The week of Oct. 23 through 27 has been designated as School Board Recognition Week in New York State. On behalf of the residents of Garden City, I commend and thank the members of our school board for their dedicated service to the youth of our village.

An excellent public education system is vital to the quality of life for any community. The Garden City Public School District has received the extraordinary recognition by both the federal and state governments on having had each of its schools designated as a "School of Excellence." Clearly, the ladies and gentlemen who serve on our school board deserve our recognition for these achievements as well as our appreciation for the countless hours of service to public education.

As a reminder, Oct. 31 and Nov. 1 result in two consecutive odd days. All residents with automatic sprinklers should remember to reset their clocks at this time to comply with the village's lawn watering regulation. As a further reminder, the last day for lawn sprinkling is Nov. 30.

The Town of Hempstead Sanitation Department will conduct its monthly STOP (Stop Throwing Out Pollutants) program Saturday, Oct. 28. The program will be held at Rath Park, 849 Fenworth Boulevard in Franklin Square. The hours of operation will be 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Under the STOP Program residents are able to take polluting materials to the facility and have them disposed of by a registered professional company, free of charge. The facility will not accept the following materials: ammunition, explosives, radioactives, infectious waste and gas cylinders, barbecue tanks.