A MESSAGE FROM LINDENHURST MAYOR MICHAEL LAVORATA

I want to offer congratulations to the Lindenhurst High School Class of 2023! We wish you all great success as you begin your next journey, and may you carry your “Lindy Pride” with you wherever you go! 

It would not have been the beginning of summer without the Lindenhurst Memorial Day Parade, honoring Americans who died while serving in the armed forces. Thank you to the brave men and women who served and sacrificed to preserve our freedom.  My thanks to the Lindenhurst Veterans of Foreign War and United Veterans Council, and all who participated in this year’s parade.  The parade featured veterans, community and service clubs marching, along with the Lindenhurst High School & Middle School Marching Bands, and the Lindenhurst Fire Department.

This year’s parade also honored three Grand Marshals representing veterans that fought in WWII- Joseph Randazzo, the Korean War- Thomas Aloisi, and the Vietnam War-Commander Thomas Kelly.    I hope everyone enjoyed the parade, and had a restful and enjoyable Memorial Day weekend.

It would also not be summer in Lindenhurst without our FREE Summer Concert Series!  Most every Friday & Saturday night, and including some Sundays, this summer, beginning at 7:30 pm, great music for all will be presented at the Village Square Park Gazebo.  Bring a lawn chair, and visit one of our fine Downtown restaurants for some food and drink before the show!  The series kicks off on Friday, June 23^th with a comedy night and Saturday June 24^th with “Day Trippers,” a Beatles tribute band.  The full calendar of concert dates and performers is available on the Village website: www.villageoflindenhurstny.gov.

Finally, a lot of good things have been happening in Lindenhurst these past few months including the Lindenhurst Fire Department’s 184^th installation of newly-elected officers: Chief of the Department David Collins, First Assistant Chief Robert Santos, Second Assistant Chief Jonathan Cutolo; Third Assistant Chief David Brink; Secretary Charles Vozzo and Treasurer Sarah Marie Callahan. Also, a big thank you to outgoing Chief Michael DeGregorio for his many years of selfless service to the Lindenhurst community.

I might also point out, in an effort to keep Lindenhurst Fire Department’s life-saving response fast and effective, the Village has hired two full-time Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs). The EMT’s are first responders who are trained in basic medical knowledge and skills to provide immediate medical care to residents in an emergency. They are often the first Lindenhurst Fire Department emergency service providers to arrive on the scene of a crisis, such as an accident, medical emergency, fire or natural disaster. An EMT’s responsibility is to provide basic and emergency medical care to stabilize the person in crisis before transporting them to a hospital where they can be further assisted by a physician. 

There are so many more good things going on in our Lindenhurst Community — too many for me to write in this month’s Mayor’s Message.  However, stay tuned, I will be writing again next month to keep all our residents up to date.

Once again, I am humbled and proud to serve as your Mayor.

The Village of Lindenhurst is preparing to begin work on a project to improve pedestrian and traffic safety on Wellwood Avenue, in the heart of the Downtown Business District. Funded partly through a Suffolk County Jumpstart Grant, this project will include the installation of pedestrian crosswalks, sidewalk bulbouts and median extensions, repaving and curbing of the road, and restriping and reangling of parking spaces.

An additional component of this “facelift” to our Downtown, will be the planned removal, relocation, and replanting of trees along Wellwood Avenue. Many tree species that were planted long ago have turned out to be unsuitable for growth and flourishment in the Downtown. Dead and dying trees will be identified for removal, as well as trees that have damaged the sidewalks, creating pedestrian hazards, and trees that are interfering with wires.

As the Village creates a plan for the relocation of old trees and planting of new ones, we are committed to planting two trees throughout the Village for every one removed. The species of new trees to be planted will be chosen for their longevity; ones that will not become too large and cause future damage. As we map out the plan for Wellwood Avenue, we will take into account such things as, choosing sites that will work better for the viewing of store signs, and the overall beautification of the Village Downtown. Once we lay the locations out, it is possible that our Village Downtown will have even more trees!

We will also make sure that all tree memorial placards that need to be removed during the process will be put back, and families and loved ones will be notified if any are to be relocated.

As your Mayor, and on behalf of the Village Board, we are committed to keeping the planting, preserving, and caring of trees as a top priority for the Village of Lindenhurst. Reducing the carbon footprint is one of the greatest challenges of our generation, and trees are here to fight with us. Let us build a greener future together!

I remain proud to serve as your Mayor. Let us continue to work to ensure Lindenhurst will be a great place to live, work, and play, for many generations to come.