Friday, February 17, 2017
Vol. 93, No.24
FOUNDED 1923
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LOCALLY OWNED AND EDITED
Irish Music PAGE 32 n Mayor’s plaque? PAGE 3
After DEIS comment period, new concerns over proposed LIRR Third Track BY RIKKI N. MASSAND Concern over the Third Track project abounds after the new deadline for comments on the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) document expired on Wednesday, February 15. Garden City officials received a report from Vertex, consultants currently billing $108,000 to prepare questions, challenges and feedback to the 1,000-page DEIS. The Village of Garden City is cooperating with other villages in an organized effort against the Third Track as it has been presented. That movement is represented with a local “co-hire” of consultants Vertex of Long Island City and environmental law firm Beveridge & Diamond P.C. of Manhattan, with the villages of Floral Park and New Hyde Park joining Garden City and preparing positions against the Third Track.
This past snowstorm brought out excited kids with their sleds to enjoy Mother Nature’s gift. The kids in Franklin Court dubbed the “Franklin Court Polar Bears” had a wonderful time sledding and making snow angels. Giggling and red faces abound as they spent the early evening enjoying the mounds of snow. A wonderful way to end the first snow day of the year!
Residents encouraged to attend budget meetings BY RIKKI MASSAND This week Mayor Episcopia announced that the Village will hold its annual tour of village facilities on Saturday, March 11 starting at 8 a.m. The tour will include the Garden City Water Department and the Department of Public Works’ Garage and equipment facility (the Village Yard). Since January several residents sent emails to Deputy Village Administrator/Secretary to the Board of Trustees Joseph DiFrancisco, and he had commented on the feedback at the last Village Board meeting. Setting the tour’s date for March became a priority upon
a request from Trustee Robert Bolebruch. At the time and again this week, Mayor Nicholas Episcopia said he hopes more than a few dozen residents attend and talk a walk through of the municipal operations. Meanwhile the annual budget information sessions are scheduled for dates prior to and after the facilities tour. They begin with the Wednesday March 1 session, the night before the first Village Board meeting of March. Then March 9 and March 15 are scheduled budget sessions, with the latter again coming a night before the Board meets. The final budget session is listed as “if necessary” at this time and it is planned for
Thursday night, March 23. All budget sessions begin at 7:30 pm at Village Hall on the scheduled dates. The Village of Garden City anticipates its budget adoption to take place on Monday, April 3 at the Board of Trustees’ reorganization meeting. Mayor Episcopia, on behalf of the Board of Trustees and Village Executive Staff tell the News they are pleased to invite residents to be proactive in the process in the weeks ahead. “We all should attend, as many people as possible. I believe Administrator Suozzi, Village Treasurer Irene Woo and staff have tried to work towards makSee page 22
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Field financing and Village Pool upgrades discussed BY RIKKI N. MASSAND
At its meeting on Thursday night, February 2, the Village Board of Trustees approved a $2.4 million bond resolution for the new 105-yard Community Park Multi-Use field, debated by first the Recreation Commission and then the Village Board last fall and ultimately decided on to accommodate the most local sports organizations. The field is the first part of Year Two in the 2016-2020 Parks and Recreation Strategic Plan with its many capital investments. It follows the success of the two new synthetic turf fields, Fields 3 and 4, completed last September. An appropriation from the village surplus account was authorized for the field’s plans and specifications to be funded. The trustees also approved a SEQRA (State Environmental Quality Review Act) resolution at their meeting as the project is exempt from further review. Village Treasurer Irene Woo explained that municipal accounting in place as the project will commence prior to the Village of Garden City issuing a bond. “Because the project was not planned for in this fiscal year See page 22
St. Anne’s School celebrates Catholic Schools Week PAGE 50 Two year olds blossom at Garden Manor Nursery School PAGE 49