By ANTHONY BOTTAN
"It's a neighbor-helping-neighbor concept," said Village Trustee Hilary Becker, who helped initiate the program with the library when he took office in March. "We're trying to use leverage with our vendors in terms of job openings ... hopefully they will [first] consider a Lynbrook resident."
Becker added that several businesses that are members of the Chamber have signed on with the program - an initiative, Becker said, that is just the first of many that will help residents. The village will soon have an 800 number for those who have lost their jobs and can't hold on to their homes, he said. Village officials will help point callers in the right direction to set up a short sale - a sale in which a home's selling price is less than the amount owed the lender on the mortgage, Becker explained. Under that circumstance, the lender compromises with the homeowner, relieving a portion of the debt in order to avoid foreclosure.
Tracey Simon, assistant director of the Lynbrook Library, said that the library created a form for Lynbrook Links in March that prospective employers can fill out and send back to the library when they need positions filled. The library has compiled nearly 25 pages of job openings in Lynbrook in the past four months, Simon said, and anyone can peruse the list.
"I've been finding the binder in different places in the library, so I know people are looking," she said, adding that most people search through the job listings discreetly, and that she hopes more residents will take advantage of the program. "It gives Lynbrook residents first dibs on local jobs," she said. "We're working in the community to keep the community working."
Simon explained that local businesses like Minuteman Press, Atria Tanglewood, Crown Ford, All State Insurance and A la Carte Culinary Services have listed job openings with Lynbrook Links.
Leah Levin, owner of Minuteman Press on Atlantic Avenue, said she needed some part-time help and used the program to fill a few positions. "We thought that hiring someone local would be a better fit," Levin said. "Why not employ people who are from here, and who will have other people they know come in? It's a win-win situation."
Kathleen Johanssen, executive director of Atria Tanglewood, said she filled two positions through the program. Employees who are Lynbrook residents, Johanssen said, don't have to worry about transportation, which makes them more reliable. "I like the idea of hiring local people," she said. "They're invested in the community, and so are we."
Polly Talbott, owner of A la Carte on Atlantic Avenue, said that since Lynbrook is a small community, its residents need to help one another in hard times. Talbott said she has hired two locals through Lynbrook Links. "It feels good to help out your neighbor," she said. "Some say it's hard to find a job, but it's harder to find good people. This program is a great source for that."
Bill Gaylor, Chamber president and owner of the Lyn Gift Shop, said he keeps reminding Chamber members to use the program to fill any open positions. "I think if you can find an employee who fits the description and lives in Lynbrook, you'll probably have an employee that will not encounter transportation problems and will show up on time," Gaylor said. "Why not hire Lynbrook residents?"
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