Monday, March 7, at 8 p.m. begins the first of three forums where the Port Washington community is being asked to come together to find a "shared vision" for the future of the Port Washington Peninsula. The forum will be held at Carrie P. Weber Middle School.

The March 7 forum will focus on environmental issues and recreational needs. The visioning process is a community based planning initiative where local governments, local community groups, and local residents come together to create a shared vision for their community.

The Environment and Recreation Open Forum will be a chance for residents to voice their thoughts on the need to preserve additional open space in the area, the need for additional soccer and baseball fields, the future of our drinking water supply on the peninsula, and the future use of Manhasset Bay as well as other similar issues. The format for the evening will include a brief general presentation after which participants will be split up into different groups to discuss issues in further detail.

The Town of North Hempstead joins with the villages of Baxter Estates, Flower, Hill, Manorhaven, Plandome Manor, Port Washington North and Sands Point; New York State Senator Michael Balboni; New York State Assemblyman Thomas DiNapoli; Nassau County Executive Thomas Suozzi, Nassau County Legislator Craig Johnson; General Council of Homeowner Associations of Port Washington; Greater Port Washington Business Improvement District and the Residents for a More Beautiful Port Washington in this new endeavor.

"The visioning concept is an effective way to do community planning starting from the ground up," said Supervisor Kaiman. "I believe the best way to plan for the future is by coming together with those who live and work in the community itself."

Residents will be discussing infrastructure, traffic and parking, public safety and community services at the Support Services Open Forum on March 16. If you have comments or concerns about housing, commercial corridors, redevelopment and land use, be sure to attend the Development Open Forum on March 31. All open forums will be held at 8 p.m. at the Carrie P. Weber Junior High School on Port Washington Boulevard.

For more information, please contact April Brown Lake, Director of Community Based Planning from the Town of North Hempstead at 627-4062 or by email at pwvisioning@northhempstead.com