With the fall season upon us, we also move into hurricane season. I think it is appropriate to remind our residents to be prepared. Here are some important tips to keep in mind for your planning:

• If a tropical storm, or hurricane, hits and power is interrupted, residents should be prepared to shelter at home. At a minimum, everyone should have on hand:
  • 3 days of food
  • 7 days of medication
  • 3 gallons of drinking water per person
  • LED flashlights
  • A battery-powered AM radio
• Make sure to have extra cash on hand if a storm is approaching, and be sure your fuel tank is full. Banks ATMs and gas pumps may not work if electricity goes out.
• If you have pets, have a kit for them too, with items like a carrier, medicine, and ample food supplies.
• Secure, or bring indoors, any outdoor furniture, umbrellas, grills, etc.
• Create a family emergency plan and emergency contact list. Here are some important emergency numbers to have on hand:
  • Fire/Rescue (631) 226-1212
  • Police Emergency 911
  • Village Hall (631) 957-7500
  • Department of Public Works (631) 957-7520

In recent years, the number of trees planted in the Village of Lindenhurst has been far less than the number of trees removed.  Many trees have been lost due to nor’easters, hurricanes, and wind storms over the past several years.  The Village has also had to take down trees that were causing uprooted sidewalks, dangerous conditions, and, in some cases, diseased trees.  As the Mayor of our Village, I am announcing that the on-going removal of trees, without replanting new ones, is going to stop.  The Village’s new policy will be that, for every tree taken down or removed, a new tree will be planted.

There are many benefits to having trees planted in our Village.  It is no secret that our air quality is not what it used to be.  Harmful greenhouse gases have been building up in the atmosphere, creating a dangerous bubble.  The majority of greenhouse gas is made up of carbon dioxide.  The benefits of planting trees to absorb these gases is truly a no-brainer.  Trees provide cleaner air by adding oxygen, and soaking up carbon dioxide, creating cleaner, healthier air for us to breathe.  Trees are our biggest tool in the struggle to lower atmosphere carbon, and mitigate climate change.

Many residents ask the question, how do I know if my street tree should be removed?  Residents can call the Department of Public Works (631-957-7520), and a Foreman will make an inspection of the tree to determine if it meets the Village criteria for tree removal.  Trees will be removed if they are determined to be dead, dying, diseased, or dangerous.  If the tree does not meet these criteria, the tree will not be removed.

As your Mayor, I cannot emphasize this enough – planting, preserving, and caring for trees will again become a top priority for the Village of Lindenhurst.  Tree preservation will complement our overall green initiative, which has included the installation of a solar car port at the LIRR commuter parking lot, solar panels at the Rainbow Community Center & Village Hall, and the conversion of Village street and ball-field lights to energy-efficient LED lighting,

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.

I want to offer congratulations to the Lindenhurst High School Class of 2022! We wish you all great success as you begin your next journey, and may you carry your “Lindy Pride” with you wherever you go!  On a sad note, however, we have to say goodbye to our Superintendent of Schools, Dan Giordano, as he begins his journey of retirement. Thank you, Mr. Giordano, for your many years of selfless service to the Lindenhurst School District and the Lindenhurst Community.

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.  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 25^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, although we seem to be rounding the corner on the COVID-19 Pandemic, it has not been without its struggles. My thoughts and prayers are with those who lost loved ones, and with the first responders and essential workers who continued to do their job through the most difficult circumstances to ensure our safety.

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

A MESSAGE FROM LINDENHURST MAYOR MICHAEL LAVORATA

Spring is a season of fresh beginnings, and a time to appreciate the beauty of nature that surrounds us. Flowers are blooming, trees are coming back to life, and the sun is shining!  We are fortunate to live on the South Shore of Long Island, with the beautiful Great South Bay, and our ocean beaches.  I encourage all of you to get outside and take advantage of all the warm, spring weather and outdoor activities our Lindenhurst community has to offer.

We kicked off spring with our first-ever Lindenhurst St. Patrick’s Parade, and it was an overwhelming social success!  With dark clouds in the distance, St. Patrick blessed us as the sun shone down on Wellwood Avenue and the thousands of residents and visitors who lined the street to cheer on the hundreds of parade marchers.  Irish pipers, drummers, dancers, local firefighters, scouting troops, fraternal groups, community organizations, businesses, and elected officials all joined in the fun.  A big thank you to the Parade Committee David Crowe, RJ Renna, Kevin McCaffrey, and Katie Schrader, and to our inaugural Parade Grand Marshal Peter King, and his lovely wife, Grand “Marshalette” Rosemary.

This spring also brought us a Village Election, and our re-elected officials were sworn in to office on Village Organization Night.  Trustee Maryann Weckerle, Trustee Patrick M. Pichicher, and Village Justice H. John Bopp were collectively sworn in by Suffolk County District Court Judge James McDonaugh, and I had the privilege that night of re-appointing Trustee Weckerle as my Deputy Mayor.  I am thankful to these public servants, and the entire Village Board and staff, for their tireless dedication and commitment to making the Village of Lindenhurst the greatest place to live, work, and play!

Congratulations are also in order to our Lindenhurst Fire Department Chiefs and Officers who were recently sworn in for another year of service to our community – Chief Michael DeGregorio, 1^st Assistant Chief David Collins, 2^nd Assistant Chief Robert Santos, 3^rd Assistant Chief Jonathan Cutolo, Secretary Charles Vozzo, and Treasurer Sarah-Marie Callahan.  On behalf of the people of the Lindenhurst community, thank you for your selfless service!

Finally I hope we all take an opportunity this spring to remember others and how we can help our neighbors, because that is what makes Lindenhurst so special.  I hope we all remember to do nice things, lend a helping hand, and be thankful in return.  Perhaps offering a token of appreciation could go a long way for your neighbor.

I am so proud to be the Mayor of this beautiful, blossoming, and bustling Village.

As you may know, Governor Hochul has at least for now, removed the Accessory Dwelling Unit mandate from the NY State Budget. You may also know that it was included in a budget rather than debated as a separate issue. If not for the amazing work of the Suffolk County Village Officials Association (SCVOA) and our Counsel, it may have not been detected and could have passed along with the overall budget.

The SCVOA, of which I am honored to have recently been elected as one of the Vice-Presidents, worked tirelessly with our Villages, as well as our Town and County officials here in Suffolk County. Our Executive Director Paul Tonna, a former Presiding Officer in the Suffolk County Legislature worked with the many members of the SCVOA Executive Board from the west end of the county to the east end. There were many meetings and conference calls during this episode. We stood tall and united as a unit against the Governor’s assault on our local zoning.

I also want to thank many of our local elected officials who also supported our efforts especially Suffolk County Legislator and Presiding Officer Kevin J. McCaffrey for his press conference 2 weeks ago. We had many elected officials from both sides of the aisle in our court. Thanks to Town of Babylon Supervisor Rich Schaffer for his support along with his colleagues on the Town Board, Village of Amityville Mayor Dennis Siry and Village of Babylon Mayor Mary Adams.

A special thanks to our very own Lindenhurst Village Board of Trustees, as well. We worked tirelessly to fight this together!

But I really want to thank you, the people, for sharing social media posts and signing petitions against this assault on our “Home Rule” which not only protects our zoning but our overall suburban way of life. No one will deny that there is a housing crisis in the State. However, this mandate is not the way to solve it. We have enough parking issues, battered infrastructures and crowded schools right now. Besides, Lindenhurst as does many Villages, already has a Two-Family Review Board that handles accessory apartments. We need not have the state tell us how to handle our affairs lest they cannot manage their own.

You have helped us Save Our Suburbs. But the fight is NOT over. This coup could be attempted again so we need to remain vigilant. Once again, thanks for your help. You folks are amazing! I could not be prouder, and I am honored to serve as your mayor.

God bless you all,

Michael A. Lavorata
Mayor

A MESSAGE FROM LINDENHURST MAYOR MICHAEL LAVORATA

Happy New Year!  2022 got off to a snowy start with our first winter storm on January 7^th.  A big thank you to Superintendent of Public Works Rick Sorrentino, and the entire Village Department of Public Works team, for an outstanding job clearing the snow and keeping our roadways safe for travel.

In the last days of 2021, I took a little time to reflect on the past year and all we were able to accomplish together, in spite of the challenges we faced.  You can read my reflection in my Mayor’s Message – January 2022, which can be found on our Village website – www.villageoflindenhurstny.gov

On a County level, we recently celebrated the inauguration of the newly elected Suffolk County Legislature. I would personally like to congratulate Legislator Kevin J. McCaffrey on not only his re-election, but his new status as the Presiding Officer of the Suffolk County Legislature. It is such a benefit to our Lindenhurst community to be so well represented in the County Legislature. This is also a historic event, in that it is the first time a Lindenhurst Village resident has been elected by the legislature to serve as its Presiding Officer. I am so incredibly proud of Legislator McCaffrey and his representation of our hometown. I, along with the Village Board, am grateful for his leadership and representation.

Unfortunately, we did not leave the COVID-19 Pandemic behind in 2021, and it seems like January 2022 is like déjà vu.  As I write this message, according to Newsday, the number of cases identified on average per day over the most recent week in the Village is 112.14 (5,786 in Suffolk County), compared to the previous week’s average of 90.86 (4,932 in Suffolk County).  In addition, New York State Governor Hochul has extended the mask mandate to February 1, 2022, and announced new measures to combat the virus in New York State.  The most up-to-date guidance from the State regarding testing, vaccine, and quarantine guidelines, can be found at: https://coronavirus.health.ny.gov/home

Finally, I encourage all of our Lindenhurst residents to step up and take as many precautions as we can to reduce the spread of the virus. I know we are all dealing with “Pandemic burn out”, and many resent the inconveniences of the current mandate.  However, masks and vaccines continue to be our best protection against serious illness. It has been reported that many vaccinated individuals who have tested positive for the virus have experienced less serious symptoms than infections among the unvaccinated. If you have not already done so, please consider get vaccinated and boosted.

As always, I remain proud to serve as your Mayor.

January 2022 brings the beginning of a New Year.  It is important to recognize all of the Village’s accomplishments from this past year.  Despite a global pandemic that significantly limited our ability to be out and about in the community, I am still amazed at what our Village forces accomplished.  None of the Village services we provide, or the progress we continue to make, would be possible without our dedicated Village Board – Deputy Mayor Maryann Weckerle, and Trustees Joan M. Masterson, RJ Renna, and Patrick M. Pichichero – and committed Village staff, led by Administrator Clerk Douglas Madlon and Deputy Administrator Clerk Joe Barone, our Department of Public Works employees, led by Superintendent Rick Sorrentino, and our Lindenhurst Fire Department, led by Chief Michael DeGregorio, 1^st Assistant Chief David Collins, 2^nd Assistant Chief Robert Santos, and 3^rd Assistant Chief Jonathan Cutolo.  I cannot say enough how proud I am of our entire Village team.

The following projects were accomplished during 2021:

• The ongoing revitalization of our historic Village Downtown Business District.  The Village welcomed 13 new businesses in our downtown last year during the height of the pandemic.
• The ongoing upgrades to the Lindenhurst Fire Department equipment, including purchasing a new aerial truck, a fire rescue boat, and two ambulances.
• The completion of the New York Rising federally funded Shore Road Waterfront Park Natural Systems Resiliency Improvements project, bulkhead replacements on South 4^th Street and Fall Street, and Albany Avenue drainage and roadway improvements.
• The ongoing improvements to the Rainbow Senior Center, including the installation of solar panels, the installation of a generator, and the renovation of an under-used, neglected part of the building that can now be utilized by the seniors and the community.
• The implementation of a sustainable, green, energy-efficient initiative to reduce the carbon footprint of the Village.  The Village-wide initiative encompasses 10 buildings, two parks, Village parking lots, and the marina.
• The completed renovation of our Old Village Hall Museum at Irmisch Historical Park on South Broadway, and to the Village Historical House Museum on South Wellwood.

In addition to the on-going projects the Village team continues to provide high-quality constituent services, while processing record numbers of applications, permits, and renewals from members of the Lindenhurst Community.  The Village staff is hard at work throughout the year putting in extra effort and hours to get the job done.  They are dedicated to listening to our residents and finding ways to meet the needs of our community.  They are passionate about what they do, and enjoy helping those we serve.

As your Mayor, I am committed to working with the Village Board to continue our efforts in the New Year.  Together, we are excited to keep the momentum going with many projects and community events in the works.

I am also very committed to working with residents, our business community, Chamber of Commerce, Business Improvement District, Kiwanis Club, Rotary Club, and many of our service clubs to bring the best the Lindenhurst Community has to offer.  Working in conjunction with our residents and community organizations is a major priority for me and the Village Board as we move into this New Year.  Lindenhurst is a wonderful community because of the contributions of everyone who lives and works here.  I am very proud to be the Mayor of Lindenhurst.

As I look ahead, it is my hope for all our residents that this exciting New Year of 2022 is ultimately filled with opportunity and joy, and that we celebrate another year together in our beautiful Village.

The Village of Lindenhurst wishes all our residents a safe, healthy, and Happy New Year. With COVID-19 Omicron variant again on the rise, residents are advised to exercise caution when gathering with friends and family, or being around people in public places such as stores, restaurants, and entertainment venues. The COVID-19 Omicron variant is very contagious, and can be spread from an infected person’s mouth or nose in small, liquid particles when they cough, sneeze, speak, sing, or breathe.

I know the “Pandemic burn-out” so many of us are feeling, but let me once again suggest:

• Follow the Governor’s mandate to wear a mask.
• Wash/Sanitize your hands as often as you can.
• Consider getting vaccinated and vaccine boosters.

Let’s look forward to a more prosperous, joyous, and healthier 2022 for us all. We remain “Lindy Strong” and we will get through this!

A mask mandate for shops and other indoor spaces in New York State took effect on Monday, December 13^th to confront a surge in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations.  Governor Hochul’s mandate requires masks to be worn in all indoor public buildings, unless the businesses or venues implement a vaccine requirement.  The mask mandate will be in effect until January 15, 2022.

At this stage, Lindenhurst residents have no other choice but to comply with the Governor’s mask mandate.  I am in favor everyone doing everything possible to keep ourselves and each other healthy.  I am very impressed that many of our Lindenhurst residents have already gotten vaccinated and have taken common-sense steps to deal with this never-ending pandemic. Our local businesses, who have already suffered so much already, are also working to keep the public safe. We are all feeling the effects of “pandemic fatigue”, but with the Delta and Omicron variants still very strong, we must be vigilant.  As your Mayor, I appreciate your patience and cooperation through this next phase. We are “Lindenhurst Strong”, and we will see it through and endure.