SUCCESS STORY! 

       Pictured above is the newly renovated Pennsylvania Avenue beach entrance. 

       WEN has been instrumental in urging the City of Long Beach to renovate West End beach entrances!

 

Last update by webmaster, August 8, 2008

 Welcome

       Welcome to West End Neighbors, an association of concerned residents of the West End of Long Beach, New York.  Here’s what’s happening:

 

**NEXT MEETING**

          Our next meeting will be Wednesday, August 27, at 7:00 pm at the Knights of Columbus on West Beech Street.  Our guest speaker will be Gerry Iossa, parking consultant for the City of Long Beach.  This is your opportunity to hear about possible solutions to the parking issues in the West End, so please plan to attend!

          Many thanks to the City of Long Beach representatives at our July meeting: Joe Brand, Commissioner of Parks and Recreation; Tom Canner, Superintendent of Beach Maintenance; and LT Jack Radin and LT Michael Tangney, Police Department.   Thanks, also to Gourmet Nuts & Sweets, 874 West Beech Street, for snacks!

 

**HOT OFF THE PRESS!**

          Click here to read and print a copy of our July 2008 newsletter.

 

UPDATE RE:  BEACH ENTRANCE REFURBISHMENT

          Tom Canner, Superintendent of Beach Maintenance, has advised that refurbishment of the West End beach entrances will commence AFTER the summer season.  Look for terrific new entrances beginning in October!

 

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.

 

1055 WEST BEECH STREET

          On June 17, the City Council heard public comments about whether the City should acquire the vacant property at 1055 West Beech Street by eminent domain to develop into a parking lot.  To read about the hearing click below:

Long  Beach Herald, June 19, 2008

 

GREAT NEWS ABOUT OUR LIBRARY!

From the President:

          As per the April 23rd Library Board meeting, we are happy to announce the West End will regain our Library Branch!

          The new location is 810 West Beech Street.

          The opening date is TBD.

          We extend a sincere THANK YOU to Mr. Trepp and the entire Long Beach Library Board for working with WEN over the past several months to make this happen

 

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM

Winter Weatherization Grant $$$

          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 306 for more details and to sign up!

 

ELECTION DAY RESULTS

       Congratulations to Tom Sofield, Mona Goodman, and John McLaughlin on their election to City Council.  In anticipation of the 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:

 info@westendneighbors-longbeach.org

For problems with bar activities:

Over-capacity reports only — Call the 24 hour Fire Marshall at

 516-742-3170.

For other problem bar activities — fights, after hours activities, sales to minors reports — Call the State Liquor Authority at

212-961-8378.

Please take a few minutes to complete our new Beach Survey

West End Neighbors Officers

   President -- Rick Hoffman

   Vice President -- Maria Fitzgerald

   Treasurer -- Rosemary Sheridan

   Secretary -- Karen McInnis

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.

       The City of Long Beach is establishing a Neighborhood Watch Program. West End residents who would like to participate should click here to access information and a sign-up form.

WEN logo

248 W. Park Avenue, Suite 350

Long Beach, New York  11561

**NEW**

KENNEDY PLAZA FARMER’S MARKET

 

 

         

 

 

          The City of Long Beach, in partnership with Legislator Denise Ford, has introduced a Farmer's Market at Kennedy Plaza on Wednesdays through November 26*. The Market will be open from noon to 7pm with regional vendors offering fresh produce including vegetables, fruits, pies, and a variety of fish caught off Long Island waters.

          Visit the market for a schedule of upcoming events such as cooking demonstrations, lecture series and more.

          *There will be no market on Wednesday, October 8. For more information about the Farmer's Market contact Bernadette Martin, Market Manager 631-678-5227.

Project Challenge Beach Club  Begins Its Fifth Year 
Written By Rosemary Leonetti 

          Project Challenge recently celebrated the opening of the fifth year of its Beach Club program at East School in Long Beach.  Board President Robert Wolfson and Vice President Francis McQuade welcomed participants with a pizza party. The popular evening recreation program was started in 2003 to give local 10-15 year olds a safe place to gather to enjoy a host of activities supervised by adult counselors. 
 
          The program will run this year from July 1 through the end of August.  Students who bring a signed permission slip from their parents or guardians can drop in at East School any Tuesday through Saturday evening from 6:30 to 10:30 pm throughout the summer to enjoy movies, Ping-Pong, knock hockey, arts and crafts, Xbox, PlayStation, basketball, kickball, corner soccer, computers and refreshments.  An investment club will also be introduced this year.  Special activities like a watermelon eating contest and guest speakers will be scheduled throughout the summer.  As soon as funding becomes available, Project Challenge hopes to open a second Beach Club at West School.  


          The Beach Club program is funded by Project Challenge, with the cooperation of the Long Beach School District.  “We are grateful to Long Beach Schools for opening their facilities to us once again,” said Wolfson.  “We would also like to extend our thanks to Head Custodian Roger Gengo and the East School custodial staff for all their hard work.” 

          For more information about the Beach Club or any of the other programs offered by Project Challenge, contact Executive Director Maria Brown at 516-897-0534.