During our May 4, 2021 public meeting, the Lindenhurst Village Board unanimously voted to require all members of the public, employees, and patrons of Village-owned facilities, parks, and fields (indoor and outdoor) to wear a mask. This Village policy will keep mask restrictions in place until we have been advised by the CDC and the Governor of the State of New York that the pandemic is fully over, and it is safe to go about our new normal without face coverings.

According to the new CDC guidance, everyone should “mask up” in crowded, outdoor situations, such as live performances, parades, or sporting events, regardless of vaccination status. However, people do not have to wear masks outside when they walk, bike, or run alone or with family members, whether they are fully vaccinated or not.

More and more people are being vaccinated, and things are getting better in our Lindenhurst Community. However, we are not quite there yet. The Village Administration cannot emphasize this enough, especially, as the weather warms. It can be tempting to think we can forget about COVID precautions. We cannot. Many residents remain unvaccinated. The potential for spreading the virus to those not yet protected is still a real possibility. The Village of Lindenhurst urges us all to remain vigilant in our efforts to remain safe, while still enjoying the warm weather fun in our community!

I remain grateful to serve as the Mayor of our Lindenhurst Community.

A little over a year ago, by orders of the Governor of the State of New York, the Village of Lindenhurst COVID-19 shutdown plan took effect.  Everywhere, the pandemic changed things for us all, right down to the details of daily life. Through it all, however, our residents, our community organizations, our municipal partners — specifically Suffolk County Legislator Kevin McCaffrey, Town of Babylon Supervisor Richard Schaffer, and our NYS Representatives — along with our Lindenhurst School District, our Lindenhurst and North Lindenhurst Fire Departments, and our hard-working, dedicated Village employees in the Department of Public Works, Village Hall, and Rainbow Center all pulled together to carry on under unheard of circumstances.  As a community, we have persevered.  As individuals, we all had to figure out what was the newest “normal”,  and held ourselves personally responsible to others, and ourselves, by wearing masks, staying at home in the early days, and then keeping the appropriate social distance.  As the pandemic progressed, we came together to look after our neighbors, especially our vulnerable neighbors, delivering masks and hand sanitizer to those in need, and patronizing local business and restaurants.

At Village Hall, Zoom public meetings became the normal with limited access in Village Hall.  Our family drive-in movie nights and concerts in Village Square Park required all who attended to adhere to social distancing & safety protocols.  These Village-sponsored events replaced traditional entertainment venues, such as live theaters, movie theaters, and concert locations that were forced to close down.

It should be noted that during a year in which businesses everywhere were closing daily, an unprecedented 12 new businesses opened up in the Village of Lindenhurst.

Also, our Superintendent of Schools, Administrators, School Board Members, teachers, and staff of the Lindenhurst School District accomplished the almost impossible on a daily basis in keeping education going, and safely, throughout the past year.  A thank you to Dan Giordano and the Lindenhurst School District – as well as to our students and parents — for overcoming such overwhelming challenges.

With the arrival of vaccines, there is hopeful light at the end of the tunnel; things are gradually changing.  Restaurants and businesses have increased their capacity.  The President spoke about July 4^th as a target date for mandatory re-opening, a much-needed note of hope and optimism.  More and more people are being vaccinated.  Things are getting better in our Lindenhurst Community.  Life is returning to our new normal.

However, we are not quite there yet.  I cannot emphasize this enough.  Especially as the weather warms, it can be tempting to think we can forget about COVID precautions.  We cannot.  Many of our residents remain unvaccinated.  The potential for spreading the virus to those not yet protected is still a real possibility.  Please continue to wear a mask, and maintain a safe distance from others when in public.

So, as we reflect on all we have experienced and accomplished together as the Lindenhurst Community since March 2020, I hold in my heart all those who have passed on due to the virus, and those whose lives have been forever changed by it.

I remain honored to serve as your Mayor.

A MESSAGE FROM LINDENHURST MAYOR MICHAEL LAVORATA

March 2021 marks the First Anniversary of the first confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the Lindenhurst Community.  As the Mayor of the Village of Lindenhurst, I am designating Sunday, April 18, 2021 as a Day of Remembrance – a day to remember and grieve the lives we have lost, the loved ones left behind, and the heartache and uncertainty caused by this deadly virus.  This will also be a day to reflect on the many ways our Lindenhurst Community has come together to look out for each other, to help one another, and reduce the spread of COVID-19.  On the Day of Remembrance, the Village will be holding a 3:00 p.m. service at the Gazebo in Lindenhurst Village Square Park.

 

I ask all Lindenhurst residents to join me, to pause and say a prayer in memory of lives lost to COVID-19.  Special prayers of thanks as well to healthcare workers for their courage in treating patients infected with the virus, and notably, to our Lindenhurst and North Lindenhurst Fire and Rescue Departments, EMTs, and medical technicians for their ongoing, selfless service to our residents.  Let us also lift up in gratitude the many essential workers, such as people working in grocery stores, pharmacies, and take-out food establishments, who have kept services going.  I also want to thank our essential Lindenhurst Village employees, in particular our Department of Public Works staff who have diligently picked up our garbage & recyclables, and kept our roads safe throughout these trying times.  I would also be remiss if I did not ask for special prayers for the soul of Village employee John Kehoe, who lost his life while serving the people of our Village during the pandemic.