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Reconstruction of Third Street wall in Leechburg expected to start in April or May - TribLIVE

Holy Trinity Diocesan High School Deputy Mayor Fitzgerald

Last week, Mayor Longobardi and I had the pleasure to participate in and be guest speakers at Holy Trinity Diocesan High School in Hicksville for the senior class seminar entitled Participation in Government. The students had great questions and it was a very engaging experience discussing the many topics about local government with them. What was most impressive was their desire to know how to become more involved in and to learn more about the many functions of government. I wished the seminar lasted longer because it was so much fun to engage with the students and their future for government participation looks promising. Mayor Longobardi enthusiastically echoed Deputy Mayor Fitzgeralds comments.

Recreation Department Trustee Pombonyo

All are invited to pursue interesting hobbies and get fit and ready for spring with Session II of our Village Recreation Program. Youth programs will feature Zumba, gymnastics, yoga, gardening, and tennis. Adults and seniors will enjoy aerobics, cardio-kickboxing, interval fitness training, yoga, Zumba, knitting, agility and strengthening, silver sneakers programs, and tennis lessons. Classes will be a combination of in-person indoors/outdoors and virtual. Registration dates are February 10th and 11th. Watch for your flyers in the mail, on the Village website and Village/Recreation Facebook pages.

Conservation Society Trustee Pombonyo

Although Centennial Gardens is closed for the winter, we will open briefly for the global Great Backyard Bird Count sponsored locally by the Floral Park Conservation Society and our Recreation Department. Come to the Floral Parkway main gate on Friday, February 12th from noon to 4 p.m.; Saturday, February 13th from noon to 1 p.m.; and Sunday, February 14th from 1 to 2 pm to view the extraordinary species of birds who inhabit and travel through our beautiful Gardens. Our very own Don Haug, ornithology expert, and enthusiast, will be there to present the stories of all our bird friends and help us identify them. A local photo contest for children and teens will be offered this year, with details to follow. Visit the global website birdcount.org to learn more about this popular global event. More to follow on our Village website; Floral Park Centennial Gardens, Village, and Recreation Facebook pages; and at our February 2nd Village Board meeting.

In the meantime, please consider helping our local bird friends eat during the winter by donating wild bird seed, thistle bird seed, and suet cakes at the Rec/Pool building Monday to Friday, 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m. All will appreciate your donations.

Covert Avenue Chamber of Commerce and Our Businesses Trustee Pombonyo

The extensive clean-up of our fire-damaged businesses on Covert Avenue continues in earnest. With asbestos removal near completion, the property owners contractors continue to clear away and remove tons of badly damaged and loose debris. The owners architects continue to be on-site, communicating with the contractors and Renee Marcus, Village Building Superintendent, to assist the property owners in making complex decisions regarding the future of their properties. Watch for Superintendent Marcuss update on the Village website, in your Village email, and on the Village and Hillcrest Civic Association Facebook pages in the coming week.

With 2021 upon us, our Covert Avenue and Floral Park Chambers of Commerce are announcing new dual membership programs. Interested businesses, nonprofits, and others may join one Chamber and, for an additional small fee, become a member of the other Chamber. See the Membership links on both Chambers websites for the details on joining. Our Chambers value and support the success of all businesses in the Villages of Floral Park and Stewart Manor and so, together with your local Village Trustees, unanimously encourage all to SHOP, DINE, AND TAKE OUT LOCAL. Its vital to our Villages futures, and we thank you!

Third Track & LIRR Trustee Cheng

New Work Tunnel Street work is proceeding at the north end of the tunnel connecting Magnolia Avenue with Tunnel Street. Piles are being vibrated into place to hold steel retaining sheets. This is being done to support excavation. The installation of the piles must be done during partial track closures between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Following this, a retaining wall (similar to the retaining wall at Field 7) and temporary fencing will be installed starting at 30 Tunnel Street and continuing on the south side of the sump to New Hyde Park. The retaining wall will be visible above grade to a height of 5 feet with an 8-foot permanent security fence placed atop of the wall. According to 3TC, the excavating and placement of the retaining wall should be completed by the end of February. Temporary fencing will be installed after the retaining walls are in place. The permanent security fence will be installed at a later date. Once the retaining wall has been extended approximately 100 feet past the east side of the tunnel, access from Tunnel Street will end, and access for the rest of the work behind the sump will be provided from New Hyde Parks dirt parking lot on Stewart Street along the perimeter of the sump. We have instructed 3TC to stage equipment and employee parking at our parking lot across from our tennis courts.

Library Trustee Chiara

The Floral Park Library is again coordinating with AARP to offer a Tax Assistance program for Village seniors. Details and information will soon be on the Librarys website. The challenge this year, working with COVID restrictions, is to put together a safe environment to have this program. The Library is confident they will be able to do so and offer the program to its patrons.

Next month the Library will be offering a tech program given by teens to assist Village seniors and all patrons with tech issues. The program will focus on ways help to educate how to navigate different websites like Instagram, Facebook, online shopping sites, video chats, and streaming. Registration is now open by calling the library reference desk at 326-6330, ext. 105.

Please continue to check the Librarys homepage for information on scheduled events. Chair yoga, cooking and meditation classes and Time for Kids programs are all available. Dont miss out on these and so many other programs our Library continues to offer.

Police Department Trustee Chiara

On Monday, Jan. 18, there was the final walkout, signifying the last working tour of retiring Police Officer (PO) Michael Hearne at Village Police Headquarters. PO Hearne served Floral Park Village for over 30 years. We thank Mike for all his dedicated years of service in protecting and keeping our community safe. We wish him all the best in his retirement!

Recently, there were two accidents in the vicinity of Plainfield Avenue. Both had injuries to the occupants of the vehicles. The Floral Park Police Dept. will be increasing traffic enforcement throughout the Village in an effort to decrease these events. Please continue to drive carefully and obey the traffic regulations to ensure everyones safety.

Also as a reminder, please remember to lock your car and house doors. There was a recent arrest for trespassing and the arrested had stolen items in his possession, indicating that they may have already been in a vehicle in our area.

Thank you to the Floral Park Police Department for all their efforts in keeping our community safe.

CREW Trustee Chiara

The CREW committee will host a jam session on Wednesday, Jan. 20, at 7 p.m. at the Recreation Pool Building. Anyone interested in sharing his or her musical talents is welcome. Please follow the COVID regulations when entering the building.

Building Department Trustee Chiara

The Building Department has no new updates.

Mayors Report Mayor Longobardi

Mayor Longobardi reported on the recent change in leadership in the Floral Park Chamber of Commerce. The Mayor thanked outgoing Chamber President Stephen Wickes for his dedication to the community and its businesses, and especially his work on the beautification project. He then congratulated Pastor Evan Peet of the Bridge Community Church on being appointed the new President of the Chamber. He looks forward to working with Pastor Peet and recognized him for his past successes with the Street Fairs and many wonderful community projects.

Mayor Longobardi again congratulated Floral Park Police Officer Mick Hearne on his retirement. He thanked Mike, who is also a Floral Park resident for his over 30 years of dedicated service in keeping the Village of Floral Park safe, and wished Mike many happy years to come.

In closing, the Mayor stressed the need for drivers to obey all traffic and safety laws. There has been a recent uptick in traffic and crowded roadways and a rise in traffic stops due to drivers speeding and not following the rules of the road. Please drive safely. Thank you.

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Floral Park Board of Trustees report for January 19 - The Island Now

Crew members work on a lower section of the mechanically stabilized earth wall for a pedestrian bridge that will connect the Monument Valley Pathway across Highway 26 in Scottsbluff.

Construction crew members from Garcia-Chicone Enterprises prepare to place a section of mechanically stabilized earth wall for the pedestrian bridge that will connect sections of the Monument Valley Pathway over Highway 26.

Workers set a section of mechanically stabilized earth wall on the site where a pedestrian bridge will connect the Monument Valley Pathway over Highway 26 in Scottsbluff.

Work is continuing on the south side of Highway 26 for a pedestrian bridge on the Monument Valley Pathway.

Doug Gompert of M.C. Schaff and Associates is overseeing the installation of the mechanically stabilized earth walls for the pedestrian bridge on the Monument Valley Pathway.

The Monument Valley Pathway will extend along this route on the south side of Highway 26 from Avenue B until it connects with the pedestrian overpass near Scottsbluff High School.

Foundation work is underway for a pedestrian overpass to connect the Monument Valley Pathway across Highway 26 north of Scottsbluff High School.

Scottsbluff public works director Mark Bohl said the project is like a big jigsaw puzzle as pieces of mechanically stabilized earth are lifted and put in place to build a retaining wall of sorts to support the ramp and structure to hold the overpass itself.

Doug Gompert of M.C. Schaff and Associates is coordinating the work, and he said those involved have worked well together so far.

Everybodys done a really good job, between the contractors, the engineers and the city, Gompert said.

Gompert said he expects the wall on the south side of the highway to be completed by the end of this week with the north side wall going up next. The bridge itself is likely to be put in place sometime around April or May, Gompert said.

Bohl said contractor Paul Reed Company and subcontractors have stayed ahead on the project, thanks in part to a mild winter that has allowed them to keep working.

This is a big project, Bohl said. Our main focus now, actually, is this structure itself. We have a few odds and ends to tie in at West Overland, Avenue D and B to make connections, but basically the whole path is in, so all the concentration now is really on the structure itself, getting the walls up and getting the structure in place.

Link:
Its like a big jigsaw puzzle: Pathway overpass foundation work underway - Scottsbluff Star Herald

Two boys were arrested in St. Paul after allegedly stealing a car and then crashing it while drag racing.

According to St. Paul Police Department, the incident was reported by 911 callers around 6:30 p.m. Wednesday. Thet reported that two cars were racing in the area of E. Ivy Ave. and Flandreau St. and one of the vehicles crashed into a retaining wall and struck a tree.

The callers reported that five kids "immediately took off running."

Two of the kids, boys, ages 11 and 12, respectively, were caught near the crash scene. The 12-year-old was arrested for auto theft and possession of a BB gun in public, which police say was thrown in the snow behind a bench and was "a realistic-looking replica of a .40 caliber handgun."

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The 11-year-old was treated at Regions Hospital for minor injuries and then booked at the Ramsey County Juvenile Detention Center for stealing a vehicle.

A second vehicle reported to be racing was gone from the scene when police arrived.

Anyone with information about the racing incident is asked to call St. Paul PD at 651-291-1111.

Read the rest here:
Boys, ages 11 and 12, arrested after racing, crashing stolen car in St. Paul - Bring Me The News

A single-vehicle collision involving a driver who struck the median on McKenzie Avenue at Carey Road interrupted morning traffic on Jan. 21. (Devon Bidal/News Staff)

No serious injuries reported, driver not impaired, police say

Traffic was slow-moving on McKenzie Avenue near the Pat Bay Highway on Thursday morning following a single-vehicle collision.

At 7:40 a.m. on Jan. 21, Saanich police, firefighters and paramedics were called to McKenzie Avenue at Carey Road after a westbound driver crashed into the median.

After losing control of the vehicle, the driver, struck the centre median, crossed the intersection and finally came to rest against the retaining wall, said Const. Markus Anastasiades, public information officer for the Saanich Police Department.

According to Asst. Deputy Fire Chief Mike Kaye, the incident was minor and there were no significant injuries reported but the driver was assessed by paramedics.

Traffic in the area was reduced to a single-lane and later blocked while the tow truck arrived to remove the damaged vehicle from the roadway. The intersection was cleared just before 9 a.m. and traffic resumed.

Police are still investigating the cause of the incident but Anastasiades said impairment was not a factor.

READ ALSO: Saanich selects company to build youth bike skills track at Tripp Station Park

@devonscarlettLike us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.

devon.bidal@saanichnews.com

District of SaanichfirefightersTraffic

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UPDATED: Morning traffic in Saanich interrupted after driver crashes into centre median, retaining wall - Saanich News

Sunderland City Council is working alongside the owners of the structure as repairs are arranged for the structure on Silksworth Hall Drive, which has led to part of Silksworth Road to be closed off.

No traffic is able to pass that part of the route, with no guidance given on how long the diversion will be in place, with a stretch of around 30 metres sealed off.

A spokesperson for the council said: A section of the retaining wall at Silksworth Hall Drive has become unstable.

The council is in contact with property owners and repair works to the wall are being prepared.

A road closure is necessary for safety reasons.

Silksworth Road is closed from Silksworth Hall Drive and Oak Tree Drive.

"Diversions are via Silksworth Lane, Warwick Terrace, Miller Terrace, Blind Lane Silksworth Terrace.

Ward councillor Phil Tye shared an update with residents on Facebook which said the emergency closure has been put in place following checks made over the Christmas period on that part of the road, known as Bochys Bank.

He told followers: Regular monitoring of the wall led to a temporary barrier to be placed and traffic management, after the weather of the last few days and movement from the wall it was agreed that the road will close to assess the immediate danger and work with the private owners to find a quick solution.

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Sunderland road closed off to traffic over safety concerns after wall crumbles - Sunderland Echo

In Texas, the NRG-owned WA Parish Generating Station has exacted a grim toll in exchange for the energy and jobs its provided the surrounding communities in Fort Bend County. Public Citizen noted last May that the pollutants emitted by the plant are estimated to be responsible for some 178 premature deaths each year. The promise of jobs dominates national discussion around coal. But the generating stations emissions also cost the community money by way of medical bills. In a column for Chron.com last November, writer Allyn West shared that one of his co-workers spent twice as much each month on asthma medication and air filters as they did on the electricity Parish provides along with the air pollutants. Meanwhile, NRG elected in the spring of 2020 to shut down the plants accompanying carbon capture unitused to limit the amount of carbon dioxide emitted by fossil fuel operations and long bandied as a symbol of NRGs commitment to clean energywith the company saying that its continued use was uneconomical.

Should the new ruling and incoming regulations from the Biden administration succeed in ushering out coal, theres also a case to be made that the benefits will extend beyond just protecting the surrounding community from breathing-related illnesses. In my home state of North Carolina, one of the defining scandals of the last decade was the 2014 Duke Energy coal ash spill in the Dan River, which filled it with arsenic and selenium. The river provides drinking water throughout North Carolina and Virginia. Looking beyond the spill, the North Carolina Medical Journal found that for the past three decades, scientists have connected living near coal-fired plants with having higher rates of all-cause and premature mortality, increased risk of respiratory disease and lung cancer, cardiovascular disease, poorer child health, and higher infant mortality.

Even after these plants are retired, the risk for contamination will remain high. For years, coal ash has been stored by corporations in ostensibly contained ponds, many unlined, that often lie near natural bodies of water. Following the flooding from Hurricane Florence in 2018, the Neuse River overran the coal ash ponds at a retired coal plant in Goldsboro, causing arsenic levels to spike. During the same storm, the Cape Fear River was also exposed to coal ash after an unlined coal ash pond topped the retaining wall meant to block it from the river.

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Kill Coal to Save Lives - The New Republic

CHARLESTON State road crews working in Putnam County not only learned a new skill from scratch, but they also saved the state some dough.

Road crews from West Virginia Division of Highways District 1 have finished a massive piling-supported retaining wall in Putnam County, according to a news release from WVDOH. Typically, a project like this would be contracted out, but the 400-foot structure along Lime Kiln Road near Red House is the first piling wall project done by District 1 work crews on their own.

Its part of a push by Transportation Secretary Byrd White and Deputy Secretary Jimmy Wriston for highways crews to do more work in-house to get more mileage from each taxpayer dollar and bring to life Governor Justices vision for West Virginia roads.

State Highways Administrator Arlie Matney said highways crews in a few other districts have built piling walls on their own, but District 1 which includes Boone, Clay, Kanawha, Mason, and Putnam counties had not.

Matney transferred from District 10 to District 1 to share expertise and help spearhead special projects. He said a massive slip along Lime Kiln Road seemed like the perfect opportunity to allow District 1 road crews to see what they could do.

Lime Kiln Road, which snakes its way off WV 34 as 34 climbs Red House Hill in Putnam County, has been a trouble spot for some time.

Its a one-lane road with a major slip, Matney said in the news release. It was really narrow in spots, right around 8 feet wide.

When federal funding from the CARES Act became available, highways officials designated Lime Kiln Road a state Medical Access Roads Program project. MARP was to address the concerns of local first responders on roads that might hinder access to emergency vehicles.

Matney also thought the slip would be perfect for District 1 to undertake as a first project.

These guys took to it like ducks to water, he said.

Over a span of a little over a month, District 1 crews sank dozens of 40-foot girders into the ground, ending up with a 400-foot retaining wall. In comparison, the average piling retaining wall is about 100 feet long, Matney said.

When you look at it at first, the length of it is overwhelming, he said. These guys did an excellent job. Im really impressed by what they were able to do.

Matney said District 1 crews were able to widen Lime Kiln Road by 6 to 8 feet.

Basically, we turned a one-lane road into a two-lane road, he said. We saved something like $200,000 just from our people doing the work.

With work continuing in all 55 counties across the state, the West Virginia Division of Highways and the West Virginia Department of Transportation remind the public of the importance of keeping everyone safe in work zones by keeping Heads up; phones down!

The rest is here:
Putnam road project part of push to keep work in-house - Huntington Herald Dispatch

RIVERSIDE The city of Riverside has broken ground on a new playground at the city park.

Mayor Rusty Jessup said the city recently began work on preparing the ground for new equipment that was delivered to the city earlier this month.

Jessup said the playground is three years in the making and has seen large support from the community.

A lot of people in Riverside want to see this happen, Jessup said.

Jessup said the new community playground is the culmination of volunteer work from across Riverside.

Jessup gives particular praise to the Riverside Beautification Organization and its president, Julie Pounders.

She is the one whose really carried the torch, he said.

The mayor said the new playground equipment was funded through the RBOs continual fundraising, such as their annual poker run, and their constant search for grants.

Pounders said finally having ground broken on the project feels wonderful. Pounders said the RBO raised a total of $20,000 for the playground equipment and were able to receive a grant from Gametime in Pelham, the company the equipment was bought from, that matched those funds.

She said her organization has put a lot of hard work into the project to finally get it done.

Pounders told the city council during its Dec. 7 meeting that the RBO had ordered the equipment and all that remained was leveling a place for it and buying surfacing.

Jessup said that work has now begun. He said due to some left over money from last year's budget and private donations from citizens the work on leveling the ground, building a retaining wall and surfacing should cost the city less than $15,000.

He said he hopes to have the playground ready by the summer.

Jessup said the city is working to improve its city park one step at a time, and says there's still work to be done. The mayor said the city really values its green spaces, and he believes it's one of the reasons people come to live in Riverside.

It's part of the quality of life we enjoy by living in Riverside, Jessup said, adding that people want to be one with the nature that surrounds the city.

Pounders said the new equipment will help compliment that natural appeal with it being themed around blues and greens.

Jessup said, while the city cannot make huge park investments like larger cities, it will continue to work to make sure people can enjoy its natural resources.

We still consider ourselves a rural Alabama town with rural Alabama values, he said.

Taylor Mitchell, Daily Home reporter covering Pell City.

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Riverside breaks ground on playground | The St. Clair Times | annistonstar.com - Anniston Star

WILTON - Heinz Gossman of the Wilton Water and Waste Department attended Tuesday nights Wilton selectboard meeting to update members on upcoming budgetary concerns as well as to obtain approval for several new roof price quotes. The budgetary concerns stem from the possibility of the EPA altering their future phosphate regulations, which would lead to an increase in the Water and Waste Departments costs for chemicals to keep the levels under regulation. This could have an effect on clients in the future.

Theyre trying to put a lot of limits on us. Its going to affect us majorly and when those numbers come out next year, well probably have to raise rates, Gossman said.

The board approved Gossmans $2,200 quote for Arctic Roofing to complete a new roof for the water plant, which will take place in the spring or early summer. After the boards unanimous vote of approval, Gossman was also given the green light to obtain a request for proposal of the engineering of a new transmission line for the water department.

The Wilton Farmers Market, will once again be held in McGillicudy Park after unanimous approval by the board. Lisa Small spoke on behalf of the market vendors, requesting approval after a successful year despite initial parking concerns in the new downtown location.

The farmers market did very well this year. A lot of townspeople were repeat customers. They were happy to see us. Vacationers were happy to see us. Wed like to come back and have another successful year, said Small.

Several of the board members reported that they had enjoyed the Wilton Farmers Market during the previous summer as well.

I loved having the market downtown. It was one of the few times I could get out and see people socially distanced. I fully support it, said board member Tiffany Mauri.

A discussion on the possible placement of ATV trail signs between Steves Market on Depot St. to the downtown area followed, especially concerning the budgetary costs the signs would entail. There was no decision reached on what the publics involvement will be in either allowing or denying the placement of such signs, but it was agreed that, if the authority lies in the publics hands, there should be some involvement.

Its going to have to be something the town pays for, which we didnt budget specifically for, said Town Manager Rhonda Irish, who then went on to update the board on the towns overall budgets for the year so far.

All of the budgets are right on target with the exception of the general assistance which is already at the max. Weve not run into this before, said Irish.

The budget for general assistance for the year was for $5,000 and has already been used on account of an unexpected influx in funeral expenses accumulating at the beginning of the year. There have already been 4 funerals requesting funds from the general assistance account, which now implies that those wishing to apply for funds out of general assistance will have to obtain alternative and additional approval.

The Wilson Lake Retaining Wall Project is moving along steadily. The board unanimously approved to proceed with allowing the engineering company working in tandem on the project to conduct a topographical survey on the construction area.

As spring approaches, so does election season for both the selectboard and the school board. Nominations papers for both boards will be available on Feb. 26 and will be due back on April 12. Elections will be held on June 8 and the town meeting will be held on June 14. There is one seat open on each board. The location for the town meeting has not been determined yet.

Weve done it outside, we can do it again, Irish said.

The final update from Irish came in the form of a caution to dog owners of the area to license their dogs before Feb. 1, after which point an additional $25 in state fees will be added to the existing cost.

See the rest here:
Wilton Selectboard hears Water Department concerns and announces nomination ballots - Daily Bulldog