The Town of Hempstead Board recently passed a new law protecting non-profit and charitable organizations that operate collection bins within the town.
Many non-profit and charitable organizations set up collection bins that take in donations of clothing, toys and other items that ultimately benefit people in need in the town's local communities.
Under the new law, collection bin operators are now required to obtain an identification sticker through Hempstead Town's Building Department. The sticker will signify it as a town-permitted collection bin for use in connection with charitable purposes.
According to a release from the town, the new legislation prevents profiteering individuals from setting up drop boxes in local communities. Many of these profiteers deceive unsuspecting residents by misrepresenting their bins as collection boxes for worthy philanthropic endeavors. These "for profit" groups resell many of the items and convey only a small fraction of the proceeds to charitable causes.
Animal Shelter Awarded $55,000 Grant to Fund Operation of Feral Cat Program
The Town of Hempstead announced Friday that its animal shelter in Wantagh has received a $55,000 grant from PetSmart Charities to help fund the town’s Trap-Neuter-Release (TNR) program for feral cats. This grant will allow shelter to expand its spay/neuter operations in the Town of Hempstead, helping to mitigate the overpopulation of stray cats.
The grant awarded by PetSmart Charities – a not-for-profit organization that funds spay/neuter efforts nationwide – allocates $50,000 for spay/neuter procedures and $5,000 for rabies vaccinations, giving the town additional resources to control the spread of diseases and the overall population of feral cats.
Through the town’s TNR program, residents can contact the animal shelter about a feral cat issue in their community. Shelter workers will come to the area and trap cats, transport them to the shelter for spay/neuter surgeries and provide temporary post-operation care. The TNR program is a free service offered to the public to mitigate the overpopulation of feral cats (no pets).
For more information about the TNR program, training workshops and general shelter information, call (516) 785-5220 or visit http://toh.li/animal-shelter.
Receiver of Taxes Clavin to Host Series of Property Tax Forums
Hempstead Town Receiver of Taxes Don Clavin has announced that he will host a series of Property Taxpayer Checkup Forums at local libraries. Clavin will discuss important issues such as assessment challenges, tax exemptions, tax discounts, property tax payment dates and convenient tax payment options.
Property Taxpayer Checkup Forums are scheduled as follows:
- Sept. 13, 7 p.m., Valley Stream Village Hall, 123 S. Central Ave., Valley Stream
- Sept. 19, 7 p.m., Wantagh Library, 3285 Park Ave., Wantagh
- Sept. 27, 2 p.m., Baldwin Library, 2385 Grand Ave., Baldwin
- Oct. 3, 2 p.m., North Bellmore Library, 1551 Newbridge Road, North Bellmore
- Oct. 9, 7 p.m., Rockville Centre Library, 221 N. Village Ave., Rockville Centre
- Oct. 10, 7 p.m., Oceanside Library, 30 Davison Ave., Oceanside
- Oct. 11, 2 p.m., Elmont Library, 700 Hempstead Turnpike, Elmont
- Oct. 18, 7 p.m., Hempstead Library, 115 Nichols Court, Hempstead
- Oct. 22, 2 & 7 p.m., Levittown Library, 1 Bluegrass Lane, Levittown
- Oct. 23, 2 p.m., Island Park Library, 176 Long Beach Road, Island Park
- Oct. 24, 7 p.m., Elmont Library, 700 Hempstead Turnpike, Elmont
- Nov. 8, 7 p.m., Seaford Library, 2234 Jackson Ave., Seaford
- Nov. 13, 1 p.m., Hewlett-Woodmere Library, 1125 Broadway, Hewlett
- Nov. 26, 2 & 7 p.m., West Hempstead Library, 500 Hempstead Ave., West Hempstead
Property Taxpayer Checkup Forums are free, and all are welcome to attend. For further information, please call the Office of the Receiver of Taxes at (516) 538-1500.
