Residents in the Village of Garden City are very fortunate to have a vital business community comprised of merchants who are committed to serve us from their shops along Franklin Avenue, Seventh Street and New Hyde Park Road. I urge each of you to continue to patronize these local businesses for the holiday and throughout the year.

You will be pleased with their selection and quality, as well as their attention to customer service.

I have been asked by Director of Public Works Robert J. Mangan to call residents' attention to the fact that from time to time, the Village experiences an increased number of sewer backups, resulting from a build-up of household grease. Please cooperate with the Village by disposing of your cooking oil and grease by pouring them into a can and once solidified, placing them into the garbage to be picked up by the Sanitation Department. Apparently, a number of residents have been pouring this material directly into their household drain lines, causing the problem.

Hot liquid grease and oil drain well out of the house line, however, once it reaches the street line, it cools and solidifies on the pipe walls, eventually causing a blockage. Once this blockage occurs, the sewer backs up into the lowest house line, forcing sewage material to flow up into the basement waste fixtures, (i.e., sink, showers, etc.). The results are extremely unpleasant and the restoration costs are high.

Restaurants are also asked to continue to have their grease traps regularly serviced and the grease removed by licensed haulers.

When sewer blockage is experienced, call the Department of Public Works at 742-5800, ext. 243 before calling for a plumber, as the blockage may not be in the houseline. The end result could be a substantial savings to the homeowner.