Ronald Cooper
SETTLED IN 1783 · INCORPORATED IN 1927 |
Mayor |
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October 15, 2009 It has been relatively quiet here at Village Hall and so for those of you who counsel me to keep my letters short; you will get your wish this time. As you know, we recently had a visitation from a particularly offensive group, the Westboro Baptist Church, spewing their message of hate throughout Great Neck. I am pleased to report that they were basically ignored and left us without incident. My thanks to you for responding to my phone message by not appearing - we had only two counter demonstrators at the North Shore Hebrew Academy site and they were not residents. Chief Lang and our police did an admirable job of controlling the site and coordinating with the various Nassau County police officials. Our response here in Great Neck was coordinated through all the various village mayors and we were in constant contact throughout the day. Many of you were complimentary of the message on this subject that you received and we will in the future continue to use our reverse e-911 system to alert you to other situations affecting the Village. If you did not receive the message, please call the Village office and update your census information. Also, we are enclosing a police magnet for your use in contacting them, should the need arise. I have always been appreciative of the many volunteers who have made this village such a wonderful place by serving on our boards and commissions. However, I am concerned about a recent development with respect to the Lake Success Civic Association, another volunteer organization. I have been informed that the Civic Association president, Jack Epstein, has resigned and that the Association is looking for new leadership. Jack put a lot of effort into this and we thank him for his significant service to the community. In recent years, the Association has been trying to find forums and activities of common interest to the residents. I believe there is a place for a village Civic Association insofar as it can do things that your village government cannot do. An example was the recent Art Show that provided an exhibition of the work of so many of our talented residents. They have also hosted an annual holiday party in December as well as pool parties every summer. If any of you would like to be involved in this fine organization on a leadership level, please contact Dr. Jack Binder who is the Civic Association's Treasurer. He can be reached at (516) 466-6941. On a more positive note, I want to publicly thank Demetri and Christina Bonaros for their generous donation of equipment for our gym facility. The equipment will enhance the exercise experience at the gym and it is most appreciated. It gives me a good feeling to know that our residents care about our village. A number of residents have discussed with me the fact that they are upset to see refuse put at the curb the night before pickups are to be made. I agree with them. Our community prides itself on our appearance and this practice certainly detracts from that. Please be sensitive to your neighbors and put out your refuse on the day of the pickup. This is particularly important on recycling day. Enclosed for your reference is a communication from our Environmental Commission concerning recyclables and pollutants. I encourage you to adhere to the requirements stated. Camp Lake Success had another great summer with our recreational activities operating on a high level. My thanks to all those who contributed their time to make that happen. On a health note, I am sure you are aware of the H1N1 flu epidemic that is affecting large parts of our population. Attached is a list of suggestions for you to consider in dealing with this health issue. Well, I almost got it on one page. My best wishes for a great fall season. Sincerely, Ron Ronald S. Cooper Mayor |
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