NHP moves street fair date to Oct. 21

Mayor Devane passionately defends village, employee amid controversy

BY BRANDON DUFFY

New Hyde Park Mayor Christopher Devane passionately defended the village and its employees during the Thursday night Board of Trustees meeting in light of the recent controversy regarding the original date of the village’s street fair.

The 26th annual village street fair was slated for Saturday, Sept. 16, the first day of the Rosh Hashanah Jewish holiday. Devane said the previous 25 fairs had always been on the third Saturday in September except for 2020 when it was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Devane said he was aware of the Jewish observance when the date was set last year and it was his personal understanding that the fair, which ends at 4 p.m., would not conflict with Rosh Hashanah observance that begins on sundown Saturday.

“If you’re going to come after somebody, come after me,” Devane said. “It was my decision, you don’t go after our secretary.”

Devane said the decision to change the date to Oct. 21 stemmed from conversations he held with community