This has been a busy summer for the Recreation Department, running athletic camps for children, arts and crafts projects, and organizing the events at the Garden City Pool. One of their most popular summer programs, the Gazebo Concert Series is regarded as the first true sign that summer has officially arrived in the Village by many residents. Familes, friends, and neighbors have made their way to the Village Green every Thursday evening, carrying lawn chairs and picnic blankets under one arm and a picnic basket of treats to keep the kids happy under the other. Children dance before the Gazebo, play games of catch and chase or practice their acrobatic skills on the lawn behind the Gazebo as attentive parents stand watching and singing along to their favorite songs performed by the band of the week. Now, as summer is welcomed by the beginning of the concerts, the transition period between summer and fall is upon us officially as the concert series concludes for the 1998 Season.

One of the brightest highlights of this summer's concert series was Aug. 6 concert, at which Tom Wagner and the Village Music Makers, a Garden City favorite at Gazebo concerts and street fairs alike, sernenaded the visiting cyclists from Sister City Coburg, Germany. Twelve gentlemen from Coburg arrived in Garden City and spent two nights visiting with host families who traveled to Coburg in 1995. At the concert, they were introduced by Tom Wagner to the audience and later rode off into the sunset to return to their lodgings to rest up for the rest of their journey. Led by Mayor Norbert Kastner, of Coburg, the group left on Saturday to cycle to Manhattan, where they would spend the night before continuing through upstate New York on the way to their final destination, Coburg, Canada, another Sister City.

The Gazebo concerts opened on June 25 with a doo-wop and "good time oldies" performance by The Devotions. Known for their Top 40 hit Rip Van Winkle, they delighted the audience with their band's own classics and covers of other popular tunes. On June 2 The Great South Dixieland Band, led by Mike Carubia played their Dixie flavored swing tunes. As today's charts will indicate, swing has inspired popular contemporary bands and has become increasingly popular with "generation next" audiences. The following weeks brought a musical mélange of jazz, classical, country, and early rock and roll. Libby and Company played jazz "full of hot saxophone riffs;" Roslyn Artists String Quartet brought the sounds of Lincoln Center to Long Island; Sonny Geraci and the Outsiders played early 1960s classics; Ridin' High entertained with country tunes; and The Ric Mango Orchestra provided a wide array of Top 40 hits as they performed in classic tuxedos.

The final concert was held on Aug. 20 when The Chiclettes entertained with their covers of the famous female bands of the 50's and 60's. Music history unfolded as The Chiclettes performed classic music originally recorded by legendary divas of Motown. Their fun and peppy renditions of rock and roll favorites transported Garden City 40 years back in time.

The concerts were blessed with beautiful weather, so all concerts were held in the great outdoors. The shows began at 7:15 p.m. each week, and were scheduled to conclude by 8:30 p.m., but some of the performers were so connected with the audience, they could still be heard playing until about 9 p.m. The visiting firefighters from the Nassau County Firefighter Association, who were attending the Aug. 13 meeting hosted by the Garden City Fire Department at the Headquarters at Village Hall were welcomed to the Village with the Ric Mango Orchestra in full swing. The concert provided beutiful mood music for their meeting and gave visiting firechiefs a wonderful view of the true spirit of Garden City.