The Elmont Chamber of Commerce and The Elmont Community Coalition Council have announced that the "Welcome To Elmont" Signs Project has proceeded to the point where four of the five signs planned for display around Elmont, have now been installed. The locations of the four installed signs are stated below and acknowledgments to the construction companies who assisted in the project. One more sign is planned for display.

From its inception, the Welcome to Elmont Signs Project committee was co-facilitate by current Elmont Chamber of Commerce President Paul Sapienza and current Elmont Community Coalition Council President Richard A. Mastrocola. Assisting the project over the three year period also were various Elmont residents and business owners including Woody Cornetta of The Elmont Paint & Design Center, Sara Beague of Family Dentistry, Office of Thomas P. Beague, DDS, Joseph Marziotto, Helen Odon, Pierre Piard, Matt Schlecter and Daniel Vola. Thanks goes out to all for volunteering time and energy.

The following financial contributors furnished the project with the necessary funding that has been essential for the project's success. Primary among the financial contributors were The New York Racing Association at Belmont Park, Family Dentistry: Office of Thomas P. Beague, DDS and the family of Paul Annunziato.

In addition, generous financial donations were received from:

A&A Industrial Supplies

Armitage and Company

Bee Cee Books

Carman/Armitage

Dr. Diane Bieler

Dun Rite Kitchens

Elmont Paint & Design Center

Elmont Temple of Seventh Day Adventists

Fiorano Tile

Franklin Hospital Medical Center

Joseph J. Bologna & Company

Legends of Long Island - Club Rum

Long Island Garage Door

Margaret and Joan Hitchcock

Mauro Electric

Meacham Pharmacy

Motor Corners

Ronald Roth, DDS

Paris Maintenence

Publications Expediting

Public Interest Advocacy

Sapienza Pastry Shop

Sherwyn-Feinstein, MD

The Bank of New York

The Bridal Plaza

The Elmont Elementary Teachers' Association

The Emigrant Savings Bank

Thyben's Saddlery

Vam's Laundromat

Special thanks also go to T.A.P. Landscaping for donating and installing plants, and setting up the bedding around two sites.

Two construction companies deserve credit for their creativity in working with the project to develop the design of the Elmont signs. The gold leaf signs located at the Linden Boulevard and Central Avenue intersection, at 238th Street and Dutch Broadway, and at Hempstead Turnpike and Wellington Road were made and installed by the Sterling Sign Company of Floral Park. Thanks go to Theresa Gamble for all your efforts.

The steel mesh welcome sign located on Hempstead Turnpike at Oakley Avenue (adjacent to the Meacham Avenue municipal parking lot) was designed, built and installed by the Liberty Fence Company of Elmont (located at 775 Meacham Avenue off Dutch Broadway). Thanks to Anthony Strianese and Carlos Juarez for all the work they put into the construction of this special sign.

The steel mesh sign at the municipal parking lot states at its top, "Welcome to Elmont - Home of...," and below that will be reserved space where Elmont community groups and organizations will be invited to hang their group's plaque. Details about setting your community group's plaque on the "Home" board will be presented in this newspaper within the next couple of weeks.

Donations continue to be needed, not only to complete and install the fifth and final sign, but also to maintain all the signage sites and the areas around them on a regular basis. For instance, although some plants have been donated, there is a need to purchase more and there is an interest in adding flower arrangements to the beds at each of the sites. Also, a yearly maintenance contract must be obtained in order that the beds are adequately cared for throughout the year. There is also some interest in adding lighting to these signs to make them visible at night.

All of these plans require the participation and contributions of the business owners and residents of Elmont. After all, the theme carried on the majority of the project signs says, "Welcome to Elmont - A Community with Pride." In order for the phrase to resonate to the outside public, the areas around the signs need to be kept clean, green and beautiful. It is there that the greater public will decide immediately whether Elmont really means what they say. Without donations, maintaining the appearance of community pride in the areas around our community signs will be difficult to maintain.

Donations can be sent to: The "Welcome to Elmont" Signs Project, P.O. Box 030150, Elmont, NY 11003.