With the swiftness of a winged messenger, news that the Long Island Rail Road's (LIRR) Third Track Project had been postponed to at least the next capital cycle, roared through the mainline communities, a host of hungry news outlets before thundering throughout all of Long Island.

After marshaling enormous resources to pilot the project through the thick and prickly bramble of community opposition, the news of its sudden and abrupt stoppage was near astonishing. The official reason given to suspend construction on the mainline between Floral Park and Hicksville is insufficient funding. Certainly, there is a kernel of truth in this. This column has pointed out that Fort Knox could not pay for all these multifaceted transportation projects that include everything from the East Side Access to the Third Track.

But since when was a sharp tax increase or a fare hike needed to cover a spike in uncontrollable costs been a problem for the MTA? Perhaps 50 percent of all LIRR operating costs are already covered through subsidies. Clearly, the reason for shelving this project is more than insufficient funds. The real nemesis was the high spiritedness, determination and defiance of our residents who understood that the LIRR/MTA never spelled out a believable justification for the Third Track, vacillating from a reverse commute to a passing lane for broken down trains.

Unfortunately for the LIRR, they thought they were going to come into Floral Park like a cue stick breaking billiard balls. But our residents were not sheep to be herded into pasture nor were they about to lie down and allow our village to be rent asunder for a project not only unwanted but also unneeded.

Let us remember that the cradle of opposition to the third track was here in our village. We scripted the strategy, mobilized the troops and set in motion the plan that made what many called inevitable compellingly unlikely. Our effectiveness was the result of observing and sticking to four fundamental insights:

1. In a democracy, those who can mobilize public opinion are more powerful than those who legislate, make laws and establish bureaucratic edicts;

2. That the security of our village is enhanced when surrounding villages and communities share its principles and interests;

3. Our natural allies were not the MTA/LIRR who are appointed and unaccountable to the electorate, but our elected representatives who are elected and accountable to us;

4. The mobilization of legal resources to supply us with live ammunition to challenge in a court of law the Environmental Impact Statement being prepared by the LIRR.

From this evolved a massive organization of public opinion to oppose the Third Track; the establishment and incorporation of CARE (Citizens Against Rail Expansion) creating a network of alliance between all the villages along the mainline corridor; our elected representatives on the town, county and state level championing our cause and the retention of one of the most prominent environmental law firms in the United States to challenge the Environmental Impact Statement being prepared by the LIRR. While the financial pressures were no doubt real, the coup de grace was the everyday folks who were ready and willing to go 15 rounds with the MTA/LIRR behemoth.

But before I declare this victory as the greatest upset since David slew Goliath, I, along with my fellow mayors, are urging the LIRR and the MTA to withdraw the application for the Third Track Project pending before the Federal Transit Administration and to also pull back the Draft Environmental Impact Statement that was scheduled to be released this November and thereby officially mark the end of this contentious and ill advised chapter. The communities along the mainline deserve the security of knowing that their property values and their quality of life will not be diminished by a continuing cloud of uncertainty about whether the Third Track Project will suddenly be reactivated. Not long ago, the MTA discovered millions of dollars it thought it didn't have. I don't want any similar revelation in the future to be the striked match reigniting the project.

In short, I join in with my fellow mayors along the mainline corridor by saying it is time to move on. It is time for the MTA and LIRR to announce unequivocally that the Third Track Project is off the table, period.

What has been the impact of the voluntary agreement fostered by Senator Schumer to reduce the number of low flying helicopters over residential communities that went into effect for the first time last month?

This was the hot topic of discussion at a meeting held at North Hempstead Town Hall where Floral Park had a special seat at the negotiating table with representatives of the Eastern Regional Helicopter Council. Recently, I was quoted in Newsday as saying that while the voluntary agreement has reduced the number of helicopters there has been no perceptible improvement in the arbitrary flight path nor has there been any discernible progress in eliminating low altitude flights.

This meeting was attended by Trustees Mary Grace Tomecki and Tom Tweedy, along with Deputy Mayor Kevin Greene in a successful effort to advance Floral Park's position that while the village has seen a noticeable decline in the number of helicopters using the Main Line Route through Floral Park, residents have described little progress in the area of altitudes since the agreement went into effect. Moreover, it is reported that several choppers appear to be veering off the Main Line Route. Data provided by the newly established North Hempstead 311 Call Center charged with fielding complaints by frustrated residents over the onslaught of chopper activity, confirmed the complaints that have emanated from our community.

Senator Schumer's office awarded the Eastern Regional Helicopter Council a grade of "C" (which according to some is another sign of grade inflation) for its failure to live up to its part of the agreement. In response, the Helicopter Council has asked for more time to educate its pilots and incorporate the data collected from the 311 Center as part of its efforts. Consequently, I encourage residents to continue calling 869-6311 to report low-flying helicopters. The center is open from 7 a.m.-7 p.m. on weekdays. You can also log onto www.flyneighborly.net, where you can provide a formal written complaint directly to the Council. Meanwhile, Senator Schumer's Office has assured us they will continue monitoring the data as well and are prepared to pursue legislation if more pilots fail to fly at appropriate altitudes, using the North Shore Route.

Throughout the meeting, the Eastern Regional Helicopter Council repeatedly attributed leadership on this issue to Floral Park exclusively and praised the village for being a sparkplug as well as its representatives for tirelessly bringing this issue to the forefront. Following the meeting, Floral Park had the opportunity to meet separately with representatives from the Council to speak more specifically about arbitrary flight paths and altitudes.

On June 22, under the Marquee Tent at Belmont Race Track, approximately 210 people enjoyed a catered barbecue lunch, a live band performance by Floral Park resident, Tommy Clyne, paddock tours and reserved seating at the clubhouse. There were seven races sponsored by Floral Park residents and business owners. Their names were published in the racing program and at post time, the track announcer broadcasted the sponsor's name "saluting Floral Park's Centennial Year." Each sponsor was then escorted to the winner's circle and had a photo taken with the winning jockey and horse owners.

I took a picture with the winner of the fourth race sponsored the Floral Park Centennial Committee which was won fittingly by a horse named "Victory Assured" which was ridden by Kent J. Desormeaux, the jockey for Big Brown, who after winning the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness, failed to end the 30-year drought of thoroughbreds failing to win the Triple Crown. I'm pleased that Mr. Desormeaux had better luck this time around at beautiful Belmont Race Track.

This was another great Centennial event, which was coordinated by Virginia Appel, Susan Walsh assisting and the very pleasant and personable Joanne Adams, representative of the NY Racing Association and who is also a member of the Floral Park Chamber of Commerce.

Special thanks to the following race sponsors:

1st Race: Sponsored by NYPD Mount DeGaetano #401 Memorial, Floral Park resident Roxanne Mahler.

2nd Race: Sponsored by Dr. Rupolo of Floral Park Chiropractic & Health Plex.

5th Race: Sponsored by Team West Side Stables: Floral Park resident Dennis Lawrence.

7th Race: Sponsored by the Hayden Family - Floral Park residents.

8th Race: Sponsored by Renovations4U.com - Sponsored by Floral Park residents Jim Doyle and Paul Falabella.

10th Race: Sponsored by the Citizens Party of Floral Park - resident Dominick Longobardi.