It has become increasingly noticeable that many homeowners are not aware of the village's regulations pertaining to the placement of accessory structures in front yards. For the most part, with a few rare exceptions, these structures must be placed in the rear half of the property. Accessory structures include, but are not limited to, fences, walls, gates, gate posts, trellises, pergolas, swing sets, etc.

Another unfortunate occurrence is the discovery on the part of a homeowner, upon the sale or refinancing of his or her home, that some work was done without a permit and the required Certificate of Occupancy. It is strongly advised that before entering into this situation you contact the Building Department in advance to determine if the records confirm what you know to exist at your property.

In summary, it can not be emphasized enough that before doing anything in your home or on your property you first call the Building Department to determine what rules apply, if any, or what procedures to follow.

With the safety of our pedestrians in mind, I caution our residents to utilize the signal push buttons when crossing at major intersections. The system is designed to extend the light phase once the button is pressed to allow the pedestrian sufficient time to cross safely.

It is important that parents stress this safety precaution with their children, as a major portion of them cross main intersections daily en route to and from school and to play areas.

The Town of Hempstead Sanitation Department will conduct the first of its monthly S.T.O.P. (Stop Throwing Out Pollutants) program on Saturday, March 9. 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 9 program will be held at Eisenhower Park, Field 3 on Hempstead Turnpike and Merrick Avenue in East Meadow. The hours of operation will be 8 a.m. to 3 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, fireworks, infectious or medical waste, propane or oxygen tanks, radioactive materials, unlabeled materials and fire extinguishers.