On May 9, the Village of Islandia held its fourth annual Community Garden Planting and DWI Awareness Program on the village hall grounds. Village residents, board members and employees planted flowers and vegetables in the community garden. The young plants were graciously provided by Borella Nursery. Now, local residents can visit the garden, help take care of the plants and enjoy watching the fruits of their labor grow.
The garden was opened in 2006 as the result of an initiative put forth by Village Mayor Allan Dorman. Mayor Dorman and the village residents are hoping for a bumper crop this year. Residents who participated in the planting not only help beautify the village, but will get a chance to work alongside their neighbors and enjoy each other’s company.
“We are teaching our children the beauty of community involvement and the wonders of growing flowers and vegetables with their own hands,” said Village Mayor Allan Dorman. “We also would like the parents to get involved. Everyone is invited back to the garden to nurture the plants and enjoy the fruits of their labor when they mature.”
The village also brought out its “Drunk Busters” peddle carts for its DWI Awareness Program. Village residents took part in an obstacle course in the parking lot, in which they rode peddle carts through a slalom course. After taking a ride through the course, they then put on a pair of goggles that gave the drivers the feeling of driving while intoxicated. One pair of goggles showed drivers what it was like to drive with a blood alcohol content (BAC) of 0.04, and another pair gave drivers the feeling of driving with a (BAC) of 0.08, which is the legal limit in New York State.
“This has been organized as an enjoyable event, but also one that would leave an important mark on the participants,” Mayor Dorman said. “This program serves as an important reminder of the dangers of driving drunk.”
