North Hempstead Notebook: Helicopter Noise, Cutting Biz Costs, Black History Month and More

Town of North Hempstead residents may have a reprieve from that deafening sound of low-flying helicopters, thanks to legislation sponsored by U.S. Senator Charles Schumer.

Schumer was at the Port Washington on Friday to announce that he had successfully included an amendment to the FAA Reauthorization Bill. Schumer had worked with the FAA, and local helicopter operators and airport managers to establish voluntary solutions, which he said had largely been ignored. On Thursday night, the Senate passed the bill, which would regulate flight patterns and noise.

“This is the end of a chapter and makes it indisputably clear that the FAA has the legal authority to implement robust helicopter regulations on Long Island and bring some relief from the incessant buzz of helicopter noise that has plagued Long Island families for years.”

North Hempstead Supervisor Jon Kaiman said that the legislation would “improve the quality of life for tens of thousands of North Hempstead residents and people throughout Long Island."

The bill next goes before the House of Representatives.

Seminar to Showcase Green Ways to Cut Business Expenses

Organizations looking to cut costs should put March 1, 8 a.m. on their calendar. That’s when North Hempstead’s Business and Tourism Development Corp.  will sponsor the free presentation, “Recycling & Energy Efficiencies; What You Can Do to Lower Your Business’s Energy Costs.”

This two-hour seminar takes place at the Club House at in Port Washington, with a continental breakfast included.

Kaiman stated that the Town is "promoting the idea that the business community can dramatically reduce expenses by recycling and initiating energy efficiency measures in their every-day operations.”

The panel will include Domenic R. Abbatiello, director of economic development and investment at Customer Energy Solutions Metro NY National Grid in Hicksville; John Franceschina, director of commercial programs, Long Island Power Authority in Uniondale; Tony Savino, manager of business development at the New York Power Authority in White Plains; and Frances B. Reid, director of Environmental Planning in the Town of North Hempstead.

Get Ready for The Polar Plunge and WinterFest

This year’s Polar Plunge, sponsored by the Special Olympics, will be at on March 5. Registration starts at 9 a.m. and the Plunge at 12 p.m.

The Polar Plunge coincides with the Town’s WinterFest 2011, which will feature entertainment from WBAB 102.3, a Nassau County Police Department display, and children’s activities including professional face painting, hot cocoa and more.

Patch has learned that plungers will include Kaiman, County Executive Ed Mangano and State Assemblywoman Michelle Schimel.

Individuals or teams of plungers can earn prizes for raising the most money.

One match worth noting: the Battle of the Badges, where teams from the County Fire Department and the Police Department compete for “bragging rights” for the most funds raised.

Black History Month Presentation

Town Hall will host the 1st Annual Black History Month program on Feb. 25 at 6 p.m.

The program will include music and movement, and tell stories of “African American figures that played prominent roles in the history of North Hempstead,” according to a press release.

“The Town of North Hempstead has a rich history filled with prominent figures of African descent such as Hannah Townsend and Charles Levi to name a few,” stated Councilwoman Viviana Russell, North Hempstead’s first African American woman Town Board member. “I am honored to have the opportunity to help shed light on some of their contributions to this great Town.”

According to the Town, the dance ensembles will include Westbury-based Sanaa Movement, known for its choreography that depicts “the essence of liturgical dance,” and a teenage dance troupe from the North Shore Child and Family Guidance Center.

Also on the program: a duo of drummers who will “explore rhythms from Mali, a former West African empire where the percussion instrument originated and was used to gather the community for special events such as weddings, births and christenings.”

Must-see North Hempstead TV

Now you can tune in to North Hempstead Television (NHTV) for the latest Town news. The initiative enables residents to “have open access to what is happening here in the Town and are informed about the community,” Kaiman stated.

Cablevision subscribers can find NHTV on Channel 18, Channel 73 for those in Great Neck.

Here’s the program lineup: “Project Independence and You,” “All About 311,” along with Kaiman’s recent State of the Town address.

Programming is commercial free and runs daily from 6 p.m. until 2 a.m.