With the 2005 holiday season now past us, the board and I, believe it or not, are already thinking about the 2006 holiday season. One of the things that makes our village so festive each year is the decorations on Main Street and the surrounding roads. Over the last two years the Farmingdale Chamber of Commerce has donated over 40 candy cane lights (at a cost of $16,000) to the village. These beautiful lights have certainly brightened the village and we graciously thank the chamber for donating them. While these new additions have spruced up the area, the hanging decorations that cross Main Street have seen many winters and are in need of replacement. The garland light strings were originally purchased by the Chamber of Commerce in the 1980s. Deputy Mayor Joe Rachiele and I have visited some of our neighboring towns that have recently purchased new decorations. Like everything else these days, the technology and styles have dramatically changed. The new lights are better made and easier to install. One town, in particular, that we liked was Bethpage. They have installed decorations that are simply beautiful. The reason we are still in the holiday-light mind set is simple - the companies that manufacture and sell street decorations offer substantial discounts (at least 30 percent savings) for purchases made in January. The board has already approved the funds to purchase new lights and we have circulated catalog pages to the attendees at our recent trustee meetings to receive input from any interested residents. Department of Public Works Superintendent Fred Zamparelle has been reviewing the options and styles and will be making a recommendation on which type of lights we should buy (keeping in mind installation and removal costs, durability and the unique dimensions that exist on Main Street). Our intentions are to purchase new non-sectarian decorations such as snowflakes that will continue to enhance the unique ambiance that our village has. We also are looking at purchasing new playground equipment for Gengras Park. Like all the other projects that the village undertakes, we are carefully investigating what the current and future needs are, what the costs are and what the most economical options are to meet them. The new year affords us all an opportunity to get involved and become part of our local government. I hope you will come to our meetings, join a committee and become part of the team of residents who make a difference in our community.