The Garden City Special Education Parent Teacher Association (SEPTA) is hosting its spring festival on Friday, May 3 with a rain date of Sunday, May 5. The day's activities will begin at 4 p.m. on Seventh Street and last until 8 p.m. that evening. This year's festival will include musical groups from the middle and high schools, the Banjo Rascals, balloon clowns and radar pitching. "Sponge Bob Square Pants" will make a guest appearance. In addition to face painting, a dunking booth, a variety of amusement games and the ever-popular moon walk, a giant orbitron and giant slide will be offered. Plan to bring your family out to enjoy a fun-filled event. We are pleased to learn from the New York Racing Association that it has once again arranged to have the world famous Budweiser Clydesdale team at Belmont Park June 6-9 and that they will be part of the Belmont Festival in Garden City, scheduled for Friday, June 7. Please mark your calendar and bring your family to this new Garden City tradition. Working in cooperation with the village, merchants have placed tables and chairs outside their shops and restaurants for our enjoyment. Please stop by to let the merchants know that you appreciate their efforts. I urge residents to become familiar with their local merchants and businesses and to shop in Garden City. You will be pleased with the selection, quality and commitment to customer service.

The Town of Hempstead Sanitation Department will conduct the second of its monthly S.T.O.P (Stop Throwing Out Pollutants) program Saturday, May 4. The program, which is being held at various locations throughout the township, will make hazardous waste facilities accessible to as many residents as possible.

The May 4 program will be held in South Bellmore at the Newbridge Road Park Garage, located at 2600 Newbridge Road. The hours of operation will be from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Under the S.T.O.P. program, residents are able to take polluting materials to the facility and have them disposed of by a registered professional disposal company, free of charge. The facility will not accept the following materials: ammunition, explosives, fireworks, infectious or medical waste, propane or oxygen tanks, radioactive materials, unlabeled materials and fire extinguishers.