New Chamber of Commerce Report Highlights Village Board Meeting

Monday night's Lynbrook Village Board meeting was highlighted by the debut of a new monthly report delivered by the Lynbrook Chamber of Commerce.

The village's new 9/11 memorial and recent centennial celebrations were also discussed.

The meeting got underway after those in attendance were led through the Pledge of Allegiance by a group of visiting Rockville Centre Boy Scouts, who were at the meeting to fulfill a requirement for their communications merit badges. Mayor William J. Hendrick then proceeded to introduce the report of chamber of commerce president Bill Gaylor as a new, regular part of the board meetings.

"We have a new item on the agenda," he said. "Since they've been coming and giving their reports so diligently, we're adding the chamber of commerce report."

Bill Gaylor, who owns the Lyn Gift and Hallmark Card Store at 11 Atlantic Ave., was proud to be officially included in the village board meetings.

"This shows the high regard that this board has for its chamber of commerce, and our efforts on behalf of the village," he said. "It's very important for us to take that position and work very closely with the board."

Gaylor's report touched upon the recent rain-fueled floods and the Village of Lynbrook's effective response to them. He also spoke about various local entertainment and charitable events intended to drive traffic towards local businesses, including the car show.

In addition, the chamber is looking to help local businesses to endure the recent harsh economic downturn. Among other things, the chamber will be sending out surveys to all 1,300 businesses within the 11563 zip code, looking for their input as to what the chamber can do to help better ease the strain and improve business.

"The chamber has been very busy this summer, trying to reinvent itself," Gaylor said. "All we ask is the residents shop local and support their village."

Hendrick also took a moment during the meeting to welcome the newest members of the Lynbrook fire department, who were not present. Nonetheless, Hendrick praised these individuals for their selfless contribution to the community.

The recent delivery of retrieved from Ground Zero in Manhattan for a Lynbrook 9/11 memorial located at Village Hall was the primary focus in the report of trustee Hilary H. Becker.

"They look fantastic," he said. "I think it's going to be a place that a lot of people, not only people from our area but perhaps people from all over the world, will come and see it, because I don't know of any place that has a memorial similar to ours."

The Lynbrook Centennial Committee also dedicated a ceremonial plaque to the board, listing every mayor and trustee who has served the village for the past 100 years, in appreciation for the board's assistance with the village's recent centennial celebrations, including a parade.

"It's lovely," Hendrick said. "And there's lots of room for future mayors and trustees names, and that's a good thing, because we're going on."

The next regularly-scheduled meeting of the Lynbrook Board of Trustees is on Monday, Sept. 9, at 8 p.m.