I am pleased to report that the Franklin Avenue Beautification Project is proceeding in a timely manner.

Some residents have expressed their concern over the fact that numerous trees have been removed. The Village is making every effort to transplant trees which our arborist feels will survive the procedure. A number of trees were in a state of decline and several were too large to be transplanted and were removed. The 78 trees to be transplanted and/or removed will be replaced by 196 large caliper trees and augmented by an additional 78 within the project area.

I am confident that the residents will be pleased with the final results on Franklin Avenue.

Garden City's Tree Management Program is used as a model by many universities. Under our program, Village street and park trees are inspected annually. Those trees which are in questionable condition are monitored during both the growing and dormant seasons and, if necessary, treatment is performed. Only when in the judgment of our trained arborist, Michael Didyk, that a tree is dead, dying or hazardous, is it marked for removal.

Residents who wish to have a street tree planted by the Village are encouraged to write to the Director of Public Works, Robert J. Mangan, P.E., with their request prior to March 17. We will make every effort to accommodate your request.

The Town of Hempstead Sanitation Department will conduct one of its monthly S.T.O.P. (Stop Throwing Out Pollutants) program on Saturday, March 13. The program, which is being held at various locations throughout the Town of Hempstead, will make hazardous waste facilities accessible to as many residents as possible.

The March 21 program will be held at Eisenhower Park, Field #1, Hempstead Turnpike and Merrick Avenue, East Meadow. The hours of operation will be 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Under the S.T.O.P. program, residents are able to take polluting materials to the facility and have them disposed of by a registered professional disposal company, free of charge. The facility will not accept the following materials: ammunition, explosives, radioactives, infectious waste, gas cylinders, and barbecue tanks.