knowledge and appreciation of these February highlights. They include Ground Hog Day (and Punxsutawney Phil did see his shadow, predicting six more weeks of winter), Abraham Lincoln’s (actual) Birthday on the 12th, the global Great Backyard Bird Count here in Centennial Gardens & Bird Sanctuary on Friday, the 13th, 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM, and Saturday, the 14th, 10 AM to 1:00 PM, Valentine’s Day, Presidents’ Day, the Chinese New Year and the Year of the Fire Horse on the 17th, and George Washington’s (actual) Birthday on the 22nd. Find out more about February’s special days by checking our FPPL events calendar and other library resources.
And, celebrate “Take Your Child to the Library Day!” on Saturday, February 7th. Drop in between 9:00 AM and 5:00 PM, create Valentine’s Day and other crafts, and have fun in the play area. Parents, you may apply for a library card if you don’t already have one, and borrow books, too.\
We look forward to welcoming our children on the 7th.
Chambers of Commerce and Our Businesses
Our Village and Chambers of Commerce continue to cut the red ribbons and formally welcome new businesses.
This past Saturday, January 31st, the Village Board and Floral Park Chamber of Commerce welcomed the beautiful, new Professional Physical Therapy & Hand Therapy Clinic and their expert owners to 266 Jericho Turnpike. Floral Park Fire Department, Former Chief of Department James Dodson was invited to the happy event as a special guest. Chief Dodson was in charge of the April 2023 massive, two-day, mutual aid firefighting efforts to fully extinguish the smoky blaze that destroyed a number of businesses located in this 266 building. The rebuild and renovation, overseen by the Village’s Building Department, is very impressive.
A second ribbon-cutting followed at the brand new, state-of-the-art Stewart Manor Laundromat at 90 Covert Avenue. All sparkles and shines in this welcome addition to Covert Avenue. A large crowd, including Trustees from both the Floral Park and Stewart Manor Village Boards and the Officers of the Covert Avenue and Floral Park Chambers, was on hand to cut the opening’s red ribbon.
We wish our new businesses great success, and invite all to stop by for a visit. We now look forward to cutting the ribbon at LaBella Bakery, 25 Covert Avenue, and welcome the new owners. Details to follow.
Join the Floral Park Chamber for their next highly engaging meeting on Thursday, February 5th, 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM at the Methodist Church, 35 Verbena Avenue. Catering and beverages will be provided by our local Floral Park restaurants featuring our very own J. Fallon’s Tap Room, Uptown Taco, Gyro Village and Floral Park Diner. Come and taste the many flavors of Floral Park. For meeting registration and membership information, contact: floralparkchamber.org
And check out the Covert Avenue Chamber website, “Join Our Chamber” page, to find out how you can be a strong business advocate, too. For membership information and other, contact:
Celebrate our business treasures by SHOPPING, DINING AND TAKING OUT LOCAL in Floral Park and Stewart Manor!
Trustee Frank Chiara
Department of Public Works
Last Sunday, DPW crews reported for duty to tackle the biggest snowstorm to hit our area in over five years. A pre-storm meeting was conducted with Public Works, Village officials, and emergency personnel to discuss and ensure operational readiness for emergencies.
Public Works had their plows in place, snowblowers prepared, and salt ready for deployment as needed. Continuous plowing began on Sunday, January 25, at 12:00 noon and continued overnight into early Monday morning. Our area received approximately 16 inches of heavy, wet snow in sub-freezing temperatures. Extreme cold and occasional whiteout conditions made plowing operations difficult at times. Although residents were asked to stay home and off the roads, many ventured out during the storm while plows were still operating, which led to private vehicles getting stuck and, at times, hindering the plowing efforts. Crews prioritized emergency snow routes and main roads first, before moving on to residential streets and dead ends.
DPW responded promptly to assist with emergency service calls, plowing ahead of ambulances and police as needed.
Crews also cleared snow from many Village sidewalks, parks, and the areas surrounding all Village buildings, paying special attention to our firehouses. Cleanup continued throughout last week, focusing on commercial areas, the LIRR station, and the removal of large snow piles around the Village.
This week, DPW crews will continue cleanup operations, concentrating on the following tasks:
- Clearing and removing snow piles from dead-end streets.
- Removing large snow piles from residential areas throughout the Village.
- Clearing snow piles at intersections and corners along Floral Parkway, on Caroline Place, and around the LIRR station.
- Hauling snow as needed in our commercial areas and around parking meters.
- Monitoring conditions for salting and deicing on our roads and walkways as temperatures fluctuate.
How We, as Residents, Can Help:
- Please clear any fire hydrants near your property.
- Avoid placing snow back into the streets when clearing your property. With freezing temperatures, snow thrown onto the roads can create dangerous conditions.
- Exercise caution around DPW heavy equipment and crews working on roadways.
- Ensure your sidewalks are clear of snow and ice.
- Check on your neighbors, especially the elderly or those with disabilities.
I would like to thank Kevin Ginnane and Kevin Pearsall for their effective leadership of a team of dedicated DPW workers during this major snow event. A special thanks goes out to all DPW staff for their hard work during the storm. It is no easy task to work in freezing temperatures and blizzard-like conditions. You are all doing a fantastic job. Thank You.
4VS
For the 4VS community, please remember that you can view real-time weather readings for the Four Village Area from a weather station atop Village Hall. Go to the 4VS Weather Station webpage for the latest updates. With the cold weather upon us, 4VS offers a variety of engaging programs to watch and enjoy. Check the 4VS website for full programming details.
Centennial Gardens
The Floral Park Conservation Society is seeking donations of wild bird seed to help sustain our bird population in the gardens during the winter season. Wild bird seed, thistle seed, and suet cakes may be dropped off at the Recreation/Pool Building. Please consider donating.
The Great Backyard Bird Count at Centennial Gardens will be held on Friday, February 13, and Saturday, February 14. We encourage anyone interested in participating in the count to join us at the gardens. The gardens will be open on Friday from 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM and on Saturday from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM.
If you’d like to participate, visit the gardens to observe and identify the birds. Take your time counting them, then submit your results. Information on how to submit your findings will be available at the gardens. Your contributions will help scientists better understand and protect birds around the world.
Trustee Jennifer Stewart
Fire Department
The Village is proud to share that our Volunteer Fire Department has maintained an ISO rating of 2, placing it among the highest-rated fire departments in the nation. The Insurance Services Office (ISO) evaluates fire departments across the country on a scale from 1 (exceptional) to 10 (minimal), based on their ability to respond effectively to fires. A rating of 2 reflects outstanding performance.
ISO evaluates three key areas: Emergency Communications – how quickly and efficiently emergency calls are answered and dispatched; Fire Department Operations – training, staffing, equipment, and response readiness; and Water Supply – the availability and reliability of hydrants and water systems. Our department scored exceptionally well in all categories.
This matters to residents for the following reasons: enhanced public safety through strong response capabilities and well-trained firefighters, and potential insurance benefits, as many insurers consider ISO ratings when determining homeowners’ insurance premiums. Achieving an ISO 2 is especially notable for a volunteer fire department.
We are very proud of the many achievements of the FPFD.
As you may have noticed, the board approved the purchase of a new ambulance this evening. This is a vital vehicle that will enhance our all-volunteer rescue company’s ability to respond to and treat residents in an emergency. We thank the Ambulance Committee for all the work they did to bring this to fruition.
Finally, last week the Fire Department recognized the 40 years of dedicated service of two firefighters, Billy Lauria and Bobby Kloeffer. We are humbled by their combined 80 years of service to our community.
MTA
No construction start date has been set for either the Bellerose or Floral Park stations. Once the dates are finalized, I will announce them at the next board meeting.
Trustee Michael Longobardi
Building Department
Here are some updates on the various construction projects in our Village:
- The first public hearing for the Stella mixed-use development project was closed tonight. Please note that this hearing is strictly focused on the request for underground parking. The Mayor will provide additional information in his report. Any subsequent meetings will be announced once scheduled. Please continue to visit the Village website for updates.
- Construction work for the proposed restaurant at 99 Covert Avenue will continue for the next several months and is expected to be completed in Spring 2026.
- The Covert Avenue Fire Property construction is well underway and is estimated to be completed in Summer 2026.
- The 50 Carnation Avenue (Storage Post), has submitted a zoning application to expand its storage buildings. This case was approved with conditions by the Board of Zoning Appeals, the Board of Trustees, and the Architectural Review Board. The buildings will be reviewed by the Building Department for permitting next. Construction start dates will be announced once they are known.
- Construction of the two new homes at the 32 Orchid Avenue subdivision and one home at 116 Miller Avenue is expected to begin in the next few weeks.
- The renovation of 212 Jericho Turnpike, formerly Firestone, is ongoing. The owner will operate an auto repair shop in the rear portion of the first floor and use the rest of the building for retail or business purposes.
- 60 Plainfield Avenue – the King Arms Building is still undergoing fire restoration, and a pre-occupancy date is not currently available.
- The pre-construction meeting with the contractor for the West End Drainage project was held today. Once the Village receives and approves the construction schedule, a meeting will be arranged with all homeowners who may be affected by the project.
As a reminder, all sidewalks and all ADA ramps leading to the roads adjacent to your property must be fully cleared within 12 hours after a snowfall or frozen precipitation. Upon failure to comply, the Village may perform the abatement work, and the owner will be billed for the cost of the work performed.
Recreation and Pool
Winter classes are in full swing. There is still time to sign up for Spring Tennis and Pickleball. The park is currently closed due to the snow and ice. Staff are working to clear it, but the ice is preventing a safe opening.
Town-Village Aircraft Safety & Noise Abatement Committee (TVASNAC)
The next TVASNAC meeting will be held on Monday, February 23, 2026, at Town Hall, One Washington Street, Hempstead. If you wish to make a noise complaint regarding air traffic, you can call 1-800-225-1071. You may also visit the Village website, where links to TVASNAC noise complaint resources are available on the homepage under the TVASNAC contact information section.
In closing, I would like to take a moment to thank our Police, Fire, and Public Works Departments. We have not seen a snowstorm like the one we had in years, along with the ongoing cold spell. Our departments were out there through it all, providing services without hesitation. Our Fire Department stood by at the firehouses while their families were at home.
They responded to emergency calls and were clearing fire hydrants throughout the storm. The Police Department was on the roads, responding to emergencies, helping pedestrians, and pushing stalled motorists. The DPW did an absolutely amazing job plowing roads and keeping emergency routes clear. They are still working hard to clear our village from the major storm. Thank you to all of you for a job well done.
Mayor Kevin Fitzgerald
As mentioned, tonight we closed the public record on the application of The Stella for a special use permit for below-grade parking facilities at 144 – 162 Jericho Turnpike (Lot A) and 3 Van Buren Avenue (Lot B). The public record is being closed after two evenings during which this hearing was conducted and several weeks during which residents could submit written questions or comments that the Village Board will consider.
As noted in the Legal Notice for the Special Use Permit hearing and in my opening statement at both sessions of the hearing, the request presently before the Village Board is solely for the developer’s proposal to construct underground parking garages at both sites. At this stage, no other development matters are under consideration by the Village Board or any other Board.
The Underground Parking Facilities Special Use Permit Application is under ongoing Village review.
Even though the public record is now closed, the Village’s review process will continue. In accordance with the Village Code, this ongoing review is essential to determine whether the applicant’s proposal for two levels of underground parking should be granted.
This review process is extensive and thorough. The proposed project, in its current form, has already been evaluated by the Village Administrator and all relevant Village Department Heads, including the Superintendent of Buildings (a Registered Architect), the Superintendent of Public Works, the Fire Department Chiefs, the Police Department Commissioner and Lieutenants, and Village Counsel.
Beyond this internal review, the Village has also engaged external experts to ensure a comprehensive evaluation. Peter Trentacoste, Esq. of Spellman, Gibbons, Polizzi, Truncale & Trentacoste, has been retained as Special Zoning and Land Use Counsel, and Jeffrey Patanjo, PE of Islandwide Engineering, has been commissioned to examine all submitted reports and studies on behalf of the Village Board. In addition to Mr. Patanjo, the Village has brought in other engineers and experts to review both the application itself and the findings and conclusions presented by the applicant’s engineers and experts, including H2M Engineers and Architects, to review the applicant’s traffic study and analysis.
All expenses associated with our Special Counsel, the engineers and other experts retained by the Village to review the developer’s plans and submissions are being paid by the developer, as required by Village Code.
After the Village and its appointed engineers and experts complete their comprehensive review, the Village Board will issue a decision specifically regarding the applicant’s request for a special use permit for the underground parking facility. This decision will be limited to the underground parking aspect of the proposed development.
Recently, we received a request from a resident reporting a significant gap in the LIRR schedule at night between Penn Station and Floral Park. The gap is over one hour and twenty minutes, from 9:39 PM to 10:52 PM. We contacted the LIRR, and starting in March, the schedule will include a 10:20 PM train, which effectively provides half-hourly service on weekdays from Penn Station to Floral Park until almost midnight.
This week, Trustee Chiara and I will be attending another meeting of the Belmont Community Advisory Board and will provide updates at the next Board meeting. If you would like to see the progress of the project, you can drive over or go to 4VS to watch my latest mayor’s report, where I interviewed the Head of Operations, Mr. Glen Kozak, about the entire project.
