Over the past week, our everyday reality has changed dramatically. I have seen a lot in my lifetime, so it is not every day that I say we are in uncharted waters, but we are. You are all aware that the state, county, and town have all declared a State of Emergency in response to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. We must all do our part immediately to reduce the spread of this virus. I would like to take a moment to first thank the doctors, nurses, emergency personnel and many others who are putting their lives and the lives of their families at risk by responding to this crisis.
All residents
should be self-isolating themselves and their families by limiting interactions
with others and keeping at least 6 feet between you and others. If you feel ill
you should stay home and contact your doctor. Note that you can have the virus
without exhibiting symptoms and thereby pass the virus on to others, further
emphasizing the need for self-isolation.
Even if you feel fine, you can put others at risk.
I beg you to
follow the rules to help protect others: your neighbor who is a doctor or nurse
and still has to go to work; the elderly family member or friend; the person
with a compromised immune system who, by ignoring these measures, you will
continue to put at risk.
Please heed the
advice of our medical experts and implement the public safety measures ordered
by the State which include:
100% of the workforce must stay
home, excluding essential services.
Non-essential gatherings of
individuals of any size for any reason are temporarily banned.
Protect New Yorkers age 70+ and
those with compromised immune systems:
Remain indoors
Can go outside for solitary
exercise
Pre-screen all visitors by taking
their temperature
Wear a mask in the company of
others
Stay at least 6 feet from others
Do not take public transportation
unless urgent and absolutely necessary
All barbershops, hair salons,
tattoo or piercing salons, nail salons, hair removal services and related
personal care services will be closed to the public.
Casinos, gyms, theaters, retail
shopping malls, amusement parks and bowling alleys are closed until
further notice. Bars and restaurants are closed, but takeout can be
ordered during the period of closure.
Testing is free for all eligible
New Yorkers as ordered by a health care provider.
Contact Nassau County Health
Department for COVID-19 concerns at (516) 227-9570.
STATUS OF VILLAGE OPERATIONS
In response to
this public health crisis we have modified Village operations (until further
notice) to continue providing necessary services as follows:
Village
Hall is closed to visitors except for emergencies and will operate by
appointment only. This is to protect our staff and the public from exposure.
Contact Village Hall at 516-627-5000 or email Info@VillageFlowerHill.org with
any inquiries.
Documents
can be dropped through the mail slot anytime.
If they do not fit, leave them outside during normal office hours and
call Village Hall to confirm pick up and receipt.
The
playground equipment and sports courts at the Park are closed (we removed the
basketball rims to ensure no one uses the basketball court). However, the walking paths and other areas
remain open, but visitors must avoid congregating in large groups. If large
groups start to gather we may revisit the availability of the Park.
All
Board of Trustees meetings will be held via telephonic/web conference until
further notice. Residents can find
details for participation and minutes at our website or call Village Hall. We
are diligently working on the 2020-2021 Budget.
Village
Court and Zoning Board meetings have been canceled until further notice and the
Architectural Review Committee will be handling meetings via teleconference.
Contact Village Hall with any questions.
Village
Elections have been postponed by the State to April 28 and we will share more
information about the voting procedure once we have more details.
We
are in regular contact with our partners which include the Port Washington
Manhasset Office of Emergency Management (PWOEM), the Nassau County Police Department,
our New York State Senator, and the Town of North Hempstead.
The
Village Emergency Management Team are meeting and communicating on a regular
basis to assess the situation and determine next steps.
Please keep
kids from hanging out in large groups and close together. We took immediate action to remove the rims
from the basketball court because there were large groups of kids playing on
the court. Please remind your children when they are out alone to not gather in
large groups and stay 6 feet away from one another to protect those around them
and stop the spread.
ESTABLISHING FLOWER HILL VOLUNTEER CORPS
Trustee
Lewandowski and Deputy Mayor Herrington have also set up the “Flower Hill
Volunteer Corps” to help out our neighbors in need. The goal of the program is
to identify those who may not be able to get their own food, supplies, or need
other assistance, done in a way that prevents in-person interaction. If you are
interested in assisting please contact us at 516-627-5000 or email Volunteer@VIllageFlowerHill.Org.
We are looking for:
The
home address or contact info for those that may be in need.
A block
captain for every block in the Village to coordinate activities.
Volunteers
to check in by phone or with a note with those in need.
In closing I
ask that we all practice a little extra humanity, patience and kindness. We live in the best village in New York and
we will get through this together. Take a moment each day to give a wave and a
smile on your walk or as you sit on your front lawn to your neighbors. Thank
the grocery store worker, delivery person, emergency personnel, and most
importantly our medical professionals who are sacrificing so much.
If you have any
other inquiries for the Village, you may call the Village Office at 516-627-5000
and leave a message or email me directly at Mayor@VillageFlowerHIll.org.
Sincerely,
Bob McNamara
Mayor
Please make sure you are signed up to
receive emergency updates from the Village Code Red System!
Sign up by:
1) Texting “Flower Hill” to
99411
2) Visiting the Village’s website for a
link on the Home Page
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WE ARE OPERATING WITH REDUCED STAFF
AS PER GOVERNOR CUOMO’S ORDER
If you are dropping off plans or applications please use the mail slot at
the bottom of the door. If your plans are too large for the slot leave at the
door and phone the Office. Village Staff will call you to confirm receipt.
Future meetings of the Architectural Review Committee, Zoning Board and
Board of Trustees may be subject to cancellation or alternative meeting
formats. Check our web site or phone Village Hall for updates about these
meetings.
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The playground and sports courts at the Park will be closed until further notice to help stop the potential spread of Cornoavirus. The field and walking paths will remain open but we want to remind all visitors not to gather in groups and maintain safe distances. Some varieties of Cornoavirus are known to live on surfaces for several days according to the World Health Organization. We apologize for the inconvenience but it is more important for all of us to heed the advice of medical experts and protect public health.
Filed under: News, Public Announcement
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Governor Cuomo has postponed all local elections until April 28. We will continue to accept absentee ballots in accord with the Election Law and in accord with any further direction from the State.
Filed under: Public Announcement
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If you have elderly relatives or neighbors please give them a call to find out how they are feeling and if they have all the supplies that they need. If you are unable to do so, please give us a call at Village Hall and we will reach out to them.
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Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a respiratory illness
that can spread from person to person. The virus that causes COVID-19 is a
novel coronavirus that was first identified during an investigation into an
outbreak in Wuhan, China.
Can people in the U.S. get COVID-19?
Yes. COVID-19 is spreading from person to person in parts of
the United States. Risk of infection with COVID-19 is higher for people who are
close contacts of someone known to have COVID-19, for example healthcare
workers, or household members. Other people at higher risk for infection are
those who live in or have recently been in an area with ongoing spread of
COVID-19. Learn more about places with ongoing spread at https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/about/
transmission.html#geographic.
Have there been cases of COVID-19 in the U.S.?
Yes. The first case of COVID-19 in the United States was
reported on January 21, 2020. The current count of cases of COVID-19 in the
United States is available on CDC’s webpage at https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/cases-in-us.html.
How does COVID-19 spread?
The virus that causes COVID-19 probably emerged from an
animal source, but is now spreading from person to person. The virus is thought
to spread mainly between people who are in close contact with one another
(within about 6 feet) through respiratory droplets produced when an infected
person coughs or sneezes. It also may be possible that a person can get
COVID-19 by touching a surface or object that has the virus on it and then
touching their own mouth, nose, or possibly their eyes, but this is not thought
to be the main way the virus spreads. Learn what is known about the spread of
newly emerged coronaviruses at https://www.cdc.gov/
coronavirus/2019-ncov/about/transmission.html.
What are the symptoms of COVID-19?
Patients with COVID-19 have had mild to severe respiratory illness with symptoms of • fever • cough • shortness of breath What are severe complications from this virus? Some patients have pneumonia in both lungs, multi-organ failure and in some cases death. How can I help protect myself? People can help protect themselves from respiratory illness with everyday preventive actions. • Avoid close contact with people who are sick. • Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands. • Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol if soap and water are not available. If you are sick, to keep from spreading respiratory illness to others, you should • Stay home when you are sick. • Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash. • Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces. What should I do if I recently traveled from an area with ongoing spread of COVID-19? If you have traveled from an affected area, there may be restrictions on your movements for up to 2 weeks. If you develop symptoms during that period (fever, cough, trouble breathing), seek medical advice. Call the office of your health care provider before you go, and tell them about your travel and your symptoms. They will give you instructions on how to get care without exposing other people to your illness. While sick, avoid contact with people, don’t go out and delay any travel to reduce the possibility of spreading illness to others.
Is there a vaccine?
There is currently no vaccine to protect against COVID-19. The best way to prevent infection is to take everyday preventive actions, like avoiding close contact with people who are sick and washing your hands often.
Is there a treatment? There is no specific
antiviral treatment for COVID-19. People with COVID-19 can seek medical care to
help relieve symptoms. For more information: www.cdc.gov/COVID19
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Unless this is an urgent matter,
please do not enter Village Hall. Call us at 627-5000 and we will handle your
business on the phone.
If you are dropping off plans or applications
please use the mail slot at the bottom of the door. If your plans are too large
for the slot leave at the door and phone us. We will call you to confirm
receipt.
Future meetings of the Architectural
Review Committee, Zoning Board and Board of Trustees may be subject to
cancellation. Check our web site or phone us for updates.
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Comments: Comments Off on VILLAGE ELECTIONS MARCH 18, 2020, NOON TO 9 PM. In light of the Covid-19 crisis, absentee ballots are available if you qualify. The Village Hall will be sanitized prior to the election and we will provide individual personal pens, hand sanitizer and antibacterial wipes to all voters. Up for election are the positions of Mayor, three Trustees and Village Justice. Contact Village Hall if you need an absentee ballot.
we advise strongly that you remind your children of the
following:
A stranger is ANYONE they don’t know;
They should not wear any type of headphones while outside; this
will make them oblivious to any vehicle or person stalking them;
They should never get into anyone’s car without a parent’s
permission;
They should never take candy or gifts from a stranger.
They should never help strangers, no matter how sympathetic they
might appear, because adults should NOT ask kids to do things that other adults
can do for them;
They should run away from a car that pulls up beside them if
they don’t know the driver;
They should never invite people into their home without a
parent’s permission;
When in doubt, they should scream as loud as they can to attract
attention;
They should tell an adult if a stranger is taking a picture of
them.
Here is a checklist for parents:
Keep a recent photo of your child, his or her fingerprints, and
a current record of his or her height and weight;
Keep your cellular phone charged up;
Make a mental note of what your child is wearing every day;
Carefully check babysitter and child care references;
Know your child’s friends’ names, addresses and phone numbers;
Designate a neighbor’s home as a “safe house” where
your child can go if you’re not home;
Use your cellphone to take photos of any suspicious vehicle or
person, and do not hesitate to report either to the Police.
Although many of these guidelines may seem obvious, they all bear repeating and
their importance being emphasized. Even if you do not have young children
in your home, please be alert to any suspicious activity in your neighborhood,
use your cellphone to take photos, and always report anything of concern to the
Police. And if you hear a child’s scream, please don’t dismiss it!
Remember that indifference and complacency are as much of a threat to our
children’s safety as are the people who would do them harm. If we all pay
attention to our surroundings and care about our neighbors, we can minimize the
chance that those miscreants might succeed.
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