The board of trustees join me in extending our sincere gratitude to former Chief Richard Chiarello for the dedicated and professional level of service that he rendered to our village during his tenure as chief of the Garden City Fire Department. Our special thanks is also due to his wife, Laura, and their daughter for having shared Richard with us.

As a result of the election held last week, the new chief is Lawrence Nedelka. He will be aided during the coming year by First Assistant Chief Leonard Rivera, Second Assistant Chief Thomas Foley and Edward Moran as third assistant chief. We wish them well and thank them for their involvement.

Acknowledging the onset of warmer weather and parties, the police department has been requested to step up enforcement of the village's "Open Beverage Law" in an effort to reduce the volume of minors who consume alcoholic beverages. This statute prohibits the possession of any alcoholic beverage in an open container or the drinking of an alcoholic beverage in any public place in the village. Additionally, the law applies to private property without the permission of the owner.

Under state law, no person shall sell, deliver or give away any alcoholic beverage to any person actually or apparently under the age of 21. Those who violate this can be charged with Unlawfully Dealing with a Child in conjunction with the Alcoholic Beverage Control Law.

Police personnel are in the process of visiting local merchants reminding them that strict compliance of this law is expected. Residents suspecting sales of alcoholic beverages to minors should report circumstances to the police department, as well as to the manager or owner of the business where such beverages were sold. A good business person will not ignore such a message.