North Hempstead Notebook: Rain Barrels, Feral Cats And More

has a new environmental initiative – "Recycle the Rain" – to protect the environment, conserve up to 1,800 gallons of water in a season and reduce water bills. Through this program, residents can buy a 50-gallon rain barrel for discounted rate, $50,   

According to the town, rain barrels help keep waterways free of storm water runoff, which can seriously pollute streams, lakes and estuaries.

Call 311 to participate. The program includes a free tutorial at Clark Botanic Garden.

Conrolling Feral Cats

North Hempstead launched Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR), to help control and reduce the number of feral cats.  

According to the town, in the United States, there may be as many as 40 million homeless cats, the majority of them feral cats. Many of these feral cats are the descendants of tame, unaltered animals that were abandoned and have subsequently birthed kittens that have never had human contact. Feral cats can spread rabies, a viral disease that can cause acute encephalitis or inflammation of the brain. They are not adoptable because they are not socialized.

The town is working with Helping Paw, a not-for-profit organization, to humanely trap, alter, vaccinate, and return the cat to its colony. The twice-a-month spay and neuter clinics free of charge to North Hempstead residents.

Call 311 for a service request.

Town, AARP offers defensive driving courses

The town and American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) are offering the first in a series of four defensive driving courses scheduled for the year.

The courses, the first of which begins Saturday May 12th, will be held at Clinton G. Martin Park in New Hyde Park from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.

The program aims to “help to reinforce defensive habits” and enable residents and town employees to “reduce insurance costs, and cut penalty points,” Supervisor Jon Kaiman noted.

The six-hour-long course costs $17 for AARP members and $19 for non-members. Additional courses this year will be held on July 14, Sept. 8, and Oct. 27.

To register, send a check made out to AARP and mail it to Dept of Community Services, 1601 Marcus Ave, New Hyde Park, NY 11040.  Your check should include your name, address, phone number (so the town can contact you in case of a course cancellation) and date of the class you wish to attend.  Confirmation letters will be sent once the check is received. For information, call 311.

Row for Autism benefit

The town is partnering with and lead sponsor US Rowing in the first annual Row for Autism benefit event on April 21 at . The free event will feature local North Hempstead high school crew clubs racing each other and afternoon rowing races by those affected by Autism.

Donations received before or during the event will support an adaptive rowing program for adolescents and teenagers with disabilities, offering a one-week camp program and as an on-going rowing program. Donate online at www.PortRowing.com.

Event features will include a learn-to-row station, among others.