A Word From Mayor John Watras

Police Enforcement of Speeding in the Village: With the commencement of the new school year, the Police Department has extended their aggressive driving campaign to include serious traffic violations on roadways in the vicinity of village schools as well as bus stops and walking routes to schools. From Sept. 3-10, the department issued 54 tickets for speeding in a school zone, 12 tickets were issued for other speeding violations and 148 tickets issued for miscellaneous moving violations, including cell phone violations, Stop sign violations, red light violations, suspended license violations and suspended registration violations.

Safely Yield to Volunteer Firefighters Responding to Emergencies: A chronic problem involving motorists in the village is the failure to safely yield the right of way to volunteer firefighters who are responding to a fire alarm.

Under State Law, volunteer firefighters are permitted to display a flashing blue light in their vehicles as they are responding to fire emergencies. While this flashing blue light does not entitle the driver to violate any of the speed limits, traffic controls, etc., it does signify that the driver is responding to an emergency. All motorists seeing an approaching vehicle displaying this blue flashing light are encouraged to safely yield the right of way as they would were it an emergency vehicle displaying red flashing lights.

Right Turn on Red Law: Please be mindful of the right turn on red signal law.  Although drivers making a right on red are supposed to stop before turning, they are also required to yield to oncoming vehicles having the green light. All too often these turns are being made without any stop and further by cutting in front of on-coming vehicles thereby endangering not only themselves but innocent parties as well.

Railroad Parking Permits: As of Sept. 16, the village began issuing railroad parking permits for the 2013/2014 year. The annual fee is $150 (this equates to less than $.60 per day).

Permits may be obtained at the Village Hall Business Office, 351 Stewart Avenue. Residents who already possess a 2012/13 permit will receive a renewal application by mail which may be returned to the village either by mail or in person. Please review the information provided and correct any erroneous data and/or complete any missing information. A copy of your vehicle registration MUST accompany your application and check. The 2012/13 parking permits will be honored until Oct. 31, 2013.

Hurricane Season Preparation: In an earlier column, I shared some suggestions on how to secure your property in preparation for a hurricane. The following are additional recommendations on what you can do now to be prepared in the event that a major storm hits Long Island.

As the storm approaches, customers should take the following steps to prepare for the arrival of either a hurricane or tropical storm:

• Never touch or go near fallen wires, even if you think they are safe.  Parents can use this opportunity to remind children that wires are dangerous. If you are in a vehicle that comes in contact with a downed wire, stay in your vehicle until help arrives.
• Make sure you have a working, battery-powered radio or television and a good supply of fresh replacement batteries. Have flashlights available for all family members.
• Make sure all motor-driven equipment, such as garage door openers, can be operated manually.
• When using a portable generator, make sure all LIPA-powered equipment is disconnected. This will avoid severe hazards when reconnecting the power to your home or business.
• Have a first aid kit at home and check its contents to make sure they are complete and up-to-date. If you have family members with special medical needs, such as insulin or other prescription drugs, check to make sure you have an adequate supply.
• Do not use charcoal to cook indoors; deadly carbon monoxide gas can accumulate in your home.
• If you have an elderly neighbor, be a Good Samaritan and check on his or her status. Even a quick telephone call during a storm can provide much appreciated assurance that help is nearby if needed. Should telephone service be lost, as was in last year’s Hurricane Sandy, please make a personal visit.
• Should an electric power interruption occur, all sensitive equipment, such as computers and televisions should be disconnected until service is restored.

LIPA has also like asked that their customers to be alert. If you see repair crews working on downed power lines, please drive carefully. Expect delays and exercise caution when driving near any of the repair crews working to restore your power. For more detailed information regarding hurricanes and the steps customers should take to prepare for the possibility that the storm could hit Long Island, LIPA’s electric service customers should visit www.lipower.org. Please take these suggestions seriously; they can save your life.

Continue to Shop and Dine Outdoors in Garden City: The residents of Garden City are very fortunate to have viable retail businesses on Seventh Street, Franklin Avenue and New Hyde Park Road where there is a good variety of quality merchandise and family dining experiences available to be enjoyed.  Please support these businesses and enjoy the products, variety and outstanding customer service. I look forward to seeing everyone in town.

Board of Trustes' Meeting Schedule: The next board of trustees meetings will be held on Thursday, Oct. 3, and Thursday, Oct. 17. The meetings will be held in the Board Room at Village Hall and begin at 8 p.m. I encourage all residents to attend board of trustees meetings so as to be thoroughly informed of village issues from a first-hand perspective.

S.T.O.P. Program: The Town of Hempstead Sanitation Department will conduct its monthly S.T.O.P. (Stop Throwing Out Pollutants) program on Saturday, Sept. 21. The program, which is held at various locations throughout the Town of Hempstead, will make hazardous waste facilities accessible to as many residents as possible.

Tomorrow’s program will be held at Valley Stream State Park, Fletcher Avenue entrance in Valley Stream. The hours of operation will be 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Under the S.T.O.P. program, residents are able to take polluting materials to the facility and have them disposed of by a registered professional disposal company, free of charge. The facility will not accept the following materials: ammunition, explosives, fireworks, electronic recyclable waste, infectious or medical waste, propane tanks larger than 20 pounds, oxygen tanks, radioactive materials and unlabeled materials. Non-conforming or damaged propane tanks can be returned to the establishment that refills your barbecue grill tanks.

The S.T.O.P. Program also offers you a way to promote energy efficiency. Bring your old incandescent light bulb and exchange if for a new energy efficient bulb (limit of 5 bulbs per household, while supplies last). Also, help us keep mercury out of the waste stream. Bring your old mercury-based thermostat to a S.T.O.P. event and receive a $5 gift card to a local home center.