The Garden City Chamber of Commerce’s Annual Easter Car Event and Parade will be held on Sunday, March 31st between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.
The Garden City Chamber of Commerce’s 69th Annual Vintage Car Event and Parade will take place on Sunday, March 31, between 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m.
Cars will start assembling at 10:00 a.m. in Parking Field
Three Village of Garden City trustees who were not successful in their bids for re-election to the Board in the March 19 election received words of appreciation by other members of the Board and village executive staff at the March 21 Village Board meeting.
This week Trustee Michael Sullivan completes one full year on the Board, while 2nd Deputy Mayor Lawrence Marciano and Trustee Charles Kelly, who served as chair of the village’s Traffic Commission, enter their final days as village trustees. The village’s annual re-organizational meeting will take place on Monday April 1st, at which time their successors –
See page 45
#9E on the east side of Franklin Avenue, between 9th Street and 11th Street.
The parade starts promptly at 12:00 p.m. by exiting parking Field #9E at 10th Street. The cars will travel south on Franklin Avenue, west on 7th Street, and terminate on Hilton Ave.
Parking fields and streets will be closed for this event. The Garden City Police Department advises motorists and residents to make arrangements to avoid the affected areas.
At the budget work session held Wednesday night, March 20, Garden City Police Commissioner Kenneth Jackson presented a proposed budget for the upcoming fiscal year which was largely flat from the prior year’s budget.
The police department’s proposed 2024-25 budget of $11,443,000 is only slightly higher than the prior year’s budget of $11,439,000.
The Garden City Police Department currently has 69 full-time employees – 55 fulltime police officers and 14 full-time civilian employees,
as well as 17 part-time police aides and crossing guards. The commissioner said the largest budget factor is salaries, which account for 95% of the department budget.
The police budget as presented reflects $10,828,000 would be salary-related expenses, an
See page 42
Members of the Garden City Board of Trustees discussed issues with the quality of work done to install new flooring at the Garden City Senior Center last year.
During the Board’s March 21st meeting, the trustees discussed an agenda item to accept a $125,000 maintenance bond from Plainview’s Preferred Construction, Inc., the contractor that completed the project. Following a few pertinent questions and comments from village departments heads, the board officially approved the bond.
Before the Board’s approval, Superintendent of Public Works John Borroni explained that the maintenance bond became effective for 18 full months from the date of the Board’s acceptance. Village Counsel Gary Fishberg reviewed the maintenance bond and has approved it as to form.
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We would like to wish our readers who celebrate a Happy Easter!
Although as of this writing temperatures are chilly and skies are cloudy, for us Easter always marks the beginning of spring, as the first flowers are up and the robins have returned.
With the season comes the urge to start clearing up the detritus of winter - cleaning out garden beds and working to spiff up our homes. Of course that also means the beginning of leaf blower season will arrive soon as well. (For those who may be unaware, gas powered leaf blowers are not allowed during the period between Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day.)
The public areas in the Village also start coming alive at this time of year, and we were particularly glad to hear that the village once again has a professional arborist on staff. With the hiring
of Joseph Umana, the village returns to the time when the preservation of the village’s trees is given the attention it deserves.
As one drives into the Village from any of the surrounding towns it is apparent when the border is crossed, as the wonderful tree canopy illustrates why this is “Garden” City.
Other public spaces are also coming alive, and we look forward to the lush plantings in the business districts.
The attractiveness of the Village’s commercial area is not only pleasant for residents, but also helps draw visitors who may patronize our merchants. We’ve seen Garden City mentioned in online forums as a nice place to stroll and eat.
All in all, we’d like to say thanks to the village employees who keep our downtown looking great!
I was very surprised, and a bit confused, by the unflattering - and moreover inaccurate - mention of our beautiful outdoor dining area, here at Seventh Street Cafe, in the “Kordes Korner” column last week.
Seventh Street in general was referred to as “an obstacle course”and our place was singled out, with the blatantly untrue statement, “…Seventh Street Cafe has structures almost to the curb.”
Mr. Kordes, with all due respect, sir, anyone walking by can see that we do not in fact have anything whatsoever remotely near the curb - nor have we at any point in the past. Ever.
In our current design (within our 15-foot easement with a permit), when our tables, chairs, flower boxes, potted trees and umbrellas are all set up, in place, we have remaining precisely 12 feet, 6 inches of free walking space to the curb (and 8 feet 6 inches to the tree). More than adequate space for pedestrians (including those with strollers).
Our exceptionally well-designed, meticulously-arranged outdoor dining area is a lush, peaceful, vacation-like little paradise - widely considered to be “the crown jewel of Garden City,” and enjoyed immensely by a great many residents over the years.
Brooke Scotto, Owner, Seventh Street CafeRethink traffic humps
To the Editor:
Congratulations to the Community Agreement candidates! As a resident of Fourth Street, now that you represent us, please consider removing the “humps”, as they are referred to, that currently restrict access on our street.
The previous representatives, without proper advisement or communication with the residents, installed “humps” at various locations causing a dangerous situation. Dangerous in the sense that often times vehicles traveling on the street “fly over” the humps, possibly losing control.
I have witnessed that occurrence
often and am concerned for our safety, and particularly for that of children that might be playing nearby. In addition to that concern, I have regularly seen automobiles maneuver around the “humps”, driving on to the green belt separating the street and the sidewalk.
I’m grateful that we have new representation and ask that you address this unilateral decision by the previous representatives. It’s a dangerous situation and needs to be corrected.
Terence TenerTo the Editor:
I read “Last Week’s View From Here” regarding the potential of social media spreading dangerous mis-information with both appreciation and amazement. Appreciation because the issue deserves to bear a scrutinizing spotlight. But also amazement the writer failed to mention one of the most influential and dangerous sources of falsities is the presumptive nominee of the Republican Party.
It has been proven an incalculable amount of times the ex-president has used social media as well all media in general to disseminate the most hateful and threatening rhetoric and untruths witnessed on all communication platforms. One just needs to review his tweets leading to the treasonous acts of January 6, 2021 as evidence in this regard.
Fact checkers on the right and left have had proverbial field days reviewing his reports. These reviews have now gravitated to where the media does not only report what he says but are required to cut away from his speeches when he attempts to spread lies. Even Fox News has been forced to do so. I guess an $800 million reparation judgment would force the hand of any journalistic entity no matter how reluctantly.
Joe CauchiTo the Editor:
On Thursday, March 14th, I along with 90+ other seniors attended the St. Patrick’s Day luncheon at the senior center
Garden City Fire Department (GCFD)
Chief Matthew Pearn and 1st Assistant Chief James Taunton presented the tentative departmental budget for the next fiscal year to the Village Board of Trustees on Wednesday, March 20, during the second of three public budget work sessions.
Assistant Chief Taunton explained that 58% of the GCFD’s total operating budget is drawn from the hydrant rental costs, which are projected to be $1.075 million – a minimal increase from the prior year’s budget. Village hydrant rentals are mostly paid to the municipal Water Fund as well as the Water Authority of Western Nassau County. Costs are calculated per-fire hydrant in Garden City, and the estimate is that there are around 1,000 hydrants in the village.
The total expense budget for the GCFD is projected to be $1.865 million, an increase of just $1,000 from the 202324 budget.
GCFD equipment and maintenance costs are expected to rise by just $7,000 this coming fiscal year, up to $219,000, a
2% increase over last year.
“This budget line includes preventative maintenance for fire apparatus as well as fire fighting equipment, and includes annual inspections for our fire hoses and ladders,” Taunton said.
Third-party services expenses for GCFD – including Code Enforcement, Medical Services and payments for a Grant Writer – are anticipated to cost $87,000. This presents a 0% (no increase) over the prior year. The code enforcement services help update building and site inspections and communications to increase efficiency for emergency response.
For GCFD uniforms as well as turnout gear and personal protective equipment (gloves, hoods and helmets) the budgeted cost is $85,000 – flat from the prior year’s adopted budget.
Salary-related expenses for two former career GCFD firefighters (paid positions, which were all abolished in 2018) contribute to a budgeted $84,000 cost, as Assistant Chief Taunton noted this will be carried for several more years going forward. The budgeted amount represents medical payments for the
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At its March 7 meeting the Village Board of Trustees authorized the Garden City Public Library’s engagement of firm Sourcepass and its subsidiary Total Technology Solutions for information technology services. The contract’s total cost is $14,992.
Village Administrator Ralph V. Suozzi explained, “Five or six years ago the village sought to bring in a big IT partner – with an RFP we chose Total Technology Solutions and they have basically revolutionized our network and software/hardware infrastructure. We have been protected from cyber attacks and they’ve provided reliable data recovery – our cyber security insurance has gone down a little. The firm has done a great job here and I’ve been encouraging the library to take on a big IT partner. The library has discussed the potential for it and it will be part of their (GCPL) budget presentation to bring them in for a full year.”
Library Director Marianne Malagon addressed the Board and relayed that the IT services is one of GCPL’s “primary asks.”
“Since the time I started at the library in 2018, we’ve been talking about the feasibility for the library to receive support from a professional partner IT firm. The time came upon us a couple of weeks ago as I can’t thank Administrator Suozzi and the Sourcepass team enough for stepping in to help us with their level of service,” she noted.
The contract rate was prorated through June 1st, when the Village’s next fiscal year begins.
If the contract as authorized by the Board is terminated prior to or on June 1, and minus the one-year contract (through May 31, 2025) outlined in the agreement, the Village of Garden City will be subject to paying Sourcepass a termination cost of $4,719 to apply to recoup the cost of onboarding, Administrator Suozzi added that the situation with GCPL’s servers occurred three weeks ago. When the board heard about this issue involving the Library network server, 2nd Deputy Mayor Lawrence Marciano asked what exactly happened to it. Malagon explained that GCPL has a number of different server configurations.
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One of the finest and most admired properties in the village, this once in a lifetime opportunity awaits the most discerning buyers. Nestled in the heart of the most prestigious location in town, this iconic colonial is the epitome of luxury living. Boasting a generous 1.5 acres of meticulously manicured grounds with in-ground pool, hot tub and tennis/ pickleball court, this property is a true oasis of tranquility with the sophistication and craftsmanship of a bygone era.
At its third Legacy Brunch on March 15, at the Heritage Club, Bethpage, Nassau County Girl Scouts honored Garden City resident Joanne Meyer-Jendras as a Girl Scout Trailblazer.
The Legacy Brunch celebrated those who continue to uphold Girl Scout founder Juliette Gordon Low’s vision by making an impact and leaving a legacy for Girl Scouts’ future leaders.
Throughout her many long and noteworthy years of Girl Scouting, Joanne has taken on leadership roles as a SUVM (Community Manager of Volunteers); has served as Girl Scout Gold Award Mentor; Girl Scout Leader; Garden City Delegate Chair and Garden City Service Team member.
In addition to her noteworthy Girl Scout positions, Joanne is a retired educator with 42 years of service as a teacher/counselor and school administrator. She has been acknowledged many times over for her contributions to the Garden City community and beyond.
The organizations to which Joanne volunteers include Board Member of the Garden City Foundation; she sits on the Board of Trustees of
RotaCare Inc. and New Ground, Inc. Currently, Joanne is co-chairperson of RotaCare’s Caregivers’ Ball to be held on April 11, 2024.
Althea Robinon and Diana O'Neill, former Girl Scouts, join Girl Scout Trailblazer honoree Joanne Meyer-Jendras behind the display of Scout Uniforms.
Joanne has served as Eucharistic minister for the Church of St. Joseph in Garden City since 1990 and served as Eucharistic minister for NYU Langone Medical Center in Mineola until the Pandemic.
A prominent member and past president of Mineola-Garden City Rotary, Joanne earned a Paul Harris Fellow, Rotary’s highest honor. For many years, she has also served as chairperson of Rotary’s scholarship committee which awards scholarships to Garden City and Mineola High School seniors.
Joanne’s past nominations and honors have included selection by the NY State Senate Woman of Distinction and NY State Pathfinders Awards. She has earned the “Who’s Who Among American Teachers; the Outstanding Service Award by the Kiwanis Club of Garden City; and the Garden City UFSD Scope Awards and PTA Lifetime Service Awards.
It is with pleasure that the Eastern Property Owners’ Association announces that it will once again award a $1000 scholarship for 2024 to a graduating high school senior who resides in the Eastern section.
The candidates, or their family, must be dues paying members of the EPOA. They must be currently attending public or private high school and plan to attend college full time in the fall. The focus of this
scholarship is community service.
Candidates need to submit an application which can be accessed from the EPOA website at www. gcepoa.org or obtained from the Garden City High School Guidance Department. Should you have a question, you can call Barbara Garry at 516-248-1486.
All interested, eligible seniors are encouraged to apply. The deadline for applications is April 12, 2024.
Heather
Members of the Colonel Aaron Ogden Chapter NSDAR, Carla Hall D’Ambra Regent, met on March 9 to hear a program about knitting as espionage, and women spies. Chapter Registrar Heather Zawislak presented a talk on this interesting and little-known topic. Heather taught herself knitting during the recent pandemic and has made items such as shawls and sweaters for family members, finding the activity personally relaxing.
Heather presented the history of knitting to the group, noting that knitting originated in the 11th or 12th century. A pair of socks from Egypt are the oldest known artifact. An earlier version of needlework called Nalbinding is as old as 10,000 years.
Heather provided some examples of
women using the craft of knitting to aid in spying. During the American Revolution, Molly Rinker passed information to Washington's troops. She would sit on a mountainside and drop balls of yarn with messages inside to the Green Mountain Boys.
It is said during WWI, the Germans unraveled sweaters whose yarn was marked with dots not unlike Morse Code to pass information. Since knitting involves a knit and purl stitch, it is also possible to convey a message by knitting specific combinations of stitches. During the same period, British Intelligence put together a team of spies called the Alice Network, experts in fields like radio and code, who also used knitting and fabric to message. One member carried messages written in lemon juice on her petticoat. The one-hundred or so spies of the Alice Network were led by a woman named Louise de Bettignies and greatly helped the war effort, to the degree that schools , streets and monuments have been named after her in Europe.
During WWII women who lived near train tracks were hired to track German troop movements. And one woman who spied for the Soviets in a later time period used her knitting bag to smuggle plans for the B-29 aircraft!
At the end of the program, a drawing was held for several copies of the book “The Alice Network.” This made a great program even better!
It was a great pleasure to hear the tales of these heroic women, and appreciation is extended to Heather Zawislak for her excellent program highlighting the role of women in history.
The Adelphi NY Statewide Breast Cancer Program is forming a new online support group for individuals diagnosed with breast cancer within the past 18 months. The group, which is free, will provide the opportunity for people to meet with others, and receive support. Sessions will be held on Thursdays from 12:00 noon to 1:30 p.m. on Zoom for 6 weeks from May 2 through June 6. For more information and to register, call
Nina Foley, LMSW at (516) 877-4315.
The Adelphi New York Statewide Breast Cancer Hotline and Support Program offers emotional support and resources to people with and/or concerned about breast cancer. To reach the Hotline, which is staffed by volunteers who are breast cancer survivors, call 800-877-8077 or online at breast-cancer.adelphi.edu.
On
John L. Gomes, MD, founded Women’s Health Care of Garden City in 1995. It has remained an independent private practice, providing personalized obstetrical and gynecological services.
He employs the technical advances of conventional medicine with an integrative approach to navigate women through difficult pregnancies into the menopausal years. He treats a wide variety of OB/GYN conditions and is dedicated to providing the highest quality of care.
All tests are conveniently done on the premises, and a dedicated, compassionate staff is on call 24/7.
He is committed to excellence in patient communication, education and support, as many patients come with anxiety associated with past experiences and future concerns.
Dr. Gomes received his undergraduate degree from Brown University, and his Doctor of Medicine from Columbia University.
He is both Board Certified and a Fellow of the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology.
Women’s Health Care of Garden City is located at 1000 Franklin Avenue, Suite 200, Garden City.
The Andy Foundation Yard Sale will be held at the St. Paul's Field House on Saturday, May 11.
The Andy Foundation Yard Sale will be held on Saturday, May 11, from 9–3 at St. Paul’s Field House , in Garden City. The donation drop off date is Friday, May 10. As always, we are looking for your unwanted items in clean good condition. Furniture, outdoor items, electronics, jewelry, housewares, linens, records, video games and systems, vintage items, garden and pet items are needed donations.
The proceeds from this years sale will go to help two worthy causes.
Eleven-year-old Jacob was recently diagnosed with epilepsy, on top of existing diagnosis of autism and ADHD. Due to this recent epilepsy diagnosis, the family was hoping to get Jacob a service dog with training specific to epilepsy alerting. They were put in touch with a breeder out of Rochester who is graciously donating a puppy who
will receive the training. However, this is only the beginning of the costs, for Jacob’s family. In order to help relieve the stress and financial burden, The Andy Foundation will be donating proceeds form the sale to help cover the cost of training the puppy for Jacob.
The second cause is a local non profit, Enriching Special Adults Inc. This organization supports and sponsors many activities in the local communities for the group. Since 2016, they have helped form a community for this population with these events. Hopefully with the donation they will be able to continue to sponsor these events.
If you know of someone who may benefit from The Andy Foundation’s help, please contact us at :info@theandyfoundation.org or call 516-739-1717
The Garden City Kiwanis Foundation is pleased to announce that applications are now available for the 2024 Kiwanis Service Scholarship. The scholarship is open to any high school senior residing in the Garden City School District and is awarded in recognition of a student’s commitment to community service. Applications have been provided to
the Guidance Department of Garden City High School and to many of the private high schools in the vicinity. Interested students should contact their guidance department. The application may also be obtained by emailing Carole Russo at cartaxpro@aol.com. The deadline for submitting an application is April 16, 2024.
Get rid of your unwanted items by placing an ad for them in our Classifieds! We have reasonable rates, and you’ll have prompt results! Call our Garden City office at 294-8900 for rates and other info.
Michelle
111
$3,500/monthly
Marianna
Under
$899,999
Brian Pryke: M 516.286.8536
Erin
Katarzyna
Erin
MICHELLE
#3
#13
#13
MARYANN
#15
#16
#3
#4
Laura Baymack
Lic. RE Salesperson Principal Agent
M: 516.537.3050
Patrick M. McCooey
Lic. Assoc. RE Broker Founding Agent M: 516.236.4287
Stephen Baymack
Lic. Assoc. RE Broker Principal Agent M: 516.216.0244
Athena Menoudakos
Lic. RE Salesperson Founding Agent M: 516.316.4955
M: 516.361.7190
Lic. RE Salesperson
The Laura Carroll Team
M: 914.772.6169
The
M: 516.662.3872
Laura Carroll
Lic. RE Salesperson Founding Agent M: 917.370.5354
Alexander G. Olivieri
Lic. RE Salesperson Founding Agent M: 516.306.7738
Catherine Anatra Lic. RE Salesperson
Athena Menoudakos Team M: 516.476.7825
Denice Giacometti Lic. RE Salesperson McCooey Olivieri Team M: 516.398.7468
Daniel Niebler
Lic. RE Salesperson
The Baymack Team M: 516.592.0976
Karen Guendjoian
Lic. RE Salesperson Principal Agent M: 516.578.8395
Alexandra Parisi
Lic. Assoc. RE Broker Founding Agent M: 516.427.6878
The Laura Carroll Team M: 516.650.7474
Susan Gillin Lic. RE Salesperson
The Jen Sullivan Team M: 516.655.5662
The Laura Carroll Team M: 516.698.3975
Maureen Lagarde
Lic. RE Salesperson Founding Agent M: 516.850.7812
Salvatore Sica
Lic. Assoc. RE Broker Principal Agent M: 347.922.8947
Chelsea Costello
Lic. RE Salesperson
The Laura Carroll Team M: 516.509.7961
The Laura Carroll Team M: 516.805.0703
As part of the annual RecruitNY statewide initiative, the Garden City Fire Department will open its doors so residents can learn how they can serve their volunteer fire department. Like most volunteer fire departments, the Garden City Fire Department looks to the community to bolster its ranks so it can continue to provide the optimum level of protection for its residents.
As part of RecruitNY Weekend, the fire department will open its doors on Saturday, April 13, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. The event will take place at Garden City Fire Headquarters, 347 Stewart Ave (west side of Village Hall). The department will join hundreds of other volunteer fire departments across New York to raise public awareness regarding the need for volunteers and to highlight the rewards of being a member of a volunteer fire department.
The event will include tours of the station, an apparatus showcase, allow visitors to try on gear, demonstrate firefighting activities, provide information, and address questions on becoming a member. These activities give visitors a taste of what it means to be in the fire service. Volunteer firefighters will also be on hand to discuss the requirements and rewards of joining.
Have high school aged kids at home? The department’s junior firefighters will also be on hand to discuss the rewards of joining the high school level program that introduces the students to firefighting and fire safety.
“We welcome the community to join us during RecruitNY Weekend,” said Chief Matthew Pearn. He continued,
“This is an excellent opportunity for people to meet their local volunteer firefighters and learn more about the fire service. We are always looking for new members, and it is our hope that after meeting us, more people will be interested in becoming part of our family.”
The Firefighters Association of the State of New York (FASNY) is committed to assisting New York’s 1,700-plus volunteer departments connect with their communities and have sufficient members to protect them properly. Established in 2011, RecruitNY is an undertaking of FASNY.
For more information, visit www. gcfdny.com/recruitment, email membership@gcfdny.com, or call us via our non-emergency membership phone number at 516-465-4142. The event will take place rain or shine.
Perfectly situated mid-block on a quiet tree lined street this beautiful colonial has a gorgeous wrap around porch that is ideal for viewing afternoon sunsets. The home features a generous amount of living and entertaining space and there are 4 zones of heating, central air conditioning, central vacuum, in-ground sprinklers, and a newly built 2-car garage. The 80 x 100 lot with mature plantings provides a nicely sized private backyard that is perfect for entertaining.
GOOD FRIDAY – March 29, 2024
MORNING PRAYER: 9:00 a.m.
CONFESIONS following Morning Prayer until 11:00 a.m.
OUTDOOR STATIONS OF THE CROSS: 12 noon LITURGY OF THE LORD’S PASSION WITH ADORATION OF THE CROSS AND HOLY COMMUNION: 3:00 p.m.
STATIONS OF THE CROSS: 8:00 p.m.
HOLY SATURDAY – March 30, 2024
MORNING PRAYER: 9:00 a.m.
NOTE: There are NO Confessions on Holy Saturday.
NOTE: There is NO 5:00 p.m. Mass.
EASTER VIGIL MASS: 8:00 p.m.
EASTER SUNDAY – March 31, 2024
MASSES: In the church: 7:30, 9:00, 10:30 a.m., & 12:30 p.m.
In the auditorum: 11:00 a.m.
NOTE: There is NO 5:30 p.m. Mass on Easter Sunday.
Saturday,
EASTER
Sunday,
8:00
After
The PTA Annual Dinner is officially SOLD OUT – but whether you’re joining us in person or not there’s still ways to show your support. We have kicked off the festivities with an online silent auction which is NOW LIVE! The auction includes
many exciting items -- all generously donated by our local businesses and families. From events and experiences to luxury items and travel, there is something for everyone! The silent auction will close at 8:30 pm on Wednesday, April 3, during the fundraising dinner. You do not need to be in attendance at the dinner to participate in the auction. Please check it out at: https://betterunite. com/2024gcptadinner/auction
Orders are now being taken for the PTA's annual school supply fundraiser for students entering grades K–8 in Fall 2024. The school supply boxes are:
• Teacher selected and approved!
• Convenient! Get every item your child needs quickly and easily
• Organized! Supplies come in one easy-to-store box
Most importantly, 100% of proceeds support the children in all of our schools! To order, check out the informational flier at gardencitypta.org/school-supplies. Then visit https://site.educationalproducts. com/ and use school ID GAR054 (3 Letters/ 3 Numbers). The last day to order is April 12. All ordered kits will be picked up at the Middle School on Saturday, June 1.
Grab your calendar to mark down these important upcoming dates & deadlines from across the school district. You can keep an eye on the PTA website and the GCUFSD website “Events” page for even more detail on what’s happening across all seven schools.
• March 28–April 1 – Schools Closed, Easter Break
• April 3 – PTA Fundraising Dinner
• Apr. 10 – SEPTA General Membership Meeting
• April 12 – Last Day to Order School Supply Kits
• Apr. 17 – MS PTA Meeting
• Apr. 18 – Joint Elementary PTA Meeting
Your Membership Matters!
Please take a minute today to visit www.gardencitypta.org to rejoin for the 2023–24 school year. While there, click the “Get Involved” tab to see the many volunteer opportunities with the PTA overall, and with your child’s specific schools. We can’t wait to work with you this year!
Website: www.gardencitypta.org
To Get Real Time InformationTurn on Notifications
Facebook: Facebook.com/ GardenCityPTA
Instagram: Instagram.com/ GardenCityPTA
Twitter: Twitter.com/ GardenCityPTA
The Garden City AntiBullying Task Force, in collaboration with the PTA and SEPTA, recently presented the highly anticipated family event, GC CaresA-Thon at Garden City Middle School. Spearheaded by middle school reading specialist Dr. Kimberly Greenwald, this event aimed to promote community service and unity among Garden City students and families.
With an overwhelming response from the community, this year ’ s GC CaresA-Thon featured an impressive array of 26 stations, each representing a different community service initiative or cause. More than 182 students from various clubs and classes enthusiastically participated as hosts or station leaders, ensuring the success of the event.
From donation stations such as Rock Can Roll food drive, pet food drive, clothing drive, pasta and sauce drive, to collecting gift cards for Charlie’s Champion’sTeen Project, and providing fuzzy socks for breast cancer patients, the event showcased the community’s commitment to giving back. Additionally, activities included writing letters to victims of bullying, honoring veterans, making cards for children in the hospital, and recognizing nursing home residents.
“It was very touching to see so many students join together to make a difference in the lives of others. To see so many students give up time on a Friday night to work or attend the event was heart-warming,” Greenwald said.
Do you have a service to advertise?
Our Service Directory is sure to bring results. Call 516-294-8900 for rates and information.
mcarterflanagan@gardencityny.net
Many residents had an opportunity to meet members of
Old World Quality Corp.
Old World Quality Corp.
www.oldworldqualitycorp.com
www.oldworldqualitycorp.com
www.oldworldqualitycorp.com
www.oldworldqualitycorp.com
Vinny
Muldoon - Owner and Garden City Resident
Vinny Muldoon - Owner and Garden City Resident
Vinny Muldoon - Owner and Garden City Resident
Renovations, Painting, Kitchens, Plumbing, Heating Conditioning, Custom Spaces, much project too OWQC!
741-8226
Valley Ave, Hempstead 11550
and recyclables.
Custom Homes, Renovations, Extensions, Roofing, Painting, Bathrooms, Kitchens, Mudrooms, Plumbing, Heating and Air Conditioning, Custom Mill Work, Exterior Spaces, Masonry Work, and much more. There is no project too big or too small for OWQC! World Quality Corp.
Vinny Muldoon - Owner and Garden City Resident
Vinny Muldoon - Owner and Garden City Resident
Custom Homes, Renovations, Extensions, Roofing, Painting, Bathrooms, Kitchens, Mudrooms, Plumbing, Heating and Air Conditioning, Custom Mill Work, Exterior Spaces, Masonry Work, and much more. There is no project too big or too small for OWQC!
St. Paul’s Committee at the GC Library the last two Saturdays as they shared their Community Center research. This work was done to help prepare residents for the upcoming engagement with Brandstetter Carroll, the firm that has been hired to help gather data from GC residents about 1) recreation needs 2) parts of the building residents treasure most, and 3) willingness to fund.
The information shared by the committee is especially valuable to residents like myself who grew up without a community center and are not fully familiar with how these centers serve residents or the economics of community centers.
Why all this talk about community centers? Because of the parkland designation, any Village project at St. Paul’s will likely have a community center component to it. The more educated we are on community centers, the better we will be able to participate in the upcoming engagement. I hope residents are excited about this new approach and appreciate that it’s different this time!
Renovations, Painting,
Containers frequently fall over, leading to spillage and materials being strewn throughout the streets. Winds as little as 35 mph can cause bins to tip over and blow debris onto streets or sidewalks.
To help prevent these situations, consider the following suggestions:
• If your Recycling pail is less than half full, wait until your next scheduled pick up to put out your pail. This will prevent loose recyclables from being blown onto the streets.
• Did you know that your sanitation team starts collecting at 7:00 AM? If strong winds are in the forecast, place your rubbish and/or recycling pails at the curb just before 7:00 AM. This tip ensures that your rubbish and/or recy- cling pail is not facing the elements for too long.
• Cans, bottles and containers that can be crushed should be crushed! Condensing your recyclables makes them more dense and less likely to blow away. *Broken glass should be secured in a container or box and placed safely out with rubbish.
• Place heavier items securely on top of light-weight items. This is the safest way to ensure your lightweight recyclables stay inside the pail.
Custom Homes, Renovations, Extensions, Roofing, Painting, Bathrooms, Kitchens, Mudrooms, Plumbing, Heating and Air Conditioning, Custom Mill Work, Exterior Spaces, Masonry Work, and much more. There is no project too big or too small for OWQC!
Custom Homes, Renovations, Extensions, Roofing, Painting, Bathrooms, Kitchens, Mudrooms, Plumbing, Heating and Air Conditioning, Custom Mill Work, Exterior Spaces, Masonry Work, and much more. There is no project too big or too small for OWQC!
We are a full service General Contractor providing everything from small repairs through full house builds, with meticulous attention to detail no matter what size your project is.
We are a full service general contractor providing everything from small repairs to full house builds, with meticulous attention to detail no matter what size your project is.
WE OFFER:
Custom Homes • Renovations • Extensions
We are a full service General Contractor providing everything from small repairs through full house builds, with meticulous attention to detail no matter what size your project is.
We are a full service General Contractor providing everything from small repairs through full house builds, with meticulous attention to detail no matter what size your project is.
Roofing • Painting • Bathrooms • Kitchens • Masonry Mudrooms
Instagram and Facebook: @Oldworldqualitycorp
Office: (516) 741-8226
Office: (516) 741-8226
Office: (516) 741-8226
Office: (516) 741-8226
136 Cherry Valley Ave, West Hempstead 11550
Email: Jenn@oldworldqualitycorp.com
136 Cherry Valley Ave, West Hempstead 11550
136 Cherry Valley Ave, West Hempstead 11550
136 Cherry Valley Ave, West Hempstead 11550
We are a full service General Contractor providing everything from small repairs through full house builds, with meticulous attention to detail no matter what size your project is.
We are a full service General Contractor providing everything from small repairs through full house builds, with meticulous attention to detail no matter what size your project is.
Custom Homes, Renovations, Extensions, Roofing, Painting, Bathrooms, Kitchens, Mudrooms, Plumbing, Heating and Air Conditioning, Custom Mill Work, Exterior Spaces, Masonry Work, and much more. There is no project too big or too small for OWQC!
Instagram and Facebook: @Oldworldqualitycorp
Instagram and Facebook: @Oldworldqualitycorp
Instagram and Facebook: @Oldworldqualitycorp
Email:
We are a full service General Contractor providing everything from small repairs through full house builds, with meticulous attention to detail no matter what size your project is.
The Board of Trustees will hold a budget hearing on the proposed 202425 Operating and Capital Budgets on Monday evening, April 1, 2024 during the annual Organizational meeting in person at Village Hall and via Zoom beginning at 7:30 p.m. To view the Tentative Budget as well as the work session presentations, visit the Village website, www.gardencityny. net and click on “Departments” and then “Finance.”
Building Superintendent
• Once your bins have been emptied, bring them in to reduce the chances of them being blown over and creating hazardous conditions for pedestrians and drivers.
Police Commissioner Kenneth Jackson reports that during the month of February, the Department responded to 1,886 service calls:
• 59 case investigations
• 15 arrests
• 10 vehicle impounds
• 129 medical service calls
• 80 auto accidents
• 1,060 moving traffic tickets issued
Instagram and Facebook: @Oldworldqualitycorp
Office: (516) 741-8226
Email:
Jenn@oldworldqualitycorp.com
Instagram and Facebook: @Oldworldqualitycorp
Email: Jenn@oldworldqualitycorp.com
Jenn@oldworldqualitycorp.com
Email: Jenn@oldworldqualitycorp.com
136 Cherry Valley Ave, West Hempstead 11550
Email: Jenn@oldworldqualitycorp.com
Giuseppe Giovanniello met with the fire chiefs, architects and engineers on March 8 to discuss the progress of the Edgemere Firehouse design layout. The Village staff engineering team went out last week and performed a full site survey of the property, which can now be used for the proposed site design drawing. The design team will continue the design process and provide the Village with a set of design drawings, specifications and a cost estimate for the construction work.
• 2,106 parking tickets issued
Residents are invited to attend the Garden City Fire Department’s Recruitment Open House Saturday, April 13, 10:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. to learn more at GCFD Headquarters. Event highlights include:
www.oldworldqualitycorp.com
Weather conditions can cause issues with collection of rubbish
• Apparatus Showcase: Get up close with the tools and vehicles that
See page 48
Bridge strike
On March 20th Garden City Police s responded to Chestnut Street when a bus with students collided with the train overpass. There were no reported injuries. The driver of the bus was charged with disregarding bridge clearance signs.
Vehicles entered
Items were reported stolen from a vehicle parked on Franklin Court on March 20th. On the same night items were also taken from a vehicle parked on John Street.
Excessive speed
A Rockaway Avenue motorist was charged with driving with a suspended license and excessive speed on March 20th.
Identity theft
On March 20th Garden City Police received a report that a victim’s identity had been stolen and used to open an unauthorized credit card account.
Alarm error
Garden City Police and Firefighters responded to a medical facility on March 20th for a fire alarm and determined it was set in error by a child.
Unlicensed operation
A Franklin Avenue motorist was charged with unlicensed operation and making an illegal left turn on March 20th.
Check intercepted
On March 21st Garden City Police investigated a report that a check placed in a FedEx drop box by a local business was intercepted, altered, and attempted to be cashed. Upon notification, the victim’s bank stopped the transaction.
Suspended license
A 10th Street motorist was charged with driving with a suspended license and unregistered vehicle.
Scofflaw vehicle
A vehicle parked in Parking Field 11 on March 21st was impounded for being Village Court Scofflaw due to unpaid tickets.
Overweight vehicle
A Clinton Road truck driver was charged with driving an overweight vehicle and unsafe tires on March 21st.
Multiple suspensions
On March 22nd Garden City Police arrested a Stewart Avenue motorist for Aggravated Unlicensed Operation (seven license suspensions) and talking on a cell phone while driving.
Identity theft
On March 22nd a victim reported that their identity had been stolen and used to open an unautho rized bank account.
Excessive speed
On March 22nd a Clinton Road motorist was charged with unlicensed operation and excessive speed.
Bank call scam
On March 22nd a victim reported that they received a phone call from a person claiming to be from his bank. The victim was advised to provide personal information to clear up fraudulent activity on his account. The victim complied and later determined the call was a scam.
Gas odor
GCFD and GCPD responded to Stewart Avenue for a reported gas odor on March 22nd. Firefighters deemed the area safe.
Suspended papers
On March 22nd a Meadow Street motorist was charged with driving with a suspended license and a suspended registration.
Disturbing incident
On March 22nd a subject was seen on surveillance cameras walking around a Vassar Street residence with a flashlight at 3:55 am.
Storm calls
Due to a storm on March 23rd, Garden City Police responded to several storm-related calls, including a power outage, two traffic light malfunctions, four alarms, three flooding conditions, two disabled autos, a blown open door, and a damaged roadway.
Suspended registration
A Franklin Avenue motorist was charged with driving with a suspended registration and uninsured vehicle on March 23rd.
Identity theft
On March 23rd a victim reported that their identity had been stolen and used to attain an unauthorized business loan.
False alarm
On March 23rd Garden City Police and Firefighters responded to a Franklin Avenue building for a fire alarm and determined the cause to be cooking steam.
Graffiti
On March 24th a Garden City Police officers discovered graffiti on a Franklin Avenue fire box pole.
Unlicensed operation
On March 24th a Washington Avenue motorist was charged with unlicensed operation and passing a red traffic light.
Burning incense
On March 24th Garden City Police and Firefighters responded to Garden City Plaza for a fire alarm. They determined the cause to be burning incense.
Too young to drive
On March 24th an adult was charged with allegedly allowing a 13-year-old youth to drive a vehicle on Magnolia Avenue.
Excessive speed
On March 24th a Clinton Road motorist was charged with unlicensed operation and excessive speed.
Vehicle found
While patrolling Parking Field 9E, a Garden City Police officer discovered an unoccupied vehicle wanted by the NYPD for a burglary investigation. NYPD responded to pick up the vehicle.
Criminal mischief
Garden City Police arrested a 52-year-old man for allegedly slashing his ex-girlfriend’s vehicle tires on March 25th. He was charged with Criminal Mischief.
Aggravated unlicensed operation
On March 25th Garden City Police arrested a 26-year-old motorist on Manor Road for Aggravated Unlicensed Operation (36 license suspensions), disregarding do not enter signs, one-way signs, and misuse of a dealer plate.
Out of class
A Clinton Road truck driver was charged with driving out of class and unregistered vehicle on March 25th.
More grafitti
Garden City Police discovered graffiti on an Old Country Road sign on
On Tuesday, April 9, 12:15 at Mineola’s Davenport Press Restaurant, Mineola-Garden City Rotary will welcome as guest speaker Monica Kiely, a
founder of the “Say No to the Casino” group.
Monica reports that this organization was formed in February of 2023 by citizens concerned about the proposed casino. In the months surrounding the January 2023 announcement, she says, talk amongst politicians, elected officials, County employees, and virtually anyone connected to local government centered around one idea: “It’s a Done Deal.”
Alarmed by the lack of public scrutiny, the lack of public education done by the County and indeed, the lack of any detailed media coverage, the “Say No to the Casino” group sprang into action to fill that void. As we have seen in the ensuing twelve months, a casino in Nassau is most definitely NOT a done deal.
Monica Keily grew up in West Hempstead and is a proud graduate of West Hempstead High Schol, Nassau Community College (Associate Degree), Boston College (BS in finance), and NYU (MBA in finance).
Currently, residents of Garden City since 1993, Monica and her husband have raised their four children here and have every intention of staying in New York after retirement. Monica says, It is a love of Long Island that fuels her passionate opposition to the casino!
To learn more about the efforts of the “Say No to the Casino Group,” join Rotary on April 9. This promises to be a full program to include a great Davenport lunch (Fee: $40), so please reserve in advance by emailing Meg Norris, Club president, at editor@ gcnews.com.
On Thursday evening, April 11, at The Inn at New Hyde Park, 214 Jericho Tpke, New Hyde Park, RotaCare will host its Caregivers’ Ball honor-
ing Maura Clancy, for Community Achievement along with Jim Brady and Gary Fishberg, co-recipients of RotaCare’s Lifetime Achievement Award. Festivities begin with a cocktail reception at 6:30 p.m.; dinner served at 7:30 p.m.
Raffles will include two round-trip tickets on JetBlue Airlines, grand raffle prize. along with a $1,000 gift certificate to shop at Gross & Bro. Jewelers, Garden City, plus an opportunity to win a 50/50 raffle.
To register and purchase tickets online, visit www.rotacareny.org.
With our many beautiful cherry blossom trees and daffodils in bloom, it is officially springtime at Adelphi! We are looking forward to all the exciting campus events coming up on campus this season and hope our local residents will join us for the concerts, festivals and programs we have to offer.
two-day celebration of storytelling, literature and the power of the written word by welcoming best-selling authors and industry insiders to share their stories. Inspired and founded by Adelphi alumna and novelist Alice Hoffman ’73, ’02 (Hon.), author of more than 40 books, including Practical Magic, The Dovekeepers and Aquamarine, we will share the pleasures of reading and writing with students, teachers, librarians, emerging writers, the local Garden City community and beyond.
Learn more and register for the event at adelphi.edu/wrf
Adelphi is offering more than 200 courses this summer, and nearly half are online. Our flexibility of course options and competitive tuition rates make summer at Adelphi the perfect place for current and visiting students (including high school students) to stay on track, catch up on classes or dive into new areas of interest. We also offer a popular on-campus non-credit summer experience for high school students. Register and learn more at adelphi. edu/summer
Join us at Adelphi’s PAC for exciting concerts and performances including:
Country Jukebox: Kenny, Dolly & Friends
Earlier this month, Adelphi hosted a highly successful Women’s Leadership Conference event, with over 350 professionals coming together to learn and network. This year, we collected more than 160 donated items for Adelphi’s new Career Closet benefitting our students and we thank our Garden City neighbors for contributions to the clothing drive.
Friday, April 5, and Saturday, April 6 Adelphi will host its inaugural free,
Saturday, April 6, at 8 p.m.
Celebrate country music with the North Shore Symphony Orchestra and talented Broadway and New York Cabaret singers.
Lost Time by Meghan Lohne
Thursday, April 11, at 7:30 p.m.
Adelphi’s Department of Theatre production of Lost Time lifts the narrative from Proust novels into the now, following a young artist beginning her journey to adulthood in the modern era.
Tickets are available at adelphi.edu/ pac
With every presidential cycle comes a reminder that American presidential elections are not necessarily determined in accordance with the popular vote, although the popular winner more often than not does prevail. Rather, the presidency is under normal circumstances determined in the electoral college, and that makes certain swing states very important.
As a quick primer, the actual vote for President in each state is for a slate of electors pledged to each candidates, with the number of electors in a state equal to the total of its number of representatives in Congress (determined by population) plus 2 votes, equal to the state's two senators. For example, New York has 28 electoral votes, equal to its 26 seats in the House of Representatives plus its two senators.
In 48 of the 50 states, all of the state's electors are given to the winner of the presidential election vote in that state; two states, Maine and Nebraska, allow some electors to be allocated by Congressional district. The electors vote for their designated candidate in December, a month after the election, and the electoral votes are tabulated in Congress in January. (Hopefully, this will happen more peacefully than in January 2021.) It takes at least a majority of the 538 total electoral votes, 270, to win. If no candidate wins a majority of the electors (this last happened in 1824), the election is normally be decided in the House of Representatives, with each state delegation, receiving one vote.
There certainly are defenses of the electoral college system in that it requires presidential candidates to amass a broad coalition of support around the entire country. However, the practical effect of this system is that a handful of jurisdictions, the swing states, have outsize influence over the results.
In at least 35 states, there is little drama as to whom will win the electoral vote of that state. In New York State, for example the Democratic Presidential candidate has prevailed
in every election since 1988 and in 13 of the 16 elections since 1960. Anything can happen, of course, but you would very much expect that a Democratic slate of electors, presumably pledged to President Biden, will prevail in 2024. The results will almost certainly be the opposite in Texas, where Republican presidential candidates have won each election since 1980.
Even a number of states that could be regarded as competitive lean pretty substantially to one party or the other. For example, while Barack Obama carried Ohio twice when he ran for President, the state has become more and more Republican since 2016. Florida and Iowa also have moved to the Republican column in recent years.
On the other hand, New Hampshire is trending Democratic in recent cycles, and, while Republicans look covetously on such states as Minnesota and Virginia, the actual chances of a GOP victory seem pretty low.
In my view there are five real swing states in 2024, plus a couple of arguable additions like North Carolina and Nevada, which con ceivably could flip their votes this year. My swing state nominees are Arizona (11 electoral votes), Georgia (16), Michigan 15), Pennsylvania (19) and Wisconsin (10). All five of these states were carried by President Joe Biden in 2020, but former President Donald Trump has a serious chance in each of them, and indeed has leads in a number of state polls. Arizona and Georgia were tradition al Republican states that Mr. Biden won by a razor thin margins in 2020, while Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin were part of the Democratic “blue wall”, but Mr. Trump carried each of them against Hillary Clinton in 2016.
the 2024 election will have to win at least three of these five swing states. What is a sure bet is that the campaigns will be showering each of these states with plenty of attention, time and money between now and November.
Is there an issue in your community you want to discuss? Want to respond to something you saw in our paper?
Then write a letter to our editor and bring it to everyone’s attention! Send your letter to editor@gcnews.com and we’ll publish it for you!
When Garden City was founded in 1869 one of the first things needed was a work force to construct the first buildings. In the early 1870s, these houses were built along the east side of Franklin Avenue south of the railroad tracks to house the workers. Many of these workers were new immigrants to New York City and many were from Poland. Working on the new village was a dream job for them and their families.
In 1910, when the Doubleday Book publishing plant was built on this location many of these houses were moved to an area north of Meadow Street and south of the Franklin Court “Mews” houses. They are still there today, although modified.
The winners of the Monday, March 25, games:
North/South:
1st Place (Tie): Grace Basile and Joan Cowie
1st Place (Tie): Pat Fontaine and Athena Philippides
East/West:
1st Place: Dian Kendrick and Carrie Flapan
2nd Place: Maria Buffa and Peggy Burns
From page 23
March 25th. raffiti was also found on a wall inside the Adelphi University Performing Arts Center on March 26th.
Excessive speed
A Clinton Road motorist was charged with unlicensed operation and excessive speed on March 25th.
Arrest for wallet theft
Garden City’s Senior Center is open. Please visit the Senior Center Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. for further information on activities and events!
Tuesday, April 30, 12:30 p.m.
Butterfly Memory Café for persons with mild to moderate cognitive impairment and their caregivers. RSVP to Hannah (631) 647-7622
Tuesday, April 16, 1:00 p.m.
At the Senior Center. Register by calling the Senior Center front desk (516) 385-8006.
Historian John Ellie Kordes presents “The Story of the Beach Boys.”
Thursday, April 18, 1:00–3:00, at the Senior Center. Stop by the Senior Center front desk or call for reservations (516) 385-8006.
Trip to Nassau County Museum of Art and Lunch
Friday, April 12
Trip to the Nassau County Museum
of Art, and lunch at Mim’s. Bus leaves at 11:15, tour at noon $20 check made payable to the “Nassau County Museum of Art”, lunch at 1:30, $40.00 cash. Register at the Senior Center front desk by April 5.
Sunday, June 2
Trip to Molloy University to see Sweet Charity. Tickets are $53, make checks payable to “Molloy University. ” Register at the Senior Center front desk by May 2.
Chess 4 Community
New monthly program, Play and Learn, open to all levels and ages, beginner to more experienced players. Fridays, April 26, June 28, July 26 and August 30, from 3–4 p.m.
Yoga Classes
Time for Senior Center Yoga is as follows–
Chair Yoga: Tuesday at 11:15, Friday at 11:45,
Mat Yoga: Thursday at 11:15.
On Saturday, April 6, from 3–6 p.m., there will be a benefit concert and dinner for the International Rescue Committee at Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Central Nassau (UUCCN). UUCCN is at 223 Stewart Avenue, Garden City, at the corner of Nassau Boulevard. Tickets are $25.
The International Rescue Committee https://help.rescue.org is a global humanitarian aid, relief, and development nongovernmental organization, founded in 1933. Current world events have them working very hard in places as diverse as Ukraine, Mideast, Texas, and New York.
Michael Sansonia will be leading a fivepiece band for the concert – Paul Guzzone, Bob Mastro, Arno Hecht, Skip Krevins, and Mark Schaeffer. Together, they’ve played
On March 26th Garden City Detectives arrested a 43-year-old male for allegedly stealing a person’s wallet in a local store. They say he subsequently used the victim’s credit cards to make several purchases. He was charged with four counts of Grand Larceny, two counts of Identity Theft, and two counts of Possession of Stolen Property.
Tax return fraud
On March 26th a victim reported that their identity was stolen and used to file an unauthorized tax return.
A Rockaway Avenue motorist was charged with excessive speed in a school zone and passing a stop sign at Merillon Avenue while failing to yield to oncoming traffic on March 26th.
with a veritable who’s who of music and entertainment. It ranges from rock pioneers such as Screamin’ Jay Hawkins and Dion, to modern day artists such as MA$E and P. Diddy; from The Bacon Brothers Band to Richard Gere; from Jimmy Dean to Leon Redbone; and many, many more.
Come and enjoy a gourmet meal, hear some great tunes, expect some guest stars, and most of all, help a very worthy organization.
For more information, please contact UUCCNbenefit@gmail.com or 516-248-8855. Tickets are available online at https:// square.link/u/55BMGu12 or use the QR code in the flyer. Tickets may also be purchased in person on April 6.
Identity theft
On March 26th a victim reported that their identity was stolen and used to open an unauthorized cash app.
Unsecured haz mat
On March 26th a Franklin Avenue truck driver was charged with driving with unsecured hazardous materials.
FYI … we will be CLOSED on Saturday, March 30th so that volunteers can be with their families during the holiday weekend. We will re-open on Monday, April 1st.
March is Women’s History Month. Can you believe that just over 100 years ago — August 18, 1920 to be exact — the 19th Amendment was ratified and women got the right to vote? To put things into perspective, it was just over 40 years before I was born. Wow! It’s hard to wrap my arms around that fact. In 1984, the year I graduated from college, Mississippi was the last state to ratify the Amendment. Yes, you read that right too!
By the time it was ratified, 20 nations around the world had already granted women the right to vote. Prior to that, suffragists were arrested and imprisoned for marching and purportedly voting. So yes, it was a struggle, dating as far back as the Civil War. Susan B. Anthony and others were arrested in 1872 in Rochester, NY after illegally voting in the presidential election. Susan was unsuccessful in fighting the charges and the court fined her $100, a lot of money for that time! By the way, she never paid the fine. In 1979, the Susan B. Anthony dollar coin was minted.
In 1987, March was designated as Women’s History Month to recognize the vital role women have played in American history. We have our own local heroine — Olive Frances Tjaden. Born in 1904, she graduated from Cornell’s University of Architecture in 1925. She was rejected from Columbia because she was too young – 15 when she applied. In 1981, Cornell renamed one of its buildings in her honor.
In the late 1920s, Ms. Tjaden opened her own firm in Garden City and designed over 2,000 residences, auto dealerships, beauty salons and religious organizations. Acutely aware of the gender barriers in her male-dominated profession, Ms. Tjaden hosted social events for women at her home. A few of her 400 homes — including her own — in Garden City are still around. A unique weather vane of a woman holding a caliper and sitting astride a T-square (both are tools used by architects) sits atop her former home at 108 Eleventh street, across from The Garden City Historical Society Museum. Her legacy lives on –and thrives.
The Exchange is selling a 3-inch brass ornament celebrating women and commemorating the enactment of the Women’s Right to Vote. We also have a book celebrating the history of women on Long Island and a wonderful book of select quotes by women. Come check them out!
Save the Date! Our annual June
Market has been set for Saturday, June 15th. Stay tuned for details, but just to tease you … we already have
• The Town of Hempstead Animal Shelter is bringing their furry friends for adoption!!
• Pat Schweitzer and her hand-painted items
• Christine Rossidis and her Garden Ornaments (made from upcycled vintage china and crystal)
• Rob DeMarco and his handcarved wooden items
• Carol Khairallah, Local Batch, organic cookies
• Lenore Rust, Banana Bread Baking Co.
• Diane Whalen, Diamond Jewelers
• Claire Werner with her vintage items
• and there are more to come!!
Once again, we will couple the June Market with a Food Drive to benefit The INN, NOW thru June 14. Please bring in your non-perishable food items to help your needy neighbors. With food prices still very high, places like The INN play such a vital role in less fortunate communities. Even your smallest gesture can help to put a decent meal on
the table.
• The Exchange Consignment Shop is housed in The Garden City Historical Society (TGCHS) Museum on 109 Eleventh Street (at the rear of the yellow Victorian house).
• All the proceeds from the Shop sales directly benefit TGCHS.
• Shop 24/7 online at atstewartexchange.org and pick up your purchases at the Exchange.
• Follow and Like Us on the AT Stewart Exchange Facebook and on the AT Stewart Exchange Instagram pages. We sure do get around!
• Our best sellers – jewelry (costume and fine), lamps, mirrors, and crystal (Waterford, Baccarat, Tiffany)
• We take/accept silver, pocketbooks, china, furniture, artwork, and collectibles. All items are in new or nearly new condition.
• Consignments are done Wednesday through Friday 11:00 a.m. –2:00 p.m. by appointment ONLY. Appointments keep down the numbers of people in the Shop and reduce wait-times to consign.
• Please call (516)746-8900 to set up
an appointment.
• Unsure if your items are appropriate to consign? Email photos to store@ atstewartexchange.org and be sure to include sizing info. You will generally receive a response the same day.
Yes! We love donations! Please don’t leave donated items outside the shop when we are closed. We want your items, but we don’t want them to get ruined, especially during inclement weather. Email the store at store@atstewartexchange.org and I will work with you to arrange a drop-off time. I check the email every day, even when we’re closed.
Remember: all the profits from the Consignment Shop support the maintenance and upkeep of TGCHS Museum. Thanks to your generous support, work on the outside façade of the Museum is almost complete.
The shop is located at 109 Eleventh Street.
Shop Hours:
Mon – Fri: 10–4 p.m., (Wednesday until 6 p.m.) Saturday 12 noon–4 p.m.
For more information, please call (516) 746-8900.
“Every time I expected to encounter bureaucracy, I actually encountered a person.”
—John Riley, Grasshopper’s Comics, Williston Park
John Riley loves comic books. For the last 30 years, he’s been sharing that love with readers young and old. And we’ve been with John every step of the way, helping plan improvements ranging from upgrading LED lighting to replacing a 50-year-old oil tank with a super-efficient heat pump. These upgrades save him money that he reinvests in—you guessed it—more comic books. As it should be.
Supporting all our local small businesses on National Mom and Pop Business Owners Day, and every day. psegliny.com/business
Saturday, April 6, at 2 p.m.
This movement and music program with Andrea Morale is for children ages birth–5 (not yet in kindergarten) and their caregivers. Online registration on Eventkeeper (www. gardencitypl.org) with a Library card is required. You must do a separate registration for each child you wish to attend. This program is sponsored by the Friends of the Garden City Library.
Registration is ongoing.
Saturday, April 13, at 1:30 p.m.
Get ready for summer by Tie Dying a baseball cap with Science Teacher Chris Buchman. This fun and creative program is for children in Grades K-5. Each registrant will be given a baseball cap to tie dye. Registrants may also bring in 2 small white cotton items from home to tie dye. Online registration on Eventkeeper (www.gardencitypl.org) with a Library card is required.You must do a separate registration for each child you wish to attend. This program is sponsored by the Friends of the Garden City Library.
Registration begins April 2 at 10 a.m.
Monday, April 15, at 7 p.m.
Have some fun playing BINGO and maybe win a small prize! This program is for children ages 4–fifth grade and their and their families. Up to 3 family members (one must be an adult) can participate. Online registration on Eventkeeper (www.gardencitypl.org) with a Library card is required. You must do a separate registration for each child you wish to attend. This program is sponsored by the Friends of the Garden City Library.
Registration begins April 2 at 10 a.m.
Tuesday, April 16, at 4:00 p.m.
This fun 30-minute program is for children ages 4–second grade. Under Librarian supervision, Teen Volunteers read to the children and then they do a craft together. Online registration on Eventkeeper (www. gardencitypl.org) with a Library card is required. You must do a separate registration for each child you wish to attend. This program is sponsored by the Friends of the Garden City Library.
Registration begins April 9 at 10:00 a.m.
Craft for 3 and 4 Year Olds
Wednesday, April 17, at 10:30 a.m.
Children ages 3 and 4 and their adult caregiver will come and do a simple craft with a Librarian. This is a 30-minute program. Online registration on Eventkeeper (www.gardencitypl.org) with a Library card is required. You must do a separate registration for each child you wish to attend this program. This program is sponsored by the Friends of the Garden CityLibrary.
Registration begins April 9 at 10:00 a.m.
Crafting With Friends
Saturday, April 20, at 10:00 a.m.
Children ages 2–5 (not yet in kindergarten) and their caregivers can join Mary Maguire and make a Very Hungry Caterpillar Craft. Online registration on Eventkeeper (www.gardencitypl.org) with a Library card is required. You must do a separate registration for each child you wish to attend this program.This program is sponsored by the Friends of the Garden City Library.
Registration begins April 9 at 10:00 a.m.
Crafting With Friends
Saturday, April 20, at 11:15 a.m.
Children in Grades K–5 can join Mary Maguire and make a Painted Butterfly Origami Craft. Online registration on Eventkeeper (www.gardencitypl.org) with a Library card is required. You must do a separate registration for each child you wish to attend. This program is sponsored by the Friends of the Garden City Library.
Registration begins April 9 at 10:00 a.m.
LEGO Club
Tuesday, April 30, at 4 p.m.
This fun STEAM program is for children in Grades K–5 only. Come with old friends, meet new friends and have fun building whatever your imagination dreams up. No registration necessary. Seating is on a first-come, first served basis. This program is sponsored by the Friends of the Garden City Library.
This fun 30-minute storytime is for children ages birth–2 and their caregivers. Join a Librarian and enjoy stories, music and rhymes and books. Online registration on Eventkeeper (www.gardencitypl.org) with a Library Card is required. A separate registration is required for each session and for each child you
wish to attend this program. *****No Storytimes on March 26*****
• Tuesday, April 9, at 10:30 a.m. Registration begins Tuesday, April 2, at 10:00 a.m.
• Tuesday, April 16, at 10:30 a.m. Registration begins Tuesday, April 9, at 10:00 a.m.
This 30-minute program is for children ages 2–5 (not in kindergarten) and their caregivers. Join a Librarian and enjoy stories, music and movement. Online registration on Eventkeeper (www.gardencitypl. org) with a Library Card is required. A separate registration is required for each session and for each child you wish to attend this program.
• Tuesday, April 9, at 11:30 a.m. Registration begins Tuesday, April 2, at 10:00 a.m.
• Tuesday, April 16, at 11:30 a.m. Registration begins Tuesday, April 9, at 10:00 a.m.
It is Library policy that all children under age ten must be accompanied by a parent or designated responsible person while in the Library. Also, if the young child is attending a Library program, we require the parent or designated responsible person to remain in the Library throughout the program and meet the child upon completion of the program
More programming information for the winter and spring coming soon.
Each program requires a separate registration on Eventkeeper (www. gardencitypl.org).
A separate registration is required for each child you wish to attend these programs.
Please do not register additional children in the comment box as they are not counted by Eventkeeper, and there may not be sufficient materials for participants.
Celebrate the upcoming eclipse and earn community service by joining us for a special Teen Crafternoon: Eclipse Paintings for Community Service to help make a special Teen Eclipse Tiny Art Show! This program will be held Wednesday, April 3, at 3:30 p.m. Registration is required and began Tuesday, March 26 online via Eventkeeper. Space is limited, so check Eventkeeper for availability. Each participant will receive a 4"x4" black mini canvas to paint their version of the eclipse or other solar or galaxy themed painting. The paintings will then be on display outside the Tweens and Teens Room from Thursday, April 4–Friday, April 12. Paintings can then be picked up by teens from Saturday, April 13– Friday, April 19. Paintings not picked up after Friday, April 19 will be discarded. This program has been funded by the Friends of the Garden City Public Library.
This year’s Tweens and Teens Summer Reading Club Prizes will be decided by the tweens and teens! Submit your vote either in person by visiting the Library or online by visiting our website at https://www.gardencitypl.org/vote-for-teens-tweens-reading-club-prizes/
To vote you must be entering Grades 6-12 in Fall 2024 and are asked to only fill out one ballot. The nominees, as chosen by the Library’s Teen Advisory Board, are as follows:
• $50 Sephora Gift Card
• $50 Amazon Gift Card
• $50 Target Gift Card
• Seventh Street Gift Card Lunch Package worth $75 (3 $25 gift cards to Guac Shop, Burger Spot, and Garden City Pizza)
• Seventh Street Gift Card Dessert Package worth $75 (3 $25 gift cards to Dunkin, Starbucks, and TCBY)
• $50 AMC GIft Card
• Portable Bluetooth Speaker
• $50 Dick’s Sporting Goods Gift Card
• Airpods
• $50 Barnes & Noble Gift Card
• Soft Serve Ice Cream Maker
• $60 Spotify Gift Card
Voting will be held through April 30. Each teen can select up to 5 of the 12 nominees on his/her/their ballot. The nominees with the most votes will be this year’s Summer Reading Club Prizes, so make sure to get your vote in at the Library. Contact Young Adult Librarian Laura Giunta at https://www.gardencitypl.org/ young-adult-department/contact-theyoung-adult-tweens-teens-department/ if you have any questions.
This year, patrons can participate in an
Egg Scavenger Hunt in the Library! Search the Library for painted eggs, painted by teen volunteers! Patrons can participate in the scavenger hunt anytime they visit the Library between April 1–April 30. When you successfully complete the Scavenger Hunt, you can submit your completed entry to be entered into a raffle to win a $50 Amazon gift card. Only one entry per person. There will be only one winner. Patrons of all ages can participate! The Scavenger Hunt sheets to participate will be available at the Library beginning April 1. This program has been funded by the Friends of the Garden City Public Library.
The Library’s Annual Chick Incubation program has returned this year! The eggs arrived on Tuesday, March 19. They are scheduled to begin hatching Monday, April 8. Chicks will be returned 1 week after they hatch. Eggs are picked up from Cornell Cooperative Extension at Suffolk County Farm in Yaphank, NY and chicks are returned back to Cornell Cooperative Extension at Suffolk County Farm in Yaphank, NY. Before they hatch, make sure to enter a name into our annual Name the Chick contest for your chance to name one of our chicks!
Make Friendship Bracelets for friends and Library patrons during Friendship Bracelets for Community Service, which will be held on Monday, April 29, at 4 p.m. at the Library. Inspired by the Taylor Swift Eras Tour, create Friendship Bracelets to trade and give to friends and for the Library to give to patrons. At least one bracelet you make must be used for the Library to give out to patrons in order to earn community service. This program is for tweens and teens in Grades 6–12. Registration is required and begins Tuesday, April 23, online via Eventkeeper (www.gardencitypl. org). Space is limited, so check Eventkeeper for availability. This program has been funded by the Friends of the Garden City Public Library.
Volunteers Needed: LEGO Club
Volunteer to help children Grades K–5 during the monthly Children’s program LEGO Club!
While LEGO Club runs from 4 p.m.–4:45 p.m., volunteers will be asked to arrive at 3:30 p.m. to help set-up before the start of the program and stay after to help clean up until 5:15 p.m. Volunteers must be in Grades 6–12. Registration to volunteer for the April session begins Tuesday, April 23, at 10 a.m. online via Eventkeeper. This program has been funded by the Friends of the Garden City Public Library.
Are you artistic? Then join us on
Wednesday, March 27, at 6 p.m. for our VolunTeen Artists program and work on art projects for the Library! Participants will earn community service by participating in this program. This program is for tweens and teens in Grades 6–12. Registration began Tuesday, March 19, online via Eventkeeper (www.gardencitypl. org). Space is limited, so check Eventkeeper for availability. This program has been funded by the Friends of the Garden City Public Library.
Join us on Monday, April 1, at 4 p.m. for Teen Perler Bead Creators. This program is for tweens and teens in Grades 6–12. Registration is required and began Tuesday, March 26, at 10 a.m. online via Eventkeeper (www.gardencitypl.org). Space is limited, so check Eventkeeper for availability. Teens who complete an online survey after the program can receive community service for participating in this program. This program has been funded by the Friends of the Garden City Public Library.
The next meeting of the Teen Advisory Board will be held on Tuesday, April 2, at 4 p.m. Registration began Tuesday, March 26, at 10 a.m. online via Eventkeeper (www.gardencitypl.org). The meeting is for Tweens and Teens in Grades 6–12. If you are interested in helping to come up with programming ideas, volunteer ideas, or social media outreach ideas for tweens and teens in Grades 6–12, consider joining the Teen Advisory Board. Online applications are available at https://www. gardencitypl.org/teen-advisory-board-application/ Applicants should be in Grades 6–12.
Spread kindness in the community by participating in a special kindness card-making session on Wednesday, April 3, at 6 p.m.! Use art supplies to create cards featuring positive, uplifting messages, and then bring them home to hand out and help brighten someone's day! Participants will earn community service by participating in this program. This program is for tweens and teens in Grades 6–12. Registration is required and began Tuesday, March 26, at 10 a.m. online via Eventkeeper (www.gardencitypl.org). Space is limited, so check Eventkeeper for availability. This program has been funded by the Friends of the Garden City Public Library.
Tweens and Teens in Grades 4–12 can learn how to knit or crochet during our Tweens and Teens Yarn Group that will be held on Thursday, April 4, at 4 p.m. Registration is required and began Tuesday, March 26, at 10 a.m. online via Eventkeeper (www.gardencitypl.org).
Space is limited, so check Eventkeeper for availability. Participants will be able to take home knitting needles or crochet hooks to continue working on their projects, but must return the knitting needles or crochet hooks they are using by Friday, April 19.
Tweens and teens in Grades 6–12 who know how to knit or crochet can volunteer at this program! Please contact Laura Giunta at laurag@gardencitypl.org if you are interested in volunteering. Teens who complete an online survey after the program can also receive community service for participating in this program.
This program has been funded by the Friends of the Garden City Public Library.
Kick off the weekend with our Teen Gamers program! We will have our Nintendo Switch consoles for teens to use as well as tabletop board games and Magic: The Gathering cards for teens to play with. This program is for tweens and teens in Grades 6–12 and will be held Friday, April 5, at 3:30 p.m. Registration is required and began Tuesday, March 26, at 10 a.m. online via Eventkeeper (www.gardencitypl.org). Space is limited, so check Eventkeeper for availability. Teens who complete an online survey after the program can receive community service for participating in this program. This program has been funded by the Friends of the Garden City Public Library.
Join us for Tween Thursdays for a special Robotic Sphero Painting program with the Young Engineers! This program is for tweens in Grades 4–7 and is a joint program with the Children’s and Young Adult Departments. Tweens will learn how to code a Robot to paint on canvas. The program will be held Thursday, April 11, at 4 p.m. Registration is required and begins Tuesday, April 2, online via Eventkeeper (www.gardencitypl.org). Space is limited, so check Eventkeeper for availability. It is Library policy that parents of children under 10 attending a program remain at the Library throughout and meet the child upon completion of the program. Tweens in Grades 6 and 7 who complete an online survey after the program can receive community service for participating in this program. This program has been funded by the Friends of the Garden City Public Library.
Join us for Teen Crafternoon: Tie Dye with Science Teacher Chris Buchman. Teens can get creative while learning some science! Each registrant will be given a baseball cap to tie dye. Registrants may also bring in white cotton items from
home to tie dye. This program is for tweens and teens in Grades 6–12 only. Registration is required and begins Tuesday, April 2, at 10 a.m. online via Eventkeeper. This program has been funded by the Friends of the Garden City Public Library.
Volunteer to read to and then do a craft with children ages PreK–Grade 2 during the program Reading Pals! The April session will be held on Tuesday, April 16. The Reading Pals program runs from 4 p.m.–4:30 p.m. Volunteers are asked to arrive at 3:30 p.m. to review the material before the start of the program and stay until 5 p.m. to help clean up. Volunteers must be in Grades 6–12 only. Registration to volunteer begins Tuesday, April 9, at 10 a.m. online via Eventkeeper (www.gardencitypl.org). Space is limited, so check Eventkeeper for availability. This program has been funded by the Friends of the Garden City Public Library.
Earn community service by painting ornaments for the Garden City Public Library’s Tweens and Teens Department’s Ornament Tree! Each volunteer will receive three ornaments and a set of paint pens to decorate their ornaments at home. Paint pens must be returned to the Library. These ornaments will be used to decorate our new ornament tree each month!
For the month of April ornaments are flowers, which will be used to decorate the Tweens and Teens Ornament Tree in May. Registration begins Tuesday, April 9, at 10 a.m. online via Eventkeeper (www.gardencitypl.org). Space is limited, so check Eventkeeper for availability. Completed ornaments must be returned by Thursday, April 18, to the Library.
Registrants will be asked to pick up their ornaments at the Library in order to participate in this community service program. Volunteers must return three decorated ornaments and their set of paint pens in order to receive community service. Volunteers will receive two hours for every three ornaments they submit, at the discretion of the Tweens and Teens Department. This program has been funded by the Friends of the Garden City Public Library.
Join us on Wednesday, April 17, at 7 p.m. for Teen Paint Night. This program is for tweens and teens in Grades 6-12. Registration is required and begins Tuesday, April 9, at 10 a.m. online via Eventkeeper (www.gardencitypl.org). Space is limited, so check Eventkeeper for availability. Teens who complete an online survey after the program can receive community service for participating in this program. This program has been funded
by the Friends of the Garden City Public Library.
Join us for Tweens and Teens Dungeons and Dragons and learn how to play the fantasy role-playing game Dungeons and Dragons by participating in one of our monthly Dungeons and Dragons MeetUps! Beginners are welcome! Each meetup will feature a new self-contained, one-shot adventure and players will be assigned premade characters to play. Please register via Eventkeeper (www. gardencitypl.org) to participate in this program. The March session will be held Thursday, April 18, at 4 p.m. Registration begins Tuesday, April 9, at 10 a.m. online via Eventkeeper. Space is limited, so check Eventkeeper for availability. Teens who complete an online survey after the program can receive community service for participating in this program. This program has been funded by the Friends of the Garden City Public Library.
Join us for Chess4Community: Play and Learn on Friday, March 29, 2024, 10 a.m.–11 a.m. All ages and levels are welcome. Registration is required. You must register for each session you want to attend. Register online via Eventkeeper (www.gardencitypl.org). Space is limited, so please check Eventkeeper for availability.
Chess4Community is launching engaging chess sessions designed to bring together players from diverse ages and skill levels. Participants will be thoughtfully paired based on their playing experience, ensuring a balanced and competitive environment. Throughout these sessions, players will face off against equally matched opponents and receive valuable instruction, offering tailored advice and teaching new strategies and skills.
Can’t make it on March 29? This program will run once a month from 10 a.m.–11 a.m. on the following dates:
• April 26, 2024
• June 28, 2024
• July 26, 2024
• August 30, 2024
Registration is required for all sessions. You must register for each session you want to attend. Register online via Eventkeeper (www.gardencitypl.org).
Please note registration ends two days prior for each session.
Earn community service by creating bookmarks for Garden City Public Library patrons! Each volunteer will receive 10 bookmarks to color, decorate, and write positive or library/book themed messages. These bookmarks will be available to
patrons to take at the Library.
To participate, please register online via Eventkeeper (www.gardencitypl.org). Space is limited, so check Eventkeeper for availability.
Volunteers can register once each week for six weeks of the Spring season as follows:
• Registration Week Five:
Monday, April 1, at 10 a.m. to Friday, April 5, at 4 p.m.
• Registration Week Six:
Monday, April 8, at 10 a.m. to Friday, April 12, at 4 p.m.
Bookmarks should be returned no later than Tuesday, April 30.
Registrants will be asked to pick up their bookmarks at the Library in order to participate in this community service program. Volunteers must return 10 completed bookmarks in order to receive community service. Volunteers will receive two hours for every 10 bookmarks they submit, at the discretion of the Tweens and Teens Department. This program has been funded by the Friends of the Garden City Public Library.
Tweens and teens in Grades 6–12 can earn community service by writing poetry for the Tweens & Teens Department National Poetry Month Display in April! Beginning Monday, March 4, volunteers can write and submit poems. Each volunteer can submit up to five poems and volunteers must use a different shape for each poem they submit. Volunteers’ poems will be displayed as they are submitted outside the Tweens and Teens Room throughout the months of March, April, and May.
Volunteers must come to the Library to pick up a volunteer form and shapes to write their poem on. Shapes to write poems on and the volunteer form can be found inside the Tweens & Teens Room at the Library. If supplies are low, please check back another day for more supplies.
Volunteers must use the shapes provided by the Library to write their poem on and must cut out their shape before submitting their poem. Poems should be legible and written in large enough print and with a dark pen, sharpie, marker, etc so they can be read from a distance. Volunteers can also decorate their shape. All poems should be original work.
Volunteers must return a volunteer form with their poems; volunteers do not have to submit all five poems at once and should do an additional form for poems they submit at a later date. Poems will be accepted until April 30. Please return poems and volunteer forms to the Community Service Drop-Off Box on the metal cabinet in the Tweens and Teens Room.
Volunteers will receive one hour for every poem they submit, at the discretion
of the Tweens and Teens Department.
If you have questions, please contact the Tweens and Teens Department at: https://www.gardencitypl.org/youngadult-department/contact-the-youngadult-tweens-teens-department/.
Earn community service by reading and reviewing recently published Young Adult books throughout the year and help the Tweens and Teens Department create the Best Books lists for 2024! Volunteers should be in Grades 6–12. Volunteers will be asked to read new books aimed at Grades 6–12 and published between January 1, 2023 and December 6, 2024. Volunteers will then fill out a feedback form, which includes a 300-word review. Volunteers can use the Library’s monthly reading lists beginning in January 2024 to help get ideas on what to read!
To access the feedback form and earn community service credit, scan the QR code on the flier which can be found outside the Tweens and Teens Room. You can also access the feedback form by going to https://forms.gle/Wy6HqY69envMHjHd8.
Earn community service by participating in the Library's Tweens & Teens Department Around the World Recipe Card Community Service Project! Each volunteer can submit up to five recipe cards representing their cultural heritage. Recipe cards and volunteer forms can be found at the Library. Volunteers’ recipe cards will be available for other patrons to browse in the Tweens and Teens Room at the Library.
Volunteers must use the recipe cards provided by the Library to write their recipes on. Volunteers must have previously made the dish they are submitting a recipe for and must include a review of the recipe in the form of coloring in stars on the recipe card (a recipe can receive up to five stars). Recipes should be legible and written as neatly as possible. All volunteers should cite the source in which they found the recipe on their recipe card (a source can be a cookbook or website, but can also be a family member or neighbor). Volunteers must return a volunteer form with their recipe cards; volunteers do not have to submit all five recipe cards at once and should do an additional form for recipes they submit at a later date.
Recipes will be accepted until May 2, 2024. Please return completed recipe cards and the volunteer form to the Community Service Drop-Off Box on the metal cabinet in the Tweens & Teens Room. Volunteers will receive one hour for every recipe they submit, at the discretion of the Tweens & Teens Department.
The Board of Education of the Garden City Union Free School District, Town of Hempstead, Garden City NY 11530 hereby invites the submission of sealed bids for Welding Repair Services Cooperative Bid for the 2024/2025 school year.
Sealed bids will be received up to 10:30 am, Tuesday April 16th, 2024 at the office of the Director of Facilities & Operations, Garden City UFSD Administrative Office, 56 Cathedral Avenue, Garden City NY 11530. Bids received after this time will be rejected.
The bid instruction and specifications can be sent upon request
Please contact Mr. Robert Foley at foleyr@gcufsd.net or 516-4781080. Specifications and bid forms may also be obtained at the same office Monday through Friday 8:30 am to 4:30 pm except holidays. Bids must be presented on the forms provided in the instruction and specifications. Additional bid forms will be sent upon request
The terms and conditions of the contract or contracts awarded under this cooperative bid shall be extended to and made available for procurement by other Nassau County school districts which are or become members of the Nassau County Directors of School Facilities Purchasing Consortium, during the term of the awarded contract(s), in accordance with General Municipal Law Article 5-G and section 1p03, subdivision 16.
List of participating school districts: Baldwin UFSD, Bellmore UFSD, Bellmore-Merrick UFSD, Bethpage UFSD, Carle Place UFSD, East Meadow UFSD, East Rockaway UFSD, East Williston UFSD, Floral Park-Bellrose UFSD, Freeport UFSD, Garden City UFSD, Glen Cove UFSD, Great Neck UFSD, Hemsptead UFSD, Herricks UFSD, Hewlett-Woodmere UFSD, Hicksville UFSD, Island Trees UFSD, Jericho UFSD, Levittown UFSD, Locust Valley UFSD, Long Beach UFSD, Lynbrook UFSD, Manhassett UFSD, Massapequa UFSD, Merrick UFSD, Mineola UFSD, New Hyde Park-Garden City Park UFSD, North Bellmore UFSD, North Merrick UFSD, North Shore UFSD, Oceanside UFSD, Plainedge UFSD, Plainview-Old Bethpage CSD, Port Washington UFSD, Rockville Centre UFSD, Roosevelt UFSD, Seaford UFSD, Syosset CSD, Uniondale UFSD, Valley Stream UFSD #13, Valley Stream UFSD #24, Valley Stream UFSD #30, Wantagh UFSD, West Hempstead UFSD, Westbury UFSD.
Bids shall remain firm for a period of forty-five (45) days following the date of the opening and shall thereafter remain firm unless the Bidder provides written notice to the School District’s Purchasing Office that the Bid should be withdrawn.
The Board of Education reserves the right to reject all bids and readvertise in accordance with Section 103 of the General Municipal Law. Any bid submitted will be binding for the duration of the contract.
Joseph Sileo, President Board of Education
NASSAU COUNTY LEGAL NOTICE
SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK COUNTY OF NASSAU Index No. 802821/2021 LUIS E. GIRON, Plaintiff, against STEPHANIE GIRON a/k/a STEPHANIE MELE, Defendant. SUMMONS Plaintiff designates Nassau County as the place of trial. The basis of venue is Plaintiff's residence. Plaintiff resides at 255 Garden Street, Westbury, NY 11590. ACTION FOR DIVORCE. To the above-named Defendant: YOU ARE HEREBY SUMMONED to answer the complaint in this action and to serve a copy of your answer on Plaintiff's Attorneys within twenty (20) days after the service of this summons, exclusive of the day of service, where service is made by delivery upon you personally within the State of New York, or within thirty (30) days after completion of service where service is made in any other manner. In case of your failure to appear or answer, judgment will be taken against you by default for the relief demanded in the complaint. NOTICE: The nature of this action is to dissolve the marriage between the parties, on the grounds: Irretrievable Breakdown of the Relationship for at Least Six Months (DRL Sec. 170(7)): The relationship between the Plaintiff and Defendant has broken down irretrievably for a period of at least six months. The relief sought is a judgment of absolute divorce in favor of the Plaintiff dissolving the marriage between the parties in this action. The nature of any ancillary or additional relief demanded is: That the parties do not require maintenance and no claim will be made by either party for maintenance. The Plaintiff is not seeking maintenance as payee as described in the Notice of Guideline Maintenance. That the parties do not require payment of counsel and experts' fees and expenses. That both parties may resume the use of any prior surname. That the Court grant such other and further relief as the Court may deem fit and proper. The parties do not have any marital property, and no claim will be made by either party under equitable distribution Marcus Monteiro,
NASSAU COUNTY FORECLOSURE NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NASSAU Bank of America, N.A., Plaintiff AGAINST Marie Brifil; et al., Defendant(s) Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered December 11, 2019 I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction at the North Side Steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court at 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on April 24, 2024 at 2:00PM, premises known as 1033 Tulsa Street, Uniondale, NY 11553. All that certain plot piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements erected, situate, lying and being at Uniondale (not incorporated) in the Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau, State of New York, Section 50 Block Y Lots 234 and 271. Approximate amount of judgment $478,976.09 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index# 605833/2019. The auction will be conducted pursuant to the COVID-19 Policies Concerning Public Auctions of Foreclosed Property established by the Tenth Judicial District. Foreclosure Auctions will be held "Rain or Shine." Malachy P. Lyons Jr, Esq, Referee LOGS Legal Group LLP f/k/a Shapiro, DiCaro & Barak, LLC Attorney(s) for the Plaintiff 175 Mile Crossing Boulevard Rochester, New York 14624 (877) 430-4792 Dated: February 21, 2024
Pursuant to the provisions of the General Municipal Law and Chapter 200 of the Code of the Incorporated Village of Garden City, New York notice is hereby given that the Board of Appeals of said Village will meet in the Village Hall at 351 Stewart Avenue, Garden City, New York on Tuesday, April 16, 2024, at 6:30 p.m., to take action on the following matters:
1.APPEAL OF LU FEN NAN, for a variance from provisions in Sections 200-31 and 200-46 of the Village Code, to permit the erection of a 265 sq. ft. second floor side and 290 sq. ft. one story rear additions, with a 48 sq. ft. vestibule, 36 sq. ft. landing and step in the front yard (demolish 200 sq. ft. rear sunroom), at the dwelling known as 19 MAPLE STREET (Map of Mineola Plaza, Block 21, Lots 13, R-6 district) the granting of which would:
A.reduce the 30.0’ front yard setback to not less than 26.3’ to the proposed vestibule, and 22.3’ to the step~
B.cause a horizontal and vertical extension of the existing 5.5’ minimum side yard, where 8.0’ is required.
Building Department # ZBA-000272-2024, John J. Viscardi, R.A.
Building Department #ADRB-000271-2024 3-26-24 Agenda
2.APPEAL OF MICHAEL & LISA CALLIGARIS for a variance from provisions of Sections 200-7 and 200-15 of the Village Code, to allow issuance of permit for the erection of a 219 sq. ft. two story rear addition, and removal of a 45 sq. ft. portion of the existing detached garage, at the dwelling known as 48 BROMPTON ROAD (Map of Garden City Estates, Block 77, Lots 47, R-8 district) the granting of which would;
A. exceed the allowable building area of 1,500 sq. ft. or 25.0%, by not less than 214 sq. ft. (1,714 sq. ft. or 28.56%)
Building Department # ZBA-000273-2024, John J. Viscardi, R.A.
3.APPEAL OF KERRY WRIEDEN for a variance of the provisions of Section 200-15 of the Village Code, to allow issuance of permit for the erection of a 548 sq. ft. one story rear addition (while demolishing a 220 sq. ft. one story rear portion), at the dwelling known as 16 MAPLE STREET (Map of Mineola Plaza, Block 20, Lots 63, R-6 district) the granting of which would:
A. cause the allowable building area of 1,500 sq. ft. or 25.0%, to be exceeded by 55 sq. ft. (1,555 sq. ft. or 25.91%)
Building Department # ZBA-000264-2024, John J. Viscardi, R.A.
A variance was previously granted at the April 13, 2021, meeting, but never acted upon.
4.APPEAL OF BRIAN EDDELSON, for a variance of provisions in Sections 200-15, 200-31, 200-46 and 200-61 of the Village Code, to allow the issue of a building permit, for the construction of 19 sq. ft. and 17 sq. ft. first floor additions, and 42 sq. ft. portico, at the front, and a 180 sq. ft. one story addition at the rear; a 272 sq. ft. floor North and 118 sq. ft. South side second floor additions, while converting a 200 sq. ft. portion of the existing garage to habitable space (demolish existing 145 sq. ft. front raised patio and 160 sq. ft. rear deck), at the premises known as 59 ADAMS STREET (Map of Stewart Manor, Block 20, Lot 54, R-6 district) the granting of which would cause:
A.the allowable building area of 1,125 sq. ft. or 25.0%, to be exceeded by 268 sq. ft. (1,393 sq. ft. or 30.95%), on a 4,500 sq. ft. lot ~
B.horizontal and vertical extensions of the existing minimum and aggregate side yards of 3.9’ and 9.8’ respectively, where 5.0’ and 15.0’ is required ~
C.reduce the required front yard setback of 25.0’, to not less than 22.3’ ~
D. not provide one-off-street parking space.
Building Department # ZBA-000232, Leo J. Pyzynski, R.A.
*a variance was previously granted on January 10th, 2022, but never constructed.
5. APPEAL OF DANIELLE MORALES for a variance of the provisions of section 200-52 of the Village Code, to maintain installation of a two (2) previously permitted A/C compressors, in the side yard of the premises known as 51 MAXWELL ROAD (Map of Mineola Plaza, Block 10, Lot 29, R-6 District), the granting of which would:
A.reduce the 10.0’ plot line setback for freestanding equipment, to not less than 3.9’~
B.reduce the required accessory setback of 50.0’, to not less than 45.5’.
Building Department # ZBA-000279-2024.
6.APPEAL OF BRIAN NARDUCCI & COURTNEY PEREZ, for a variance of the provisions of Section 200-31 of the Village Code, to permit the construction of a 32 sq. ft. front portico, at the existing dwelling known as 178 WELLINGTON ROAD (Map of Garden City Estates, Block 20, Lot 41, R-6 District) the granting of which would:
A. reduce the (30.0’) required front yard setback, to not less than (27.0’) with respect to the portico.
Building Department # ZBA-000280-2024, Daniel Fabrizi, R.A.
7.APPLICATION & APPEAL OF CHRISTOPHER MOLLOY in accordance with the provisions of Sections 200-45 and 200-70, and variances from sections 200-7, 200-15 and 200-52 of the Village Code, to authorize the issuance of permits for the erection of; a 686 sq. ft. one car detached garage, with a 308 sq. ft. covered porch portion, with the installation and maintenance of a 14' x 20' in-ground swimming pool with 6’ fence (demolish existing 506 sq. ft. 2 car detached garage), in the rear yard of the premises known as 110 CHESTNUT STREET (Map of Garden City Lawns, Block 3, Lot 65, R-6 district), the granting of which would;
A. exceed the allowable building area of 2,343 sq. ft. or 25%, by 471 sq. ft. (2,814 sq. ft. or 30.02%), on a 9,375 sq. ft. plot ~ B.exceed the 563 sq. ft. or 30% allowable coverage of the rear yard, or, by 266 sq. ft. (829 sq. ft. or 44.21%)
Building Department # ZBA-000282-2024, Elizabeth Bibla, L.A., Daniel Fabrizi, R.A.
8.APPLICATION & APPEAL OF LOUIS & ANGELA CHIODO in accordance with the provisions of Sections 200-45 and 200-70 of the Village Code, to authorize the issuance of permits for the installation and maintenance of; a 14' x 28' in-ground swimming pool with 6’ fence, in the rear yard of the premises known as 112 CHESTNUT STREET (Map of Garden City Lawns, Block 3, Lot 62, R-6 district).
Building Department # ZBA-000285-2024, Elizabeth Bibla, L.A.
9.APPLICATION OF BIZ FAMILY AUTO LLC., in accordance with the provisions of Sections 200-29A(3)a & b, and the provisions of 200-39 and 200-65, of the Village Code, for the issuance of a permit to allow an 4,290
The film "Easter Parade" will be screened at the Garden City Public Library on Monday, April 1.
Monday Movies presented by the Friends of the Garden City Library at 1:30 p.m.:
April 2024
4/1: “Easter Parade” - 1948, 108 minutes
4/8: “Apollo 13” - 1995, 140 minutes
4/15: “Untouchables” - 1987, 119 minutes
4/22: “Crossing Delancey” - 1980, 97 minutes
4/29: “The Intern” - 2015, 121 minutes
March & April Programs
Yoga Night Out
Wednesdays, 7:00–8:00 p.m. in the Large Meeting Room
Wednesday, April 3
**Wednesday, April 10
Kimberly Mercadante is back with her popular Yoga Series! Join her for a yoga class for beginners. All are welcome! This is a series of 6 classes to be held on Wednesday evenings starting March 6 and continuing through April 10, 2024. A separate registration is required for each class. Register online via Eventkeeper (www.gardenc-
itypl.org) or call the Reference desk at (516) 742-8405 x 5236.
**Please note the new start and end dates.
Program is sponsored by the Friends of the Garden City Public Library.
Chess4Community: Play & Learn!
Fridays from 10–11 a.m. in the First Floor Reference Area
Friday, March 29
Friday, April 26
Friday, June 28
Friday, July 26
Friday, August 30
Chess4Community is launching engaging chess sessions designed to bring together players from diverse ages and skill levels. Participants will be thoughtfully paired based on their playing experience, ensuring a balanced and competitive environment. Throughout these sessions, players will face off against equally matched opponents and receive valuable instruction, offering tailored advice and teaching new strategies and skills.
Registration is required. You must register separately for each session you want to attend. Registration is online via Eventkeeper (www.gardencitypl. org). Please note that registration ends two days before each program.
Alzheimers Association3 Part Series: Part 3
Monday, April 1, from 7:00–8:30 p.m.
in the Large Meeting Room
Managing Money: A Caregiver’s Guide to Finances - This interactive program offers information about how caregiving impacts finances, preparing for discussions about finances, and steps to lower chances of financial abuse. You will also learn about legal and financial documents that should be put in place.
Registration is required for each session on Eventkeeper (www.gardencitypl.org) or call the reference desk at (516)742-8405 x 5236 or or email: Speaking of books@gardencitypl.org
Crafts & Games Programs for Adults with Developmental Disabilities
Small Meeting Room
Thursday, April 4, from 11 a.m.–12 p.m.
Wednesday, May 15, from 7 p.m.–8 p.m.
Saturday, June 1, from 11 a.m.–12 p.m.
Friday, July 12, from 11 a.m.–12 p.m.
Tuesday, August 6, from 7 p.m.–8 p.m.
Each session will feature a different craft, game or activity. The activity will be determined closer to the date of each event. Day Habs & Special Needs Groups are welcome with prior registration. Individuals can also register to participate.
Registration is required on Eventkeeper (www.gardencitypl.org).
If you would like your special needs group to participate, please register for only ONE of the five dates listed above. You can register for an additional date if there is still room one week prior to the start of that program. When registering please indicate the name of your Day Hab, how many special needs adults will be attending, and how many caregivers will also be attending.
If you are registering as an individual not associated with a Day Hab or Special Needs group, you can register for all five sessions!
Program is sponsored by The Friends of the Garden City Public Library Springtime Scones with Chef Rob Thursday, April 4, from 1 p.m.–2 p.m. in the Large Meeting Room
Join Chef Rob as he prepares a batch of spring lemon blueberry scones with a lemon drizzle. Registrants should bring with them: A whisk, large bowl, box grater, cookie tray and a small container with a lid.
We look forward to spring and this will certainly help us get in the mood!
Registration is required and began on Friday, March 22, 2024 at www.gardencitypl.org.
Program is sponsored by The Friends of the Garden City Public Library Runner in Red: Lessons in Health & Resiliency from the History of Women’s Running
Tuesday, April 9, from 7–8:30 p.m. in the Large Meeting Room
As a lead up to this year’s Boston Marathon, join us for a fun, enlightening evening with Tom Murphy, author of “Runner in Red,” a Boston Marathon mystery novel that explores the history of women’s running in America. Learn about women who broke the gender bar-
rier at the Boston Marathon in the 1960s and discuss ways to apply their lesson of “grit” to benefit you and your health.
All participants will receive a FREE signed copy of “Runner in Red,” compliments of the sponsors, Hilton Capital Management and Kotten. Space is limited, so register today at RunnerinRed. com.
Historian John Ellis Kordes Presents the 60th Anniversary of the Beatles’ “A Hard Day’s Night”
Thursday, April 11, from 1–3 p.m. in the Large Meeting Room
Join historian John Ellis Kordes for a look at the making of the Beatle’s first movie “A Hard Day’s Night” in 1964. The 90-minute black and white movie received several Academy Award nominations and worldwide critical acclaim during the height of “Beatlemania.”
After the presentation, Kordes will show the entire movie. This will be a digitally restored version so the sound and clarity are amazing! A must see!
For additional information, please contact the Reference desk at (516)7428405 x 5236 or email at Speakingofbooks@ gardencitypl.org.
No registration is required.
Empire Safety Council Defensive Driving Saturday, April 13, from 10 a.m.–4 p.m. in the Large Meeting Room
Receive 10% reduction on automobile/liability insurance and qualify for a licensed point reduction!
Registration is required. Garden City Public Library cardholders can register in person at the Reference desk beginning Those without a GCPL card can register beginning Friday, March 22, 2024.. A separate registration is required for each person and proper ID is needed when registering an absentee party.
Checks should be made payable to Empire Safety Council in the amount of $33.
Bring your valid New York State driver’s license and a pen to class.
Contact Reference Desk - (516)7428405 x 5236 or email: Speakingofbooks@ gardencitypl.org.
We’re looking for writers in our community to compose ar ticles on local topics, opinions, reviews, worthy places to visit on Long Island, and even pieces of fiction. We aim to feature at least one new article and writer each week in our Discovery magazine section.
Email submissions: editor@gcnews.com
• Attach article and any photos (1MB), along with your name and contact info.
• Articles must be between 1,500 - 3,000 words. • Each writer will be reimbursed a stipend of $25.⁰⁰
March 29, 2024
Reflecting back, it is so interesting that a trip that is so absolutely relaxing can also be filled with activity, interesting, even astonishing, attractions, scenic sights, and cuisine that is Michelin-star caliber, and how, traveling slower than 3 mph, you can see so much, experience so much in a day.
This is European Waterways’ sixnight/seven-day Marne-Rhin Canal cruise through France’s Alsace & Lorraine Region, aboard its hotel barge, Panache. The boat sleeps 12 and has a crew of six, so pampering is an understatement – this is like a floating luxury boutique hotel.
Over the course of our cruise, we have guided tours of charming, colorful, historic cities including Strasbourg, Saverne and Sarrebourg, visit the Rene Lalique crystal museum, see Marc Chagall’s largest and grandest stained glass work, go through a boat “guillotine” and ascend a remarkable boat elevator, have a private tasting at what can only be described as a renegade/maverick winery on the Route des Vins d’Alsace, and so many more surprises that delight.
The slow pace of the barge proves an advantage because I also get to bike along the towpath the entire length of the route, return to the boat, and see the scenery again from a different perspective of the elevated perch of the boat deck.
The pace is so relaxed, and to be candid, the level of luxury and pampering so great, you don’t even
European Waterways’ Panache hotel barge cruises the Marne-Rhin canal through the historic city of Saverne in the Alsace-Lorraine region of France © Karen Rubin/goingplacesfarandnear.com
realize how much you have done in a– whether it’s biking the route, sightseeing and visiting villages, historic and cultural places, enjoying fine wine and cuisine, and still have time to just hang out and watch the landscape go by and enjoy the company of fellow travelers.
We do so much in a day, it is mind-boggling to realize (well after the trip), what short distances we actually travel each day (several of the excursions involve us being picked up by van where the boat docks), and where we were the day before and will be the day after. Time and distance just kind of melt.
I have cleverly arranged to arrive two days early in Strasbourg, where the Alsace-Lorraine cruise starts –this takes into account any unexpected flight or travel delays, and gives
me two half days and one full day in this picturesque old city (we actually will be visiting here with the cruise on our first full day).
Captain Brian picks us up at the Regent Petit France Hotel, which sits astride the canal with the most picturesque view of the historic district, and chauffeurs us to where the hotel barge is tied up at Krafft, where we are greeted by the crew of six with Premier Cru FrereJohn Freres Champagne and hors d’oeurves, and introduces to the boat, the crew and our fellow traveling companions for the week.
The salon/dining room is absolutely stunning, with comfortable sofas and chairs, a long dining table, large picture windows that let the light and scenery in.
Panache is a hotel barge that has
been fitted out in traditional yacht style with brass and mahogany fittings and polished hardwood floors in the spacious public areas and very comfortable cabin accommodation. The salon/dining room is absolutely stunning, with comfortable sofas and chairs, a long dining table, large picture windows that let the natural light and scenery in. The separated dining area is roomy, providing a congenial setting for up to 12 to enjoy the gourmet meals and fine wines served on board at the grand table. Here we also have access to free Wifi, Panache accommodates 12 passengers in six spacious cabins (larger than the room at the delightful Hotel Hannong I had just left in Strasbourg), that can be configured for twin or double-bed, with plush linens, plenty of lights and electric plug-ins, our own temperature control, room to store our clothes, and private bathroom (double sinks! oversized shower!). Housekeeping comes in twice a day and leaves a chocolate on the pillow at night. Truly a boutique hotel room that floats us from destination to destination in absolute luxury.
Panache has a very comfortable sun deck with lounging chairs and table and chairs, from which you can enjoy the scenery, have cocktails and dine alfresco, and heated spa pool. There also is a plentiful number of bicycles which I take advantage of each day, virtually biking the entire route (and then getting back on board to enjoy it from the perch of the boat).
Each evening, Captain Brian (who is also the general manager, the cruise director, our tour guide and sometimes the pilot and just 25
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years old) orients us to the boat and our cruise, especially the invitation that the crew “never lets a glass go empty, so if you don’t want a refill of wine, put your hand over it” (and they are only half kidding, as we discover). Each evening, he orients us to what we will do the next day – whether to visit a museum or a guided walking tour - and each day is distinguished by a special highlight.
You expect picturesque scenery and to visit fascinating cultural attractions but what is totally unexpected is the astonishing quality of the cuisine that we are treated to by Chef Leo – a young chef who, we learn, was a contestant on France’s “Top Chef”. Over the course of our six days of cruising, we experience Michelin-star quality dining, as Chef Leo enjoys experimenting. As he jokes, each cruise brings him more “guinea pigs”.
His cooking is really distinctive – it is not any particular cuisine, necessarily. He has a vibrant taste palate, likes a lot of flavor without overwhelming the actual flavor of the main item, and most important, is never too rich. He is really imaginative, creative, and the presentations are stunning. There are three courses for lunch and dinner, so each individual course is not too much, but not too little, either, with a different red and white wine accompanying each, and three different cheeses to finish.
Each meal is an event, an experience. Chef Leo comes out to explain each course, and Emily (from England) or Martyna (from Poland) introduce the wines – where produced, the vintage, the pedigree - and the cheeses (which have fascinating stories). By the end of the cruise, including the tasting at
a most distinctive (progressive) winery that Captain Brian has found, we must have tasted more than 36 wines and 36 cheeses from throughout France – each perfectly paired for what is being served to bring out the best flavors.
When we arrive back from an afternoon tour, we are welcomed aboard with some sort of cocktail –one day it is Mimosa, another it is French 75 (an elderberry gin spritzer).
We are small enough group that our wishes are usually accommodated – Hylton, who comes from Australia, expresses a desire for steak and Sue, his wife, wishes for passionfruit crème brulee – and don’t you know, we have both for lunch – with Leo doing a cooking demonstration in the morning as we cruise to show how he creates the crème brulee. It is a first for him creating crème brulee with passionfruit and he takes it as a sort of challenge. We watch him create it, with his precise weighing and measuring, and, later, just before serving, firing it up with a torch.
In fact, the one evening we dine in a pleasant village restaurant, the meal, although very good, does not compare with Chef Leo’s creations. Clearly, we have been spoiled in just these few days.
Captain Brian gives us the safety talk – noting that some of the bridges we go under are so low, we will have to sit down and the bridge has to be taken down; the canals are so narrow, with barely an inch on either side, we need to keep hands inside the boat. And don’t block the navigator’s view of the crossbars at the front of the boat. There are life jackets, an emergency red call button in our cabins (don’t use it to call for a sandwich, it will wake everyone). And another thing, Captain Brian insists:
never say the name of the animal with the bushy tail and big ears and eats carrots on a boat – it’s bad luck.
This first evening, Chef Leo’s talents become apparent: a carrot and orange salad to start with a kind of pesto sauce that surprises with flavor; roasted seabass with leek and champagne sauce, and dessert of peach tart. This evening the wines include Famille Hugel, an Alsace Pinot Blanc, 2019, and an Alsace red, Boitt Geyl Pinot Noir, 2017 (producing wines since 1775!), that pair superbly with the flavors.
The meal finishes with three cheeses: Camembert, “King of Cheeses,” from Normandy, with a golden color and buttery texture and a strong aroma (“We serve it on the first night to get it out of the refrigerator”); Morbier, a cow cheese from Franche-Comte, which traces back to the 1800s and, legend has it, a method of disguising the size of the cheese within charcoal in order to avoid paying tax; and Selles-sur-Cher, a goat cheese from the Loire Valley which, we learn is a cheese deprived of light and oxygen for 38 weeks, and is served in an edible rind.
Hotel barging offers an immersive and all-inclusive “gentle voyage of discovery” of the culture, history, fine wine, and gourmet cuisine of the destinations. You cruise right into villages, step off the boat, and can wander into neighborhoods and countrysides, where people live.
European Waterways, which celebrates the 50th anniversary of its founding by Derek Banks and John WoodDow this year, was one of the early pioneers of hotel barging on France’s canals. They helped ignite a new niche the travel industry and cruising that proved instrumental in the revitaliza-
If you’ve gotten the news that you have prediabetes, no doubt you panicked -- at least for a minute or two. According to the latest federal data from 2016, one-third of U.S. adults have prediabetes. With prediabetes, blood sugar levels are higher than normal but lower than the threshold for a diabetes diagnosis.
The good news is prediabetes can be reversed by changing your diet (eating more fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean protein and low-fat dairy) and getting regular physical activity. For someone diagnosed with prediabetes, weight loss is key. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends weight loss of 5% to 7% (and regular exercise) to lower the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes.
There’s another reason to take a prediabetes diagnosis seriously. People who reverse their prediabetes may lower their risk of heart attack, stroke and death, according to a new study reported by the American Heart Association.
Researchers from Tangshan People’s Hospital in a northern province of China (where prevalence of prediabetes is slightly higher than in the U.S.) looked at more than 14,000 employees of a coal company, mostly men, over 11 years. Blood sugar was checked in 2006, 2008 and tracked through 2017. Between 2006 and 2008, about 45% of the participants reverted from prediabetes back to normal blood sugar. Another 42% stayed the same, and 13% progressed to diabetes.
In following the groups until 2017, researchers found that those who reverted
to normal blood sugar had a 38% lower risk of heart attack and a 28% lower risk of stroke than those who progressed to diabetes. Their risk of dying from any cause during the follow-up was 18% lower than the risk seen in those who progressed to diabetes.
While this wasn’t a clinical trial (so we can’t say it applies to people outside of China), it is notable. The bottom line is that reversing prediabetes affects cardiovascular disease risk.
That’s just another reason to start eating healthy, exercising and dropping a few pounds if you need to.
Charlyn Fargo is a registered dietitian with SIU School of Medicine in Springfield, Illinois, and the current president of the Illinois Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.
COPYRIGHT 2024 CREATORS.COM
tion of Europe’s intricate network of scenic canals and inland waterways as tourism destinations. Like our Erie Canal of New York State, these canals were no longer being used for commercial shipping; tourism and recreational boating has revitalized them, and the villages along the route
Panache cruises in Holland in the spring when the flowers are in full bloom, and in Champagne in May & June (Champagne itineraries typically include Brie cheese tastings, a tour of the Cathedral at Reims, Epernay and tastings at renowned champagne houses). In summer and autumn, Panache cruises the Alsace & Lorraine European Waterways launched its first Christmas Markets Cruises aboard Panache in 2023 in the Alsace & Lorraine region of France. This 6-night/7-day luxury barge cruise visits the Christmas Markets of Strasbourg, Colmar, and Haugenau, a chocolate museum, a glass bauble factory which is said to be the home of the traditional tree decoration (For more information, visit https:// www.europeanwaterways.com/ themed/christmas-market-cruises/)
With a fleet of 18 (with the recent launch of its ultra deluxe vessel, Kir Royale), that span nine countries, European Waterways is one of the largest luxury hotel barging companies in Europe.
European Waterways, 1-877-879-8808, www.europeanwaterways.com
Next: The Panache Visits Strasbourg
© 2024 Travel Features Syndicate, a division of Workstyles, Inc. All rights reserved. Visit goingplacesfarandnear.com
Easter is a time for chocolate bunnies and new friendships. My brother, Jeff, met Paul Ryan one day in school. It was the second grade and sitting next to each other, they struck up a conversation. The months flew by and as Easter approached, Paul was excited about the holiday. He told Jeff about why it was so special and the way he spoke, Jeff thought Paul liked it even better than Christmas.
Paul lived two blocks over and his father, Doc Ryan, ran the neighborhood drug store. In his free time Doc Ryan’s passion was taking his motorboat out on the Long Island Sound and people said that while piloting the boat he had the same level of concentration he had when filling prescriptions in his store. Paul started being called “Cappy’s Boy” and that nickname stuck.
At the store, Mrs. Ryan ran the soda fountain area. She was quick about making people cream sodas, malted milkshakes and banana splits with cherries on top and she’d place plates of hot dogs and French fries in front of customers on the Formica counter at lunchtime.
Occasionally Jeff and Paul would stop by Doc’s place to chat with Mrs. Ryan. If it was springtime Paul would start going on and on about Easter. He loved sitting at the kitchen table at home with his mom and dad dyeing Easter eggs on Holy Saturday night after dinner. His sisters would sit down and patiently choose the color of the dyes for their hard-boiled eggs and slowly start to work.
Using spoons, they’d dip each egg in the dye then place it ever so carefully in an empty egg carton their mom had set aside for drying purposes. Paul always worked with enthusiasm. He was very diligent about dyeing the eggs - he’d dunk them, wait a few minutes for a bright blue or red color then place them in the carton to dry. Overnight was best and he knew eventually he’d find some in his Easter basket.
At night when everyone was fast asleep Paul would go downstairs and look at the dining room table wondering if his mom had placed them there.
He did the same thing on Christmas but Easter was different - there would be a large, bright Easter basket waiting for each member of the family - even treats for their dog, Zoey.
Paul always said he liked joining in with the other kids in the neighborhood in the Easter egg hunts - no matter whose back yard. Many times Jeff watched him scampering around looking behind trees, under bushes and under the tulip leaves.
Paul liked it best when on Easter Sunday his mother would call him and his three brothers and sisters to the dining room table to, one by one, be handed their colorful Easter baskets. Each one was filled with jelly beans, those yellow marshmallowy Peeps, hard-boiled eggs and chocolate bunnies. Beautifully wrapped in cellophane, he’d be eager to tear it open and dig into the candy. Sometimes he’d actually wait a while because he liked admiring his perfect Easter basket sitting on the dining room table. No one else would touch it and when ready, he’d dig in.
After eating their Easter Sunday dinner at one point or another Doc Ryan would sit back in his chair with his china cup of coffee in front of him and start telling the family the story of the five-foot-tall chocolate Easter bunny. Back in 1890 in Reading, Pa., American shopkeeper named Robert Strohecker set up a five-foot-tall chocolate bunny as an Easter promotion in his department store.
By placing it in the window of his department store, passersby would see it. The very tall chocolate bunny was manufactured by the Luden Candy Company in Reading with instructions from Robert Strohecker.
Once people saw the oversized chocolate bunny in Strohecker’s department store, they wanted their own chocolate Easter bunnies. They’d be smaller chocolate bunnies of coursesmall enough to fit into Easter baskets or beside a dinner plate on the holiday. The hollow chocolate bunnies became popular because they were easy to eat. Some people liked getting the solid chocolate bunnies but they weren’t half as easy to consume.
Paul agreed with his dad that choc-
olate bunnies were the best - and not just on Easter - so why was it hard to get them the rest of the year? Doc Ryan laughed and said he didn’t know, that
holidays come at certain times of the year and certain candies and traditions help make them special.
Doc Ryan told his family that he saw a photo of Robert Strohecker standing outside next to that five-foot-tall chocolate bunny and because of its tall ears, it was taller than him.
Later that night, while Mrs. Ryan was doing the dishes, she told the kids their dad liked telling that story because he’d grown up in New Holland, Pa., which is just a few miles away from Reading. People would travel miles, he’d often say, to see the oversized
chocolate bunny in the store’s window. It was a sure sign that spring was here, the snow would melt, the flowers would bloom again, and on Easter Sunday people would gather in churches and homes to celebrate the magnificent holiday of Jesus Christ’s resurrection.
Jeff recalled one year when Easter fell on April 18 and the forecast was for a warm, pleasant day. The Ryans invited Jeff’s family to celebrate Easter together on the boat and they said it sounded like fun. Meeting at the dock after Easter Mass at church they hopped aboard and Doc Ryan took them for a spin. While steering Doc Ryan would get so engrossed no one could disrupt him. Paul proudly wore his cap that said, “Cappy’s Boy.” The others chatted as Doc piloted and they admired the view of the shoreline from the water. Inhaling the fresh air and feeling grateful, they disembarked and waited for another Easter to roll around. It would be a very special day.
This is fiction.
Happy Easter, Happy Passover and Happy Spring to all!
Social Security’s privacy laws are a topic I’ve covered in past columns. But I can tell from my emails that it’s time I do so again.
I recall my days as a trainee with the Social Security Administration. And gosh, that was more than 50 years ago now! The very first thing drilled into our heads was that a law called the Privacy Act prevented us from disclosing any information about anyone’s Social Security record to anyone else other than the record holder himself or herself.
Almost all Americans agree that the law makes sense. You certainly don’t want the government sharing earnings or benefit information from your Social Security files with other people. And “other people” means everyone -- including spouses and other family members. This isn’t too much of an issue for most families and for most married couples. For example, I know what my wife’s Social Security benefit is and she knows what I am getting. That’s because we share that information with each other.
But if we weren’t that kind of a sharing couple, I would not be able to call the SSA to find out what she is getting, and she would not be able to call the SSA to find out what I am getting. The government, or at least the Social Security Administration, is very strict about upholding these privacy laws.
And that can sometimes lead to problems when people are trying to get Social Security information about a family member or spouse for legitimate reasons. Today’s emails provide examples of this.
Q: I am trying to help my 90-yearold mother with a Social Security problem. She never got the 1099 form from the Social Security Administration that she needs to file her tax return. She lives in California. I live in Arizona. So, I went to my local Social Security office. The clerk I talked to seemed very friendly and said she would see to it that another 1099 was sent to her. But several weeks went by and my mother never got the form. So, I went back to our local office and this time talked to a different agent. This person said that with my mother’s permission, he would print out the form and mail it to her. We called my mom and of course she gave him permission to do so. Then he printed out the form. He gave me an envelope and asked me to write my mom’s address on the envelope. Then he put the 1099 form inside the envelope and put it in the office’s outgoing mail. I was a little upset and kept telling this agent that he should just give me the form and I would get it to my mom. But he said the law prevented him from doing this. Can you help me understand this?
A: Just reread the first couple paragraphs of this column and you should
understand what’s going on. Obviously, you were just trying to help your mother. But again, the law is VERY clear on this. The Social Security representative was simply following the law. In fact, he would have gotten into serious trouble and possibly could have been fired if he gave your mother’s 1099 to you. And rather than being upset with him, I think you should have thanked him. Rather than push a few buttons to have the SSA’s central 1099 system mail another form to your mother (as the first clerk you talked to did -- with no results), this guy took the time to call your mother, print out the form, and mail it directly to her himself.
Q: I was married to my husband for over 30 years. He was an old-fashioned man who said that “a woman’s place is in the home,” so he never let me get an outside job. Therefore, I have no Social Security of my own. On the other hand, he was a doctor and made a very nice living, and I’m sure he will be due a comfortable Social Security retirement benefit. About two years ago, he left me and married one of his young nurses. At least our divorce decree left me with our house and a little bit of money. I am about to turn 62. He is 67. I am trying to decide if I should file for my share of his Social Security now, or if I should wait until I am older and get a higher rate. My husband won’t tell me if he has applied for Social Security and/or how much he is due. I called the Social Security help line and was told that the law prevented them from telling me what I am due on his Social Security account. How can I make a decision if I don’t have all the facts?
A: First I am going to give you a ballpark of what you might be due on your ex-husband’s Social Security account. Then I will help you get more precise information from the people at the SSA.
Because your ex was a doctor, let’s assume he probably paid the maximum amount into Social Security all his life, meaning he will likely qualify for a very high monthly Social Security benefit. That rate is currently in the $3,800 range. At age 62, you’d be due about a third of that, or around $1,250 per month. If you wait until your full retirement age to file, then you would get a 50% rate, or $1,900.
But you should be able to get precise figures from the Social Security Administration. You said you tried and were told they couldn’t share that information with you. I’m afraid you talked to a bit of an overzealous Social Security rep who is taking the laws about privacy of Social Security records a little too literally.
I suggest you call them back and hope you get a more informed and reliable representative. He or she will NOT be able to tell you if your husband has applied for Security benefits or how much he is getting (or what he is potentially due). But the rep can tell you how much you would be eligi-
ble for on his account.
There is a chance you may have to do this in person at your local Social Security office. And that’s because, technically, to get that information, you’re going to have to prove to the SSA that you are who you say you are and that you are poten-
tially due divorced wife’s benefits on his account. So, you will need your own ID, and you will have to show them a marriage certificate and divorce papers. And of course, it will greatly help if you have your ex’s Social Security number.
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In the current real estate market, purchasing a coop has been challenged by the rules and regulations that go hand in hand with completing the required board application and successfully passing the interview. Acceptable income, credit, and debtto-income ratios will go a long way in reaching that happy ending. However, all boards in Nassau County have no outside oversight and accountability, as Suffolk County does. When a board turns down an applicant there, the board must respond within 45 days to explain to the respective applicant the reason(s) why.
In Nassau, there aren’t regulations that provide feedback to the purchaser when they are turned down. This allows those few who may indiscriminately decide not to allow a buyer to purchase. Discrimination does exist with some boards. However, I have no concrete statistics to back this up except for those that I have spoken to whose financials, debt/income ratios and credit seemed more than adequate to be accepted; but were not.
Buyers in Nassau County have no basis to go by as to the basic requirements. They are truly in the dark and there is no barometer or gauge to no what is necessary and expected. Board members want excellent income, debt-to-income ratios, and high credit scores. However, there are always extenuating circumstances that would allow those with specific situations to pass a board. In those situations, there is no wiggle room with people that sit on a board.
I spoke in front of the Nassau County Legislature about five years ago conveying the amount of time it took for a board review and the discrimination issue. It was taking up to three months to get to a closing. I explained that there was an excessive amount of time to facilitate our transactions. The legislators passed a law that gave management companies 45 days to review and expedite the buyer’s board package and set up a board review for the prospective purchaser.
This was predicated on management receiving all the required information on the application. If additional information is needed, then the additional time is provided to management.
BY PHILIP A. RAICES
If this isn’t done efficiently, the board receives a warning from Nassau County for the first infraction, the 2nd time the regulations are not followed within the time constraints, then a $2000 fine is levied and $2000 for every infraction afterward. To date, I have yet to determine if any coop board has been warned or even fined. New York City and its five Boroughs have a different set of rules and regulations.
However, some coops in Bayside and other Queens towns, provide simple guidance to those prospective purchasers. There is an income structure, whereby if you earn $60,000, you would qualify for a studio, $75,000 qualified for a 1 bedroom, and $100,000 qualified for a 2 bedroom. However, credit and debt-to-income ratios also had an impact on whether or not a buyer will pass a board review. But at least there is a basic parameter to go by from the get-go. This makes it easier for brokers to ascertain who may qualify and who might not.
This would be an excellent starting point for all coops in Nassau County. Moreover, even providing some basic guidelines for minimum credit and debt-to-income ratios would benefit all parties. Less time would be wasted by brokers as well as management and coop boards. We would know who would be most qualified to pass a board. More important less money would be lost by those who thought they would pass a board but did not. I realize this is another way managements earn some of their income by application fees; unfortunately, there is a “no refund” policy when purchasers do not pass the board review.
Continued from previous page
Finally, one other thing you should know: A divorced woman can file for spousal benefits even if her ex hasn’t yet filed himself. If you decide you want to take spousal benefits now, then file a claim right away.
If you have a Social Security question, Tom Margenau has two books with all the answers. One is called “Social Security -Simple
COPYRIGHT 2024 CREATORS.COM
I think it’s time for the Nassau County Legislature to finally pass a law similar to Suffolk County, which would provide clandestine information and reasons why those buyers didn’t pass the board review. This also would minimize buyer discrimination that might be occurring and in turn would educate them as to what they would need to do going forward to meet the requirements to purchase.
This could minimize and maybe almost eliminate our wasted time, guessing whether or not our clients would pass the review. Having some basic guidelines would be a great help. Right now it’s a guessing game to know what the coop board’s requirements are as each building has different parameters for purchasing. Having a basic template for all brokers to go by would simplify the process and enable management to process packages more efficiently and expeditiously. There would be more buyers to be able to pass the board review.
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Hoping you, your Family, Friends, and Business associates have a Healthier, Safer, Happier, and more Lucrative 2024!
Philip A. Raices is the owner/Broker of Turn Key Real Estate at 3 Grace Ave Suite 180 in Great Neck. He has 42+ of years experience in the Real Estate industry and has earned designations as a Graduate of the Realtor Institute (G.R.I.) and also as a Certified International Property Specialist (C.I.P.S.) and has earned his National Association of Realtors “Green Industry designation for eco-friendly low carbon footprint construction with 3-D printed foundations, Solar panels, Geo-thermal HVAC/Heat Pumps).
He will provide you a copy of “Unlocking the Secrets of Real Estate’s New Market Reality, and his Seller’s and Buyer’s Guides for “Things to Consider when Selling, investing or Purchasing your Home.
He will also provide you with “free” regular updates of what has gone under contract (pending), been sold (closed) and those homes that have been withdrawn/ released or expired (W/R) and all new listings of homes, HOA, Townhomes, Condos, and Coops in your town or go to https://WWW.Li-RealEstate.Com and you can “do it yourself (DYI) and search on your own. For a “FREE” no obligation 15-minute consultation, as well as a “FREE printout or digital value analysis of what your home might sell for in today’s market without any obligation or “strings” attached call Philip at (516) 647-4289.
Getting organized is like dieting. Everyone knows how to do it, but the problem is getting around to it -- to clearing out clutter, cleverly organizing what remains and then maintaining the results.
When we remodeled our kitchen a few years ago, I emptied every cupboard and drawer, carefully labeling every box and bin with its contents. That process alone ran a few red flags up the pole. I found things I’d forgotten completely. When it was time to put everything back, I decided to put things away as I actually used them -- not with the mindset that I might need them someday.
I quickly realized why it was such a problem to keep the kitchen neat and tidy. It is impossible to organize chaos. I needed to clear out everything first. Funny how that cleared my mind as well.
Getting rid of the unused items that obviously had become unnecessary created space to organize the essentials.
TOO. MUCH. STUFF.
Face it. If you don’t have enough closet, drawer and storage space to comfortably handle your possessions, you probably own too many things. Give away; pare down. Let your rooms, closets and drawers appear serene and controlled.
There’s no single “right” way to organize your possessions and home. Organization must fit your style, energy and schedule. Find a system that functions best for you and your family.
No matter the way you do it, let this be your mantra: Eliminate and concentrate. Say it over and over. Then say it some more.
Eliminate: I will admit to this being very difficult for me. I have this thing in my head that says someday I’ll need it. It’s worth a lot. It has value. After all, the power grid might go down any second, and these candle stubs could save the day. Just articulating those words makes me laugh and prompts me to do the right thing: eliminate any way I can.
Concentrate: It’s ridiculous how the things we really do need get scattered all over the house in random drawers and cupboards. Getting everything similar into one place is also a shocking experience. Yes, we need that thing; whatever it might be. But do we really need 18 of them?!
Getting rid of the clutter is a good place to start. Personally, I’m fond of the brown bag method for instant results -something that works wonders, especially when you are at your wit’s end over clutter and chaos.
Take one (more as necessary) large brown paper grocery bag, bin or box and fill it with all of the stacks of extraneous papers, magazines and mail; your basic clutter. The purpose here is not to throw anything away, but just to get it out of visual range until you have time to sort and file. At least that’s what you tell yourself.
Stand back and enjoy that completely clear counter, desktop, table or another flat surface. Amazing, isn’t it?
If no one in the family has mentioned missing something of importance within 48 hours or so, it is probably safe to throw the whole thing out. While this may be a method of last resort, I guarantee it works.
A more preferred way to get organized may be the salami method. You wouldn’t think of eating an entire salami in one sitting. You’d eat it in slices over a period of time, right? Think of your project as one big salami. Start with one thing. One room. One closet. One drawer. Tomorrow is another day; another drawer and another attic. Soon you’ll be in control.
I’ve learned that gaining control over the stuff in my life has an effect on my attitude. When everything is in its place, I’m less stressed, able to think clearly and a happier person, basically. Order brings calm; clutter results in chaos.
I have found some kind of comfort in knowing that I’m not the only organizationally challenged person out there. Just the other day, I was reading that the ratio of naturally-born neatniks to messies is about one to a million.
Not everyone has a severe case of the messies, but if you think you might, you need to read “Sink Reflections” by Marla Cilley.
Cilley, aka “The FlyLady” to the
thousands who log onto her website Flylady.net, kindly and with great empathy reaches into every person’s home to help make housecleaning more fun and life more organized.
Beginning with Shiny Sink 101, Cilley explains how a spotless kitchen sink can direct even the most discouraged housekeeper onto the path of well-ordered domesticity. And who wouldn’t love that?
Mary invites you to visit her at EverydayCheapskate.com, where this column is archived complete with links and resources for all recommended products and services. Mary invites questions and comments at https://www.everydaycheapskate.com/contact/, “Ask Mary.” This column will answer questions of general interest, but letters cannot be answered individually. Mary Hunt is the founder of EverydayCheapskate.com, a frugal living blog, and the author of the book “DebtProof Living.”
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BY JEFF RUGGQ: We have a new landscape, and we want to plant trees that will help with climate change. Any suggestions?
A: What is your definition of climate change? Do you think your area is going to get warmer or colder? What are you trying to accomplish by planting a tree? Are you planting the tree to absorb carbon or to shade the house? Will a tree block future solar panels?
Trees are a zero-sum game when it comes to holding onto carbon or reducing the amount of carbon in the atmosphere. Trees use large amounts of carbon and other elements such as hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. They use smaller amounts of copper, iron, magnesium, zinc and other elements. All of these materials are combined in many ways to make numerous chemicals for use by the plant.
Some elements and chemicals are released back into the air and water almost continuously. Others are released in large quantities on a seasonal basis, such as when leaves fall off trees in the fall. Bacteria, fungi, insects and other an-
imals consume the leaves, flower petals, leaf bud scale, and pieces of shed bark, recycling the chemicals into their own bodies and into manure. All of this recycling is called the nutrient cycle. It is a never-ending loop of elements moving through one organism to another. Every time you eat part of a plant, you are recycling nutrients as part of this cycle.
Tree trunks, branches and large roots do hold elements and chemicals from weeks to centuries, but in the end, all of the elements in the wood will rot away as part of the nutrient cycle. Trees only hold nutrients temporarily.
In the short term, planting as many long-lived trees as you can will help store elements for a few decades. Forest trees of virtually every species live much longer than any tree planted in an urban or
suburban environment. Even long-lived trees are not going to live long if they are not planted in the proper location. Before planting any tree, you will need to investigate the soil type, drainage, sun exposure, hardiness zone and wind direction. Buying trees for planting by your local forest preserve district may be a better investment than planting the same trees in your landscape.
Wherever you live, there are forest trees that are native to your region that can grow for a long time if the soil in your landscape is appropriate. You will need to maintain the tree for the first few years to make sure it starts growing well from the beginning. In addition to the climate and microclimate considerations for planting a tree, you should also consider how the tree will fit into the landscape. Trees influence
their surroundings: They produce shade that can be beneficial as it lowers the need for air conditioning. They can block solar panels, not just in your landscape but in the neighbors’, so be sure to take that into account.
All existing tree species have survived thousands of years of climate change. They are much heartier and more adaptable than many people give them credit for. Native woodland habitats are not static. An area full of mature trees now was an area of immature trees 100 years ago. Those mature trees have survived 100 years of record cold, heat and drought. Forest fires constantly change woodlands into fields for decades until the trees can fill the landscape again.
I don’t want to discourage you from planting trees, but rather than considering “climate change” as a whole, it may be more important to take into account your short-term needs for trees.
Email questions to Jeff Rugg at info@ greenerview.com.
COPYRIGHT 2024 JEFF RUGG DISTRIBUTED BY CREATORSWeek of March 31 -- April 6, 2024
On April 8, we in North America will enjoy our first total solar eclipse in seven years, and the last until 2033. So unless you plan to travel to Barrow, Alaska, at that time, be sure to be watching next Monday!
Nearly everyone will want to photograph the sky show, but if you’d like the advice of a veteran of 18 total solar eclipses, here it is: If you’ve never experienced a total solar eclipse -- and believe me, you’d know if you had -- put your camera away and enjoy it.
Now since most readers will ignore my advice, I’ll offer some tips to shoot the eclipse.
First, the partial phases. Never forget that you’re photographing the sun. No camera, and certainly no eye, can handle its intense light without a proper solar filter in front of it.
Never view or photograph the sun or partial eclipse phases with the naked eye, sunglasses, neutral density glass, double thickness of darkened film, smoked glass or other homemade filters
Be sure to assemble and test all your gear in advance. This will give you experience in shooting the partial phases since your settings will be identical. You’ll soon realize that you’ll need a telephoto lens (or telescope) to produce a reasonably large image of the sun.
Before the eclipse begins, disable your autofocus. Next, aim toward a distant daylit landscape and, zooming the image larger on the LCD screen, focus it manually. Then, gently tape the focus barrel so it won’t move.
If you’ll be using a tripod, be sure you turn off your camera’s image stabilization. Disable your strobe, keep
your ISO relatively low and don’t be afraid to stop down the lens to ensure sharper images.
If you’ll be located along the eclipse centerline, you’ll also be treated to an unearthly spectacle, but these four minutes will be quite challenging for first-time eclipse photographers. Exposures can range anywhere from a fraction of a second to several seconds, depending on what you’re trying to capture and when. Visit mreclipse. com for specific tips.
Totality begins immediately after the “diamond ring,” and this is when you must remove all filters. Photography now becomes quite tricky because the lighting changes so rapidly. Now you’ve got some fast real-time choices to make: Zoom in and shoot the totally eclipsed sun itself or photograph the alien environment around you.
In the darkened blue sky, gorgeous sunset colors and a few of the brighter planets and stars will appear. To capture these with a wider-angle lens, you may wish to set your camera to aperture-priority, for example, and compose for the eclipse and environment together.
If you’ve never experienced a total solar eclipse, you will be stunned by how rapidly it passes, and you will soon realize how tough it is for even experienced eclipse chasers to capture great photos without missing the sky show.
I highly recommend putting the camera away and just taking in the enormity of all that’s happening around you. You will not be sorry.
Of course, there’s nothing to prevent you from pulling out your smartphone during totality to sneak a quick shot or two!
Visit Dennis Mammana at dennismammana.com. COPYRIGHT 2024 CREATORS.COM
I’d recommend focusing on the eclipse with your own (protected!) eyes, but if you insist on photographing it, I’ve got some tips.
BY: TRACY BECKERMANAccording to some experts, it’s advisable to practice taking care of something living before you have kids. A lot of people start out with a pet. But before you have pets, you might need to first be able to keep a houseplant alive. And if you find you really stink at this caretaking thing, you might even want to take one step back beyond that and start with an amoeba.
Before we plunged into parenthood, my husband and I felt confident we could move beyond the single-celled organism phase and start with a houseplant. So, we looked up which plants are supposed to be especially hearty and decided on an aloe plant.
And then I named it George.
“I think George needs to be watered,” I said to my husband. “His soil is dry.”
“How do you know the plant is a ‘he’?” he said.
“He leaves his socks on the floor,” I replied.
Meanwhile, I really had no idea whether George was thirsty or not. George was a succulent, like a cactus, and I had read that they should be watered deeply but infrequently. However, they did not say how frequently infrequently was. I wondered how taking care of this plant would truly help me know how to care for a newborn, other than being able to tell when my child needed to be watered and if the baby would grow better in direct or indirect sunlight.
“The website says after we repot George, we should ignore him for a week or so,” my husband said, reading from “The Care and Feeding of Your Succulent.”
“You mean, like, exclude him from conversations and pretend he’s not there?” I said. “That’s not very nice. And besides, I think it might affect his self-esteem.”
“They meant not to water him so he doesn’t get root rot.”
“ROOT ROT?” I exclaimed. “That
sounds horrible! Can our baby get root rot, too?”
“Probably only if we water him too much.”
It suddenly dawned on me that caring for this aloe plant was far more complicated than I’d anticipated, and I wondered if we should start over and work on “The Care and Feeding of Your Paramecium” instead.
I should mention here that I do come from a long line of green thumbs, so I was somewhat optimistic. My grandmother had a fabulous garden and lots of plants around the house, and so did my mom. Feeling confident, my first plant when I lived on my own was a ficus tree. It seemed really happy for the first week, but then one day I came home from work, and it had dropped every single leaf on the floor. It was completely bare. I had no idea what I had done wrong and decided it wasn’t my fault. It probably had a gene for baldness, just like my grandfather did.
So the aloe plant was not actually my first plant, but it was my first plant with my husband, and I thought, since we would be raising a child together, it made sense to raise an aloe plant together. The aloe plant thought otherwise. Within two weeks, the leaves of our thriving aloe plant had turned yellow, and then brown, and then dead.
“You watered it too much,” said my husband accusingly.
“That’s true,” I said. “But I learned an important lesson from this.”
“What?”
“I should bathe our child infrequently.”
Tracy Beckerman is the author of the Amazon Bestseller, “Barking at the Moon: A Story of Life, Love, and Kibble,” available on Amazon and Barnes and Noble online! You can visit her at www. tracybeckerman.com.
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INVITED ESTATE SALES
BY TRACY JORDAN is doing VIRTUAL TAG SALES and ONLINE AUCTIONS now! Sell the contents of an entire house or sell just a few things! You can host your own sale on invitedsales.com and Facebook and Instagram or we can do it for you. We can photograph, advertise and handle the winning pickups for you within a week!
Don’t worry about your closing date, we can get your house ready on time! We are a one stop service for all your needs when you are moving or selling a property! Selling, donating, discarding and cleaning out services can be done to meet your time frame with minimal stress. Contact info@invitedsales.com for more information or call 516-279-6378 to schedule a consultation or receive more information. Visit us at www.invitedsales. com for a listing of our upcoming Virtual Tag Sales and Weekly Auctions!
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Base
Easter eggs in all their pastel glory come to mind when pondering an important holy day on the Christian calendar. Easter eggs are great to hide and fun to find, but when they come in the form of a tasty dessert, celebrations become that much more festive.
“No-Bake Cheesecake
Serves 2
Base
1 medium chocolate Easter egg
35 grams unsalted butter
75 grams digestive biscuits
Filling
200 grams full-fat soft cheese (such as cream cheese or neufchâtel), at room temperature
1) Carefully split the Easter egg into two halves.
2) Melt the butter in the microwave in short bursts or in a small pan over a medium heat.
3) In a food processor, blitz the biscuits to a fine crumb, add the melted butter and pulse a few times until the mixture is well combined.
4) Divide the mixture equally between the two halves of the Easter egg, and very gently press down, without breaking the shell.
Filling
5) In a large bowl, whisk the cheese, vanilla extract and icing sugar until smooth. Add the double cream and cocoa powder and whisk again until smooth and thickened.
6) Divide the mixture evenly between the two
Eggs” are a confectionary twist on the chocolate eggs that are popular come Easter. Home chefs can have fun decorating and playing with the flavors of these treats. Try this recipe, courtesy of “Jane’s Patisserie Celebrate!”
(Sourcebooks) by Jane Dunn.
1⁄2 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 tablespoons icing sugar
100 milliliters double cream
25 grams cocoa powder
Decoration
50 grams milk chocolate, melted Easter chocolates
Sprinkles
Easter egg halves and smooth over as carefully as possible. Chill in the fridge for an hour or so until set.
Decoration
7) Drizzle the melted milk chocolate over the two halves and decorate with some Easter chocolates and sprinkles.
Editor’s note: Icing sugar also is known as confectioner’s sugar or powdered sugar. In the United States and Canada, “double cream” may not be readily available. Double cream has a higher butterfat content and is primarily sold in the UK. If double cream is not available, try substituting with heavy cream with the highest fat content you can find, but note that the consistency of the finished product may be slightly different.
This year’s annual “GC For A Cure,” sponsored by The Garden City Teachers’ Association (GCTA), will be held on May 4. Organizers have announced that this will be the final GC For A Cure Walk/Run.
The 5K and 1 Mile Run/Walk will start at 8:30 a.m. and 9:00 a.m., respectively. All proceeds will benefit Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, Kids Need More, Ronald McDonald House
Charities NY Metro, and the Michele White Scholarship Fund. Register today! Please help make this last “GC For A Cure” the best yet!
For more information about the event, to make a monetary donation,
donate a raffle basket, become a sponsor or to register to walk/run, please visit www.GCFORACURE.com or contact Kerry Calvert at gcforacure@ gmail.com.
S2C
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Easter is an amazing time at the Cathedral of the Incarnation! During Lent and Holy Week, the Cathedral has been preparing with constant opportunities to embrace the Good News of the Resurrection!
This past Friday, young members of the Cathedral of the Incarnation prepared for Holy Week and confirmation by spending the night in their historic church building, the tallest religious structure on Long Island. Activities included candlelight yoga (a weekly offering of the Cathedral), behind-thescenes tours of the newly restored high altar, and a long, late-night climb to the top of the spire 220 feet above Garden City, from which one sees the lights of the Freedom Tower and the whole New York City skyline. Cathedral Youth (grades 6–12) meet every month during the school year to complete a service project that reflects the virtues and values of the Christian faith. Friends and newcomers, of all religious backgrounds, are always welcome.
Saturday morning, our Altar Guild constructed the Palm Screen, an annual tradition of the Cathedral that must be seen to be appreciated! The construction is a communal project undertaken by volunteers who have as much fun and fellowship as they create this unique and stunning backdrop for Holy Week liturgies.
Palm Sunday, the start of Holy Week, is always one of our most anticipated services. Palm Sunday for Kids featured the Passion presented in an inter-
active and stimulating way that attracts the young and the young at heart! This year, Mother Kate Salisbury preached an engaging and lively sermon from the story rug where the children gather. Our 11:15 a.m. Mass featured our magnificent choir singing the Passion according to St. Mark composed for the Cathedral by Cortlandt Matthews in 2015.
Tuesday’s Chrism Mass was a visually and spiritually stunning liturgy during which Bishop Provenzano blessed the oils to be used in the coming year and accepted the renewal of ordination vows from over 150 diocesan priests.
Confirmations are celebrated annually at the Cathedral’s Easter Vigil, one of our most striking and solemn liturgies, which will be held this Saturday, March 30, at 7:30 p.m. Also at this beautiful liturgy, Bishop Provenzano will bless and rededicate our recently restored High Altar which now looks as it did in 1885.
On Sunday, we celebrate Easter with three Sunday Morning Liturgies: A traditional Mass (Think Elizabethan English) at 8 a.m., Easter for Kids! at 9:15 a.m., and the stirring 11:15 a.m. Choral Mass. After the Easter for Kids liturgy, at approximately 10 a.m., we welcome the whole community to enjoy
the Annual Cathedral Egg Hunt for toddler through elementary school age. The Easter Bunny and Cornelia the Unicorn (our own Cathedral Mascot) will be hiding over 6,000 eggs this year and will make an appearance for photos. Staff and volunteers look forward to the fun neighborhood kids will have collecting them! Bring your own basket and plan on being there!
The Cathedral serves as a House of Prayer for Long Island. All are welcome here! Please feel warmly invited to join us. See our ad in the Garden City News and visit incarnationgc.org for more information.
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increase of 2% or $240,000 from the prior year’s budget.
The village’s adopted GCPD salary-related budget amount from 20232024 (the current fiscal year) is to stay the same, but the forecast for the current year is actually lower – $11,222,000.
“Some of the forecast budget shortfall is due to unexpected departmental retirements, and we had a delay in waiting for the police academy to have spaces available for our hires. This increased amount is primarily due to filling of open positions and a transfer of one headcount from Administration with the Payroll function,” Jackson noted.
One of the major changes in preparing the Police Department budget includes the review of GCPD overtime costs. During the last 10 months, there were higher overtime costs due to injuries sustained while officers were making arrests. The waiting period for new officers to get into the academy also contributed to overtime. Commissioner Jackson reports that the GCPD will be collecting approximately $200,000 from Workers’ Compensation.
The department does expect budget increases in materials and equipment due to rises in costs. For police department software there is an increase too, of 22% year-over-year as a clerical decision helps GCPD shift from having its training and manual software cost separate; it will now be reallocated within software expenses.
The budget as proposed would include $25,000 more for GCPD’s maintenance of software line, up from the forecast budget for 2023-24 of $115,000 to $140,000 in the tentative 2024-2025 budget.
“In our software we are now leasing LPR’s (license plate readers) which recently helped us solve a major crime. We are also purchasing facial recognition software,” Jackson told the trustees.
Trustee Bruce Torino asked about the application of facial recognition technology and Commissioner Jackson noted it would be based on a tablet, with a two-week trial period prior to the completion of the purchase. He also relayed that Nassau County detectives have shared details on its worthwhile functions with GCPD detectives. Torino said facial recognition has been in use with some of his law practice’s clients and there are variations, but Commissioner Jackson indicated the public safety use in connection with cameras around the village.
The “Other Expenses” noted in the GCPD’s 2024-2025 budget includes purchases of firearms, equipment, medical supplies and services, special police and payment for retired officers to have to come testify at cases.
The commissioner said that the primary goal of the GCPD is to reduce the number of vehicular accidents.
He added, “We have comprehensive Traffic Enforcement and Parking Enforcement programs, and because of that we are about 20% down from our pre-pandemic totals (2019) for the number of accidents per year. But due to great work from the police officers and parking enforcement aides we are $250,000 and reaching higher than that in fines collected.”
The Police are anticipating $2.05 million in revenues for 2024-25, which includes $1.9 million as “fines and fees from state” which would be an increase of $300,000 – a 19% increase from the prior budget.
The GCPD has also received funding from Traffic Service grants and another that provides new safety vests for officers. The department also sees revenue from its vehicle impound fees.
A budget line, “Forfeiture from crime proceeds” is for when a major arrest involves forfeited proceeds, once a case is completed by the Nassau County District Attorney’s Office or any court handling the case.
The funds are first divided among victims of the crime, “to compensate for their loss” and then the GCPD can receive some funds. Jackson noted that at the end of fiscal years this amount of revenue is usually put towards covering the following year’s expense budget.
As part of the GCPD capital projects budget there is one new police vehicle that arrived with five more on order. Commissioner Jackson spoke about the normal rotation of three GCPD vehicles being added to replace older models each year, but because the village and police department received a CREST grant through the office of New York State Sen. Kevin Thomas, three more vehicles were ordered.
Police Vehicles and Equipment represent an existing capital project of $438,000, with $61,000 spent year-todate and $283,000 in encumbered project funds.
The commissioner said the GCPD tries to ensure it has a strong set of vehicles to best prepare for emergency response situations. The commissioner also spoke very highly of the excellent staff of mechanics and repair technicians who work at the Village of Garden City Yard, and keep all vehicles performing well. He credited their work and the robust repair schedule.
Still, the need for more cars was examined and realized with the grant from the state senator’s office, he said.
“Since we’ve expanded our force with part-timers we now have six cars that have over 100,000 miles on them that need to be replaced. In the police world, due to the idling time, that is comparable to a vehicle having 300,000
miles on it. The end-of-life for a police vehicle is at that point (100,000) but some of the cars, especially unmarked vehicles, can be moved down to other divisions of the village (municipal) fleet that do not respond to emergency calls,” he explained.
The five-year capital project budget for police vehicles and equipment, projected through the 2028-29 fiscal year, totals $1.284 million with the amounts set to increase steadily in each of the coming budget years. For 2027-28, the project line is expected to increase up to $269,000.
A few equipment items that were not specifically budgeted can become valuable for assisting the GCPD in its duties such as fingerprinting machines and cameras. Jackson said the Investigations Unit has seen the benefits.
An item he brought up would be an investment in police body-worn cameras and their accessories, which can aid in both police investigations and ensuring officers’ integrity, Jackson noted.
The GCPD received a $100,000 grant from the New York Division of Criminal Justice Services to offset the budgeted expense. The capital projects’ budget Commissioner Jackson presented includes a five-year plan for $375,000 with the body cameras’ expense for 202425 but not repeating the costs during the next four budget years after this.
2nd Deputy Mayor Lawrence Marciano asked the commissioner if the present number of full-time GCPD officers is adequate. Jackson responded that the recent increase to 55 is already paying dividends.
“Thanks to the Board of Trustees, I recently offered a position to the 55th officer. There are three officers in police academies now – two in the Suffolk County academy and one in Nassau County’s. The number of officers we now have is a great benefit and is already helping our Investigations Unit, and will also be assisting in traffic enforcement – especially in the next few months, likely around June, when they finish academy training and on-the-job experience,” Jackson said.
Trustee Ed Finneran noted the authorization of up to eight new police officers that were hired within the past 13 months, to replace “two years” worth of staff – with five retirements and three new hires.
Finneran asked what the GCPD coverage in the village would be if the department increased in size to 60 fulltime officers. Jackson said that five more would mean further supplementing the traffic enforcement and patrol divisions.
The Gun Range refurbishment capital project will continue for budget year 2024-25, as to-date just $13,000 of
the budgeted $198,000 was encumbered. Remaining project work involves the removal of lead contaminants as well as older steel support structures inside the basement of GCPD headquarters, based upon the reviews by village engineers. To fund this work, Commissioner Jackson’s proposed departmental budget requests $110,000 more for the upcoming fiscal year.
He explained the value of officers’ training sessions with the refurbished gun range. The requirement for GCPD is to train once a year, at Nassau County’s outdoor range. The in-house gun range provides many more opportunities for training, “to help our officers with proficiency and to teach them safety with handling weapons.”
Another capital project budgeted at $71,000 was for data processing, for the purchases of three computers to outfit police vehicles, including thermal imaging to help GCPD with its investigations. Of the project amount the yearto-date total expense was $32,000.
Commissioner Jackson told the Board the department has also prepared a budget for a “new mobile data system” to transmit information between police vehicle computers (in separate cars) and from the police vehicles to headquarters.
“We were surveying new products but we’ve decided to utilize a smaller (budget) amount to fix our current system and update our server – we feel that is adequate at this time because we like the product we had the most,” he said.
Regarding data processing, the GCPD has also evaluated the potential end-ofuseful life for its RMS (records management system) as many Long Island villages and municipalities use the program. The commissioner is working with colleagues across the area to find other functional systems to organize and store police data. He outlined a potential consortium that finds the best vendor, which can therefore help secure better pricing for participants.
“We’ve studied about five programs already. We figured if we looked together as one we might get some better pricing, and we are not just doing it with supervisors, we are bringing police dispatch staff with us to meetings as they will be utilizing software and systems more than anybody. We just visited the City of Long Beach to check out an option,” he advised the trustees.
He hopes for another grant from the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services to provide funding for a system upgrade.
Once every two years the GCPD capital projects’ budget includes an update for the radio and communications equipment. The GCPD belongs to the countywide digital service for commu-
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individuals, and they will be receiving these payments until they each turn 62.
The payments are part of a settlement made with the firefighters’ union after the village abolished the paid firefighters’ jobs.
The budget line for GCFD’s “Other Expenses” is projected to rise to $69,000, up from the 2023-24 forecast budget of $67,000. ‘Other Expenses’ includes costs of maintenance of software, gas, oil and Fire Prevention Day (a community safety and awareness educational program).
There is also a slight uptick for the budgeted amount to maintain the three Garden City firehouses, rising from the $50,000 to $53,000.
Benefits and taxes were not included in the outlined 2024-25 budget, but Taunton said the cost, including the amounts for retirees, are approximately $1.2 million.
Trustee Ed Finneran asked Village Treasurer Irene Woo about that amount and she said this was a part of the village’s “Unallocated Expenses” budget which includes benefits for employees and retirees in the General Fund.
The Fire Department training facility capital project was included for the 2024-25 Budget as $3.9 million remaining on the project will be bonded. This project was approved in the village’s 2023-24 Capital Plan. The estimated cost of the training facility is $5.4 million, of which $1.5 million was allocated for concrete paving at the Village Yard – that amount is currently available in the Road Paving Capital Project.
Recently GCFD leadership decided
on the layout and functions for the new training site, which will be put in the hands of the Department of Public Works to complete the project.
Mayor Mary Carter Flanagan and Trustee Ed Finneran asked to hear some more details on the training facility project. Assistant Chief Taunton said the GCFD’s committee surveyed over half-a-dozen training sites/facilities on Long Island and helped by narrowing down the options, ultimately meeting with two vendors who provided layouts, site plan analysis and price ranges.
“We’ve tried to complete our due diligence and make sure we get the best training facility for our volunteers. At the Yard site, Superintendent Borroni was able to allocate a specific area where GCFD could conduct trainings – there will be as much training as possible incorporated into the area and facility, so this structure will be able to support several drills. We will be practicing pulling hose lines off fire trucks; place ladders up against the buildings and perform the necessary duties while practicing and instructing members in a safe environment,” Taunton said.
The GCFD members will be trained with smoke machines simulating fire emergencies, “to make it realistic” as Chief Taunton says this will be the best way for them to train and develop situational awareness as they study the information. The Fire Department also outlined its goal to combine resources with third-party vendors at the training facility “to maximize our training abilities.”
The much-discussed renovations for
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“One of our older servers which serves as a domain controller started to not operate properly. It is one of our oldest servers but we have other servers carrying the load of primary file servers. Our Computer Support Librarian Joe Agolia first worked with HP tech support, and then we reached a point where it wasn’t responding. I reached out to Ralph one evening and this tech support became a big help,” Malagon explained.
The contractor worked with Administrator Suozzi to provide GCPL with resources immediately, and they did so under the Village of Garden City’s IT contract.
“This contract presents a limited engagement for three months but that’s the type of solutions and resources we
GCFD Fire Station No. 2 in the west (on Edgemere Road and Stewart Avenue), has a capital project amount of $952,000 budgeted, with $182,000 encumbered, and a budgeted cost of $731,000 remaining for the project.
For the five-year capital budget planning, the total project amount for renovations was $5.05 million, which was a rough estimate from a few years ago. To date the official price quote and site sketches were still being coordinated between the new architect and the village’s Building Department.
The coming year’s budgeted costs for capital projects include asbestos abatement and roof repairs for Station No. 2, plus any emergency work, as well as a new door at Fire Station No. 3 in the East.
The largest GCFD capital project involving a new fire apparatus and equipment costs $1,205,000 with $999,000 of that encumbered. The fiscal year-todate actual cost for the project is $99,000 and $107,000 remains on the project budget. The brand-new GCFD apparatus is still being built and its delivery is scheduled for later this year.
The GCFD Radio Infrastructure capital project has $254,000 budgeted for the fiscal year with $44,000 encumbered; the year-to-date actual cost is $29,000 with a remaining (budgeted) balance of $181,000.
“This is a project we’re doing to improve our radio infrastructure in the village. As you know Garden City is a very wide village, so our radios’ reception needs to be improved on the outlying ends. During the pandemic our receipt of equipment and materials was delayed due to shipping, and the project continuing at Station No. 2 also held us up for a little bit. Working with a vendor, we’re going to be working around Station No. 2 to continue upgrades and enhancements for radio infrastructure – that is underway, as well as improve-
ments in the East around Station No. 3,” Chief Taunton told the village trustees.
A GCFD capital project for $100,000 budgeted for the coming fiscal year would create a permanent monument honoring GCFD members who have served the community for over 50 years. The small monument would be built outside of Village Hall and Fire Station Headquarters at 351 Stewart Avenue, and the names would be displayed to thank the firefighters for their dedication and commitment.
Over the longer term, budgeted amounts for Fire Apparatus and Equipment capital projects include $88,000 in FY 2025-2026 to replace a 2015 Chevy Tahoe that is a fire chief’s vehicle, plus $123,000 the following year (2026-2027) to replace the air compressor which fills air tanks firefighters wear on their backs for emergencies.
A whopping $2,113,000 capital project budget cost is outlined for FY 20272028 to replace the current aerial ladder truck, which has been in service for close to 25 years. Chief Taunton told the Board that the current costs and increases in the price of building a new fire truck to meet specifications would be escalating to that amount by the time the replacement is needed.
After Trustee Bruce Torino’s question on the timeline to have the truck in service once the money is allocated, Taunton said with different manufacturers the process to build a custom truck could take between one year and four years.
“How far from the end of the ladder truck’s lifespan should we anticipate getting the replacement apparatus?” Torino asked. Chief Taunton said the 2027-28 fiscal year appears to be in line, and there will be a GCFD committee formed for research and contacts within the industry to inform the next large apparatus purchase.
need. Depending on our Board’s considerations for the Library budget it will continue throughout the next year,” he noted.
To look at progress in tech solutions, Suozzi told the trustees that at Village Hall there used to be 12 different servers of different ages and operating systems. Network and device service or upgrades weren’t being performed in a timely fashion, and there were issues present. He notes that the village has “virtualized” server functions and the IT solutions included the Board approvals for software upgrades and firewalls – the IT department can now identify issues based on IP address.
“It has become a totally different tech environment than when I came here in spring 2014, so thank you (Board) for supporting that,” he commented.
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nications, which is encrypted and 500 MHz.
The commissioner said Nassau County’s system will soon be changed to an 800 MHz. The GCPD also has a legacy radio communications system which is still functional, both as a backup and for the connections to ambulance services.
A budgeted amount of $100,000 covers the $85,000 in funds encumbered for the project, with $15,000 remaining in the budget, causing the need for an
increased allocation.
“We need tri-band radios as every other year we have been buying handheld and mobile radios – eventually, for safety reasons, we want every police officer to have their own radio. We need upgrades for the models to run on the 500 MHz, the 800 MHz and the legacy systems – these are high-quality and durable radios but the unfortunate part is that they’re very expensive,” Jackson told the Board.
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Deputy Mayor Bruce Chester asked if the village received any refund or credit from the contractor for the work because the flooring was not constructed to the expected standards.
Borroni said the village didn’t receive a credit on the project. “I was pursuing the option of getting a credit from the contractor as we hired a third-party inspector who is certified to inspect laminate flooring. His recommendation was that the repairs had been completed with no continued concerns of buckling and tripping hazards, and said ‘it would be best practice to not perform any further repairs – so we could determine if the floor has stabilized throughout this winter cycle and into the summer months.’ They noted, if the buckling returns this would be an indication of a need for further, more needed moisture mitigation as there are moisture issues in the Senior Center building. Crawl space vents are missing so that is related to the expansion and contraction of the floor,” he told the Board.
Deputy Mayor Chester wanted to know why there was a need for the
maintenance bond from Preferred Construction Inc. if they are the original contractor for the project, and why they didn’t have an obligation to re-do the entire floor at the senior center.
Borroni again stated the recommendation of the third-party flooring inspector to not have any further repairs performed now. He added that there are the other issues aside from the physical flooring and materials that are impacting the installation and performance of the new floor.
Village Administrator Ralph Suozzi noted that the maintenance bond is intended to protect the village on this capital project investment. Trustee Finneran wanted to find out the parameters for the village to make a claim, as outlined with the performance bond.
Administrator Suozzi then shared that the floor has been deemed functional and there aren’t pressing issues to address. The village and contractor were both facing the underlying problem – literally, with the underfloor being a concern besides the laminate flooring product. He says if any issues arise then the option would have to be considered for a better, more expensive
flooring product.
“The laminate flooring probably wasn’t the right application for the senior center and that is on us. Nevertheless once they put it down (installed) there were changes that needed to be made, and the contractor made those changes. We did call the expert inspectors in and though the material and quality might not be the preferred floor, it is functional. It is not buckling. This was a choice the village made and we did not expect the problems we’ve had. If we get through this summer season and then moisture content could increase and it could start buckling, we would call them back in to fix it,” he told the trustees.
Suozzi was clear that addressing HVAC problems at the senior center would likely improve the flooring situation, though the bond acceptance for $125,000 serves as the guarantee over the short-term.
Superintendent of Recreation and Parks Paul Blake was asked by Trustee Finneran if there were any recent issues with the flooring that the Recreation Department has noticed or heard about.
Mr. Blake advised the board, “the
floor is now performing as it should.” He said the floor has been working well and not seen further issues, and nothing bad such as tripping hazards appear to be evident of late.
He said there were issues noted up until the last set of repairs, but when Preferred Construction came in along with the third-party expert the floor was put down correctly.
“It has remained down without any buckling and there are no expanded areas. As Mr. Borroni indicated the problem with the building dates to when it was constructed – there should have been ventilation put in underneath the crawl space and that was never added. The moisture comes up through the crawl space and into the ‘living area’ and that contributed to the expanding of the wood floor,” Blake told the trustees.
At the end of this discussion, Mayor Mary Carter Flanagan noted that the period the maintenance bond is valid for (the next 18 months) would be guaranteed to see the subject revisited and more dialogue about the conditions of the flooring, and the impact created on the materials by some programs and HVAC issues at the senior center.
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Judy Courtney, Jessica Tai and Vinny Muldoon will be sworn in for their respective terms. Trustee Bruce Torino, who was the only current trustee to be re-elected will begin a second two-year term as a Village Board member. Torino also served as a trustee previously, just over 20 years ago.
Mayor Mary Carter Flanagan was very emotional in thanking the three gentlemen exiting service on the Village Board “from the bottom of my heart,” she stated. They each worked closely with the mayor – Mr. Sullivan for his one-year term, and trustees Marciano and Kelly for the last two years.
“I have watched you work incredibly hard over the past year and two years to always protect our village and serve the residents. The list is long of what we’ve accomplished with you on the team… The Village of Garden City is safer and better because of the three of you, and your impact will be felt for generations in the future,” the mayor said.
Among the many highlights of the three trustees’ tenures on the board, she noted the hiring of a Water Department Superintendent (Stanley Carey), the hiring of a Village Arborist and Horticulturist (Joe Umana), the parkland designation ordinance for neighborhood parks/playgrounds.
Mayor Carter Flanagan also mentioned the law restricting property rentals as “Airbnb or Vrbo” listings, which was not on Garden City’s books until the past year.
“We also have on the books a law pertaining to abandoned homes, in response to residents’ concerns about homes on their blocks,” Carter Flanagan stated. She then glanced over at Trustee Charles Kelly and acknowledged his efforts, and said “we now have completely transformed the village’s approach to traffic solutions and management.”
The mayor also extended congratulations to the successful CAP candidates, as some of them attended the March 21 Village Board meeting as audience members.
Mayor Carter Flanagan was elected to the Board with the original five-member slate of FABGC candidates in March of 2021.
Of those five, the two remaining going into the 2024-25 village year are the mayor and 1st Deputy Mayor Bruce
Chester. Chester and Kelly were both elected to two-year terms in March of 2022 with the second slate of FABGC candidates. Sullivan entered his Village Board role in April 2023, as Mayor Carter Flanagan appointed him to fill a board vacancy with one year remaining on the term.
Village Treasurer Irene was the first to acknowledge the occasion of the March 21 meeting as the very last with Trustees Kelly, Sullivan and Marciano on the dais. She expressed her thanks to each of them, and noted that Trustee Sullivan served as the chairperson of the village’s Finance and Audit Committee during his one year on the Board.
“Finance Department staff and myself enjoyed working with you over this past year – thank you very much!” Woo said.
Village Trustee Ed Finneran echoed the sentiment on the dedication of the trustees leaving service: “It’s important to talk about the time commitment and the sacrifices that we (village trustees) knowingly and for the most part, quite happily, have taken on. There is a lot of work behind the scenes and a lot of work to do canvassing on different issues across the village, and it’s a particular aspect of this (Board) job that I know folks appreciate involving sacrifices made at home and with families. For that, we thank you,” Trustee Finneran commented.
A Garden City resident for most of his lifetime, Village Superintendent of Recreation and Parks Paul Blake shared his thanks for the trustees leaving service in the coming days.
“I extend my thanks to Trustees Kelly, Marciano and Sullivan. Over the past year I’ve had the opportunity to work with all three of them, and I found it both productive and enjoyable. We probably had one more laugh than we should have, but it was a great time. I thank you all for stepping up to serve our village,” Superintendent Blake noted.
Garden City’s Department of Building Superintendent Giuseppe Giovanniello also offered his best regards to the trustees leaving service at March’s end. “I echo the comments of Treasurer Irene Woo and wishes for the trustees leaving us. Thanks for everything and it was a pleasure working with all of you,” he said.
Police Commissioner Kenneth Jackson thanked the three outgo-
ing trustees and noted that it was a good and informative year of Deputy Mayor Marciano’s work with the GCPD. Jackson expressed his appreciation for everything Marciano did in his liaison role, and then he reflected on Trustee Kelly’s diligence in leading the Garden City Traffic Commission. “We’ve made a lot of improvements in the roads to safeguard the residents so thank you very much,” he said.
Deputy Mayor Marciano said he and his family have found the Garden City Police officers and staff to represent “the pinnacle of professionalism” in performing their duties.
“Thank you from the bottom of my heart for all the services you and the GCPD have provided for myself and my family,” Marciano told Commissioner Jackson.
Village Administrator Ralph V. Suozzi spoke about great work done by the outgoing trustees as he coordinated with them on many different efforts in Garden City.
“I too want to thank and congratulate Trustees Sullivan, Kelly and Marciano as it really was a pleasure working with all of you and your dedication was outstanding. Trustee Sullivan, I am so happy we worked to get the budget for capital projects to under $10 million after starting at well over $27 million — and I need to call former Trustee Terry Digan to let him know this!” Suozzi said. The rest of the Board of Trustees then took a moment to applaud Sullivan’s efforts in leading the Finance and Audit Committee for 2023-2024.
Administrator Suozzi also called Trustee Kelly’s work on the Traffic Commission “outstanding” and jokingly apologized for passing the torch on most traffic items to Superintendent of Public Works John Borroni so often.
Village Attorney Gary Fishberg shared his best wishes for the outgoing trustees and said it was a pleasure working with the three of them. He added a warm welcome for the newly-elected trustees who will be sworn in on April 1, and said he hopes they successfully fill the shoes of the outgoing trustees. He also congratulated Trustee Torino for “staying in the same shoes” with his election victory.
First Deputy Mayor Bruce Chester expressed his gratitude for the service to Garden City 2nd Deputy Mayor Marciano, Trustee Kelly as chair of the Traffic Commission, and Trustee Mike
Sullivan in his lead Finance role provided in their time on the board. He said Sullivan was instrumental to the Fall 2023 Village presentations on financing and bonding of a potential project for the historic St. Paul’s main building and recreational grounds, which took place in the weeks leading up to the October 21, 2023 Community Opinion Poll vote.
“Trustee Sullivan, as chair of the Finance & Audit Committee I’d say you did the work and helped us all along. Your efforts on the St. Paul’s meeting with village bond counsel and our Finance people plus Lloyd Westerman (Westerman Construction Co.) – it was very well put together and gave some kind of sanity to the process. You did a great job with that, and you are a very bright and humble man. It was a pleasure to work with you,” Chester said last Thursday night.
He also mentioned that in Marciano’s two years on the Village Board he served as library liaison, Police Department liaison, and as a member of the Traffic Commission.
“You did great work on all of those and you were a joy to work with. Whenever we needed to get a hold of you and get some information, you were excellent,” Chester said.
The deputy mayor’s sentiments on working with Trustee Charles Kelly reflected on a time months before Chester ran for and was elected to the board, in the summer of 2020 and the monster utility poles were erected in the village’s Estates’ section. Kelly was among the leaders of the community-organized group ReVAMP – Resident Voters Against Monster Poles. Chester spoke about the initial meetings held in the backyard of Jim Kumpel’s Kensington Road home, with concerned neighbors banding together.
“With ReVAMP you were very vocal and your legal information on that issue was excellent. And, your work on our Traffic Commission was unprecedented. After years of back-and-forth and really no progress on the traffic issues in our village there have been installations of traffic devices that were needed, and even work happening on Clinton Road which I know was not easy to arrive at. You did this job well, and you conducted traffic meetings very professionally so I thank you for that – I doubt your work will be duplicated and it was a pleasure to work with you,” Chester said.
On Saturday, March 10, the Garden City Association of Girl Scouts held its first ever Girl Scout Cultural Appreciation Day. Approximately 70 Girl Scouts did a tour of the world, "visiting" different countries at the senior center.
Over eight countries, including Peru, Korea, Australia, Italy, Japan, France, Pakistan were represented. Each country was hosted by a troop who researched and presented information about different food and activities specific to their country. The Girl Scouts acted as ambassadors of their countries by teaching others what they learned, while also having an opportunity to explore the other countries. The girls were able to sample interesting foodsPeruvian soda, Italian pizza, Pakistani snacks, Japanese sugar candy, Vegemite
sandwich, Korean soda, and Turkish delights. Activities included making Peruvian flutes, getting henna designs on hands, learning French can can dance, drawing Japanese calligraphy (kanji) on fans, an international guess “which country the dress is from?," as well as a photo booth. Global sounds of steel drums from Caribbean and Indian tabla drum and flute played in the background. It was a very energetic and colorful room!
It was so special to see how each Girl Scout embraced perspectives outside of their own by being a host to another country and how much they enjoyed learning and tasting new things throughout their world tour that day. The Garden City Association of Girl Scout is excited to make this an ongoing tradition.
Anne Gucker, who many knew as Anne Hagen, peacefully passed away on March 25, 2024 due to complications from COPD. (Stop Smoking!) She was a life long resident of Nassau County, and proud Long Island girl. She was a beloved mother, wife, grandmother and friend.
While an entrepreneur from a young age, Anne found her calling in 1991 when she went into real estate. Shortly thereafter, Anne Hagen, real estate broker was born. Due to her generous spirit, she had an amazing ability to make everyone feel welcome and included. She loved making real estate dreams come true.
She was one of a kind and will be deeply missed.
Visitation for Anne will be held on Friday, March 29th, from 11 am to 1 pm and 4 pm to 7 pm; and Saturday, March 30th from 2 pm to 6 pm. at Fairchild Sons Funeral Home, 1201 Franklin Ave., Garden City.
A Funeral Mass will be held on Monday, April 1st at 9:45 am at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, 130 Franklin Avenue, Garden City.
The family suggests that visitors "channel your inner Anne,” wear your power suit, chunky statement jewelry or blue eyeshadow! Anne asked that people celebrate her life. In lieu of flowers, please take the ones you love out for a meal and tell Anne stories.
Richard James Sweeney passed away peacefully on March 24, 2024 at the age of 93. “Dick” loved his family, friends, singing and all things related to the sea.
Dick is survived by his wife of 62 years Jean Lilly Sweeney, his children Fran, Jean, Richard, Patrick, daughterin-law Ilze, and grandchildren Caitlin, Colin, Erin, and Claire. His nephew, Paul Michael Lilly, provided support and companionship during his final years, for which his family is most grateful.
Born in Brooklyn, New York in 1930, Dick was raised in Freeport and spent his teen years working at the docks and on local fishing boats. After graduating from Hofstra University, he joined the Army and graduated from the Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center in Monterey, CA. He spent part of his service in Paris where he further developed his skills and love of all things French. Upon returning to civilian life, Dick began a 30+ year career on Wall Street.
The family of George Christofides has announced his passing on March 24, 2024. He departed this world peacefully in his sleep, with his loving wife of 62 years,Toula, by his side.
George had been a cornerstone of the Garden City community since the early 1970's as the owner of Hengstenberg's Florists. George and Toula often took great pride in the fact that they served many generations of Garden City families. George and Toula would often do
the wedding flowers for couples, and then 25 years later, the flowers for their children's engagement parties, weddings and baby showers. So many times, customers would come into the store and remark how they used to do deliveries during their high school years, or when picking up their teenagers’ prom flowers reminisce how they, too, got their flowers from George and Toula so many years ago. George always generously participated with donations to local charities and fundraisers sponsored by the many wonderful home, school, and community organization here in Garden City.
In that vein, and in lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation honoring George to one of these local Garden City charities: The Andy Foundation, I'm Not Done Yet Foundation, Mollie's Fund, Greek Orthodox Cathedral of Saint Paul, Swim Across America; or to your local parish.
In addition to Toula, George is survived by his daughter Dorothy (with Jon, the current owners of Hengstenbergs), his son Angelo (with Laurie), and his adored grandchildren Alex, Andie, and Robert.
Visitation will be held at Fairchild's Funeral Home on Tuesday March 26th. from 4pm to 8 pm.
Ann R. Halloran
Dick continued enjoying life during retirement in Florida. He and Jean joined the St. Lucie Sailing Club and made a new set of “retirement” friends who loved being outside, on or near the water, and getting together for potluck dinners. Dick served as Commodore of the sailing club for a term as well as treasurer of the neighborhood association. In his later years, he took up watercolor painting and his pictures hang on the walls of friends and family. Dick loved being “Papa” to his grandchildren, teaching them to fish, and visiting them where they lived in California and Latvia.
A funeral service will be held on Friday, April 5th at 10:00 a.m. at Holy Redeemer Catholic Church, 1454 SW Mapp Rd, Palm City, FL 34990, with burial at Forest Hills Memorial Park.
In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to a cause dear to you.
Dick and Jean had four children while living in Baldwin, then moved to Garden City, where they raised their family and made wonderful friends at St. Joe’s and with all the families on the block. Dick was a member of the church choir, was part of a local guitar and singing group, enjoyed playing tennis and golf, and shared his love of snow-skiing and the ocean with his family.
Ann Raabe Halloran, 91, longtime resident of Garden City and East Hampton, as well as Naples, Florida, died peacefully on March 19, 2024.
Ann graduated with honors from Colby Sawyer College in New Hampshire and was employed at St. Joseph Catholic Church or 22 years, receiving the St. Elizabeth Seton Medal for her service.
She was predeceased by her loving husband of 57 years, Robert J. Halloran and by her two brothers Ed and Jack and her son James.
Ann is survived by her beloved
children Robert (Thelma) Halloran Jr., William Halloran, Theresa (Gardner) Hall, Jean (Frank) HalloranMonaco. She is also survived by her loving niece and nephew, Patricia Halloran and Thomas Halloran as well as nine treasured grandchildren: David Hall, Tyler Hall, Lindsay Hall, Shawn Halloran, Evan Halloran, Claire Halloran, Anna Monaco, Francesca Monaco, and Audrey Monaco.
A Memorial Mass will be held April 10, 2024 at 10am at St. Anne’s Church in Garden City, NY. Interment will be at Holy Rood, Westbury, NY. In lieu of flowers donations can be made to: Rosary Makers of America.
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The GCAA Zonneveldt “Wildcats” celebrated a big win this past weekend, overcoming the previously undefeated New York Lightning for the 4th Grade Super League Championship in an incredible comeback that ended with a 41-35 overtime win.
After falling behind by 10 points at the half, the Wildcats ratcheted up their signature trap defense forcing turnovers and riding the crowd’s momentum to force OT, then securing the win with composure and clutch foul shooting.
While this win certainly was magical, it really was the cherry on top of an incredible season for these 4th grade boys. At the start of the season, this team set out to become an elite team. To them, becoming an elite team meant practicing hard, having fun, and supporting each other on and off the court. And, they sure did succeed. The Wildcats tripled their record from last year, with 15 games won and only 3 losses. This incredible achievement can only be credited to the hard work, determination, and commitment to teamwork that each Wildcat exhibited throughout the entire season. You should all be so proud of what you achieved this season, and being able to celebrate that success together is the sweetest victory. Congratulations, Wildcats!
Email: Editor@GCNews.com
From page 2
It was a most enjoyable afternoon with delicious food and great company. Felicia and her staff did a wonderful job.
There should be more of these luncheons for the seniors.
Again, thank you to the Recreation Department and especially to the staff at the senior center.
Dian KendrickTo the Editor:
As a former board member of the Garden City Chamber of Commerce, one of our major charges was to help our business community grow. I am writing this as a public service message for all businesses who accept Visa and MasterCard as payment for their service or product.
From page 22
our firefighters use to save lives and protect properties.
• Forcible Entry Demonstrations: Watch our skilled firefighters demonstrate how they breach doors and barriers during emergencies.
• Try a Real Fire Hose: Experience the power of a real fire hose under the guidance of our seasoned firefighters.
• Turnout Gear Try-On: Feel what it’s like to wear the gear that protects our firefighters in the heat of action.
• Station Tours: Take a guided tour of our fire station and see where our
In 2005, merchants and trade associations initiated a Class Action Law Suit against Visa and MasterCard for colluding on interchange fees. The suit was finalized in March 2023. The end result directed Visa and MasterCard to pay over $5 billion dollars to participants of the class action law suit. Any business in operation from 2005 to 2019 may collect. For example, if a business was operable all 15 years, they would receive payment based all 15 years. If a business operated only a few years during that time period, they still could participate. This amounts to a considerable amount of money. More money is received the larger amount of receivables received during that time period.. Payments to participants are based on a percentage of their receivables and are estimated to begin the end of 2024 and
the beginning of 2025.
Claim forms were mailed throughout the months of December 2023 and January 2024. Businesses may apply directly or have a service complete the necessary documents which require some effort. To learn more about the law suit, google Visa/MasterCard Law Suit which details the latest update and also allows you to submit a claim.
Most important, submission of claims ends May 31, 2024.
John AppeltTo the Editor:
The election season is in full swing. More than ever before, we must insist on that the elections are fair and square. With all the turbulence and uncertainty in all areas of our country, it is of the utmost importance that we
mcarterflanagan@gardencityny.net
heroes spend their time training. Enjoy complimentary bagels, coffee, and donuts while you learn more about volunteer firefighting. For more information, please contact membership@ gcfdny.com, call 516-465-4142 or visit: www.gcfdny.com/recruitment.
Happening in Garden City
Saturday, March 30th
10:00 a.m. Easter Egg Hunt on the St. Paul’s fields. For further info, call the Recreation Dept. at 516-465-4075.
Monday, April 1st
1:30 p.m. Movie Matinée: Easter
Parade at the Library
7:30 p.m. Village Budget Hearing at Village Hall and via Zoom
Tuesday, April 2nd 4:00 p.m. Teen Advisory Board Meeting at the Library. Must register.
Wednesday, April 3rd
6:00 p.m. Planning Commission Meeting at Village Hall
Thursday, April 4th
11:00 a.m. Crafts and Games for Adults with Developmental Disabilities at the Library. Must register.
11:15 a.m. Mat Yoga a the Senior Center
pick candidates with the highest potential and only validate and count votes of registered US citizens. The crowd of illegals presently in our country can’t be part of it. Also, eliminate foreign voting machines with dubious software and mail-in voting which only open the door for massive irregularities and fraud. It needs strict surveillance - too much is at stake!
Ideally, it would be best to reinstate our former voting system. Go into a voting booth, click on your candidates and switch the lever! We have to reshape our country and execute internal and foreign orders the way we used to do it. .
Then, we will regain our strength, be respected by our allies and enemies and become the envy of the world again.
Heinz MayerFriday, April 12th
11:15 a.m. Trip to the Nassau County Museum of Art and lunch at Mim’s. Register at the Senior Center front desk by April 5.
Saturday, April 13th
10:00 a.m. GCFD Recruitment Open House at Fire Headquarters, 347 Stewart Avenue
Thursday, April 18th
1:00 p.m. Historian John Ellie Kordes presents “The Story of the Beach Boys” at the Senior Center. Call 385-8006 for reservations.
Beginning the week of January 7, Recreation and Parks will add a Friday night and a Sunday morning session of pickleball.
• Friday Nights- 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. beginning January 19
• Sundays – 9:30 to 11:45 a.m. beginning January 7
The above session will run through the end of March and then be evaluated for participation.
We will continue to run pickleball from 9:30 to noon, Tuesdays through Fridays.
All sessions will be open to residents only and will allow continuous round robin use during that session. No group may reserve a court and play on their own. The cost per session will be $6.00 daily or with a pass, $5.
The Garden City’s Department of Recreation and Parks will offer an adult art class this winter. This eleven week program will teach the beginner as well as the advanced student the art of painting portraits and landscapes/still-life in pastel from photographs. Arleen Rueth Urban, the instructor for this program, is a signature member of the Pastel Society of America.
Classes will be held Fridays from 9 to 11:30 a.m. The cost of this program will be $ 140. This class is open to adult residents who reside in the Inc. Village of Garden City. Classes are held in St. Paul’s Cluett Hall beginning Friday, February 9.
The first lesson includes a portrait and landscape demonstration. At that time, a supply list is provided.
Demonstrations will be available as needed throughout the program. Each student will receive the individual attention required as they move at their own pace and level of expertise.
To register for this session please visit the Recreation and Parks office at 108 Rockaway Avenue. If you have a password, you may register online at gcreconline.gardencityny.net.
Garden City’s Department of Recreation and Parks is once again sponsoring the annual Easter Egg Hunt on Saturday, March 30, on St. Paul’s fields. This year three hunts will be held beginning at 10:00 a.m. with three age divisions:
• Preschool to Kindergarten
• Grades 1 and 2
• Grades 3 to 5
Special eggs will be stuffed and hidden for all divisions. Each hunt will also feature a grand prize (an Easter basket filled with goodies) which will go to the youngster who finds the egg marked “#1 Lucky Egg.”
For further information about the Hunt, please call the Recreation Dept. at 465-4075.
US Sports and Garden City Recreation have again joined up to run our very popular summer sports programs at Community Park and St. Paul’s. Weekly summer programs include soccer, multisport, flag football, field hockey, lacrosse, and golf. They also offer Parent and Me classes as well
as 3 to 5 year old squirt programs!
These programs are open to Village residents ages 2 to 11 years. To see what is offered and to register, please visit US Sports website at www.usasportgroup. com and look for Garden City.
Join us this Spring for a six-week Lacrosse Clinic sponsored by Pioneer Sports in partnership with Garden City Recreation and Parks. This special program introduces girls and boys, kindergarten through fifth grade, to the game of lacrosse in a non-competitive, instructional clinic. *Please bring your own lacrosse stick*
This clinic will be held on Tuesdays on St. Paul’s Fields from April 16 through June 4 according to the following schedule:
Grades K–5 from 6 –7:00 p.m
The cost of this program will be $150, Space is limited. Register online for this program at www.playpioneersports. com.
No registrations will be taken at the Recreation Office.
The Garden City Department of Recreation and Parks is pleased to announce the start of the SPRING children’s tennis program. Registration is ongoing and classes begin on Monday, April 1. All classes are held at the Community Park indoor tennis center and are available to Garden City residents ages 4 through 16 years old.
How to register:
• In person at the Recreation
Graduated from school? Have an outstanding GPA?
Office (108 Rockaway Ave). The recreation office is open M – F from 8:30am to 4:30pm. You can download a registration form at our website: gardencityrecreation.org
• By Mail: Mail in your registration form and check to the Recreation Office
• Register online at www. gcreconline.gardencityny.net .You need a password to register online. If you do not have a password please go to the Recreation office, with proof of residency, to receive one.
If paying by check, please make check payable to Inc. Village of Garden City
If paying by credit card please use: Mastercard, Visa or Discover. We do not accept American Express at this time.
For more information, call the Recreation Office at 516 465-4075
***Non-resident children who attend Garden City Public Schools can register for tennis lessons beginning April 15th. Registration must be done by mail or in person at the Recreation Office. Those who would like to register for our tennis program must prove they attend one of the Garden City Public Schools. Proof must accompany registration. An additional $50 fee will pertain to anyone in this category. Make checks payable to the “Inc. Village of Garden
Registration for Spring adult tennis lessons will begin on Monday, April 1st. Please fill out the interest form and return it to the Recreation Office by Friday, April 12. The Recreation Office is located at 108 Rockaway Ave. Applications can be found on our website Gardencityrecreation.org.
Made the honor roll or Dean’s List? Scored an internship or study abroad opportunity? We invite you to send details of any of these things and more, along with your name and contact info, to editor@gcnews.com for a chance to be seen in our paper!
Garden City’s Boys’ Varsity Lacrosse team has made a resounding statement to begin their season, securing two impressive victories in their opening matchups. Their campaign commenced with a dominant 12-2 triumph over Farmingdale, setting the tone for what would be a formidable start.
In their season opener against Farmingdale, Garden City showcased their offensive prowess with standout performances from Carson Kraus and Andrew Ottomanelli. Kraus led the charge with five goals, while Ottomanelli contributed four goals to power the
Trojans to victory. Charlie Koester added to the offensive onslaught with three goals and two assists, highlighting the team’s depth on the attacking end.
Additionally, Cooper Kraus and Tommy Esposito each tallied two assists, with additional assists coming from Matt Kephart, Charlie Meringolo, and Ben Smith. Defensively, Garden City was stout, with Denis Fargione’s ten saves and Kephart’s leadership anchoring a unit that held Farmingdale scoreless for three quarters.
Building on their momentum, Garden City continued their winning ways with
a commanding 13-5 win over perennial powerhouse Mt. Sinai. In this matchup, Carson Kraus once again led the Trojans with an impressive six-goal performance, while Andrew Ottomanelli netted three goals. Tommy Esposito showcased his playmaking abilities with two goals and three assists. Cooper Kraus contributed a goal and an assist, along with an assist from Dan Medjid, and the first high school career goal by eighth-grader Ben Smith, all contributing to the team’s offensive dominance. Additionally, Luke Cascadden maintained his excellence at the X, winning
13 out of 15 faceoffs to provide crucial possession opportunities. Defensively, the Trojans were dominant, with notable performances from Luke LeSueur and Andrew Schlipf, complemented by 13 saves from Denis Fargione and 5 from Matt Cabana.
With two convincing victories under their belt, Garden City now looks ahead to their upcoming clash against Wantagh. As they continue their season, the Trojans aim to build upon their early success and solidify their position as a formidable force in the lacrosse arena.
On March 16, the St. Joseph’s Senior Basketball team became CYO champions for the second time in three years. St Joseph’s defeated Our Lady of Lourdes 55-50 in overtime to cap off an undefeated season. Congratulations to Danny Brennan, Peter Debusschere, Emmet Duffy, Carson Kraus, Cooper Kraus, James Levelis, Preston Longo, Ethan Mundy, Brendan O’Brien, John Rynn, Connor Wagner, Eamonn Welch, and David Zhang for finishing their High School CYO career with a championship win.
Excitement is mounting as the highly anticipated GCAA Little League Baseball/Softball Parade makes its grand return. Mark your calendars for GCAA Little League’s Opening Day on April 6, 2024. The parade kicks off at 9:00 a.m. when the streets will come alive with vibrant colors, cheers, and the unmistakable sound of youthful exuberance.
The parade, a beloved tradition in the village, promises a delightful spectacle for all ages. Setting off from Franklin Avenue, the procession will wind its way down Seventh Street, painting the village with the spirit of camaraderie and sportsmanship. It’s not just a parade; it’s a celebration of teamwork,
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perseverance, and the unbreakable bonds forged on the diamond.
The parade’s return will be greeted with open arms and jubilant cheers from residents and players alike. As families line the streets, decked in team colors, the air will be filled with anticipation and excitement. From the smallest T-ball players to the seasoned veterans of the diamond, every participant will be cheered on with infectious enthusiasm. It’s a testament to the power of sports to unite a community and inspire the next generation of baseball and softball players.
So, dust off your caps, grab your pennants, and come join in!
Get results!
Place an ad in our Classifieds for reasonable rates and prompt results. Call our Garden City office at 516-294-8900 for more information.
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