Friday, October 21, 2016
Vol. 93, No.7
FOUNDED 1923
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LOCALLY OWNED AND EDITED
Street names PAGE 32 n Christmas shopping PAGE 20
Library elevator nearly complete; other projects considered
HEADING TO THE PLAYOFFS
BY RIKKI N. MASSAND
Garden City High School’s Varsity Soccer team clinched a playoff spot when it beat Roslyn in an resounding 4-0 shutout. See page 62 for full coverage.
Library advocates for new crosswalk on 7th BY RIKKI N. MASSAND In line with addressing mobility and pedestrian-friendly initiatives across Garden City, steps have been taken by the Garden City Public Library’s Board of Trustees to urge the Traffic Commission to place a crosswalk directly in front of the walkway to the library across Seventh Street, midway between the village hub’s intersection with Hilton Avenue and the entranceway of the Garden City Hotel. A main reason behind the push for a crosswalk there
is pedestrian safety and better enabling families with young children and the senior population in the village to reach the front entrance to the library, given the business traffic on Seventh Street in either direction. At its Monday, October 17 meeting, the library board heard Director Lisa Paulo stated a tally for a community survey taken in-person at the Garden City Public Library. As of that date it indicated 160 people in favor of the crosswalk, one “no” vote and one “undecided.” All of the first 162 respondents (library patrons)
It was announced at the Garden City Public Library’s Board of Trustees meeting on Monday, night October 17, that in exactly two weeks the elevator is slated to be functional again. Full confidence in the village’s contractors to complete the repair job was expressed on behalf of Village Administrator Ralph Suozzi. Electrical upgrades to the elevator were scheduled for final touches over the two weeks, followed by ThyssenKrupp Elevator coming in for any necessary adjustments. Library Director Lisa Paulo told the GCPL Board of Trustees this week that she knows Suozzi is confident, and she has impressed upon him the library and the community “needs this” as the there is a Friends of GCPL book sale on Saturday, November 5. She says in case the elevator is ready for use by Halloween it can and will be operated. Officially, Tuesday, November 1 the elevator is planned to open and perhaps a ribbon-cutting will follow that date, but for the GCPL that would apparently mean one of the building’s needs is finally addressed and more ‘fixes’ will follow for 2017. Village Trustee John Delany referred to a presentation Library Board Trustee Charles Murphy recently made to his EPOA audience, describing a spacing plan and concept to re-organize the library. At the Library Board’s July 11 meeting consultant Elisabeth Martin of MDA design group, based on See page 55
Audit report for GCUFSD captures bright side
were Garden City residents except for three people, one from Franklin Square, one from New Hyde Park and one person from Seaford. Library Board Chairman J. Randolph Colahan suggested the survey continue until October 28 and then have an official recommendation sent from the GCPL Board and administration to the Traffic Commission. Normally any traffic-related requests to the Commission must go through a POA review. But the Library is not affiliated with the four
The Garden City Union Free School District has performed its annual audit and reported accordingly within the New York State deadline for October. A snapshot of district finances paints an overall positive picture with careful measures needed to be taken ahead. School Board President Angela Heineman said the information and financial data will be posted on the district website by about October 21. “The board is really committed to the financial health and stability of this school district. We know and it is apparent in the audit report – we face uncertainty of the tax cap in the foreseeable future whether it will be 0.1 percent or less. There is uncertainty of pension costs that will not go lower, and the same thing with healthcare. We do a lot of financial planning so we also know the needs to address our facilities and the state
See page 50
See page 50
BY RIKKI N. MASSAND
St Joseph School Fall Festival a great success PAGE 25 “The Keith” Caddie Tournament at CVCC PAGE 57