Once again, the recreation department will offer a selection of summer Youth Sports Camps for residents this coming summer. Held at Community Park and St. Paul's, the camps provide enjoyable, instructional experience for village residents. These camps are open to children who reside in the Inc. Village of Garden City only.

Registration for the camps will be done through the mail, with registration for each camp beginning when the camp is announced in the newspaper and fliers distributed through the schools. In person registration will only be accepted after the dates indicated for each camp in the news release and on the flier.

Additional camp announcements will be made as dates and staffs are confirmed with the recreation department.

The recreation department will conduct a basketball camp for boys and girls entering grades 3 to 6. This camp will be held at St. Paul's Field House and will be under the direction of Tom Gleeson, former coach at the Merchant Marine Academy.

The camp will be held from June 25 to June 28. This instructional camp for children entering grades 3 and 4 in September 2001 will be held from 8:30 to 11 a.m. and the camp for children entering grades 5 and 6 will be held from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. There will be a limit of 40 children per session.

The purpose of this camp is to provide instruction in basketball fundamentals, team play, and fun. The cost of this camp will be $50 per child, which includes a t-shirt.

Each participant should dress in shorts, t-shirts and sneakers and should bring a towel with them to camp.

TO REGISTER: Registration is by mail immediately- the recreation department cannot be responsible for delays in the mail. If sending in a registration with no form, include the name, address, and phone number of the child with his/her birth date and grade the child is entering. Please make checks payable to "Inc. Village of Garden City" and mail to the Recreation Department, 351 Stewart Avenue, Garden City, NY 11530. In person registration will be accepted beginning Monday, May 21.

No telephone registration will be accepted.

The recreation department is pleased to announce it will be holding a girl's lacrosse camp for girls entering grades 3 to 6 in September 2001.

This camp will be held on the St. Paul's athletic fields under the direction of Bob Defliese, of the Garden City Schools. This camp will be offered in two one-week sessions during the weeks of July 2-5 and July 9-12. The girls can choose to go either one or both sessions.

This camp will teach the girls the basic techniques of catching, scooping, and throwing and then will move on to drills and the rule of the game. No previous experience is needed.

Girls entering grades 3 and 4 will attend camp from 8:30-10:30 a.m. Girls entering grades 5 and 6 will attend camp from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. The cost of this camp will be $50 per session, which will include the cost of the t-shirt.

TO REGISTER: By mail immediately- the recreation department cannot be responsible for delays in the mail. If sending in a registration with no form, include the name, address, and phone number of the child, her birth date and grade entering, and the week you would like to sign up for. Please make checks payable to "Inc. Village of Garden City" and mail to the Recreation Department, 351 Stewart Avenue, Garden City, NY 11530. In person registration will not be accepted until Tuesday, May 29.

No telephone registration will be accepted.

The recreation department will offer a preschool camp for village children who are 3.5 to 5 years old by July 20, 2001. The 1 1/2 hour camp will include arts and crafts, science, nature, storytelling, and other activities to keep the preschool child busy and happy.

The sessions and fees will be:

Session I July 24 to August 3 $100

Session II Aug. 6 to 17 $100

Session III Aug. 20 to 24 $50

The camp will be held at Cluett Hall at St. Paul's and will run from 10:30 a.m. to noon.

TO REGISTER: Registration is by mail immediately- the recreation department cannot be responsible for delays in the mail. A form can be picked up in the recreation department or you can make your own by including your child's name, address, phone number and birth date and the session you would like. Please make checks payable to "Inc. Village of Garden City" and mail to the Recreation Department, 351 Stewart Avenue, Garden City, NY 11530. In person registration will be accepted beginning Monday, May 21.

No telephone registration will be accepted.

The recreation department has begun accepting roster packages for the upcoming Men's Over 35 Softball League, as of April 30. This league plays games on Sunday evenings at Community Park. Rosters will be accepted from teams meeting the following eligibility requirements:

1. Teams must be comprised of current residents of the Inc. Village of Garden City.

2. All players must be over 35 years of age or turning 35 years during the course of the season.

The fee for this league is $350, which includes games, balls, umpires and end-of-season trophies.

Applications will not be accepted without a complete roster package, which includes the roster (name, address, phone for each player), a copy of each player's current driver's license, and a check for the full amount of the league fee.

Roster packages are now available at the recreation office. The deadline for submitting completed applications will be Friday, May 11.

The men's basketball program at St. Paul's Field House is drawing to a close. Tuesday evening play has now ended. Play on Mondays and Wednesdays will continue through the week of May 21.

The Garden City Recreation Department is again sponsoring the Fleer Diamond Skills Competition for 2001. All Garden City residents between the ages of 7 and 14 are eligible to participate in this competition. The competition challenges participants in the skill of fielding/throwing, hitting, and base running. The local winners will advance to a sectional competition, which will be held elsewhere in Nassau County.

The Diamond Skills Competition will be held in Grove Park on Friday, May 11 at 4 p.m. There is no fee to participate but pre-registration is required. Registration forms can be obtained at St. Paul's and the recreation office at village hall and should be dropped off at the recreation office at village hall. All forms must be received by Wednesday, May 9 in order to participate. For further information, please call the recreation department at 465-4075.

The Recreation Dance Ensemble is pleased to announce their upcoming presentation, The Color of Your Dreams, to be performed at the Adelphi University Olmstead Theater during the weekend of May 18 and 19.

This outstanding performance ensemble has presented some of the most innovative, creative and socially conscious programs over the past several years. Several prior years' performers have gone on to major in dance in college, and to pursue a career in dance as well. Scripted, choreographed, and directed by the dancers themselves, under the direction of Jean Marie Philippou, this show promises to be an enjoyable, thought provoking, and fun-filled evening for all who attend.

The Color of Your Dreams will be presented on Friday, May 18 at 7:30 p.m. and on Saturday, May 19 at 7 p.m. at the Olmstead Theater. Tickets are $7 each and are on sale now in the recreation office in village hall.

For further information about this performance, call the recreation department at 465-4075.

With the spring sports season rapidly approaching, the recreation department would like to remind all residents that the recreation department gives preference to the various organized village youth organizations (GCAA, Centennials, Rams, etc.), and the Garden City School District for their intramural and travel league programs.

When the fields are not in use by these youth organizations or the district, the recreation department, or a group holding a valid field permit, they are available for use by village residents.

Additionally, for reasons of safety, please do not move or relocate any soccer goals on any fields. To ensure a safe facility, goals must be fastened to the ground. Moving goals without properly securing them can lead to a dangerous condition for youngsters who are using the fields.

Playability of fields at recreation facilities will be determined solely by recreation department employees.