The Greater Port Washington Business Improvement District (BID) has grown over the past several years. The organization is committed to improving the economic and business health of the Greater Port Washington area through marketing, promotion, physical improvements and enhanced municipal services for all those who live and work in our community as well as those who visit here. The latest improvements in the commercial district of Port contributed by the BID are the four charming antique-looking clocks that have been installed on our main streets.

One of these four is the 1890s style, two-sided, copper clock purchased for the waterfront park on Shore Road. In terms of this park, the BID partnered with the Village of Port Washington North to create a beautiful waterfront park to help enhance this area of the business district. The park, to be named Thomas J. Pellegrino Waterfront Park in honor of the village's longtime mayor, has magnificent views of Manhasset Bay and, on a clear day, of the New York City skyline. The area will be a passive park for sitting and enjoying the view. The plantings chosen will be kept low so the view will remain unobstructed.

The BID provided the funding for the clock. The clock face is inscribed "Village of Port Washington North Incorporated 1932." The BID has also committed to purchasing two benches and two trash receptacles for the park with the village providing the funding for an additional bench and trash receptacle. The clock, benches and trash receptacles will all match the style of those previously installed throughout the business district.

The clock installed in front of Fleet Bank on Main Street replaced the one felled by a truck last summer. A new and improved replacement clock was installed in May on the site across from the Long Island Rail Road Station.

Now, pedestrians and drivers on Main Street will have the correct time day or night because the face of the newly installed timepiece is lit at night for better visibility. To remind residents and visitors of Port's long history, the clock face is inscribed "Port Washington Settled 1644."

These clocks are the same style as the ones installed by the BID on Manorhaven Blvd. in front of the Manorhaven Village Hall and on Main Street in front of the Landmark building, thereby providing a unifying and useful design element throughout the business district.

It should be noted that the clock at Landmark on Main Street was dedicated to the memory of our deceased Nassau County Legislator Barbara Johnson. The Johnson family, Craig, her son and Stuart, her husband, funded it. The Town of North Hempstead installed it and the BID arranged for it.

Looking to the future, BID Executive Director Roy Smitheimer hopes to one day have a four-sided clock, similar to the four existing ones here in Port, placed somewhere in the intersection in front of the post office. "Like the one installed at Great Neck Plaza," noted Smitheimer, adding that he is considering holding a fundraiser to pay for it.

The BID is also spending its time well with some exciting new projects. A long-term plan to help remove dirt and litter throughout the business district is being developed by the newly formed Keep Port Clean Task Force.

Also in the development stage is the Visitors Tourist Council for Port Washington, which is spearheaded by Landmark's Debbi Honorof and Roy Smitheimer. The purpose of this organization will be to promote tourism on our peninsula as well as to coordinate tourism efforts with adjacent Gold Coast communities such as Roslyn and Great Neck and the greater Long Island region.

The council consists of an excellent cross-section of our community and falls into four categories, which consist of the following members:

Municipalities (3)

Councilman Fred L. Pollack-Town of North Hempstead

Jennifer Wilson-Pines-Incorporated Village of Manorhaven

Herb Mills- Nassau County Parks & Recreation-Sands Point Preserve

Not-for-Profit Organizations (7)

Roy J. Smitheimer-Greater Port Washington B.I.D.

Debbie Honorof-Landmark on Main Street

Jennifer Rimmer-Residents for a More Beautiful Port Washington

Kathy Mullen-Cow Neck Historical Society

Barbara Szydlowski-Polish American Society

Port Washington Public Library-Representative to be chosen

Leo Cimini-Sons of Italy-John Michael Marino Lodge

Business (5)

Catherine O'Neill-Finn MacCool's Restaurant

Ayhan Hassan-Shish Kebab Restaurant

Adam Simon-Louie's Oyster Bar & Grill Restaurant

Carol Arnold-Prudential Douglas Elliman Real Estate

Charles Schneir-Port Washington Chamber of Commerce

Individuals (2)

Kitty Veevers-Port homeowner

Elizabeth (Betty) Stephens-Port resident and commercial property owner.

All of the above have agreed to serve as incorporators and will sit as the initial board of directors. Their first order of business when they meet in September will be to (1) adopt by-laws; (2) elect officers from the group and (3) determine how to raise funding for the new council.

For information regarding our BID, call 883-8890 or e-mail gpwbid@optonline.net