From The Mayor's Office
www.Gardencityny.net
By Peter A. Bee

WEST NILE VIRUS

With just a few weeks before the end of the summer, it is still important to keep up your guard against mosquitoes and the viruses they carry. According to the Nassau County Board of Health, there have been 14 mosquito pools and two birds that have tested positive for West Nile Virus in Nassau County. The latest mosquito sample was collected on August 15th. An American crow was found in Levittown on August 15th and a blue jay in Syosset on August 20th. There have been prior positive mosquito pools found in Bayville, Farmingdale, Hicksville, Jericho, Kings Point, Roosevelt, Upper Brookville, Valley Stream, Wantagh, West Hempstead, Westbury and Woodbury. In all cases, the virus was identified in a sample of Culex pipiens-restuans mosquito (a species which primarily bites birds). To date no humans have tested positive for West Nile in Nassau County and the county has no plans to spray for adult mosquitoes at this time.

The county urges that residents take the following precautions for safety:

* Remove or empty standing water from old tires, garbage cans, pails or any object that collects water.

* Make sure roof gutters drain properly and clean clogged gutters in the spring and fall.

* Change the water in birdbaths every two or three days.

* Install window and door screens and keep them in good repair.

* Consider wearing long sleeves, pants, socks and mosquito re-pellent (according to directions, outdoors where mosquitoes are active, especially in the late afternoon and from dusk.)

Residents are encouraged to report dead crows to the toll-free New York State hotline at 1-866-537-2473 Monday through Friday between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Please be advised that most of the reported birds will not be collected. Additional West Nile virus in-formation may be obtained by calling the Nassau County Department of Health at (516) 571-2500 or via the County website at www.nassaucountyny.gov/agencies/health.

S.T.O.P. PROGRAM

The Town of Hempstead Sanitation Department will conduct its monthly S.T.O.P. (Stop Throwing Out Pollutants) program on Sunday, September 9. The program, which is being held at various locations throughout the Town of Hempstead, will make hazardous waste facilities accessible to as many residents as possible.

This Sunday's program will be held at the Newbridge Road Park, 2600 Newbridge Road in South Bellmore. The hours of operation will be 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Under the S.T.O.P. program, residents are able to take polluting materials to the facility and have them disposed of by a registered professional disposal company, free of charge. The facility will not accept the following materials: ammunition, explosives, fireworks, infectious or medical waste, propane or oxygen tanks, radioactive materials, unlabeled materials and fire extinguishers.

VILLAGE'S WEB SITE

I encourage residents to periodically utilize the Village's website for information regarding the Village's operations, as well as items of seasonal and special interest. The address is www.gardencityny.net. Also please be aware that I have a Village e-mail address and would be delighted to hear from Village residents about their concerns. My e-mail address is: MayorPBee@gardencityny.net.