On Saturday, Dec. 18 at 10 a.m., the Recreation Department will sponsor the Annual Holiday Party for all Village youngsters. This party will be held in the Cultural and Performing Arts Center at Cluett Hall.

The morning will begin with magic and illusions performed by artists from Bill White Productions. Then there will be a special visitor from the North Pole. This jolly visitor will distribute candy canes and gifts to all.

In lieu of an admission fee, the cost will be a new wrapped gift, valued at $5 and suitable for a young child.

For further information about the party, call the Recreation Office at 465-4075.

'Tis the season to send your letters to Santa, and the Recreation Department will help speed up the process! Through a special arrangement wit the North Pole, a special Santa's Mailbox has been set up in the Village Hall lobby. Children can drop their letters in this mailbox, and Santa will send them a reply letter. Santa's Mailbox will be available now to Dec. 17. All letters to Santa must be received in this special mailbox no later than 4:30 p.m. on Dec. 17 to ensure a reply. Letters must contain a legible reply address and no postage is necessary.

In addition to helping Santa with his letters, the Recreation Department is again conducting a holiday Candy Cane Contest. Children are asked to guess how many Candy Canes are in the jar which is displayed next to Santa's Mailbox. Guesses should include the number of canes the child thinks is in the jar, and a legible name and phone number (so we can contact the lucky winner!). Guesses should be placed in Santa's Mailbox.

The child whose guess is closest to the exact number of canes in the jar without going over will win the jar. Canes and all In the event of more than one correct guess, all correct guesses will be placed in a box, and one will be selected at random to win the prize. The Candy Cane Contest will be conducted now through Dec. 17.

The garden City Athletic Association is pleased to announce that they will again be orgainizing Winter Baseball and Softball Clinics, which will be held at the St. Paul's Field House. Registration for these clinics will be done in person, at the time of the clinics, which will be according to the following schedule:

*2nd and 3rd grade baseball: Tuesdays 7:30 - 8:45 p.m. on Dec. 14, 21, and Jan. 4

*4th and 7th grade baseball: Tuesdays from 7:30 - 9 p.m. on Jan. 11, 18, 25, and Feb. 1

*grades 4 and up girls softball: Thursdays at 7:30 p.m. now into February

Please visit the GCAA web site at www.GC-AA.com for more information and updates.

On Monday and Friday afternoons the Recreation Department conducts a program for boys and girls in grades 3, 4, and 5. The boys floor hockey and basketball leagues has begun and is held on Mondays. On Friday, Dec. 10, the girls floor hockey and basketball programs began. This program is held in the Stewart School Gymnasium from 2:40 to 5:30 p.m.

On Saturdays, the Stewart School Gymnasium is now operating according to the following schedule:

Boys and girls in grades K, 1 and 2 - 9 to 10 a.m., sports and games program.

Boys, grades 3, 4, and 5 - 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., sports and games program.

Girls, grades 3, 4, and 5 - 12 p.m. to 2 p.m., sports and games program.

Due to the renovation and construction projects currently underway, there will be no arts and crafts program held at the elementary schools this winter.

On Monday and Friday afternoons, the Recreation Department conducts a program for boys and girls in grades 3, 4, and 5. Currently, on Mondays, the boys floor hockey league face off. On Friday, Dec. 10, the girls sports and games program began. This program is held in the Stratford School Gymnasium from 2:40 to 5 p.m.

On Saturdays, the Stratford School Gymnasium now operates according to the following schedule:

Boys and girls in kindergarten - 9 to 10 a.m., sports and games program.

Boys and girls, grades 1, 2 - 10 to 11 a.m., sports and games program.

Boys, grades 3, 4 and 5 - 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., sports and games program.

Girls, grades 3, 4 and 5 - 12:30 to 2 p.m., sports and games program.

Due to the renovation and construction projects currently under way, there will be no arts and crafts program held at the elementary schools this winter.

Parents, please note: In order to provide a safe and enjoyable program for all of our participants, the age and time groupings listed above will be strictly monitored and enforced by our program supervisors. As we are unable to babysit or otherwise supervise children not participating, please do not bring children to programs for which they are ineligible to participate in.

For further information, please call the Recreation Office at 465-4075.

As an extension of our popular elementary school program, the Recreation Department offers an after school program in the Saint Paul's Field House for middle and high school age students. Activities which will be offered include: floor hockey, basketball, volleyball, and other popular sports and games.

This program will be held according to the following schedule:

Boys and girls, grades 6 to 12 - Mondays and Fridays, 3:30 to 5:30 p.m., open gym.

Boys, grade 6 - Tuesdays 3:30 to 5:30 p.m., sports and games.

Girls, grade 6 - Wednesdays 3:30 to 5:30 p.m., sports and games.

Boys and girls, grades 7 to 12 - Thursdays, 3:30 to 5:30 p.m., sports and games.

These programs have begun, and will continue until March 17.

The Recreation Department Chess Club now meets on Saturday afternoons at the Garden City Library from noon to 2 p.m. The Chess Club meets in the small meeting room, and is open to all students in grades 3 and up who are interested in playing, or in learning to play. The club will again be under the direction of Paul Dooher.

For further information, please call the Recreation Office at 465-4075.

The Recreation Department is pleased to announce that a Women's Open Basketball Program will again be held each Thursday evening from 8 to 10 p.m. at the Saint Paul's Field House. The program has begun and will continue through the winter. Games are strictly "pick up," and no advance registration is necessary. This program is open to Garden City Residents Only, and proof of Residency will be required.

The GCAA will again be organizing Winter Baseball and Softball Clinics in the St. Paul's Field House.

Registration will be conducted at the clinics:

* 2nd and 3rd grade Baseball Clinic: Tuesdays, from 7:30 to 8:45 p.m. on Dec. 14, 21 and Jan. 4.

* 4th to 7th grade Baseball Clinic: Tuesdays, from 7:30 to 9 p.m. on Jan. 11, 18, 25 and Feb. 1.

* Girls Softball Clinic: Thursdays at 7:30 p.m. now into February. Basics of throwing, fielding and pitching will be taught. This clinic is for girls in 4th grade and up.

Please visit our web site www.gc-aa.com for more information and updates.

Although this is the time of year when most folks are busy preparing for the upcoming holiday season, it's not too early to start planning for a summer job with the Garden City Recreation Department.

Challenging, enjoyable positions are available at the Garden City Pool, the village playgrounds in our summer sports camps and in the recreation maintenance division.

If you enjoy being outdoors, and are willing to make the commitment to being part of a team that works hard to provide quality programs and facilities for our residents, then we'd like to talk to you. We offer competitive salaries, friendly working conditions, opportunity for advancement and the chance to be part of a very special team.

If you are a high school senior or older and are ready to make a commitment for a great summer job, stop in at the Recreation Office in Village Hall, pick up an application and schedule an appointment for an interview.

Reminder: Even if you were employed by the Recreation Department last year, including the pool, you are still required to re-apply and be interviewed for the upcoming summer.

Interviews will be conducted on the following dates:

Tuesday, Dec. 28, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Saturday, Jan. 8, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Saturday, Jan. 15, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Saturday, Jan. 23, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

No interviews will be conducted without an appointment, and positions will not be offered to applicants who do not interview.

To schedule an interview appointment, please call the Recreation Office at 465-4075 Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.