While each of us is focusing on the holiday season, Village departments are concluding an 18 month effort to assure compliance with Y2K. Residents will be pleased to know that we are ready and do not anticipate major problems.

Our Village Administrator and each of the Village department heads will be working throughout the evening on New Year's Eve and have scheduled personnel to be present as well.

Village Offices will be closed on Friday, Dec. 31 in observance of New Year's and will reopen on Monday, Jan. 3. For your convenience, correspondance can be dropped in the letter slot at Village Hall.

Residents are reminded that there will be normal garbage and recycling pickup for the holiday week.

At this time of year, there are many opportunities for families, friends and co-workers to get together in the holiday spirit. Please don't make these gatherings a prelude to tragedy. That extra drink -- the one for the road -- could be the worst decision of your life.

Concerned for the safety of our residents and the motorists passing through the Village, the Garden City Police Department has stepped up its enforcement geared to crack down on drunk drivers. Some of these people will be stopped, tested and arrested before they are involved in accidents. If you are apprehended and convicted you will pay a heavy fine, you may spend time in jail and you will lose your license to drive. The fine and license suspension are mandatory.

Don't push alcoholic beverages on your friends and don't let anyone drive while under the influence of alcohol. Remember, enforcement is strong, penalties are severe and tragedy is too often the result. Your good judgment may save your life or the life of one of the many innocent victims of drunk drivers.