In North Hempstead, ‘tree-cycling’ and merchant parking

Residents encouraged to recycle live trees

North Hempstead is continuing a new tradition of recycling -- “tree-cycling.”

Residents are encouraged to recycle live Christmas trees, which they can leave curbside on normal yard-waste pickup days.

Residents can take Christmas lights and other unwanted electronics to the town’s residential drop-off site, 999 W. Shore Rd. in Roslyn, on Sundays from 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. until the end of January.

For more information on tree-cycling, residents can call 311 or visit www.northhempsteadny.gov.  -- Scott Eidler

Town approves merchant parking lot

The North Hempstead Town Board on Tuesday approved a plan by the Manhasset Park District to create a merchant parking lot on Locust Lane in Manhasset.

Paul Pepper, an attorney representing the park district, presented the plan to the board.
“Parking is an issue, obviously, with the district,” Pepper said. “This is a unique piece of property in a unique location.”

He said the district anticipated creating 16 to 20 additional parking spots, which would be ready by the spring.

The district would sell annual parking permits to merchants, taking their cars off congested Plandome Road, according to park district commissioner John Regan. The district’s Hillside lot, currently used by merchants, would then either be used by commuters or shoppers, he said.

“Manhasset is really suffering from not having enough parking,” said Councilwoman Anna Kaplan, who represents the area.

The measure, allowing the district to buy the property passed unanimously, as did a companion measure exempting the district from the zoning code so the project can be completed more quickly.  -- Jennifer Barrios