LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION commemorating the 50th Anniversary of the Village
of Atlantic Beach to be celebrated on June 20, 2012

WHEREAS, It is the intent of this Legislative Body to honor and commem-
orate the distinguished histories of the communities which comprise the
noble body of this great Empire State; and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-
standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to commem-
orate the 50th Anniversary of the Village of Atlantic Beach, in Nassau
County, New York, to be celebrated at an Anniversary Eve Dinner on
Wednesday, June 20, 2012, at the Sunny Atlantic Beach Club in Atlantic
Beach, New York; and
WHEREAS, Atlantic Beach is located on the western tip of Long Beach
Island, a 10-mile-long strip of sand between Reynolds Channel and the
Atlantic Ocean; and
WHEREAS, In 1923, the village's first developer, Stephen P. Pettit, a
banker from Freeport, New York, had dreams of creating a hot spot that
would rival the City of Long Beach; and
WHEREAS, Stephen P. Pettit died just a few months after buying land
for 3,500 lots in Atlantic Beach; fortunately, the next developer,
William Austin, continued with the plans, laying gas and electric lines,
selling land and building homes; and
WHEREAS, At the same time, several of Atlantic Beach's legendary clubs
were built on the oceanfront, along with two hotels; today, only one of
the original hotels, the Nautilus, remains; and
WHEREAS, William Austin also finished Stephen P. Pettit's plan to
build a bridge between Far Rockaway and Atlantic Beach; it opened in
1927; and
WHEREAS, The bridge, the beach and the nightlife close by in Long
Beach soon turned Atlantic Beach into another adult summer playground;
the village was coined the Palm Beach of New York; and
WHEREAS, Similar to other resorts of the time, Atlantic Beach was hit
hard by the Depression, temporarily subduing the playground atmosphere;
and
WHEREAS, By the 1950s and the early 1960s, the sons and daughters of
the original summer residents were again flocking to Atlantic Beach,
thanks to better roads and postwar prosperity; and
WHEREAS, Atlantic Beach was well known for its nightclubs, particular-
ly the Lido, the Capri and El Patio, later called the Sands; and
WHEREAS, Some of Atlantic Beach's famous residents included Guy
Lombardo and Peter Lorre; and
WHEREAS, As an incorporated village in the town of Hempstead, Atlantic
Beach is served by the Lawrence school district, and is separate from
the Long Beach city government; and
WHEREAS, Today, Atlantic Beach is occupied by middle-class families
who have been attracted by the easy commute from Atlantic Beach to
Kennedy Airport and Manhattan; and
WHEREAS, Nine beach entrances are set aside for residents of Atlantic
Beach; the beach is within walking distance of almost any house in the
village; and
WHEREAS, Remaining fruitful over the ebb and flow of decades of growth
and change, the Village of Atlantic Beach continues its commitment to
enhancing the quality of life of its citizens, ensuring a positive busi-
ness, institutional and educational climate, and providing all essential
services; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commemorate the 50th Anniversary of the Village of Atlantic Beach to be

celebrated on June 20, 2012, recognizing the significance of the role it
continues to play in the life of the community of the State of New York;
and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to the Village of Atlantic Beach, New York.