Halls Pond Park Spring 2009 Photo Courtesy of Mark DeFilippis
Welcome to the West Hempstead Community Support & Civic Association's website! We hope that you will find plenty of informative and engaging content about our community. The goal of our site is to make it the primary source for information about West Hempstead. Please check back often updates to the site occur frequently. Thank you for visiting!
Assemblyman Tom Alfano announced today that the New York State Department of Health (DOH) is now accepting applications for the free New York Prescription Saver Card. The program will provide lower-income New Yorkers with savings that vary depending on the quantity, type and brand of the drug purchased. In general, New Yorkers can expect average savings of 30 to 40 percent off the price of generic, and at least 25 percent off the full retail price of brand name prescriptions. Discounts on nearly all prescription drugs will begin on April 1 at more than 2,500 participating pharmacies throughout the State.
"This program is about giving people accesibility to prescription drugs and providing it affordably," said Assemblyman Alfano adding, "I was very pleased to support this program and vote for its enactment. Too many people have had their prescriptions taken out of their reach due to outrageous costs. This program goes a long way in fixing that. I am so pleased that over 30 pharmacies from Elmont and Floral Park to Franklin Square and West Hempstead are participating in the program."
Beginning April 1, the State will offer lower-income New Yorkers aged 50 to 64, or those who have been determined disabled by the Social Security Ad ministration, significant savings on prescription medications. More than 2,500 participating pharmacies across the State, including several major chains will accept the Prescription Saver Card. In addition, many drug manufacturers provide added discounts on their drugs. As more pharmaceutical manufacturers participate, prescription savings can continue to grow.
Estimated savings on common generic and brand names drugs include:
Metaformin (Treats Diabetes): 76 percent
Furosemide (Treats Hypertension): 43 percent
Actonel (Treats Osteoporosis): 40 percent
Lipitor (Treats cholesterol): 31 percent
Nexium (Treats heartburn): 19 percent
Plavix (Treats Stroke): 20 percent
To be eligible for the free New York Prescription Saver Card, you must be between the ages 50 to 64, or determined disabled by the Social Security Administration. Annual income must be at or below $35,000 for single persons and at or below $50,000 for married individuals. Those individuals who are enrolled in Medicaid or the State’s Elderly Pharmaceutical Insurance Coverage (EPIC) program are not eligible for the Prescription Saver Card.
Applications for the New York Prescription Saver card are being accepted online at http://nyprescriptionsaver.fhsc.com, or by phone on the toll free number 1-800-788-6917 . TTY users may call 1-800-290-9138 . Applications will be also be available at pharmacies and community organizations. Approved participants will receive their card in the mail usually within two weeks of filing their application.
A listing of the discounted drug prices, participating manufacturers and pharmacies, and a pharmacy locator can be found at the Prescription Saver Web site athttp://nyprescriptionsaver.fhsc.com.
WHCA Details Major Improvements to be Made to Hall's Pond Park
When the Environmental Bond Act was approved in November of 2004, a meeting was held in the WH High School Auditorium in January 2005 to explain how to nominate and submit a project/proposal to the Environmental Bond Act Committee.
As soon as information was available on the criteria needed to nominate a project to be considered for funding from the 2004 Bond Act, the West Hempstead Civic Association(WHCA) wasted no time to recognize that the entire Hall's Pond Park area was a perfect candidate. The nominating petition took many hours and days to prepare so that it conformed to all of the stipulations and requirements to make sure it wasn't rejected.
In addition to the eight (8) paged single spaced narrative detailing the proposals and why it should qualify, the President of the WHCA, also submitted eleven (11) pages of signed petitions urging improvements to the entire area, one map of the area, four (4) photographs showing community events held at the Park, and completed four (4) pages of printed forms. The entire narrative portion of the Nominating Petition appeared in the local newspapers and was on the WHCA web site. Click the link below to access the petition.
The petitions and the accompanying data was delivered to the Environmental Bond Act committee before the April 15, 2005 deadline. Virtually every proposal in petition was recommended by the Bond Committee and then submitted to the County Legislature for their approval. It was unanimously approved by all 18 members and received the endorsement and approval of the Nassau County Executive.
A portion of the Nominating Petition addressed the need to clean up the wooded area north of the Park. This area was included by the WHCA so it can be used by the School District and other groups for educational purposes...The wording on the Petition says ".....nature trails created for use by various groups providing EDUCATIONAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL STUDY PROGRAMS"
Money from the Bond Act will be used to clean and clear out all dead trees and weeds, and replant with native specimen trees. The WHCA recognized the potential of this derelict piece of property, and took all the necessary steps to guarantee it will never be sold by the County or other entity to any developer, individual, or private party. This area will be rehabilitated and maintained at no cost to the West Hempstead taxpayers and will provide a safe area for educational purposes.
The following is a synopsis of the improvements slated for Hall's Pond Park and the wooded area to the north, under the Environmental Bond Act of 2004.
A total of $581,000 has been allocated from the Bond Act of 2004 including funding from Nassau County for the following:
- Institution of geese control - restoration of forest and construction of trails (which will require the removal of invasive trees, bushes, vines etc. in the wooded area complete with nature trails and planting of native trees, fencing and locking gates to secure area at night) - restoration of entrance paving and walls, repair of gazebo, and installation of new benches, trash cans, plantings and irrigation system
Nassau County will fund and repair filter/discharge system and cleaning of the pond(removal of debris and trash)
An additional $278,000 has been allocated for the following improvements:
1. aeration or bubbler system for pond 2. water fountains(2) 3. new facade to bridge to match entrance 4. new lighting to enhance entrance and bridge 5. new fencing to replace existing cyclone and split rail fencing 6. planters each side of new metal benches 7. new asphalt walkways
There is an additional $278,000 for the Installation of a sediment collection basin and baffle system to prevent debris from entering the pond.
Of the 83 parks recommended by various groups or individuals for improvements, Hall's Pond Park, and the wooded area north of the Park, was one of only 18 parks deemed worthy enough by the Committee to be recommended for funding. The entire area is considered unique and an asset to the residents and the County.
Plans are now under way to hire a Project Manager to oversee bidding and purchasing, as well as coordinate and/or supervise all phases of work. Work on Hall's Pond is expected to start by the end of this year or early 2008. The WHCA will make sure that Hall's Pond Park receives all the attention necessary to have the improvements completed as quickly as possible. If you want to discuss this further, contact Rosalie Norton or call 733-0879.
The number of unique site visitors to the WHCA website since March 11, 2007.
West Hempstead Community Support & Civic Association PO Box 425, West Hempstead, NY 11552 516-733-0879