The holiday season is a wonderful time of the year. It is a time when we all seem to unite and embrace the joy and spirit of giving that surrounds us. This is a time of togetherness, when our families and community share in the celebration of our beliefs, traditions, and values. It is also a time to reminisce about our past and plan for the brightness of our future.

As usual, when we come to the end of the year, we compel ourselves to look back on the year gone by as we prepare for the year ahead. However, this particular moment is not so usual, for we are all members of a historic period in time. The end of the 20th century and the beginning of a new millennium is upon us. Entry into the next century brings the excitement of new opportunities and developments, while allowing for the rebirth of past glories. In many respects, it is a chance for a new beginning. The Village of Westbury is poised to take advantage and ready to move forward, while reviving the beauty of our past.

This last year we have set the way for the rejuvenation and rebuilding of our infrastructure. Efforts to rebuild and beautify have thus far resulted in the start of a new look for the grounds at our Community Center. We relocated the memorial to open the greenery, which now includes new plantings, a new flagpole and a charming gazebo. The gazebo was donated to the residents of the Village of Westbury in honor of Giuseppe and Theresa Masiello by Eugene Moramarco, their son-in-law, as a surprise to his wife, Catherine Masiello Moramarco and their family.

The Village of Westbury commemorated the meeting room of the newly furnished Village Recreation Annex, July 11, to the memory of Edward R. Walsh, its former superintendent of recreation (1966 to 1995). Ed's family, his friends, and many residents of the village attended this dedication.

With help from the Chamber of Commerce and the BID, we also enhanced the look of Post Avenue through our Community Beautification Program. This program is designed to revitalize and beautify village and county properties. Live flowers hang in baskets on the light poles along Post Avenue. Similarly, there are live plants in planters in the commercial section of Post Avenue. These symbols help to bring a cheerful and refreshed look to the village's business district.

Instead of just a plain triangle at the corner of Post and Union Avenues, the site has been transformed into a small, quaint, park-like area with the addition of a clock, a brick walk, and the planting of seasonal flowers. It is truly a welcome addition to our downtown area.

Along with the BID, we have also spearheaded Nassau County's Operation Downtown and Facade Improvement Program along the business strip on Post Avenue. The first project should be completed by Thanksgiving Day, and there is a list of businesses to follow. In the coming year we will be working even harder to continue the revitalization and improvement of our downtown business community so that everyone will note our village for the cheerful aesthetics that surround fine dining and quality personal service enterprises.

The real beauty of these revitalization and beautification projects is that we have been able to fund them, almost completely, through outside sources. There has been an insignificant impact to our village budget, yet we have obtained so much in return. Next year, we will seek to find even more of the same. We also look to accelerate our campaign to preserve the quality of life in our residential neighborhoods by thoroughly enforcing our housing-code regulations. The recent trend in the growth in illegal residences will come to a screeching halt as we move to push it back and out of our community. Together, we will stop the threat of absentee landlords changing the way of life of our suburban neighborhoods.

While the Board of Trustees and I have had the privilege of coordinating several accomplishments, we could not have achieved any of them without the generous contribution of time and talent from our residents and business owners. Many in our village have given of themselves to enrich the lives of every member of our community, and each of them deserves our thanks. Special gratitude goes out to each person serving on one of our various governmental boards and commissions, and the many civic, political, social and charitable organizations. Each of them continues to dedicate their time and helps keep our village rich in its spirit of giving and volunteering.

My entire family and I wish each of you the most Blessed Christmas and Happy Hanukkah. Happy New Year to all and our best wishes for a healthy and prosperous 21st century!

Ernest J. Strada

Mayor