Letter to Residents – Superstorm Sandy

mayor
Mayor Wayne J. Hall, Sr.

Dear Residents:

Over the last two and a half weeks I have met with many families and individuals impacted by Superstorm Sandy. I have spoken with seniors stranded by themselves during the storm, and to the loved ones of those who were sick and/or disabled and who were especially affected. Walking the streets and visiting the many blocks in our village, I witnessed the devastation of the storm’s aftermath. I felt the frustration of our residents who went without heat, hot water and/or electricity for days. My family was similarly affected, so I understand the discomfort and inconvenience experienced by many, as well as the pain of those more severely affected. I understand also, based on LIPA’s response, that LIPA, our county, and federal government must do more to better prepare for natural disasters and weather emergencies. As such, I have expressed our village’s frustration and dissatisfaction to LIPA’s representatives, and working with county and local political leaders, I am calling on our federal and state representatives to do more to ensure that our region and LIPA are better prepared to respond effectively in such situations. I will continue to urge our representatives to make the changes necessary to protect our village and make sure that our region does not experience the delays, disruptions, loss of power, inconveniences and life hazards that occurred during the storm.

I thank you and all village residents, businesses and organizations who worked together to ensure that all of Hempstead got through the storm safely and without loss of life or limb. I extend a special thanks to the our own DPW (Department of Public Works), the Red Cross, Salvation Army, FEMA, and other organizations who came together to aid our residents and other members of Nassau County.

In the coming weeks I will hold a public meeting to discuss the impact of the storm and how we plan to move forward in the case of future emergencies. FEMA representatives, LIPA, government officials and other local agencies will be invited to participate. Once a date has been chosen for the meeting, it will be announced via our website and in the local papers.

The Village will also participate in a meeting about emergency preparedness and how Nassau County was affected. That meeting will be at the Freeport Public Library (144 West Merrick Rd, Freeport) from 7-9PM on Monday, November 26th. For more information on the event, call Legislator Kevan Abrahams’ office at: 516-571-6201. Call the storm information hotline for any additional questions you may have related to Superstorm Sandy: 516-571-2455.

For those who are interested, I will also make available ‘A Guide to Disaster Assistance and Relief Funding, How to Navigate the Disaster Assistance Process’. The booklet was prepared
by Senator Kirsten E. Gillibrand. It will be available beginning Tuesday, visit the village website at www.villageofhempstead.org to download a copy.

My Administration’s Efforts to Get Our Village Back on Track After Sandy

Superstorm Sandy decimated much of Nassau County and other communities throughout New York, NJ and the northeast. Here in Hempstead we were also heavily impacted, with many homeowners suffering losses and damages to their property, along with major inconveniences. I want to assure you that throughout the storm and in the days following I have been in ongoing contact with local LIPA representatives and management. I have informed them of the damages sustained by residents and of the frustrations, disruptions and inconveniences experienced by our village. In order to expedite recovery efforts we established a staging crew for LIPA’s various trucks and storm recovery/rehabilitation crews in the village. As a result of our efforts, the majority of the village is functioning at normal capacity, and power has been restored to virtually all homeowners and businesses.

Again, I want to commend Village residents for coming together during this difficult time and for working with your neighbors to make the best of a difficult situation. Ordinary residents, churches, civic organizations and nonprofits came together to assist neighbors experiencing difficulty. Many residents reached out to seniors, the disabled and other residents who needed assistance during the storm.

Our Departments of Public Works, Police, Fire, and Fire Alarm worked around the clock to clear trees and roadways, ensure our village was safe and get us back to proper functioning as quickly as possible. DPW and other essential departments worked closely with LIPA to help resolve residents’ complaints. Although many of us were frustrated with the delays in regaining power, I am pleased to report that village workers did their best to respond to village residents as quickly as possible and to communicate the urgency of our village’s needs to LIPA’s leadership and to direct their crews to priority needs.

The Storm’s Impact on Hempstead

Although a dollar figure has not yet been assessed for damages, our Department of Public Works, has compiled information on some of the storm’s impact.

Superstorm Sandy uprooted approximately 150 trees and blocked 40 roads. All 40 road blockages were cleared by the end of the next day following the storm. Thirty-two trees fell on houses, and 35 fell on front lawns and side yards. All of these have also been cleared. One hundred-fifty large tree limbs and over 300 small tree limbs fell on roadways and village property, including front lawns and side yards. One-hundred fifty tree stumps were left behind by the storm, including 75 uproots that took pieces of the curb or street out of the ground with them. In addition, some 6000 cubic yards of debris have been collected by our sanitation department.

DPW has made significant headway in the clearing and removal of trees, and continues to collect and clean up debris resulting from the storm. Cleanup of tree debris and restoration of curbs and gutters should be completed within two months.

The damage caused by Superstorm Sandy is immense and as the county, state and federal governments calculate the costs, we will learn more. Here in Hempstead we know that the storm did more than interrupt lives. It created emergency medical situations and made life difficult for many. Sandy disrupted businesses, cost employers and employees man-hours, wages and revenue. In many ways, we will never be able to assess the storm’s true cost. But despite all of this we also know that Hempstead is a strong and united community. We know that we are a village of helping hands, where one neighbor turns to another to assist during emergencies. We know that we are fortunate not to have lost lives or to have been even more deeply impacted.

In the months ahead, as we work to help our community recover, I want you to reach out to me if you have questions or if you need help to navigate the recovery process. I will continue to reach out to FEMA to ensure that they respond to those of you who have experienced losses covered by their programs. If you sustained losses, you can begin applying for assistance by calling 1-800-621-3362 or registering online at www.disasterassistance.gov. If you have a speech disability or hearing loss and use TTY, you should call 1-800-462-7585 directly; for those who use 711 or Video Relay Service (VRS), call 1-800-621-3362.

God Bless and Stay Well,
Wayne
Mayor Wayne J. Hall, Sr.

Dearest You

Dearest You,
 
I cannot recall exactly when or how we met
 
But perhaps that is because I have always known you
At least this is how it seems.
 
It matters not where or when
The truth is we were always meant to be
 
If it had not been in this lifetime, I am convinced
It would have been in the next.
 
My being without you would have been an impossibility
For even without knowing of your existence I could never forget
I dreamt of you before I knew how to dream
 
You slid beneath my bones
Gliding like a soft persistent breeze between
My fingers and my toes
 
You have always been with me my love
Knowing me before I knew what it was to be known
 
I don’t love you because you make me better
I love you because you make me me
 
I love you because you are you and your
You-ness is always new
 
I see you in a passageway called change
And when I look around you are gone again
 
Transformed into another you
And each and every aspect of you is
A part I love
 
I am immersed in you
Imbedded in the bread you eat
The sleep you sleep
 
The tales you tell
The dreams you beat
 
What is it I ask of you
 
That you should always speak your truth
And allow me to listen to its echo and its timbre
 
That when I cry you feel no need
To ask me why
 
That our coupling should burn brand new
Like a hot summer day when the season’s through
 
That in the beginning, middle and
Continuation of our story
 
I should be me
And you should be you
 
By Xam Thims (May 2014)

How to Write A Cover Letter

What is the purpose of a cover letter?
A.K.A., How to Fancy Gift Wrap Your Resume

 
The purpose of the cover letter is to introduce yourself to the prospective employer or search committee that has the job you are seeking. Your cover letter gives the employer an idea of who you are, and of what you are capable, by summarizing your skills and experience.
 
The cover letter should enable the interviewer to see what it is that you offer, what makes you better than the other applicants. Consider the cover letter your seduction of the prospective interviewer or review committee.
 
While the cover letter provides an overview of your skills and special capabilities, it does not repeat your resume. Instead it’s a precursor to the resume, the thing that makes them want to give your resume a first look.
 
An effective resume quantifies your ability (by showing numbers, results, impact, how much you’ve done, percentage change). The cover letter, in contrast, qualifies your skills and experience. It speaks to what you’re capable of, your symmetry with the industry and why you think you’d be especially primed for that position/why you think you’d be a good fit for that position and that company.
 
The cover letter is concise, to the point and gives a sense of who you are and what you offer. It is, to whip a dead horse, the intro, the seduction, the expert flirt or tease. Like the Marilyn Monroe of yesteryear or the Angelina Jolie or Zac Efron of current times, it’s the packaging that inspires the reviewer to unwrap the gift and take a closer look at what’s beneath the fancy packaging.
 
So get your Marilyn Monroe, Beyonce, Brad Pitt or Chatum Tanning on. Prepare the most effective resume that represents your experience, then top it off with a fancy gift box with extra cool wrapping and a snazzy ribbon on top; that’s the cover letter that makes the job interviewer want to stop and take a deeper look at what you have to offer and why you might be the best candidate for the job they’ve got.
 
Hop to it. You can click on the link below for a cover letter template, or contact us directly if you’d like your letter written by one of your experts.
 
Courtesy: EthnicWriter.com

Cover Letter Template

Name of Employer/HRA Director
Address

Dear INSERT NAME OF EMPLOYER OR HR DIRECTOR,

I’m writing to apply for the position of XXXX. I’m confident that my skills and experience make me a good fit for the position and am equally confident that I can deliver the results your company is seeking.

A bit about my background: Drop in two or three points about what makes you an especially good fit, such as A) results that you’ve achieved in the past that show why you’re ideally suited, and/or B) Speak to a specific priority of the company and how your experience meets the company’s/position’s needs.

Highlight an award: If you’ve got an award or special recognition that further highlights your capabilities as related to this position and/or company, then include it.

I have great admiration for your company and believe that my many years of experience working in INSERT FIELD OR INDUSTRY not only make me ideally suited for the position, but ensures optimal delivery of the results you are seeking.

thank you in advance for your time and attention to this letter and would welcome the opportunity to learn more about the position and to speak with you about my background and how it can help your company to attain the results you desire.

Sincerely/With best regards,

Insert Signature

Lana Moorer
212-734-9258
lmoorer@gmail.com