Dear Villagers,

Happy Fall! It's a beautiful time of year here in the village. There is a calm that returns as the temperature begins to drop, the leaves begin to turn, and Autumn starts. There is so much happening, so we'll get right to it.

Firstly, we have some very significant paving and reconstruction work happening this fall. You'll see more information below and an update when schedule is confirmed in the coming two weeks. We've unfortunately had to close the carousel due to mechanical issues, please see below for more details.

Thank you for your patience while we catch up in the building department. Our key employee who manages the department is out on medical leave, and we've brought on a new inspector and other needed resources to catch up. We sincerely appreciate your patience while we work through the backlog.

Important Updates

Infrastructure improvement projects starting in October:

• Paving and some sidewalk reconstruction, including ADA accessible ramps, will be done on Sixth Street, Johnson Place, Webb Street, Adams Street, North Street, Sterling Place, Bridge Street, Atlantic Avenue, Monsell Place, and Manor Place. 

• The North Ferry queue project will also start next month, including reconfiguration of the LIRR and Jitney parking lots. The project includes expansion of the existing ferry queue area, parking lot improvements, drainage and stormwater quality improvements, site lighting, and pedestrian/ADA improvements at the North Ferry Terminal site located south of Wiggins Street between 4th Street and 3rd Street in addition to work around the railroad museum. Stay tuned for a map with more details and timing.

Annual hydrant testing will take place Sunday, October 27th from 9am to 12noon. When you turn the tap on in your home, the water may appear rusty. Please avoid using it until later in the afternoon, when it runs clear.

Street trees that need to be removed will now have yellow signs for ten days before removal to alert residents. The tree committee is working to identify special trees that may benefit from pruning, maintenance, and possible sidewalk carve outs or curb bump-outs when possible.

Hunting season is open in Moore's Woods. Note that hiking and walking are suspended in marked areas. The majority of Moore’s Woods is currently closed except to deer hunting license lottery winners. Deer hunting season is from October 1st, 2024 to January 31st, 2025. The area around the mini train is not open for hunting, and the train will run through October.

Cleanup and landscaping has been done on Moore’s Lane by the electric plant and water building. An old defunct weather station was removed from the area by the baseball field and will soon be planted with examples of native street trees. There will be substantial pruning done around utility lines along Moore’s Lane and Monsell Trail to ensure branches don’t interfere with electric transmission.

The Carousel is closed until further notice for repair. We had anticipated a closure post the holidays in early 2025 for much needed long term "restorative" maintenance but have had to accelerate those plans. We are doing everything possible to coordinate review and needed trades for the work expeditiously, but this will be challenging. Please expect an update later this month on timing.

The LIRR will be reconfiguring the tracks and reconstructing the Fourth Street train crossing in November. Tracks will be removed east of the station, giving the East End Seaport Museum more space for an outdoor area. Work will take several weeks, during and the LIRR hopes to minimize any issues. This work is being coordinated with the ferry and MTA lot work.

Important Dates: Please check our Village website for important meeting dates.