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SUCCESS STORY! Pictured above is the renovated Pennsylvania Avenue beach entrance. WEN has been instrumental in urging the City of Long Beach to renovate West End beach entrances!
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Last update by webmaster, June 28, 2009 |
WelcomeWelcome to West End Neighbors, an association of concerned residents of the West End of Long Beach, New York. Here’s what’s happening:
**GEORGIA AVE SPRAY PARK** The Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony for the Official Opening of the Georgia Avenue Spray Park will take place on Thursday, July 2nd at 10:00 am. Please come out to show our appreciation to those who made this possible.
Click here to read or download a copy of our June Newsletter.
NEWS-IN-BRIEF FROM THE MARCH 31 MEETING The Long Beach Library held a Grand Opening for the new West End Branch on Saturday, March 28, at noon. (See WEST END BRANCH NOW OPEN below.) Library Board members Fran Adelson and Warren Vegh, who attended our March 31 meeting, were thanked for their support of the new branch. Residents should expect to receive a letter about illegal rentals in the near future. (See CITY TARGETS ILLEGAL RENTALS below.) In response to a question, President Hoffman reported that proposals to implement resident-only and/or metered parking in the West End are on hold for the moment. After initiatives to eliminate illegal rentals have been fully implemented and their success determined, the City will further assess parking needs in the West End. WEN also thanks City Council Member Lenny Remo for attending our March 31 meeting. WEN members are encouraged to attend City Council meetings and express specific concerns during the Good and Welfare meeting on the first Tuesday of every month.
Pictured above with Council Member Remo are WEN Treasurer Rosemary Sheridan and WEN Secretary Karen McInnis. WEN President Rick Hoffman also advised that beach entrance refurbishments will continue as time permits, and neighbors are encouraged to express their appreciation to City workers. WEN also thanks Michael Bonino and Sean Sullivan of Swingbelly’s Beach Side BBQ, pictured below (l-r) with WEN President Hoffman, for attending the meeting and discussing neighborhood issues.
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Welcome |
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Newsletters and Minutes |
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Summer Info |
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Beach Survey |
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Membership |
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Shoppers' Special Bus |
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9-11 Memorial |
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Community Links |
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TO REPORT BAR PROBLEMS: Over-capacity reports only — Call the 24 hour Fire Marshall 516-742-3170.
For other problem bar activities — fights, after hours activities, sales to minors reports — Call the State Liquor Authority 212-961-8378. |
Please take a few minutes to complete our Beach Survey. |
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West End Neighbors Officers President -- Rick Hoffman Vice President -- Maria Fitzgerald Treasurer -- Rosemary Sheridan Secretary -- Karen McInnis |
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OTHER RESOURCE INFORMATION
Seniors and Veterans interested in real estate tax exemptions should click here for information. The Long Beach City Council meets on the first and third Tuesdays of every month at 7:00 pm. The City Council holds a Good and Welfare Meeting on the first Tuesday, at the close of its business meeting. Anyone who registers in advance of the business meeting start time (7:00 p.m.) may address the Council at the Good and Welfare Meeting about any issue. Funds are available to those who qualify for weatherization of your home. (Doors, windows, hot water heaters, etc.) Call Laurie Buscemi at City Hall (516) 431-1000 x 7219 for more details and to sign up! |
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248 W. Park Avenue, Suite 350 Long Beach, New York 11561 |
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2007 CITY COUNCIL ELECTIONS In November 2007, Tom Sofield, Mona Goodman, and John McLaughlin were elected to City Council. In anticipation of that election, WEN posed seven essential questions about issues of concern to the membership of West End Neighbors. To see the questions and candidate replies, click here.
NEIGHBORHOOD SURVEY To see the results of our Neighborhood Survey, click here.
CONTACT INFORMATION If you would like more information about our organization, please email: |
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PROPOSED LIQUEFIED NATURAL GAS FACILITY On Thursday, January 29, an Open House and Public Meeting regarding the proposed Liquefied Natural Gas facility off our coast was held at the Library. Click here to read or print out a copy of the Proposed Action Fact Sheets from the US Coast Guard which describe the process by which the USCG and the Maritime Administration must prepare an Environmental Impact Statement to assist in evaluating the license application submitted by the Atlantic Sea Island Group, LLC, for the proposed Safe Harbor Energy deepwater port. If you would read comments submitted on this proposal, click here. The Docket ID # is USCG-2007-28535.
WEN ACTIVITIES FEATURED IN THE LONG BEACH HERALD Important issues for the West End of Long Beach, including work by WEN in addressing these issues, have been covered in the Long Beach Herald and were considered come of the Herald’s Top Stories of 2008. To read Herald articles on the proposed (and defeated) New York Avenue townhouse development and the City’s efforts to address parking and illegal rentals, click here. |
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WEN Leadership Team Pictured, l-r, Kim Mussman, Maria Fitzgerald, Rick Hoffman, Karen McInnis, Rosemary Sheridan |
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WEST END BRANCH OF THE LONG BEACH LIBRARY NOW OPEN
The West End Branch, pictured above, at 810 West Beech Street at the corner of California Street, is now open for business. Hours are: Tuesday, Wednesday 1 pm - 5 pm Thursday 4 pm - 8 pm Friday, Saturday 10 am - 2 pm Sunday, Monday CLOSED The branch’s collections include children’s books, adult fiction, and a modest non-fiction collection, along with two computers and a copy machine. Library Director George Trepp, who was a guest at our February 25 meeting, and WEN President Rick Hoffman have credited the Palmieri Family as instrumental in getting the branch off the ground, and President Hoffman noted that we can all best show our appreciation by patronizing the new branch.
CITY TARGETS ILLEGAL RENTALS Thanks also to Building Commissioner Scott Kemins who attended our February 25 meeting and addressed the City’s efforts to identify and resolve the illegal rentals throughout the City which siphon City services without commensurate tax revenue, thus increasing the financial burden on existing taxpayers. The City Council has approved a resolution to impose stricter penalties for residential and commercial buildings that are not in compliance with the City Code of Ordinances. Mr. Kemins noted that basement or attic apartments frequently do not have sufficient ceiling height or windows and are thus non-compliant. Moreover, these situations pose serious fire hazards. Residents are asked to report suspected violators to The Housing Task Force at 516-431-1000 x239. Complaints, which are left on a tape, can be made anonymously and will be investigated by the City. Mr. Kemins also noted that information about whether a home is a legal two or three family dwelling is readily available on request from the Buildings Department.
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PROJECT CHALLENGE SUMMER PROGRAM Project Challenge is offering its TASK (Tutoring After School Kids) Program from June 29 to August 13 at the People’s Church. Click here for a flyer and application, or telephone 516-459-7798 for more information. |
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PEDI CABS ARE HERE!
Have you seen the new pedi-cabs in Long Beach? What do you think? Click here to send your comments about the new pedi-cabs to West End Neighbors. We may use your comments in the WEN newsletter, so please indicate if you want to remain anonymous! |
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WILL YOU BE A BLOCK CAPTAIN? Block Captains are the eyes and ears of their block and are important conduits of neighborhood concerns. Issues identified through our block captains are brought forward from WEN to City Hall. In addition, Block Captains help with distribution of our newsletter. Our newsletter and our WEN communication network are critical to our effectiveness. Just look above right at the beach entrance or read below about the new library for two examples of what we’ve been able to do so far this year with the support of our neighbors. These efforts rely on effective communication and grass roots efforts at the block level. Won’t you please help? If you can serve as a block captain, or if you’d like to find out more about what is needed, please click here to send an email with your name, street address, telephone number, and indicate whether you are located at the beach or bay end of your street. We need as many volunteers as are willing to help! So, step up and take part in our efforts to improve the West End. |