TOBAY Notebook: Town Approves Cemetery Adoption Program

The Oyster Bay Town Board approved the creation of a Cemetery Adoption Program, which invites groups in the community to help preserve these town-owned pieces of land, at the May 3 meeting. The idea for the program came from Town Historian and Chairman of the Town Historical Commission John Hammond.

Supervisor Venditto explained that under New York State law, once a cemetery is deemed abandoned, the local municipality becomes the caretaker and that the law also authorizes the municipality to designate volunteer groups to assist in the care and maintenance of these abandoned cemeteries.

Under the program, a cemetery can be adopted by civic and service organizations, Scout troops, churches, businesses, high school and college groups and senior citizen clubs. The volunteers will agree to care for a particular cemetery with the support and advice of the Town. The care will include clearing brush, weeds and debris from the cemetery several times a year.

Those interested in volunteering for this program can contact John Hammond at 516-624-4971.

Farmer's Market Returns to Hicksville May 15 

The Hicksville Farmer’s Market will be returning to Kennedy Memorial Park, just north of the Railroad between Jerusalem Avenue and Broadway, starting May 15, The weekly market will feature a variety of locally-grown fruits and vegetables, juices and preserves, fresh flowers, eggs, honey, cheese and more. The market will be open from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. each Sunday, and will run through Nov. 20.

The market is organized by the Town of Oyster Bay, the Hicksville Chamber of Commerce and the Hicksville Community Council, as well as local civic groups and resident volunteers.

Homeowners Cleanup Scheduled for May 21

The second of eight 2011 Homeowners Cleanup programs for TOBAY residents will take place on Saturday, May 21.

Residents only (no businesses) located in the Town’s Solid Waste Disposal District may take unwanted, non-hazardous rubbish to the Town’s Solid Waste Disposal Complex, Bethpage-Sweet Hollow Road, Old Bethpage, from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. on May 21. Bushes, tree limbs, fence posts and similar items will be accepted as is and need not be broken into smaller pieces. Used tires, large metal items in excess of four feet, clean fill, clean broken concrete, and boats and boat trailers will also be accepted. Passenger cars, vans, pickup trucks and small trailers are admitted to the program. Six-wheel or larger vehicles are not permitted. Proof of district residency must be shown.

Additional Homeowners Cleanup dates are June 18, July 16, August 20, Sept. 24, Oct. 1, and Nov. 6. Residents can call 516-677-5943 with any questions.

Registration at Town of Oyster Bay Pools Begins May 28

Registration for the Town’s four community park pools (Bethpage, Marjorie R. Post, Plainview-Old Bethpage, Syosset-Woodbury, Tappen) will begin on Saturday, May 28.

The 2011 pool season begins on Saturday, June 25. The price of pool memberships has been held at the 2010 level.

Beginning Saturday, May 28, and continuing through July 4, registration at the community park pools will be conducted Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and holidays from noon to 6 p.m., and on Tuesday and Thursday from noon to 7 p.m. Starting July 5, registration will be conducted daily during operating hours. After June 26, registration at all pools will be conducted during regular pool hours.

Residents with a pre-printed registration card that has the section, block and lot printed on it must show either their driver’s license or current utility bill at registration. New members and residents without the section, block and lot on the renewal card must provide a tax bill, deed or survey with the section, block and lot and a driver’s license or current utility bill. Birth certificates must be shown from children 16 and younger. Senior citizens (60 and older) must also show proof of age. Questions concerning pool registration should be directed to the Parks Department at 516-797-4129.

Upcoming Meetings

The next regularly scheduled meeting of the Town of Oyster Bay Landmarks Preservation Commission has been scheduled for Wednesday, May 18 in the Town Board Hearing Room at 7 p.m.

The Town of Oyster Bay Planning Advisory Board has scheduled a meeting for Thursday, May 19, in the Town Board Hearing Room at 7 p.m.

On Tuesday, June 14, at 7 p.m., the Town’s Department of Public Safety will host a Hurricane/Emergency Management Seminar at the Morrelly Homeland Security Center, 510 Grumman Road West, Bethpage. The purpose of the seminar is to inform residents on how to prepare for a hurricane or other weather emergency, when to evacuate, what to do when a storm hits and how to best respond during the aftermath. It will also cover other emergencies that may impact us locally.