'The state of the (Lawrence) village is strong and solid in every way'

Lawrence mayor Alex Edelman touched on several items when he delivered his annual “State of the Village” address at the June 14 Lawrence Association meeting at the Lawrence Yacht & Country Club.

Edelman reported that despite continuing property tax abatements and increased costs due to inflation, village taxes have not been raised.

“The state of the village is strong and solid in every way,” he said. “While fiscal conditions nationally are fragile, financially, the Village enjoys a uniquely outstanding position.”

The decades-old problem of disastrous flooding was addressed as a $9 million project was completed through the state’s New York Rising Program. Hopefully the work done will alleviate the threat of damaging flooding on streets including Meadow Lane, Marbridge Road, Muriel and Margaret avenues, and Monroe Street, Edelman said.

On its own the village’s public works department  addressed flooding at Waverly Place, Washington Avenue, Broadway and Cumberland Place, and retained a specialized vacuum truck and underground cameras to keep drains and water basins clear.

To maintain cleaner roadways the village bought a $260,000 street sweeper. To have cleaner sidewalks building inspectors will be issuing tickets to litterers, Edelman said.

The completed sale of the village’s decommissioned water treatment plant is expected to generate $8.5 million, and the village remains current with all state comptroller requirements. Since 2021, the village of Lawrence has invested $1.2 million in road, street and curb repair.

Edelman noted several repaired or repaved streets including Cumberland Place, Lord Avenue, Richmond Place, Winchester Place, Martin Lane and Rosalind Place.

The village has increased its own tree-trimming program and has demanded utilities maintain their poles, remove double poles and trim trees near wires.

Edelman reported the past year marked a change in demographics as an increased number of younger residents required additional recreation space for growing families.

A program under the supervision of Trustee Paris Popack to modernize and upgrade Zion Park was implemented. To date, at a cost of $300,000, the existing playground was upgraded and refurbished, and three age-appropriate playgrounds were installed containing swings, slides, and wall and rope climbs. Additional playground swings have been ordered, a gazebo and splash pad is under construction and the peninsula public library has scheduled an event with a village movie being planned for this summer.

Good Citizen awards

Several students from Five Towns schools were recipients of the Lawrence Association’s annual Good Citizens awards which are given to high school juniors and seniors living in Lawrence that have displayed a commitment to American ideals and community service.

Each received an inscribed plaque presented with Town of Hempstead certificates of Merit by Councilwoman Melissa “Missy” Miller. Award recipients included Rachel Hirt, an 11th-grader student at Stella K. Abraham High School for Girls, Yonatan Hucul, a rising junior at Rambam Mesivta High School, Yoni Pomerantz, of Davis Renov Stahler Yeshiva High School for Boys and Moshe Silver, an 11th grader from Mesivta Ateres Yaakov High School in Lawrence.