HARRY'S OF HARTSDALE OPENS FRIDAY -

Good news! Harry's of Hartsdale will re-open on Friday, June 1st. The restaurant was closed for weeks, due to the flood on E Hartsdale Ave. Harry's joins Lia's Restaurant, the liquor store, the toy store, the drug store --stores that have re-opened after the flood.
Please help these merchants. I hope that in the coming weeks more of the stores that were closed due to the flood will re-open.

COMING SOON--JAZZ CONCERTS ON SATURDAY AFTERNOON---DURING THE FARMER'S MARKET
WE HOPE THESE SUMMER JAZZ CONCERTS, IN JULY AND AUGUST, WILL HELP REVITALIZE E HARTSDALE AVE

EAST HARTSDALE AVE MERCHANTS REQUEST MORE SIDEWALK SALES

East Hartsdale Ave merchants are requesting additional help from the town: amending our laws to allow weekly sidewalk sales. I support the request,spoke to the members of the Town Board yesterday during our work session - and hope that we can act quickly. This change can help the merchants attract more people to the street. It's a small request that should be granted.

HELP GRANT A WISH TO TERMINALLY ILL 11 YEAR OLD

Temple Beth Abraham, 25 Leroy Ave, Tarrytown is helping grant a wish to a blind 11 year old with terminal cancer- Michal Emunah. She is an accomplished pianist and writer living in Israel. Her dream- to come to America and play a concert for her american friends. There will be a reception. There is also free admission. Please consider maing a donation to the Keren Milgot Scholarship Fund.

SUNDAY JUNE 10 4 PM
TEMPLE BETH ABRAHAM 25 LEROY AVE TARRYTOWN 631 1770

FAIRVIEW FIRE DISTRICT USES WESTHELP FUNDS FOR INNOVATIVE SAFE ESCAPE HOME

A home fire is reported in the United States every 75 seconds. Only 16% of the families have a home fire escape plan. The Fairview Fire district purchased, with the WESTHELP partnership funds, a safe escape home that will teach students about home fire safety. The home enables the fire district to simulate emergencies--hurricanes, tornadoes, smoke. Firefighters teach students and others about safety --what to do in the event of an emergency.
Yesterday, after the memorial day parade, I joined others and took a tour of the new safe escape home. I was impressed. This is a terrific service the Fairview Fire district provides. The WESTHELP partnership funds were put to good use.
I hope that the Town Board continues to provide the Fairview Fire district with WESTHELP funds, as previously agreed to. This home is available for use by other districts within unincorporated Greenburgh and the villages.

GREENBURGH DEMOCRACY- WEEK OF MAY 28-POST YOUR COMMENTS ABOUT TOWN ISSUES

Please post your comments about town issues.

Our veterans and soldiers fought so we could have democracy---so that you could speak out about issues of concern. Honor our veterans, reflect on their contributions. Attend the memorial day parade in your community this morning.

NYS AUDITS SEWER DISTRICT TAX ASSESSMENTS

In December, 2005 (after receiving complaints from residents about the assessment of sewer district taxes) I asked the Town Board to hire a forensic accountant. I was overruled by the Town Board. Some of the residents who complained advised the NYS Comptroller's office. The state comptroller has now commenced an audit of the assessment of sewer taxes.
The assessment of sewer taxes has gone on for decades. It's important that we comply with state law. I welcome the audit.

SUMMER BEGINS NOW AT THE POOL!

Start your summer now. AF Veteran park is starting its summer season. Take your child to our interactive kiddy pool. Enjoy the rest of the memorial day weekend.

AREAS THAT WILL GET FLOOD STUDY

At last nights Town Board meeting the Board unanimously agreed to authorize the commissioner of public works to issue an RFP/RFQ for professional services for watershed analysis and engineering studies to determine the causes of flooding for the town. The following areas will be looked at:
Hartsdale Brook in Hartsdale--------E Hartsdale Ave
Manhattan Park Brook in Fairveiw
Mine Brook and Saw Mill River in N Elmsford
Troublesome brook in Edgemont

TWN BD VOTES TO DECLARE GORDON PARKS HOME HISTORIC LANDMARK..VOTES FOR TAX BREAKS FOR VOLUNTEERS..APPROVES RFP FOR FLOOD STUDIES

The Greenburgh Town Board voted to declare the home of Gordon Parks, 15 Adams Place, a historic landmark. Mr. Parks was a famed photographer of Life Magazine, the first black director and producer of a major motion picture. He resided in the Parkway Gardens section of the town - which also housed many prominent african american leaders in the 1950s & during the early part of the civil rights movement (including Congressman Adam Clayton Powell, US Secretary of Commerce Ron Brown, the society editor of the Amsterdam News,Anna Bernard, and many others). There is a move to have the entire neighborhood designated as a historic neighborhood, so future generations will appreciate the role this predominantly african american community played in african american history.

The Town Board unanimously voted to grant partial tax exemptions to volunteer ambulance corp members and firefighters.

The Town Board unanimously voted to authorize the Commissioner of Public Works to issue and RFP and conduct flood studies on a number of areas around Greenburgh, including East Hartsdale Ave.

keepgreenburghgreen.blogspot.com

Rob Hevern, a senior at Irvington High School, is interning in my office for the next few weeks.
His project-a cleaner greenburgh.
He is spending some time taking photo's of debris along roads, right of ways, bus stops. He is organizing a citizens task force that will continue the efforts after the internship ends. Rob will be attending Fordham in the fall.
CHECK OUT OUR NEW WEB SITE:
keepgreenburghgreen.blogspot.com. Send us your photo's at rhevern@gmail.com. We will post photo's of garbage on the site.
We're looking for creative ideas --how to address this problem via legislation, community involvement, town actions. Let us know what you are thinking...

If you want Rob to stop by at your neighborhood to take a photo -- he's more than happy to stop by.

LETS KEEP GREENBURGH CLEAN AND GREEN!

LIA'S RESTAURANT OPENS ON EAST HARTSDALE AVE TODAY!

Lia's Restaurant re-opens on East Hartsdale Ave today. The terrific restaurant, one of Westchester's best, was closed for over a month due to the recent flood.

At tonights Town Board meeting I will introduce a resolution calling on the town to conduct an independent study of the causes of the flood and for the consultant to make recommendations. I will ask the Town Board to authorize the Commissioner of Public Works to issue an RFP to independent consultants.

I spoke to the landlord who owns the building occupied by the bank that has decided to close after the flood. I asked him if the town could rent space for a temporary library at the location. He indicated that there is alot of interest in the property from other banks. He was not interested in renting the space at this point.

Harry's and the Bagel shop are expected to open on or around June 1st.

EAST HARTSDALE AVE IS COMING BACK! And--remember 8 summer jazz concerts on the avenue on Saturday's in July and August.

KEEP GREENBURGH CLEAN MEETING TODAY

The first meeting of our keep greenburgh clean committee will be held tonight at 8:15 PM at the supervisor's conference room, town hall. We will be organizing an adopt a highway program, and will be developing a plan of action to keep greenburgh clean.

GREENBURGH DEMOCRACY--WEEK OF MAY 21 post your comments

Please post your comments about issues concerning our town.
TUESDAY- WORK SESSION 3:30 Discussion--Con Ed tree cutting

Wednesday- TOWN BD MEETING Decision: Tax breaks for volunteer firefighters, ambulance corp members

Proposed resolution - study of causes E Hartsdale Ave flooding

LARGE TURNOUT AT HASTINGS MEETING RE: CON ED AND CLEAR CUTTING OF TREES

Most of the seats at the Hastings Village Hall meeting room were taken up Sunday afternoon at a community meeting to discuss Con Ed's plans to cut trees. Senator Andrea Stewart Cousins, Legislator Tom Abinanti, Assemblyman Richard Brodsky's office, Hastings Trustees Danielle Goodman and Diggitt McLaughlin expressed their thoughts on this important quality of life issue.
The consensus: Con Ed needs to cut trees to prevent power outages. But-- there should be some oversight. Local governments should be able to retain the services of an independent arborist who could help make sure that trees that are not in danger of falling on power lines and disrupting service are not cut.
Cut trees contribute to flooding problems and erosion.
I have asked the Town Board to schedule a work session discussion of this issue for THIS TUESDAY AT 3:30 PM AT TOWN HALL. You are invited to attend.

ABINANTI PRESSES FAA TO CONDUCT HEARINGS IN WESTCHESTER TO CHANGE FLIGHT PATHS

County Legislator Tom Abinanti should be praised for calling on the Federal Aviation administration to conduct hearings in Westchester County on its proposed plans to change airplane flight paths in and out of metropolitan area airports.
Hearings were held in Stamford, CT and in Queens. Westchester residents did not have sufficient opportunity to comment on the Preferred Alternative Redesign plan, which will have a significant environmental impact on Westchester. There should also be an extension of the comment period.
I'm planning to join Legislator Abinanti in writing to Steven Kelley, FAA-NAR, c/o Michael Merrill, 12005 Sunrise Valley Road, Reston, VA 21091. It would be appreciated if readers of this blog would send similar letters.

GOOD NEWS FROM COUNTY- COUNTY TO DONATE VAN TO TOWN FOR LIBRARY

I received some good news from the county. I had contacted the county asking for a donation - of a van to help the library during the construction. I received some good news yesterday. They will process the request and will donate a van (or vans) to the library during the month of June. This will help the library provide more efficient service to patrons during the construction process.

STARBUCKS WANTS TO LEASE SPACE ON CENTRAL AVE CURRENTLY OCCUPIED BY ABANDONED GASETERIA

Starbucks wants to develop a 1700 sq foot facility on Central Ave, on the site occupied by the owner of the abandoned Gaseteria, just south of the 4 corners. They claim that no variances are required. They are seeking a meeting with the Planning Board to discuss. This could eliminate an undesirable eyesore on Central Ave. It's my hope that some of the vacant stores/businesses on the avenue will be leased in the near future.
Yesteray I spoke to commercial realtors. The avenue continues to be a desirable location --there is lots of active interest in the other vacant spaces.

DOES ANYONE USE NEW CROSSWALK ON E HARTSDALE AVE?

A new crosswalk, that took weeks to build on E Hartsdale Ave, has been installed. I have been getting mixed reactions. Am curious: Does any pedestrian use the new crosswalk? Has the crosswalk had any positive impact on pedestrian safety? So far- reports indicate that very few people use it.
This feedback will help determine whether the concept should be considered elsewhere.

BAGELS & MORE NEEDS PRO BONO ARCHITECT

Bagels & More needs a pro bono architect. This business is located on E Hartsdale Ave. The business lost thousands of dollars due to flooding. They want to re-open. If you are an architect and are willing to help, it would be appreciated.
Their phone: 261-5065. Their e mail: phisyks@hotmail.com
Please help a business in need of help.

LIA'S RESTAURANT TO RE-OPEN A WEEK FROM TODAY

I was in touch with the owner of Lia's Restaurant today. Good news! Lia's Restaurant, located on E Hartsdale Ave, is scheduled to re-open a week from today.