EPOA NEWS Eastern Property Owners’ Assoc. Inc. P.O. Box 7525 Garden City, New York 11530

To:

Save the Date: Monday, June 5, 2017

Annual EPOA Joint Public Meeting 7:30 pm Senior Center, Golf Club Lane

Introduction of New East Nominating Committee Members Election of EPOA Officers and Directors

All Residents Welcome

Updates from EPOA President Joe Moody, Trustees John Delany and Mark Hyer

School Trustee Bob Martin and Library Trustee Charlie Murphy

—Bring your concerns and comments to the meeting—

Representing Residents of the East Since 1918

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As I approach the end of my term as EPOA President, I have been reflecting

on the past two years and also thinking about the future of the EPOA. I believe a lot was accomplished during my presidency and I am honored to have had this excep-tional opportunity.

I was very fortunate to have former Mayor Nick Episcopia serve during a ma-jority of my term as EPOA President. Mayor Episcopia regularly kept me updated on all of the things happening in our Village and assisted so many residents with a varie-ty of different issues. His two decades of dedicated service to our Village is unprece-dented and I thank him for all of his hard work. I urge everyone to read Mayor Episcopia’s message to residents as he leaves Village service, on page 5 of this news-letter.

East Trustee John Delany was also very helpful to me and the EPOA organi-zation and would assist whenever I reached out to him. I wish him the best as he continues to serve as Village Trustee.

I have had the support of former EPOA President Chris Mullaney throughout my term. Chris took on some of the most demanding EPOA assignments, including EPOA Newsletter Editor and serving on our Traffic Committee. I reached out to Chris several times for assistance and she always was willing to help with whatever was needed. I have been privileged to have very active and dedicated EPOA officers, di-rectors and liaisons over my term as president. Their commitment and involvement has greatly benefitted our Village and I thank them all for their contributions.

Of the many wonderful people who assisted me, I relied on EPOA Vice Presi-dent Tom Hogan the most. Tom is one of the smartest and most thoughtful people I have ever met. Tom would commonly ask to handle new challenges and tasks the EPOA faced and he would make sure certain issues were resolved and tasks were thoroughly completed. I know Tom will continue to provide excellent leadership on the current and future matters that confront the EPOA and I wish him the best during his presidency.

Congratulations to Heather Dunleavy Nielsen and Jonathan Debrich for being nominated to the EPOA Board and to incoming Vice President Steve Ilardi and Corre-sponding Secretary Paul Dircks. Members of the EPOA Directors and Officers Nomi-nating Committee expressed great optimism about the exceptional EPOA Board we will have in 2017/2018 and I completely agree with their assessment.

My sincerest thanks go out to my wife Dina and my children Matthew, Lind-say, T.J. and Tyler. Without their support I could not have made it through the last two years.

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President's Message by Joe Moody

The official newsletter of the Eastern Property Owners’ Association

Garden City, New York 11530 www.gcepoa.org

twitter: @GC_EPOA Follow us on Facebook

—Representing Residents of the East since 1918—

EPOA NEWS Annual EPOA Joint Public Meeting Monday, June 5 Senior Center on Golf Club Lane 7:30 pm *******************Election of EPOA Officers and Directors *Update from outgoing President Joe Moody *Reports from East Trustees John Delany and Mark Hyer *Reports from Library Trustee Charlie Murphy and School Trustee Bob Martin

All Are Welcome *******************

Inside This Issue

President’s Message 1-2

Trustees’ Update 3

Facts of the East 4

Past Mayor’s Message 5

Recreation Report 6

Civic Beautification 7

School District News 8

EPOA Scholarship 8

Library News 9

EPOA Nominees 10

East Nominating Committee Members 11

Spring 2017

President’s Message (continued)

Page 2 EPOA NEWS

Finally, I would like to thank the entire EPOA membership. This is a member driven organization and the participation of our members has always given the EPOA extraordinary strength. Meeting so many wonderful residents of this Village and making many new friendships has been a gratifying experi-ence I will never forget. I hope you all come to the June 5th EPOA annual meeting at 7:30 pm in the Senior Center on Golf Club Lane.

Did you know?

Nick Episcopia was the 46th Mayor of Garden City.

The first mayor of Garden City was George L Hubbell, who served four nonconsecutive terms:

1919-21, 1923-24, 1926-27, 1931-33. For a list of all 46 Garden City mayors since 1919, please visit the EPOA website at www.gcepoa.com

We wish our friends and neighbors in Garden City an enjoyable, relaxing and safe summer.

The next public meeting, after the summer meeting hiatus, will be in October, date and place TBA.

Any emergency and important announcements will be disseminated through our e-Bulletin to members who have given us their email.

Village and East information will also be posted on our website.

In addition, residents may follow us on Facebook and via twitter.

—The officers and directors of the EPOA—

Membership Drive 2017 Continues

Please Take a Moment of Your Time to Join the EPOA

You may join through the EPOA website—www.gcepoa.org—by following the membership link on our home page.

Many residents already have supplied their email addresses to the EPOA, so that we may contact them with news updates and other important information via e-Bulletins sent monthly and in emergencies. Please consider giving us your email address on the membership form. We do not share our email distribution list with anyone. Dues are only $20 yearly per family and are the sole source of funds that support our work on behalf of all residents of the East. The EPOA is run entirely by volunteers. This newsletter highlights the many issues facing the East and the volunteers working to address them.

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To All Resident Electors and Property Owners in the Eastern Section of the Incorporated Village of Garden City—Joint Meeting, June 5, 2017

Garden City East Nominating Committee

The Garden City East Nominating Committee is a 15-member committee that selects candidates for the positions of Village and School Board Trustee. Any resident of the East may apply to be a committee member by submitting a resume and letter indicating their qualifications and reasons for wanting to sit on this important Village committee. Directors of the EPOA, after review and discussion and in accordance with Article II of the Procedures for Nomina-tion of Village and School District Officers, choose in executive session by majority vote the members of the East Committee. Five new members are chosen each year for a three-year term. In 2017, two additional members were selected for one-year terms to replace two members who resigned. New member terms begin on June 5. Liz Bailey-3 years-37 Chestnut Street Liz, a long-time Village resident and graduate of GCHS, has served on the Environmental Advisory Board since 2010. She keeps up to date on current issues and has an understanding “of some of the challenges that the Village will be facing in the near future.” She would like to participate in selecting residents with the “qualifications and commitment” to serve the East and GC. June Michalak-3 years-38 Spruce Street June, a life-long Village resident, worked for the Recreation Department as a youth, was class president at GCHS and has attended numerous BOT meetings. An attorney in practice on LI, her goal for the committee is to ensure that “the person with the best intentions in line with the history and magnificence of this Village be elected to rep-resent its residents.” Marisa Moody-3 years-128 Poplar Street Marisa, a physical therapist for 24 years and a member of the staff at Winthrop University Hospital, “would be hon-ored to represent fellow residents…to vet out the best possible choices for Trustees of the Village.” In addition to selecting a nominee committed to pursuing “the general improvement of social and economic conditions” in the Village, Marisa is also committed to maintaining the “nonpartisan and nonsectarian” policies of the Community Agreement. Patrick Moore-3 years-36 Chestnut Street Patrick, a Village and East resident for 39 years, served as a youth sports coach for 10 years. He regards GC as a special place to live and “feels strongly that what is essentially a volunteer form of government is the underlying basis of that specialness.” With his background as a business executive and owner, Patrick believes he can help identify people with the experience necessary to move the Village forward. Tom Nappi-3 years-7 Damson Street Tom, who grew up in the Village and attended the GC schools, has been an EPOA director for six years, serving on a number of diverse committees. Additionally, as a professional in commercial real estate development, Tom has worked with various boards of trustees and education and has developed a “high regard for the work they do and a keen understanding of the importance of having the best possible candidates fill those roles.” He understands how Village government works and the time demands on those who serve. Kelly Cassaro- 1 year-68 Willow Street Kelly, a Village resident for just over three years, is a native of Pittsburgh and has 15 years experience in early childhood through adult education in traditional public, charter and non-profit educational organizations. As a new-comer, Kelly is seeking ways to become involved in her chosen community, using her skills and experiences to ben-efit the village where her husband grew up and they are choosing to raise their children. She is especially drawn to the Committee’s roll in selecting school board members and hopes to bring a “fresh perspective given my range of experiences.” Joanne Lee-1 year-78 Magnolia Avenue Joanne, a practicing physician for 20 years, is a six-year Village resident who relocated here from Dix Hills. Im-pressed by the “charming character of the community, its village atmosphere, and its many amenities,” she and her husband have made a long-term commitment to GC. Joanne believes that her experience in complex care decisions and office management issues would be valuable in “assessing the needs of the community and evaluating poten-tial candidates” for Village positions. Continuing current members of the East Committee are Steve Ilardi, Christine Mullaney, Joe Nadolny, Mike Nagler, Heather Nielsen, Brian Paradine, Karl Schmidt and Ted Ucinski.

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epoa officers and directors President Joe Moody Vice President Tom Hogan Corp Secty Joe Courtade Corres Secty Robert Rymers Treasurer Sal Norberto Directors: Andy deLannoy Paul Dircks Brian Finneran Barbara Garry Steve Ilardi Tom Mastanduono Marc Mehlman Barbara Moore Joe Nadolny Michael Nagler Tom Nappi Robert Schoelle, Jr. Jennifer Sullivan Theodore Ucinski representatives from the east Village Trustees John Delany Mark Hyer Acting Village Justice Brian Deveney Library Board Trustees Charlie Murphy Peter D’Antonio (a-l) School Board Trustee Robert Martin Architectural Design Review Barbara Ruggiero Cultural & Recreational Affairs Ken Moody Judy Courtney (a-l) Environmental Advisory Board Leo Stimmler Elizabeth Bailey (a-l) James Bauer (a-l) Carole Neidich-Ryder (a-l) Planning Commission William Bellmer Keith Galanti H. Bradford Gustavson Neal J. Sweeney Zoning Board of Appeals Brian Paradine CBRC Steve Forte Danielle Kilkenny Editor Christine Mullaney

Trustees’ Update John Delany and Mark Hyer

2017/2018 Budget—At the April 3, 2017 organizational meeting, the Trustees passed an operating budget of $59,171,599. The budg-et was within the Village’s tax cap of 1.15%. During the budget pro-cess, at the urging of the EPOA and former Mayor Episcopia, the Vil-lage decided to no longer assess an administrative fee when side-walks are repaired. This shows the positive work the EPOA performs for the residents. OTO-Marriott Hotel—The application is presently still pending and discussions continue with the Architectural Design and Review Board as well as the Building Department. After the developer complies with the Village’s requests, approval should be forthcoming with con-struction to begin shortly thereafter. Paving—The Village’s three-year street paving contract expired this year and the Village is in the process of rebidding the contract. A contract should be awarded by July with paving starting shortly thereafter. At present, in the East section, Emmet Place and the Country Life Press parking field are on the schedule. Depending on the price of the bid awarded, addition parking fields will be paved. Garbage and Rubbish Collection—Section 115-6 of the Village Code sets forth the points of collection for garbage and rubbish. The Section requires that garbage is to be picked up only in the rear of the premises (not at the curb or front of the premises) and rubbish is to be picked up at the curb and placed at the curb by 7:30 am on the pick-up day, but not earlier than 12 hours prior thereto. Due to the concerns expressed by residents regarding violations of this Code provision, enforcement is underway and carries a fine. 555 Stewart Avenue Residential Complex—During some re-quired further testing by the owner at the 555 site, it was discovered that a Village water pipe runs through the property. The owner is in discussions with the Village to determine the best way to “work around” and preserve this water pipe. Family Court/Old Social Services Building—As many may have noticed, more work is being done on the Family Court Building. From the street you see work on the demolition of the roof slab, which will continue until completed. Work is also being done on the interior for preparation of a new entrance atrium and the courtyard facade that cannot be seen from the street. The next item we will see is the framing for the exterior stairs and the framing for an entrance. By August, work should be taking place on the exterior facade. It ap-pears that Phase One should be done by August 2018.

The next two Board of Trustees meetings are Thursday, June 1, and Thursday, June 15, in Village Hall, beginning at 8pm. All residents are welcome. For additional information on issues and meetings, visit the Village website: www.gardencityny.net

Purpose of the Eastern Property Owners’ Association Annual Meeting

June 5, 2017

To Elect (1) EPOA Officers and Directors for the 2017/2018 term. (2) Four members of the seven member Director & Officer Nominating Committee that proposes candidates for EPOA directors and officers. To Conduct Other such business as may properly be considered. In accordance with the EPOA by-laws, a Public Notice listing the names and addresses of the following persons and the offices for which they were nominated, as well as the procedures and requirements for placing additional person(s) in nomination for said offices, was published in the Garden City News. No additional nominations for EPOA officers and/or directors were received by the Corporate Secretary as of press time. The current nominating committee has placed the following candidates in nomination: EPOA Officers, for a term of one year: President: Tom Hogan, 41 Chestnut Street Vice President: Steve Ilardi, 139 Meadow Street Corresponding Secretary: Paul Dircks, 62 St James Street S Corporate Secretary: Joe Courtade, 14 Kingsbury Road Treasurer: Sal Norberto, 88 Garden Street EPOA Directors, for a term of three years: Andrew deLannoy, 5 Maple Street Tom Mastanduono, 15 Westbury Road Barbara Moore, 36 Chestnut Street Tom Nappi, 7 Damson Street Ted Ucinski, 8 Huntington Road EPOA Directors, for a term of two years: EPOA Directors, for a term of one year: Joe Moody, 166 Meadow Street Jonathan Debrich, 90 Huntington Road Joe Nadolny, 108 Poplar Street Heather Dunleavy Nielsen, 107 Wetherill Road Robert Schoelle, 133 Garden Street All named officers and directors are currently serving on the EPOA board, with the exception of Heather Dunleavy Nielsen and Jonathan Debrich. Their biographies follow: Jonathan Debrich—Jonathan is a director at Barclays Capital in New York and head of its municipal products group. A Chartered Financial Analyst, he graduated from Haverford College in 2005, where he studied mathematics and economics and played on the college’s varsity baseball team. Jonathan is a Little League coach in the GCAA and a T-Ball coach for Pre-K and Kindergarten children. Heather Dunleavy Nielsen—Heather, a graduate of Brown University with a degree in business eco-nomics, was a vice president of Goldman Sachs in New York for 10 years, where she managed global electronic futures trading. Heather is currently serving her third year as a member of the East Nominat-ing Committee that selects candidates for Village and School Trustee positions. She also has done volun-teer work for animal shelters and trained therapy dogs. Members of the current Director & Officer Nominating Committee are Judy Courtney (chair), Jaime Gans, Roger McFeely, Neil O’Malley, Bob Orosz, Karl Schmidt and Leo Stimmler.

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Page 4 EPOA NEWS

Facts of the East—Bill Bellmer

The First Camp Mills One hundred years ago this summer the country was hurriedly mobilizing for the Great War, which began for the United States on 6 April 1917.

Encampment viewed from the railroad Ralph Peters, LIRR president, thought that (among other locations) the undeveloped area east of Clinton Road and next to the railroad would make a convenient assembly point prior to troop embarkation in Brooklyn and Hoboken. In addition to the proximity of the railroad, water could be obtained from Garden City, it was said there was good drainage and the nearby availability of wood. This proposal was accept-ed by the Garden City Company and the federal government in August of 1917, and a tent encampment was quickly established for 23,000 men. It was named after recently deceased Brigadier General Albert L. Mills, Chief of the War Department Militia Bureau. The 42nd Infantry Division (called the Rainbow Division due its composition from 26 States), some 13,500, arrived at the camp on 20 August, marching from the Garden City station. The women from the Nassau County Suffrage Association, who had prepared tea and sandwiches for them, were soon over-whelmed. The troops started to move out on 13 October, with a total of 129,000 men on 262 trains moving through the camp and the adjacent aviation fields in 1917. During that time thousands of visitors used the trolley from Garden City to Clinton Road stations to visit them (an estimated 50,000 on a Sun-day in September), as well as the troops themselves using that route for time off in New York City. All this movement occurred on the single track that ran to Garden City at the time. The arriving colder weather caused such hardship for a tent encampment without floors, with poorer drainage than expected and freezing pipes, that the camp was mostly vacated by December and officially closed on 30 March 1918. That December, however, Mr. Peters started his drive to continue use of Camp Mills with more substantial structures, and on 7 January 1918 was advised by the War Department that this, the second Camp Mills, would be started in the spring for use at least in the summer months.

Library News—Charlie Murphy

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• HVAC Compressor – Last summer, the GCPL experienced a number of issues with the building’s air conditioning system. Recently, the Village has assessed the issue and had the compressor fixed. Although the system has not been tested against a string of 90 degree days, a preliminary assessment shows the system is functioning well. • Library Budget – The budget was formally approved by the Village and Library Boards. Approxi-mately, $34,000 less than last year. A librarian retired and was not replaced – the library will use a few part-timers to cover the schedule. More cost effective. • Reference Area – The GCPL will reconfigure an area near “Reference.” As a result, the library will be able to add three new tables for quiet study. New furniture and chairs for patrons. • Genealogy – If you need help with a genealogy search, Librarian Nancy Sherwood is available to help beginners with a family history exploration. Please contact her at 516-742-8405, ext. 227. The li-brary has many resources to begin your research. • Children’s Area – New tables and chairs have been ordered for the children’s section. We hope to have the furniture in shortly. A nice enhancement! • Parenting Collection – The Children’s Department has added a new Parenting Collection. The ma-terials include books on a wide range of sensitive topics that parents and children may experience. Please stop by the department to review the parental resources. • Circulation – In a recent Director’s report, book circulation (e and paper books) is up for the first time in a couple of years. Good news! • Playaway Launchpads – New technology for the Garden City Library! Playaway Launchpads are pre-loaded tablets with high-quality, ad-free learning apps that provide themed, grade-leveled learning. Subjects include ACT/SAT Prep, Middle School Languages, and Brain Games. Each Launchpad comes with a 7” HD touchscreen, a protective case, and pre-loaded apps. They can be borrowed for a week at a time. • Summer Sundays – The GCPL closes on Sundays for the months of July and August. ******************************************************************************************************** ********************************************************************************************************

A Message from former Mayor Nick Episcopia (continued) THANK YOU I want to thank my friends and neighbors who have supported me as Mayor, Trustee, and as EPOA Presi-dent and Director, and to express my gratitude in particular to EPOA President Joe Moody, to past President Chris Mullaney, and to the Officers and Directors for all their work on behalf of the people of Garden City. I also want to thank my wife, Dorothy, who has given me help and support during all this time.

I can leave public service knowing that policies I supported and actions I took were for the benefit of the people, and not motivated by my personal preferences.

Finally, I urge my fellow residents to make their voices heard through their POAs and directly to our Village Trustees. Government works best when both sides listen.

Very sincerely, Nicholas P. Episcopia Mayor 2015-2017 Village of Garden City, New York

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Mayor Episcopia has just completed 19 years of volunteer service to the residents and Village of Garden City. Nick became a director of the EPOA in 1998 and served as its president for two years until 2005, the year he was elected a Village Trustee. He was elected to a two-year term as Garden City’s 46th Mayor in 2015. Nick also has served four years on the executive board of the Nassau County Village Officials Association. The EPOA wishes Nick, his wife Dorothy (also a Village volunteer for many years) and their family all the best in the years to come.

A Message from former Mayor Nick Episcopia During my 12 years on the Board of Trustees, there have been many changes in how the Village is man-aged. I was pleased to have had the opportunity to initiate some of the changes and work on the rest.

A FEW EXAMPLES

The GCFD, a volunteer organization run by volunteer Chiefs, has only one company of paid firefighters in support. The Chief is now rightfully seated with the Executive Staff at Village Board meetings. Mostly through attri-tion, the number of paid firefighters has been reduced from over 30 to 15 since 2005 with no diminution in service. Thanks to the volunteers’ commitment, over 15 new members joined the Fire Department within the past two years. Twelve years ago, we had over 300 Village employees. Thanks to consolidation of functions and increased efficiency, the number is now approximately 260 with no diminution of services.

In the past, the Village had significant problems with cost overruns and timely completion of major con-struction projects. With the application of due-diligence techniques used in my years as a construction lender, our new Senior/Community Center was completed on time and within budget, as were recent renovations to Cluett Hall and the Ferenga Fieldhouse.

The new artificial turf baseball field at Community Park, an overdue improvement needed for safety rea-sons, is the first step in a long-range plan to improve all our playing fields and recreation facilities.

The locker rooms, restrooms, pool and deck areas at our Community Pool complex underwent complete renovations, with more to the snack bar and sundeck planned for 2017.

Improved budgeting and reporting methods have enabled us to keep below the NYS mandated property tax cap, which has enabled residents to receive annual tax refunds.

WORKING TOGETHER One of my greatest pleasures as a Trustee and in the civic sector was working with the EPOA, the other POAs, and many of you as a team to preserve the character of our neighborhoods, protect property values, and maintain our quality of life. Over the years we stopped the County’s proposed light rail system that would have run parallel to Arthur and St. James Streets, cutting the East in two; Charles Wang’s 40-story “Lighthouse” building at the HUB that would have towered over our southeast neighborhood; unreasonable expansions to Roosevelt Field; and the OTB Casino at Fortunoff’s. In 2015, as your Mayor and neighbor, I was pleased to support the EPOA and hundreds of residents in defeating the County’s plan to widen Stewart & Clinton to the size of Clinton & Old Country, which would have devastated the quality of life and property values in adjacent neighborhoods and cut into the Stewart School property. AMENDMENTS TO OUR BUILDING CODE

For many years, residents wanted changes to our Building Code limiting the size of new or expanded homes on smaller plots, 70% of which in the Village are approximately 70 feet wide. As I promised in my Mayoral cam-paign, I asked the POAs for representatives to serve on the committee charged to review the Code and propose amendments to accomplish this, without denying owners the right to improve their properties while ensuring the right of neighboring owners to enjoy the curb appeal of theirs. Although certain Trustees clearly did not want to make any changes to the Code, in the end, the Board unanimously approved the Committee’s proposals that reflect the residents’ desire to preserve the existing character of our neighborhoods.

COMMUNICATING WITH NEIGHBORING VILLAGES

I participated in the Nassau County Village Officials Association (NCVOA) and served on their Executive Board because I believe it’s critical to exchange ideas and information with elected officials from neighboring villag-es. For example, as the result of a recent discussion with the Mayor of Farmingdale, I learned of their plans for a new water tower, the type of which had not been considered for our own. While the best type of water tower for Garden City is still being decided, at least we have the benefit of additional information and cost analysis that we otherwise would not have had.

I also attended NYS Conference of Mayors meetings in Albany. I believe it’s essential that the Mayor and Trustees build relationships with other villages at a time when the Governor and forces in Albany are determined to replace villages with “big government,” which clearly is not responsive to local residents. A prime example is the Governor’s proposed MTA/LIRR Main Line Third Track Project. Local government has a duty to protect the business community and residents’ property values and quality of life when big government puts them at risk, which in this situation should be our Village Board’s first order of business.

continued on page 9

School Board Report—Bob Martin Page 8 EPOA NEWS

School Board Report—Bob Martin The 2016/2017 school year, which began on August 24 with new teacher orientation, is almost over. This year continued the Garden City district’s long tradition of excellence and opportunity for all stu-dents. The school district was named the number two public high school on Long Island by U.S. News and World Report, and one of the top districts in the country. For the fifth year, Garden City was designat-ed by the NAMM Foundation as one of the nation’s “Best Communities for Music Education.” The district was a ”Grammy Signature School Semi-Finalist” for the fifth straight year. Among the numerous student achievements, I want to highlight a few which show the many areas of excellence. The district had five National Merit Scholarship Finalists, 13 National Merit Scholarship Com-mended Students, and three National Hispanic Recognition Program Scholars. The Middle School was named a three-time recipient of the State Education Department’s Essential Elements School to Watch for the quality of its academic program, and its responsive and socially equitable culture. An ABC special broadcast featured the Middle School’s anti-bullying initiatives. The high school musical “Little Shop of Horrors” and the middle school musical “Singing in the Rain” were performed to sold out audiences. Students’ art and photography were displayed in the High School library and the Middle School halls. As I am sure you know, Dr. Robert Feirsen will be leaving us in July. During his twelve years as our Superintendent, his leadership has cemented the Garden City schools’ place as one of the best public school districts on Long Island. We wish him well in his next position at New York Institute of Technolo-gy, and thank him for leading our school district to new heights of achievement. The School Board plans to name an interim Superintendent to serve during the 2017/2018 school year. In the fall, an extensive search will begin to find and hire the school district’s next Superintendent. It was an exciting and busy year. Please join us at the high school graduation ceremony on Saturday, June 24, at 10 am. As always, thank you for your support of our schools.

EPOA College Scholarship

The Eastern Property Owners’ Association is proud to announce its 2017 scholarship has been awarded to Garden City High School senior Maegan Emmert. The scholarship is awarded to a high school senior residing in the east and is a community service-based award. Maegan will be attending Fairfield University in the fall where she is planning to major in psy-chology in preparation for a career in art and music therapy. Throughout her high school years, Maegan dedicated significant time to a wide range of service-based activities. She col-lected clothes for teens in homeless shelters, participated in fundraisers for cancer research, and helped prepare and provide Thanksgiving meals for homeless families. The community service that had the greatest impact on her, however, was her volunteer work with the Long Island Alzheimer’s Foundation (LIAF). Maegan’s work with LIAF included working with patients and fundraising, and has helped her decide on the career she intends to pursue. Congratulations to Maegan and all of the wonderful applicants of the 2017 scholarship. The residents of the east, and indeed the entire Village, should feel fortunate and proud to have so many committed students in our community.

We wish them all much luck in their college careers.

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Grove Park The replacement of the Grove Park Playground has begun. The asphalt base has been poured and installation of the new apparatus and safety surfacing will follow once the asphalt is cured. The project is expected to be completed around the middle of June. The electrical issue at Grove Park for the flag pole light is fixed. The flag is now up and lit. The Grove Park building heating unit has been replaced. The next upgrade will be to the exterior of the building and roof. Summer Camps The 23-page summer camps brochure is available online at www.gardencityrecreation.org with activities for children ages 2-15. Activities include tennis, soccer, softball, baseball, basketball, golf, lacrosse, field hockey, yoga, engineer-ing, mad science, filmmaking, foreign language, computer, nature, Lego and multi-sports camps. If interested in any of these offerings, go to the website to download the application. Garden City Pool This year marks the 61st year of operation of the Garden City Pool. More than just a standard municipal pool, this facility continues to maintain a “Club Like” atmosphere with landscaped grounds, shade structures, and of course the interactive play pool and slides. Things to look forward to this year include: • New shade structure near the adult pool • New enclosed air conditioned indoor dining facility • New eating area on Upper Deck • Expanded summer pool enrichment program • New accessible entrance gate for the mobility impaired • Additional deck chairs and tables • Additional EZ access redwood chaise lounge chairs • Middle school night dance party – Friday June 16 • Party Under the Stars – New Start time 6:00 pm • Teen Sports Nights – Volleyball, Water Polo and more… • Beer and Wine sales now begin at 1:00 pm on weekends and holidays Senior Center on Golf Club Lane The Senior Center on Golf Club Lane is available for rental to residents. The south room of the Senior Center can be rented on a week night or on the weekends when not in use for a senior event. The facility offers comfortable, cli-mate controlled community rooms year-round at affordable prices. There are intimate meeting rooms that are per-fect for smaller groups or business meetings, as well as rooms that are just right for christenings, anniversaries, family celebrations and so much more. The facility also has a full commercial kitchen that can be used by your ca-terer and alcohol is permitted. Community Park Clubhouse The Community Park Clubhouse facility is equipped with a 52- inch cable Plasma TV and is adjacent to the tennis and platform tennis courts. The clubhouse is a great place for your next meeting or to enjoy friends after tennis. St. Paul's Center This quaint venue is the perfect place for a small party, meeting or gathering. Conveniently located off Stewart Ave-nue, guests and friends will enjoy any function you plan there.

Community Park Roller Rink Plan your next party at the Community Park Roller Rink, located within our Community Park complex. The roller rink is a great setting for your next party. The rink is located close to our Community Park Clubhouse and picnic area for party goers to enjoy refreshments. Lace up those skates and get the music going for this unique party experience. Plan Your Party Now! If you are planning a birthday party, a group outing or just looking to get together with family, friends or co-workers, why not try miniature golf at Community Park. The course has twists and turns to excite players of all ag-es! We offer a beautiful setting with a shaded picnic area, and a playground. Additionally, this fun filled activity is reasonably priced. Look into our party packages and let the fun begin!

continued on page 7

Cultural and Recreational Affairs Update—Ken Moody Civic Beautification Committee Report—Althea Robinson The Civic Beautification Committee (CBC) continues to enhance the Village landscape with sea-sonal displays which provide a sequence of seasonal blooms at specific sites throughout the Village. The Committee meets with Kevin Ocker, Chairman of the Board of Commissioners of Cultural and Recrea-tional Affairs, along with Michael Didyk, Parks Maintenance Supervisor, before each planting season to plan the addition of possible new sites, plant types and colorations.

At our meeting in early March, Chairman Ocker reported that 30,000 tulip bulbs had been plant-

ed last fall, as evidenced by the traditional show of tulips which bloomed throughout the business dis-tricts this spring; and 108 hanging baskets filled with wave petunias in shades of pink, white and laven-der will adorn light poles throughout the summer months. In addition to the knockout roses, hydrangeas and yews at the clock area at Franklin and Stewart Avenues, marigolds will be added in the fall. Addi-tionally, more cherry trees will be planted on Cherry Valley Avenue and flowers will be planted around the sign at St. Paul’s.

The Civic Beautification Committee, appointed by the mayor each year, consists of representa-

tives from all four property owners’ associations who work in cooperation with Messrs. Ocker and Didyk to both designate and design various landscape improvements.

The program, reactivated in 1988, is ongoing with the Committee’s chairperson customarily serv-

ing from the property owners’ association represented by the mayor. At the onset of Mayor Brian Daughney’s term, Kathleen Auro (POA of the Estates) became chairperson and will serve throughout Mayor Daughney’s term. Representing the other three POAs are Suzie Alvey (WPOA), Althea Robinson (EPOA) and Patty Silver (CPOA).

“Gardens are not made by singing 'Oh, how beautiful!' and sitting in the shade.” ― Rudyard Kipling

Cultural and Recreational Affairs Update (continued) It's never too early to plan your next event. Whatever the occasion, consider renting one of our recreation facili-ties! For additional information or to rent one of our facilities, please call the Recreation Administration Office at 516-465-4075. Upcoming Senior Trips: Wednesday, June 14 – Metropolitan Opera House to see the ballet “Swan Lake.” This is a matinee show. We will travel by coach bus and lunch will be on your own. Seating is limited. The cost of this trip will be $85, checks only, make payable to Jo Falabella. Tuesday, June 20 – New York Botanical Garden featuring the Chihuly Garden Exhibit and lunch on Arthur Avenue. We will travel by coach bus to the Garden where you will have approximately three hours to see the art-work of world-renowned sculptor Dale Chihuly as well as the rose garden and more. We will then visit Arthur Ave-nue and have lunch at Mario’s. The cost of this trip will be $85, checks only made payable to Rendezvous Travel. Tuesday, July 11 – “Summer on the Boardwalk,” Atlantic City. We will travel by coach bus to Resorts Casi-no in Atlantic City, where we will see a performance of the “Unexpected Surfer Boys,” who will sing your favorite summer songs. We will also receive $25 in slot play. Gamble, enjoy the show and walk on the boardwalk to enjoy the day! The cost of this trip will be $50, checks only made payable to Rendezvous Travel and lunch on your own. To register for any of these trips, please visit the Recreation Office at 108 Rockaway Ave.

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