Sometimes as mayor I need to keep my perspective on things and so reading is a great vehicle for this. Seabiscuit by Laura Hillenbrand was highly recommended by our police department's Lieutenant Calvey so I'm squeezing in time to read it. There are other reasons for my reading it. I grew up on a dairy farm with horse stables, corrals and steeplechase jumps. Now I live right next to Belmont Racetrack. Also, I've been listening to Corbett family stories about Tom Corbett, a young jockey who lost his life to supposed foul play at a Chicago track race decades ago. He's now buried in a family plot at Calvary Cemetery off Queens Blvd. Of course that happened in the early days of thoroughbred racing in the US which is talked about in the book. Seabiscuit is a fascinating book. I'm looking forward to the movie version.

Building Department inspectors, public works, sanitation, highway, recycling truck drivers and playground and pool patrons are pleased to have the parking fields at Stewart and Garage Streets repaved and line-striped. A STOP sign is now at the entrance to the main parking lot to make the area safer for Department of Public Works trucks to exit the area. Light poles with attractive green fixtures will be installed in the main lot.

Unluckily, the continuous spring rain put a damper on completing the parking lot by my June 1 deadline. However, employees and patrons used alternate areas to park. I appreciate the cooperation shown during this very difficult period of time.

Someone asked me, "Why did the village have this work done in the spring?" Like every infrastructure project of this size, it is subject to the competitive bidding process. Contractors are available at specific times of the year. The construction contractor was anxious to finish and get on to the next job. Nature didn't cooperate. Nearly every rainy day work went on at the site. Also, this project involved cooperation with Verizon, LIPA and Cablevision because utility poles and transformers had to be removed and wiring moved underground. Clay material, discovered late in the project, had to be removed. In addition, curbing, sidewalks and about 10 new drainage basins had to be installed.

There was tremendous planning involved in this project. Fortunately, our village engineer, Ed Palmer, was there every day providing the oversight required by the village for a project of this magnitude.

Commuters and residents may not have noticed the electrical power towers along the LIRR tracks, on the south side of the Floral Park station, have rusted and have become unsightly. I informed the LIRR about the condition of the towers and was referred to LIPA. At first LIPA denied ownership. Now LIPA agrees they are its towers. The good news is LIPA is willing to freshen them up with a coat of paint. I just have to pick the color. Seeing that they will probably rust again in the future, I've picked a deep orange-red brick color. Painting should begin soon. Scaffolding will be coming down this week at the Floral Park Library. Again, rain delayed project completion. Extensive work was done to restore the cupola and repair leaks in the roof. Cornices on the building had to be replaced and the chimney repaired. After a power wash to rid the building of mildew, some white paint here and there and insulation work in the attic, the building's immediate needs have been met. A grant application has been submitted to GeesePeace for assistance with geese control. Limited grant moneys are available to help cluster communities develop programs to help control the growing geese population. The village has been trying to discourage geese from frequenting the recreation center. Even if a grant is not awarded to the village, GeesePeace will still consult with us to create a practical and humane plan of addressing the problem. Such a plan would include public education, egg oiling and other volunteer activities, Four Village Studio public service announcements, signage, landscaping ideas and more. Anyone interested in helping with this program, call me at 326-6300. Christine Benson was the center of attention at a gathering of village hall co-workers, retirees and friends. Christine served as a part-time secretary for 13 years. Evelyn, long-time receptionist at village hall and named by me the village poet, recited a warm and tender poem expressing the sentiments of those present. I followed with a citation recognizing her contributions as a dedicated employee and wished her well in her retirement on behalf of the village family and residents. John Lewis Childs was the first "president" of the Incorporated Village of Floral Park in 1908. Several years later, federal law mandated that a municipal official serving in office as president was to take the title of mayor. Floral Park had four presidents. Recently, in cooperation with Floral Park Historian Walter Gosden, I secured photo negatives and a poor quality picture of presidents of the village. Portrait photos of these individuals have never been represented in the gallery of photos of past mayors, which has been on display for years in village hall. A photo of one president could not be located in our archives. We are working to complete the gallery of framed portrait photographs by the fall. Everyone can appreciate the anxiety one feels when uncertain of the actual color something will be upon delivery. Aesthetic clashes can be hard to live with. Well, I was pleasantly surprised when the green outdoor lockers arrived at the new recreation/pool building. The lockers are a perfect match to the building's green canopy. They look great. Anyone interested in attending the next meeting of the Town and Village Air Safety and Noise Abatement Committee is welcome. The meetings are held on the last Monday of each month at the Lawrence Village Hall at 7:30 p.m. On my recent taping of Four Village Studio show, The Mayor's Round Table, I was pleased to speak with Town of Hempstead Council Member Ed Ambrosino who was a four year member of TVASNAC. He pledged his support in our efforts to resolve helicopter and aircraft safety and noise issues related to our community. I attended the June meeting and feel attendance by some of our residents would be enlightening and helpful.

Where has all the volunteer spirit gone? Volunteerism is cooperation between people with different talents and leadership capabilities in order to help neighbors and others. This spirit is embedded in the legacy handed down to us by our nation's early pioneers. A spirit of volunteerism is a unique aspect of our American culture and is not easy for people of other countries to fathom. Volunteerism benefits needy individuals and all of us as well. I hesitate to even begin to list the many members of organizations that do so much good within our community.

My concern is the future. Many volunteers are older retired men and women. Volunteerism has been a way of life for them. The groups they have served in have been vehicles for lifetime friendships, personal satisfaction and noteworthy achievements.

What will happen to the community groups made up of largely older residents, if new members don't take over the helm? I've noticed some folks are working double time at collecting items, running fund-raisers, giving time to activities to ultimately help neighbors, kids, families, the elderly and the sick in one way or another.

Our community is as cohesive as it is because of the thousands of volunteers over our 100-year history. Are we getting to the point where some people would prefer paying others to have things done for them rather than sharing their time, talents and hands with others to positively touch the lives of people in our hometown? Money can buy service and things but it can't buy caring.

Are coaches for kids' sports, auxiliary police, firefighters, FISH drivers, Scout leaders and service, civic, fraternal and church group members becoming an endangered species? I hope not. Think about it. Volunteer for something. A thank you to all those who volunteer.

Please check your Public Works sanitation/recycling calendar for the correct days to place garbage, recyclables and special items at the curb for pick-up. This is especially important around holidays. July 4 was confusing for residents. Please be prepared for Labor Day. If you can't find your calendar guide, call 326-6320 and another will be sent to you. Please secure all plastic bags of garbage and recyclables to prevent litter. A little ammonia in a garbage bag will discourage rodents.