In the public circle there is nothing more effective, more desirable or more productive between an elected official and his constituents than to have an open channel of communication.

On Saturday, Sept. 30 between 9:30 and 11:30 a.m., I will be hosting a mayor's open forum where we can discuss your concerns or hear your comments about the village. Please arrive at Village Hall entering through the front door and go to the reception window. Village Administrator Ginny Appel or another staff member will be there to assist you.

I've found this arrangement to be a congenial setting to discuss problems, invite suggestions and endeavor to find solutions. Whatever the issue, if it is important to you, it is important to me. As mayor, be assured I desire nothing more in public life than to exercise the deepest sympathies with your sentiments, to maintain the closest correspondence with your opinions, to respond with the most complete understanding to your difficulties and to advocate sincerely and passionately your most pressing needs by finding common cause for the common good.

Two caveats: Out of necessity, the discussion of legal matters involving the village will be omitted from the conversational agenda. Secondly, meetings of 15 to 20 minutes have been found to be mutually beneficial in exploring concerns as well as allowing everyone to have an opportunity to speak with the mayor.

September's bright blue weather bode well for a second straight year for the Covert Avenue Fair on Saturday, Sept.16 as hundreds shopped, ate and frolicked amid the happy sounds of a fun-filled day. Sunday, not to be outdone by Saturday, sired another beautiful day fresh with the warm breath of a summer morn that gave an extra spring to the step and a joyous feeling of being alive and about.

Village Justice Doug Hayden, Deputy Mayor Greene and Trustee Jim Rhatigan joined me in a visit to John Lewis Childs School for the annual Kiwanis Annual Antique Car Show. There is nothing like the charm of those antiques, some of them on display were novel enough to have once been referred to as horseless carriages. My uncle, who is 85 years old, remembers as a young boy his father cranking up one of those automobiles. If you weren't careful you could end up with a couple of broken ribs - a far cry from just turning the ignition.

Yes, we've come quite a distance in the way we get around, but when it comes to the Kiwanis they like to do things, as they now say, the old fashioned way. They work hard to raise money for the good causes they so tirelessly support. The festive atmosphere featured JJ's dancers and other entertainers. Everyone seemed to pitch in and do a good deed. I even espied local luminaries such as Mayors Tom Hayden and Steve Corbett barbecuing burgers and franks. It was a great day for a great organization.

Tight schedules are as much a part of being an elected official as deadlines are for a beat reporter. After hobnobbing with the good folks at Kiwanis, we scooted over to meet Trustees Tom Tweedy and Gerry Bambrick arriving from out of town obligations to dedicate the Floral Park Woman's Club Park, situated at the triangle of the library now adorned with benches, a running water fountain and a brick walkway.

The first president and founder of the Woman's Club in 1898 was Mrs. John Lewis Childs. Although established 22 years before the 19th Amendment gave women the right to vote, this enterprising and extraordinary group made lasting contributions in the very early years of this community. In 1902 they purchased uniforms for the entire fire department. Even today, the club donates huggable bears to be given to children on emergency calls through our rescue squad.

They can also be seen on the front lines fundraising for FISH, the Little League, Indians Soccer and preparing Thanksgiving food baskets for the needy. Two $1,000 scholarships are given each year to graduating seniors who are residents of Floral Park. Indeed, the Woman's Club has awarded more than $60,000 in scholarships.

After the speeches, a 1939 World's Fair Globe, discovered by former mayor and Woman's Club member Ann Corbett, was unveiled to culminate as well as crown the ceremony for this richly deserving group.

One of the village's most senior employees, Officer John Donnelly, has retired after serving 37 years as a Floral Park police officer. Cadet John Donnelly was hired back on Sept. 2, 1969, less than six weeks after Neil Armstrong took his one small step for man and one giant leap for mankind and about four weeks before the Miracle Mets won their first World Series. That was a long time ago, so I want to thank Officer Donnelly for his many years of service to the department and the Village of Floral Park. We wish him and his family health and happiness.

Disney's Lion King sings of the circles of life and it is no different in the life of a village. As Officer Donnelly leaves us after 37 years of service, Carolyn Voegler completes, as of this writing, about one week of service as our new library director. A resounding choice of our library board to take the helm as the new director, she also favorably impressed the village board as she demonstrated an unconcealed passion for the library and an enthusiasm for her position. Her communicable affability, enthusiasm and zeal to get in the thick of things will provide leadership to her staff and an inestimable service to the library's patrons. We warmly embrace her as our new library director and wish her a long and happy tenure in Floral Park.

The horse with the hopeful name of "Win McCool" was carrying at 114lbs, two pounds overweight. "Win McCool" had been having a stretch of bad luck. In the Prioress, she blew an almost sure win by losing her front right shoe. The news was still worse at Saratoga when she jumped out of the gate and hit the back of the gate with her ankle resulting in a humongous hematoma.

But the Belmont track, soaked by a steady rain on Thursday and Friday, but now baked dry by a hot sun, was to "McCool's" liking. Speeding past the field of "For All We Know," "Indian Flair," who broke badly, and "Pretty Imposing" (who proved anything but), Jockey Garrett Gomez rode her hard to the finish as she hit the tape first. Trainer Bobby Barbara, a Floral Park resident, was ecstatic over cool "Win McCool's" smashing victory.

Almost as deliriously happy was our own Trustee Jim Rhatigan, who was holding a $10 ticket on the winner that paid him $167. Considering myself an old hand at these Floral Park Handicaps, I had advised Jim not to bet, telling him that the only way to come back from the track with a small fortune is to go with a large one. Jim, aware of my pitiful picks (in 10 years at the Floral Park Handicap I've never won once), eschewed my advice and tried his luck.

Well, congratulations Jim, it couldn't have happened to a nicer guy. As for myself, I'm all through with giving advice on the ponies. From now on my lips are sealed and when it comes to betting, all bets are off.