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One of the goals of the village board is to encourage smart growth and economic development. Such development provides employment, service to our residents and an expanded tax base. Empty commercial buildings are not signs of economic health or a thriving community.

The investment to refurbish these buildings by future businesses is only desirable if improvements are consistent with the values and suburban character of the community in which they reside.

The property, which formerly housed the offices of Century Theatre and later Coopers & Lybrand, has been mostly vacant for the past few years. Just recently, the newly refurbished Chase Bank occupied a significant portion of the first floor.

Last week, the board of trustees held a public hearing on the application of Jackson Development Group, which is in contract to purchase the office building and adjoining parking lot at 15 Verbena Avenue. Jackson Development Group, a real estate construction company that operates primarily in Manhattan, plans to relocate its corporate offices and staff to the building. They are seeking a special use permit to allow office space in excess of 1,500 square feet and a variance from the village board to construct an entranceway/atrium without providing two additional parking spaces.

As many of our residents may recall, this property was the center of public controversy a few years ago when a prior owner sought permission to erect a multi-level, tiered parking garage. After the imposition of numerous thresholds and requirements by the board upon the petitioners in terms of environmental and traffic studies, the application was withdrawn. Subsequent to the withdrawal, the zoning code was amended by the board in 2004 to prohibit above ground tiered parking facilities in the village.

The current application does not involve any such parking garage. Jackson Development Group's proposal will entail the replacement of the façade of the building, with granite, the installation of numerous windows and the relocation of the entrance from Verbena Avenue to the side of the building adjacent to the parking lot. The parking lot will also be renovated and the area landscaped with plantings designed to beautify the appearance of the property. In addition, Jackson Development's president stated at the public hearing that it would continue to allow parking on weekends for the parishioners of the adjoining Methodist Church - a clear and encouraging sign that this company will be a good and cooperative neighbor.

With the inclusion of its corporate offices on the second floor, the newly refurbished Chase Bank and the remaining office space it intends to lease, full occupancy of this important commercial building will be achieved.

The board believes the Jackson Development proposal promising and worthy of consideration. Beyond the facelift greatly enhancing the aesthetic appeal of the building, the plan will be an overture to revitalize vacant commercial property and bring added vitality to the Tulip Avenue business district.

Notwithstanding the many positives recommending this application, the board has reserved decision to a later date not yet determined. This means the public record remains open for residents to comment on the proposal. Despite legal notice in the papers and an affidavit of mailing to all property owners within 200 feet, interested residents can review the plans for 15 Verbena at the Building Department and forward, if inclined, their remarks which will be made part of the record and factored into the decision-making process.

The auditorium at Floral Park Memorial was conspicuously empty for the discussion of such an important and timely subject. The Internet has taken the world by storm, a revolution as great as the invention of the printing press or the telephone and expanding throughout the width and breadth of the globe with mind-boggling speed.

The invention has empowered the individual building pathways of information cataloging the whole human enterprise and making worldwide communication instantaneous. It has also made the world more dangerous especially among the most vulnerable, our children.

While we often overstate our fears, advances in the World Wide Web can, while surfing in infested waters, make our children guppies amid a colony of piranhas. Talk with your child, interact with your child and enjoy all the benefits of the World Wide Web together.

This was the message of Town of Hempstead Supervisor Kate Murray and Councilman Ed Ambrosino at a workshop attended by Trustee Tom Tweedy and myself. A lively and informative presentation by Peggy Mahoney of the Town of Hempstead Parks Department highlighted:

-Everything on the Internet stays on the Internet. Pictures are never erased. Moreover, college recruiters all do a search through the net for information regarding prospective students. Solicitation of teens and children from "My Space," the largest website in the world with 78 million people as well as in chat rooms is more prevalent than ever. Indeed, the FBI has seen a dramatic increase of pedophiles sharing tactics and tricks of the trade harvesting "My Space" as if it were their "field of dreams." Their dreams, however, are often our nightmares. Ms. Mahoney counseled some simple safeguards:

-The computer should be located in a public space in the house, i.e. the family room, living room or kitchen.

-Create a safe email account not your personal email.

-Never give personal information on your profile to others. Predators often exploit seemingly innocent information to entrap, exploit and manipulate.

-Remind your children that the person with whom they are chatting, they have never met. The time-honored advice given to children not to talk to strangers has been diluted by the net because it creates a false sense of security because it occurs in their own homes.

-Parents should talk and talk often to their children about these dangers. They should look at their page and the pages of their friends and discuss the propriety, perils and the penalties of misuse of the Internet.

Technology is notoriously and deliberately amoral. Silent on the distinctions between right and wrong, the better and the worse, the vile and the noble it can place enormous power in human hands. The loving guidance of parents in directing young hands and hearts can make all the difference in the world.

Last week our new fire chiefs were sworn into office. I want to congratulate Chief Kevin Kelleher as well as all the chiefs and their families serving our village. I also want to thank outgoing Chief Joseph O'Grady for his leadership over this past year and his long career as a member of our fire department. Congratulations to you and your family.

I also had the opportunity to address the Floral Park Woman's Club, the oldest club in our village. Formed in 1898 by Mrs. John Lewis Childs, these women have been performing good deeds and community service over a span of generations. Supporting schools and churches, libraries and gardens, scholarships and institutions bestowing, in short, all the graces of civility and culture that has enriched immeasurably life in this wonderful locale.

2007/2008 Budget Finally, I wish to inform our residents that after due deliberation the village board has approved the 2007-2008 budget which had been on reserve decision since the April 11, public hearing. I would like to thank all who participated in this process with their comments, criticisms and suggestions.