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New indoor kids’ play center proposed by Catch Air for Carmans Plaza shopping center Town reserves decision on application By MIKE POLANSKY Senior Correspondent
Photo courtesy of New York State Parks
Cherry blossoms in Central Park
Cherry blossoms herald spring; festival April 27 Spring has arrived on Long Island, and with it comes the beauty of cherry blossoms. Although LI is far north of Washington, DC, where the cherry blossom season is a major attraction, it offers its own chance to enjoy these stunning blooms. The Japan Center at Stony Brook University will celebrate the season at the Sakura Matsuri: Cherry Blossom Festival at the Charles B. Wang Center. The event, taking place April 27 from noon to 5 p.m. (rain or shine), will feature vibrant cultural activities including Taiko drum performances, traditional Japanese dances, and various cultural exhibits. The festival, held at the university’s West Campus, offers fun for all ages. Admission is $30 for adults, $20 for students and seniors, and $10 for children ages 6-12. Children under 5 can attend for free. Central Park in bloom For those willing to venture into New York City, Central Park provides a picturesque backdrop for cherry blossoms in bloom. The park’s short cherry blossom season draws nature lovers from around the world. Early
blooming Okame trees can be found on the west side of the reservoir. Also Kwanzan trees, known for their deep pink blossoms, typically bloom in early May and can be spotted on the west side of the Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Reservoir by 90th Street. The white blossoms of the Yoshino trees, which bloom in mid-April, can be admired on Cherry Hill, located at 72nd Street. For a mix of white and pink blossoms, the Higan trees can be found on the west side of Sheep Meadow, at Cedar Hill, and in the Conservatory Garden. For the most impressive cherry tree collection, head to the southwest corner of the Great Lawn. To track when the cherry blossoms are at their peak, visit the park’s official cherry blossom tracker at www.centralparknyc.org/cherry-blossoms. The Brooklyn Botanical Gardens Then there are the more than 200 ready-tobloom cherry blossoms sprawled across six gardens in the Brooklyn Botanic Gardens. Take a shaded stroll down the Cherry Esplanade and through the late-blooming Kwanzan CONTINUED ON PAGE 4
An indoor play center for kids has been proposed for Carmans Plaza shopping center on Carmans Road in Massapequa. Catch Air, which operates indoor play centers for children in Georgia, Texas, New Jersey, and Nanuet, New York, is looking to acquire a special use permit from the town because the Carmans Plaza site is zoned as Neighborhood Business. If the company’s request for the permit is approved, Catch Air will occupy 12,500 square feet within an existing vacant space in the shopping center, with no exterior work proposed. The shopping center was acquired by Kimco Realty in 2022. Catch Air centers are designed for children ages 1 through 8, according to attorney Bram Weber of the Weber Law Group, who represented the applicant before the town board at its March 25 meeting. “It’s a wonderful use for the area, as Massapequa is a strong family-centric community,” Weber told the board. In response to a question from Town Supervisor Joseph Saladino, Weber said, “Catch Air is designed for fun, play, creativity, and, certainly, safety.” Weber also noted that Catch Air plans to hire locally and work with schools and nonprofit organizations to give back to the community. Saladino expressed support
Newly appointed Zoning Board of Appeals member Brian Griffin. for the proposal, saying, “We’re excited that entrepreneurs want to invest in the Town of Oyster Bay and create local jobs for our residents.” The board reserved decision on the application. In other business at its meeting, the board: • Extended the current moratorium on shellfish harvesting in the former Frank M. Flower & Sons underwater leasehold in Oyster Bay and Cold Spring Harbor for an additional six months, through Sept. 30, 2025. •Authorized the rejection of all bids for the Bethpage Community Park Data Gaps Soil Investigation project. The CONTINUED ON PAGE 4