Pool Safety
While summer brings some fun in the sun, especially in our backyard pools, it is important to practice pool safety and prevent accidental drownings. Before the summer even officially began on June 21, three Long Island children had already drowned in homeowner swimming pools.
Accidents can happen quickly and with little warning. According to Safe Kids Worldwide, more than 800 children ages 1 to 14 drown each year across the United States. It’s a good idea to set down definite pool rules covering use. Here are some guidelines for you and your family to practice:
While it’s pleasurable to have a swimming pool in your backyard, it’s also vital to follow certain precautions so that everyone enjoys a safe summer in and around your pool. Our Pool Safety and Alarm Guide offers information on pool alarms and pool safety tips. Under law passed on September 16, 2008, all swimming pools installed or maintained in unincorporated areas of Hempstead Town must have a pool alarm. Call 812-3200 to obtain a copy of the guide.
Whenever young children are swimming, playing or bathing in water, an adult should be constantly watching them.
Access doors or gates to the pool area with high locks are a good precaution.
A fence should be installed completely around the pool with self-closing and locking gates. The fence should completely separate the pool from the house and play area of the yard.
Keeping rescue equipment and a telephone by the pool could prove to be an invaluable aid in the event of an accident.
Removing all toys from the pool after use will help children resist the temptation to reach for them.
Take the time to learn CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation) and accident procedures. If not your own child, you may be able to save someone else’s. Many local hospitals have programs for this type of training.
If your child is missing, always check the pool first.
If you are considering installing a pool, be sure to comply with Town of Hempstead codes. Specific requirements are detailed in a guide available through the Town of Hempstead’s Building Department. Copies of this guide can be obtained by either calling (516) 538-8500 or logging onto our website, www.TOH.LI.
Making pool safety a priority and following these precautions will help to keep your family and friends safe throughout the summer.
Senior Summer Beach Program
Throughout the year, Hempstead Town offers a variety of activities and events for our senior residents. One of our most popular programs is the Town of Hempstead’s Senior Summer Beach Program, now in its 43rd season. This year, our theme, “The Magic of Lido,” promises an exciting lineup of entertainment and is the perfect way for our seniors to spend warm summer days.
This free ten-week program will begin Monday, June 28 and takes place every weekday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. until Friday, September 3. Our “Magic of Lido” Senior Summer Beach Program will feature a series of special concerts, dance shows and other forms of live entertainment, as well as arts and crafts, dancing, shuffleboard, bocce, and leather crafting. What’s more, seniors can swim and relax at the beach, ocean and pool.
All town residents who are 60 years of age and over can attend the Senior Summer Beach Program. Beach passes, which entitle seniors to either free bus transportation from designated pick-up stations on appointed days or free parking on any weekday, have already been mailed. It is suggested that seniors bring their own lunches; however, a refreshment counter will be open where snacks and beverages can be purchased.
If you are not involved with a senior center or have never attended any town senior activities, the Summer Beach Program is a great introduction to our senior enrichment offerings.
For additional information about this wonderful program, you can contact the Department of Senior Enrichment at 485-8100.
I invite all senior residents to come down to Lido Beach Town Park this summer to catch up with old friends and make some new ones, participate in great activities and have fun in the sun. Have a happy and healthy summer.
SWIFT911
I would like to take this opportunity to inform residents of Hempstead Town’s SWIFT911 emergency notification service. The system provides a mechanism for Hempstead Town to phone, e-mail or text message residents and businesses under its jurisdiction in the event of an emergency such as a severe storm evacuation. Such situations may include water main breaks, flooding, weather emergencies or natural disasters. Non-emergency contact may also be made in the event of town water department pipe flushing, which may affect water quality.
Contact information in the SWIFT911 notification database is based on published phone directories and other publicly available sources. If your telephone number is not published or if you wish to be contacted by alternate means, you can update your contact information by logging onto the town’s website at www.TOH.LI and following the “Citizens Services” link to “Emergency Services.” You may obtain a mail-in form by calling the Department of Public Safety at (516) 538-1900.
Your information will only be used for SWIFT911 notification purposes. There are no fees for registration, and those who do not wish to participate in this service may remove their number from the database at any time.
I encourage each and every resident and business to enroll in the SWIFT911 program so that they can stay informed. In the event of an emergency, the town of Hempstead can utilize the SWIFT911 notification system to deliver important information about the crisis and instructions for residents to follow. This tool can truly help to safeguard lives.
Lacrosse Time
The warm weather is here and summer is right around the corner but there’s still time to plan your child’s summer activities. Fresh off a successful 2009 season of instructional clinics, the Town of Hempstead Lacrosse Academy (TOHLA) is ready to face-off for its sixth anniversary season.
More than 1,200 youngsters graduated with honors from the Town’s Lacrosse Academy last summer. Week-long clinics are at nearby town parks with top flight coaches instructing aspiring players how to improve skill level and enhance enjoyment.
All clinics are open to both boys and girls, ages seven through 15, who are residents of the Town of Hempstead.
Once again, TOHLA has lined up quality instructors, including local high school coaches and players from high-profile universities.
Clinic locations and dates are from Monday through Thursday with the exception of Oceanside Park which runs from Tuesday through Friday. June 21-24 at Seamans Neck Park in Seaford from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m., June 28 to July 1 at Seamans Neck Park in Seaford from 9:00 a.m. to noon, July 6 to July 9 at Oceanside Park from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m., July 12 to July 15 at Speno Park in East Meadow from 9:00 a.m. to noon, July 19 to July 22 at McLaren Stadium in Levittown from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m., July 26 to July 29 at Rath Park in Franklin Square from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. and August 2 to August 5 at Rath Park in Franklin Square from 9:00 a.m. to noon.
Tuition for all summer clinics remains the same as in previous years. The four-day, 12 hour clinic is priced at $60 per participant per week with a discounted rate of $45 for each additional family member.
Registration forms are available by contacting the academy office at 783-3208 or 3205. Each participant is required to bring his/her own lacrosse equipment.
Coaches will direct young players and introduce them to this Native American game long an Island favorite. No experience is needed to participate in the program.
Hazardous Waste Collection Schedule
With spring quickly approaching, the Town of Hempstead is preparing for another year of S.T.O.P. (Stop Throwing Out Pollutants) Programs, which will be brought to communities throughout the township. Last year, we introduced a new mercury collection initiative in partnership with Covanta Energy. The mercury program diverts a dangerous toxin from our regional waste stream while adding an environmental safeguard to our water quality and air supply.
Hempstead Town is committed to preserving the natural beauty and ecological integrity of our area, and with our S.T.O.P. Program we are leading the way in recycling and the responsible disposal of hazardous household waste. And, now the mercury collection program will be included as part of the town’s ultra successful S.T.O.P. program.
S.T.O.P. enables residents to safely dispose of hazardous household waste at convenient locations throughout the town. This vital service prevents hazardous materials from entering the waste stream and harming our delicate ecosystem. The mercury collection program provides us with a unique opportunity to collect dangerous mercury-based items that exist in our homes, businesses and public buildings.
Among the many items found around the house that should not be thrown out with the regular garbage are: bleach, ammonia, anti-freeze, pesticides (including “Weed-B-Gone” or Silvex 2, 4, 5-T), cleaning solvents, disinfectants, drain cleaners, oven cleaners, paint and paint thinners, photography and swimming pool chemicals, spot removers and small propane tanks. Common items that contain mercury and are suitable for the collection program are thermometers, thermostats, manometers and fluorescent light bulbs. To encourage safe and sound environmental practices in the home and workplace, each resident that turns in a mercury thermostat will be eligible for a $5 gift certificate from one of three home improvement retailers, Home Depot, Lowe’s or Ace Hardware.
The schedule of the S.T.O.P. Program is complete for 2010, with the first day scheduled for Saturday, March 20 at Eisenhower Park in East Meadow. All program hours are from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Other dates and locations are:
LONG BEACH: Sunday, April 18 on Centre Street off Park Avenue in City Hall Parking Lot.
BELLMORE: Sunday, May 16 at the Newbridge Road Park garage.
BAY PARK: Saturday, June 19 at Bay Park, East Rockaway.
LEVITTOWN: Saturday, July 31 at the Town Parking Field, Division Avenue (off Hempstead Turnpike.)
HEMPSTEAD: Sunday, August 22 at the Village of Hempstead Department of Public Works parking lot on Milburn Avenue.
BELLMORE: Saturday, September 25 at the Newbridge Road Park garage.
NORTH WOODMERE: Sunday, October 17 at North Woodmere Park on Branch Boulevard.
BALDWIN: Sunday, November 20 at Baldwin Park garage on Grand Avenue.
EAST MEADOW: Sunday, December 12 at Eisenhower Park, Field #3, between Hempstead Turnpike and Merrick Avenue.
For more information or to obtain written material on the Town of Hempstead’s S.T.O.P. Program, call the recycling section of the Department of Sanitation at (516) 378-2200.
I urge you to take advantage of one of the many S.T.O.P. programs available in your local neighborhood. This initiative provides a great opportunity to take an active role in preserving our environment. Together, we are making the Town of Hempstead an even better place for our children and future generations.
E-Cycling Program
Keeping our planet healthy takes a joint effort. That’s why I am proud to announce that the Town of Hempstead will hold an’“E-Cycling” Day on Sunday, March 13 in Levittown from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., rain or shine. This is your chance to get rid of your unwanted computers, televisions, DVD players and VCRs and help the environment at the same time. The event will take place in the Town of Hempstead municipal parking lot area, located just off Division Avenue behind the Tri-County Market (Hempstead Turnpike) in Levittown.
The town’s first-ever e-cycle event, held in October 2005, was a resounding success as more than 900 residents dropped off a total of 39 tons of used computers and computer components at the town’s Greenfield Cemetery Garage in Uniondale.
By participating in this event, you’ll be keeping toxic material such as lead, mercury and arsenic from entering the waste stream. Specifically, the glass screens in computer monitors and televisions can contain as much as 27 percent lead. In addition, electronics contain valuable resources. Electronic products are made of precious metals, engineered plastics, glass and other materials. Many of the parts can be profitably refurbished and reused.
For more information on e-cycling, residents should call the Town of Hempstead Department of Sanitation at 378-2200. Directions to the town’s Division Avenue parking lot are as follows: From Wantagh Parkway – take exit W3 East, proceed on Hempstead Turnpike for º mile and make a left onto Division Avenue. Make a right into the parking lot and follow signs for e-cycling event.
Another e-cycling event is scheduled for Sunday, October 3, 2010 at Newbridge Road Park, 2600 Newbridge Road. The town’s e-cycling program is open to Town of Hempstead residents only (no business, non-commercial vehicles only).
If you have any old computers or televisions that you want to dispose of, I urge you to participate in our e-cycling program. Let’s work together to help save our planet.
Dredging Up A Solution to Beach Erosion:
Hempstead Gets Dredge to Restore Shoreline
The oceanfront community of Point Lookout has been battered by recent nor’easter storms, losing up to 250,000 cubic yards of sand along the shoreline. Hempstead Town Supervisor Kate Murray and State Senator Dean Skelos joined together at a Freeport press conference to dredge up a plan to combat coastal erosion. Also at the press conference to unveil the town’s newly delivered marine dredge, which was acquired through a Senator Dean Skelos/Assemblyman Harvey Weisenberg state grant, were Councilwoman Angie Cullin, Town Clerk Mark Bonilla, Receiver of Taxes Don Clavin and local civic and community leaders. The dredge will take sand from areas of accumulation and pump the material onto decimated local beaches.
“This new dredge is vital to combating coastal erosion and protecting local homes, businesses and residents,” said Murray. “I want to thank Senator Dean Skelos for securing the funding for this important piece of equipment.”
Hempstead Town has taken delivery of the dredge, which will be assembled like an erector set over the next few months in preparation for an early spring launch. In fact, Murray and Cullin helped fasten some of the first bolts as part of the boat’s assembly.
Hempstead Town is one of the only area municipalities to own a mid-size dredge for the restoration of beaches. The dredge, a workboat and 8,000 feet of piping to move and pump the sand were purchased for $1.14 million. New York State Senator Dean Skelos secured $1.1 million for the dredge purchase and the town contributed an additional $41,000.
“Hempstead Town’s marine dredge will be a great asset to the Point Lookout community,” said Senator Skelos. “With the proper equipment to restore sand on our beaches and reinforce sand dunes, we will be able to better protect residents, homes and businesses from the threats of storms and coastal erosion.”
Since the Point Lookout beaches were last dredged in March 2008, between 50 and 75 feet of shoreline has been lost to erosion. Instead of having to rely on the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to replenish the beaches, the town will be now able to address the shoreline’s problems more quickly and comprehensively.
“This is a great benefit to the Point Lookout community,” Councilwoman Cullin said. “Area homes and businesses will be better protected from the threat of storms and the dangers of flooding by the dredging and sand restoration we will now be able to do directly.”
Prior to the March 2008 Army Corps of Engineers project that dredged the clogged Jones Inlet and placed the dredged sand on local beaches, tidal ocean water had breached dunes and flowed into residential streets in Point Lookout. The dredge will allow the town to address critical needs, including reinforcing the dunes to prevent a breach. Sand dunes are the last line of defense between the ocean and area homes, buildings and roadways, and stabilizing the dunes is critical to safeguarding the lives and property of the oceanfront community. Additionally, the dredge will complement the town’s efforts in support of a modified Long Beach Storm Reduction Project to protect the Long Beach Island communities from high storm surges and waves by constructing new groins and reinforcing existing ones.
The town anticipates moving sand from the northeast side of Point Lookout to the east and southeast portion of the oceanfront community among other areas. The dredge is expected to be operational by the spring 2010 season.
“Sometimes dredging-up ‘old stuff’ can be a good thing, and the sand that we will be removing from local channels for replenishment of storm ravaged beachfronts is a very good thing for oceanfront residents and business owners,” concluded Murray. “I want to thank Senator Dean Skelos and Assemblyman Harvey Weisenberg for securing the funds for this dredge and local residents who have been our partners in fighting coastal erosion.”
The oceanfront community of Point Lookout has been battered by recent nor’easter storms, losing up to 250,000 cubic yards of sand along the shoreline. Hempstead Town Supervisor Kate Murray and State Senator Dean Skelos joined together at a Freeport press conference to dredge up a plan to combat coastal erosion. Also at the press conference to unveil the town’s newly delivered marine dredge, which was acquired through a Senator Dean Skelos/Assemblyman Harvey Weisenberg state grant, were Councilwoman Angie Cullin, Town Clerk Mark Bonilla, Receiver of Taxes Don Clavin and local civic and community leaders. The dredge will take sand from areas of accumulation and pump the material onto decimated local beaches.
“This new dredge is vital to combating coastal erosion and protecting local homes, businesses and residents,” said Murray. “I want to thank Senator Dean Skelos for securing the funding for this important piece of equipment.”
Hempstead Town has taken delivery of the dredge, which will be assembled like an erector set over the next few months in preparation for an early spring launch. In fact, Murray and Cullin helped fasten some of the first bolts as part of the boat’s assembly.
Hempstead Town is one of the only area municipalities to own a mid-size dredge for the restoration of beaches. The dredge, a workboat and 8,000 feet of piping to move and pump the sand were purchased for $1.14 million. New York State Senator Dean Skelos secured $1.1 million for the dredge purchase and the town contributed an additional $41,000.
“Hempstead Town’s marine dredge will be a great asset to the Point Lookout community,” said Senator Skelos. “With the proper equipment to restore sand on our beaches and reinforce sand dunes, we will be able to better protect residents, homes and businesses from the threats of storms and coastal erosion.”
Since the Point Lookout beaches were last dredged in March 2008, between 50 and 75 feet of shoreline has been lost to erosion. Instead of having to rely on the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to replenish the beaches, the town will be now able to address the shoreline’s problems more quickly and comprehensively.
“This is a great benefit to the Point Lookout community,” Councilwoman Cullin said. “Area homes and businesses will be better protected from the threat of storms and the dangers of flooding by the dredging and sand restoration we will now be able to do directly.”
Prior to the March 2008 Army Corps of Engineers project that dredged the clogged Jones Inlet and placed the dredged sand on local beaches, tidal ocean water had breached dunes and flowed into residential streets in Point Lookout. The dredge will allow the town to address critical needs, including reinforcing the dunes to prevent a breach. Sand dunes are the last line of defense between the ocean and area homes, buildings and roadways, and stabilizing the dunes is critical to safeguarding the lives and property of the oceanfront community. Additionally, the dredge will complement the town’s efforts in support of a modified Long Beach Storm Reduction Project to protect the Long Beach Island communities from high storm surges and waves by constructing new groins and reinforcing existing ones.
The town anticipates moving sand from the northeast side of Point Lookout to the east and southeast portion of the oceanfront community among other areas. The dredge is expected to be operational by the spring 2010 season.
“Sometimes dredging-up ‘old stuff’ can be a good thing, and the sand that we will be removing from local channels for replenishment of storm ravaged beachfronts is a very good thing for oceanfront residents and business owners,” concluded Murray. “I want to thank Senator Dean Skelos and Assemblyman Harvey Weisenberg for securing the funds for this dredge and local residents who have been our partners in fighting coastal erosion.”