The following are trustee reports from the Sept. 19 village board meeting. Deputy Mayor Kevin Greene reported that the Floral Park Fire Department is sponsoring a co-ed softball tournament at the Recreation Center fields Friday, Oct. 27, with the proceeds going toward the Bobby Getschel Scholarship Fund. This scholarship will be given to a senior at Floral Park Memorial High School each year who demonstrates exemplary community service as Bobby did. The tournament will be limited to the first 16 teams that enter. On Saturday, Oct. 28, there will be a small barbecue in the parking field next to the pool building. Food and soda will be sold with the profits also going toward the scholarship fund. If you have any questions, contact the fire chief's office at 326-6327.

Trustee Tom Tweedy reported that because of the department, each day residents enjoy clean streets, safe passable roads, clean, well-maintained public spaces and public parks and an ever-expanding natural inventory of trees. "Our sanitation department continues to provide reliable curbside pickup of household refuse twice a week as well as bulk pickup once a week on Wednesdays," Trustee Tweedy said. "Additionally, Public Works maintains a recycling program, picking up recyclables weekly."

Presently, the department is continuing its in-house striping program. Stop lines, crosswalks and street directional graphics installation continue on schedule.

The department is also stepping up its work as it relates to the storm drainage maintenance program. The drainage in many areas of the village relies upon a system of storm basins or dry wells, which hold water and allow storm water to seep into the ground.

"These tanks become filled with other street debris. To clear these tanks, we use the Vac All, which is like a giant wet vac. Presently, the Vac All is being used to perform routine maintenance but the large amount of debris left behind from Tropical Storm Ernesto is compounding the process. Many leaves and branches accumulated in the dry wells during the storm. In many cases, the amount of debris removed during the vacuuming was triple the usual amount causing the truck to fill faster. However, Public Works is responding to the challenge in conjunction with the Tree Department and serving the village competently and professionally," Trustee Tweedy explained.

The Highway Department is also overseeing the subcontracting of super-sized pipe cleaning. Some of our storm sewers are connected with drainage piping to county storm sewers. In some areas, these pipes have become clogged. By the use of high-pressure water, the lines are cleared.

Public Works has identified several areas in the village that require this specialized work. "In some areas, we have successfully cleared the pipe but in other areas, like at the intersections of Magnolia Avenue at Adams Street and Cisney Avenue at Revere Drive, the piping had to be replaced," Trustee Tweedy noted.

"The work has been completed, the park is being restored and the drainage in the area has already experienced marked improvement. This required replacement of piping and restoration of the road and curbing, which was expensive but necessary. Routine maintenance is key to maintaining our infrastructure. The responsibility for this extremely important function falls on our unheralded but vital Public Works Department."

Trustee James Rhatigan, along with the village administrator and village clerk, had the privilege to represent the village at the 12th running of the Floral Park Handicap at Belmont Park Saturday, Sept. 16. Trustee Rhatigan presented the winner's trophy to the owner of Sabine Stables "Win McCool." Trustee Rhatigan also had the pleasure of congratulating jockey Garrett Gomez and trainer Bobby Barbara who is coincidentally a Floral Park resident. Trustee Rhatigan thanked Cathy Marino and the New York Racing Association staff for their hospitality that day.

On Sunday, Sept, 17, along with the mayor and fellow trustees, Trustee Rhatigan said he had the honor to assist in christening the "beautiful" pocket park adjacent to the Floral Park Library.

"This wonderful area is dedicated to the past, present and future members of the Woman's Club of Floral Park. This park gives special recognition to Mrs. John Lewis Childs, who became the founding president of the club and then served in that capacity for over 20 years," Trustee Rhatigan said.

"This park is a splendid example of the fruits of the efforts of many. Responding to the idea first presented by the Woman's Club and heartened by the offer of monetary assistance from the club, our village administrator brought together representatives from the Library Board, Public Works Department, Jen-El Construction, a generous contributor of bricks for the path, and others to see this project to completion."

The mayor and board thanked all who contributed to the project and the Woman's Club members for making the dedication such a special event.

Mayor Phil Guarnieri remarked, "we were blessed with beautiful weather Saturday, Sept. 16, and Sunday, Sept. 17, and that life in the village was humming." On Saturday, the mayor had the pleasure of attending the Covert Avenue Chamber of Commerce 12th Annual Merchant's Street Fair. People were enjoying themselves partaking in the festivities as they traveled along Covert Avenue greeting neighbors and friends.

Mayor Guarnieri attended the Kiwanis Antique Car Show at John Lewis Childs School Sunday and enjoyed looking at old cars and reminiscing about how as a young boy his uncle told him stories about how cars used to be started by cranking them up. Mayor Guarnieri said that the Kiwanis Club is a "wonderful charitable organization that gives so much to our community and to others." The mayor was also pleased to see two former mayors in attendance, Tom Hayden and Steve Corbett, also enjoying the show.

The mayor said he had the pleasure of attending the christening of the Woman's Club of Floral Park pocket park adjacent to the library. "This park gives special recognition to Mrs. John Lewis Childs, wife of the founder of our village. The location of the park is appropriate in that it is in the shade of where once stood the Childs' mansion but is now Flowerview Gardens." Mayor Guarnieri said the Woman's Club, which has been in existence for 108 years, has contributed to so many good causes in the village.

The mayor also reported that the Centennial Committee has been meeting in order to prepare for the village's centennial celebration in 2008, which is rapidly approaching. "This fine committee is chaired by former mayor Tom Hayden who was mayor when the village celebrated its 75th anniversary in 1983. The committee is working diligently, planning many events beginning with a fireworks display Monday, Jan. 1, 2008, with a variety of festivities planned to continue throughout the months, culminating with a grand ball on Friday, Oct. 10, 2008 in celebration of the 100th anniversary of the incorporation of the village, which occurs on Wednesday, Oct. 15, 2008.

On motion by Trustee Rhatigan, seconded by Deputy Mayor Greene and carried unanimously, Mayor Guarnieri recessed the meeting at 8:50 p.m.