North Hempstead Notebook: Winter Wonderland, Taxes and Tree-cycle

The annual Winter Wonderland at Clark Botanic Garden in Albertson runs from Dec. 10-19.

The festival includes a train display sponsored by Willis Hobby Shop, seasonal flora, live holiday music, lights and a Toys for Tots drive.

On Sunday, Dec. 11, stop by for stargazing from 5-8 p.m.

Other weekend highlights include cookie baking from 12 – 4 p.m., Dec. 17-18; winter garden tours, 1 p.m., 2 p.m., 3 p.m.; and storytelling by the fire on Dec. 18 at 5:15 p.m.

Admission is free. The decorations will remain on display until Dec. 26. 

Clark Botanic Garden is located at 193 I.E. Willets Road, Albertson.

Call 311 for more information.

Tax Exemption Filing Deadline Approaches

The deadline to file for property tax exemptions with the Nassau County Department of Assessment is Jan. 2, 2012. 

According to North Hempstead Receiver of Taxes Charles Berman, exemptions available to qualifying North Hempstead homeowners are the Basic Star and Enhanced Star Exemptions, the Limited Income Senior Citizens Exemption, Limited Income Disability Exemption, Veterans Exemption (including Cold War Veterans), Volunteer Firefighter Exemption, Home Improvement Exemption, First Time Home Buyer Exemption, and the Physically Disabled Home Improvement Exemption.

Berman said his office would help residents obtain the exemptions for which they qualify. He also warns that some private companies solicit homeowners to use their services to apply for exemptions, sometimes charging exorbitant fees.  All exemptions can be applied for directly by the homeowner without professional assistance.

Learn more by visiting www.northhempsteadny.gov/taxes. Or contact the Nassau County Department of Assessment at 240 Old Country Road, 4th Floor Mineola NY, 516-571-1500, or online at www.mynassauproperty.com.

Green Holidays

The town reminds residents to recycle used Christmas trees and unwanted electronics.

Recycled trees are turned into mulch for gardening and landscaping. And properly recycling electronics keep lead, mercury and arsenic out of landfills, which helps prevent toxins from seeping into drinking water.

For more information on “Tree-Cycling”, call 311 or visit www.northhempsteadny.gov.

To recycle Christmas lights, bring them to 999 West Shore Road in Roslyn on Sundays, 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. until the end of January.  

Residents can recycle unwanted electronics through the town’s EPA certified e-waste recycler, which disassembles the items, salvages the useable parts, separates out potentially damaging materials, and recycles the balance.

E-waste collection dates, and drop-off locations include:

Great Neck                 North Middle School                          Jan. 25 -26

Herricks                     Herricks Community Center               Jan 23-24

Manhasset                  Manhasset Middle/High School          Jan 30-31

Port Washington                             Jan. 26-27

East Williston             Wheatley High School                        Feb. 2-3

Hours: 8 a.m. – 2 p.m.

In addition, e-waste disposal is available to residents at 999 West Shore Road, Roslyn; Sundays only, 7:30 am to 3:30 pm (excluding holidays). It is also available at the Solid Waste Management Authority (SWMA), 802 West Shore Road, Port Washington Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., excluding holidays.

For more information call 311.