Mayor’s Report: January 18, 2013

Anton Community Newspapers • 132 East 2nd Street • Mineola, NY 11501 • Phone: 516-747-8282 • FAX: 516-742-5867

Mayor’s Report: January 18, 2013

Written by Donald T. Brudie Friday, 18 January 2013 00:00

Update - Cleanup From Hurricane Sandy

The Incorporated Village Public Works and Recreation and Parks employees continue the cleanup effort that began the day after Hurricane Sandy ravaged our community. Unfortunately, the effort has delayed the regular fall cleanup of parks and village greenspace, but we are catching up and should have the fall cleanup completed in the near future.

By way of a general status report, all of the timber and brush have been removed, including the massive pile of material that were temporarily stored at the village yard and at 550 Stewart Ave. All of the stumps left from the village trees have been removed and the cavities filled and leveled in preparation for spring. Concrete from broken sidewalks and curbs is currently being removed and the voids filled and leveled. The sidewalk flags and curbing that were destroyed by fallen village-owned trees will be replaced by an Incorporated Village of Garden City contractor at the Incorporated Village’s expense. The Department of Public Works is currently scheduling the work with our contractor. Residents should be aware that this is weather and temperature sensitive work that may delay progress until the spring.

A group of graduate and undergraduate students from the department of landscape architecture at Cornell University have offered to work with Messrs. Ocker and Didyk to develop a course of action toward restoring the natural beauty of Garden City following the loss of 600+ mature street trees.

Residents seeking advice regarding the replacement of private trees may contact village arborist Michael Didyk at 516-465-4028.

Budget Work Sessions

I would like to advise you that the board of trustees will be conducting work sessions to review the proposed 2013-14 operating/capital budgets on: Saturday, Jan. 26 8:30 a.m. Tour of Facilities and Capital Plan Presentation; Wednesday, Feb. 6 7:30 - 10 p.m. Budget Study- Work Session 1; Thursday, Feb. 14 7:30 - 10 p.m. Budget Study - Work Session 2; Thursday, Feb. 28 7:30 - 10 p.m. Budget Study - Work Session 3; Thursday, March 14 7:30 - 10 p.m. Budget Study - Work Session - Final

These sessions are currently scheduled to be held in the boardroom at village hall, 351 Stewart Ave. All residents are welcome and encouraged to attend.

Well Check Program

While the winter weather has been a bit mild so far, it is inevitable that colder weather will be on the way and I am reminding residents to check on any neighbor who is alone, disabled or otherwise in need of assistance.

The Garden City Police Department has a Well Check program that provides a service for the residents. The Police Department's Well Check program is available to any senior citizen, a person with a disability, or to any person suffering a hardship. Police Commissioner Kenneth O. Jackson has advised me that residents can contact the police department and be placed on its Well Check log. Each morning, a person who is placed on the police department's log can call to check in and let us know if they are okay or in need of assistance. If a person who is on the list does not contact the police department, an attempt will be made to contact that person either by phone and/or in person. Any person who wishes to be placed on the Garden City Police Department's Well Check log may contact the desk officer at -516-465-4101.

Collection Of Christmas Trees And Wreaths For Recycling

A reminder to residents who have a natural Christmas tree or wreath to dispose of, please leave them at the curb on your regularly scheduled recycling collection day. They will be collected by the department of public works and offered to other agencies for beach erosion control or rendered at the village yard for use around trees and shrubs as mulch.

Please assist the village by removing tree stands, strands of electric lights and plastic bags from the discarded trees and cooperate with your neighbors by disposing of them only on the scheduled recycling collection days.

If you have an artificial Christmas tree for disposal, please call the sanitation department for a special pickup at 516-465-4031 or 516-465-4032.

Board Of Trustees’ Meeting Schedule

The next regularly scheduled board of trustees meetings will be on Thursday, Feb. 7 and on Tuesday, Feb. 19 at 8 p.m. I encourage all residents to attend board of trustees meetings so as to be thoroughly informed of village issues from a firsthand perspective.

News

Friendship Circle Luncheon Turns 10

Thursday, 23 May 2013 00:00

Kroplick and Kammerer honored

On May 8, more than 500 fashionably dressed women converged on the Garden City Hotel for the Sid Jacobson JCC’s tenth annual Friendship Circle Luncheon. Notable celebrities on hand were Good Day New York co-host Rosanna Scotto, who was also the event’s MC, and singer/actress Megan Hilty from the Broadway play Wicked and NBC’s hit drama Smash, who entertained the ladies with her favorite songs from both shows.

The Friendship Circle Luncheon was started 10 years ago by Denise Silverberg, as a way to raise money for programs providing support for adults in their 30s, 40 s and 50s that are afflicted by Alzheimer’s. Silverberg’s mother has the disease, so she understands firsthand the role of a caregiver and the stresses involved in taking care of someone who has it.

Revised HUB Transportation Study

Thursday, 23 May 2013 00:00

Deputy Mayor Nicholas Episcopia attended the HUB Stakeholders Meeting held by Nassau County’s consultants on the Transportation Project. He was joined by EPOA President Judy Courtney, Vice President Chris Mullaney, and Director Leo Stimmler, as well as William Bellmer, a member of the Garden City Planning Commission, Dorothy Episcopia, past EPOA president, and former mayor Robert Rothschild. Bob Schoelle and Brian Ridgeway attended the afternoon session. Garden City is a stakeholder because a large portion of the village lies within the defined HUB area.

As presented, the currently preferred alternative transportation plan appears reasonable and eliminates the construction of a light rail system that would run from the Mineola Station, south behind Arthur Street, and east along the spur adjacent to St. James Street South, as was initially proposed. Nonetheless, as we have consistently done over the years, we will continue to monitor plans for the transportation project and strongly express our opinion if we believe any aspect of this project would be detrimental to the quality of life in Garden City.

Sports

Almost Perfect

Thursday, 23 May 2013 00:00

Boys JV lacrosse team goes undefeated

The Garden City JV lacrosse team finished the year with a stellar 14-0-1 record. Led by Head Coach Tom Flatley and Assistant Coach Brett Hepworth, the Trojans overpowered most of their opponents with explosive offensive bursts, tough-nosed gritty defense, and rock-solid goaltending. The offense averaged over 15 goals per game, while the defense allowed just over three goals per game.

The season commenced with a hard fought, triple overtime thriller against Syosset that ended in a 7-7 tie. As the team became more cohesive, most of the next few opponents, including Hewlett, Lynbrook, Carey, Roslyn, Kellenberg, and others, found themselves overmatched against this Trojan team. However, that did not dissuade Ward Melville from putting forth an inspired effort on their home turf for three quarters, before finally falling to Garden City 12-7.

Playing With A Big Stick

Thursday, 16 May 2013 00:00

Defense keys successful lacrosse seasons

The boys and girls high school teams are both rolling and have their sights set on a long run in the playoffs. Both team have faced a number of formidable opponents throughout the season and have successfully navigated their schedules. One thing that has been consistent for both teams has been that their defenses have had to stand tall at key times and shut down very active offenses. Both Coach Finnell and Coach Chapman have made sure that the non-league schedules of their teams will ensure that their teams are prepared for whatever the playoffs can throw at them.

After going the full season last year undefeated, the boys team has three blemishes on their record with losses to powerhouses Ward Melville, Manhasset and LaSalle of PA. With a 9-3 record the Trojans are looking to wrap up the number two seed in the playoffs to force a rematch of the Manhasset game in the County finals. The boys have excelled defensively only allowing 4.25 goals against per game. And if you remove those three tough losses the goals against average drops to 3.1.