A crowd of some 200 local residents, many of whom showed up with homemade signs and paraded outside of the Floral Terrace, attended the Metropolitan Transit Authority/Long Island Rail Road's (MTA/LIRR) second of three scoping meetings June 16 in Floral Park. They came out in full force to oppose the railroad's plans to install an additional track from Queens Village to Hicksville, which would travel through Floral Park, Bellerose and other local communities along the Main Line Corridor. Other meetings took place at Jericho Terrace in Mineola June 14 and at Antun's in Hicksville June 21.

During the June 16 afternoon session (4-6 p.m.), 46 speakers opposed the expansion while two people favored it, citing additional freight traffic is in fact desirable. The evening session (7-9 p.m.), with standing room only, heard 50 speakers talk in opposition and one who favored the proposal. The majority of speakers, however, favored the elimination of on-grade rail crossings, including three in New Hyde Park, as a separate project.

Along with a score of representatives of local organizations, local dignitaries Nassau County Legislators Richard Nicolello and Vincent Muscarella, Hempstead Town Councilman Ed Ambrosino, Floral Park Mayor Phil Guarnieri and Bellerose Mayor Donna Sherrer also spoke in opposition.

C.A.R.E. (Citizens Against Rail Expansion) Committee members are currently circulating petitions in opposition to the project, which could cost as much as $700 million. C.A.R.E. petitions are available at Floral Park and Bellerose Village Halls and on Floral Park's website, www.fpvillage.org.