Suozzi Takes the Helm of Nassau County

On New Year's Day, 2002, Thomas Suozzi followed his eight years as mayor of Glen Cove by beginning his new role as the first Democratic Nassau County executive in 30 years. In his inaugural speech, Suozzi asked that residents of Nassau County commit their talent, time and goodwill to "break with the tired past of cynicism, lethargy and political expedience and rekindle the idealism, energy and optimism" that is needed to re-build.

Answering the call to duty, approximately 900 Marines and sailors of Battalion, 25th Marine Regiment, based in Garden City, departed for Camp LeJeune in North Carolina Jan. 20. The reserve infantry battalion was activated - under the partial mobilization of reserves authorized by President George Bush - to provide operational relief to the II Marine Expeditionary Force in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. The first week of the New Year brought with it the inaugurations of newly elected and re-elected officials for the Town of Hempstead. Local residents gathered Jan. 4 in Hempstead Town Hall to celebrate the inaugurations of Supervisor Rich Guardino, who was inducted to serve his third term in office, Council members Anthony Santino, Dorothy Goosby and Gary Hudes, Town Clerk Kate Murray and Receiver of Taxes Don Clavin, Jr.

Sitting village board trustee Barbara Miller was the Central Property Owners Association's (CPOA) Nominating Committee's unanimous choice for the position of village trustee from the central section.

The following members of the CPOA Nominating Committee brought forth the unanimous vote: Tom Simpson, chairperson; Kathleen Donnelly-O'Brien, vice chairperson; Kathleen Horton, Kathleen Galgano and Catherine Somerville.

Kenneth J. Monaghan, current president of the Garden City Board of Education, was the CPOA's Nominating Committee's unanimous choice for the position of Board of Education trustee from the central section.

The following members of the CPOA Nominating Committee brought forth the unanimous vote: Tom Simpson, chairperson; Kathleen Donnelly-O'Brien, vice chairperson; Kathleen Horton, Kathleen Galgano, Dr. Russell Miller and Catherine Sumerville.

The Western Property Owners Association's (WPOA) Nominating Committee chose John Watras for the position of village trustee. The committee interviewed two other candidates for the position, including Larry Quinn and Rob Alvey.

Members of the Nominating Committee included Joe Calamari, Matt Flanagan, Frank Tauches, Bob Bolbruch, John Blair, Bernie Hunt, Dorothea Warren, Brian Murray (secretary) and Ken Rode (chairman).

As Adelphi University President Dr. Robert Scott tried to persuade village board members to grant a special use permit to build a new three-story residence hall on the northwest portion of its campus, Brompton Road residents tried to persuade trustees to vote down the idea. Residents even presented a petition, signed by 77 residents who live in close proximity to the university and are not in favor of the proposal.

Adelphi University was founded in Garden City in 1929. The last new building on the campus opened in 1985. According to reports, 2,716 full-time undergraduate students attend Adelphi from 34 states and 40 foreign countries as of this past fall. Of those 2,716 students, 864 of them live on campus.

The Village of Garden City received two decisions regarding the St. Paul's property - one was in favor of the village regarding the Garden City Company, Inc. lawsuit while the other lawsuit, filed by the Kenny and Rafferty families, was not.

The Appellate Division, in affirming Justice Winslow's decision, ruled that the Garden City Company, Inc. had no claims to the St. Paul's property. Justice Winslow dismissed the company's claim, stating it had "no interest in the various parcels of property conveyed to the Cathedral of the Incarnation in the 1880s by Cornelia Stewart, her trustee and her heirs."

With regard to the Kenny litigation, the court decided against the village, stating the property could not be sold or leased to a commercial entity without the state legislature's approval because doing so would be "an illegal alienation of a public trust policy." The property was purchased for municipal uses only. The village appealed the ruling but lost when the Appellate Division upheld the original decision.

Friends of the late Jonathon Neff Cappello, a 1996 Garden City High School graduate who lost his life September 11, 2001 in New York City, held a fundraiser Jan. 19 at the Garden City Casino to raise money for a memorial scholarship fund established in his name. Cappello, 23, graduated from Fairfield University in 2000 and worked for Cantor Fitzgerald.

When Bertelsmann AG and Time, Inc., two multimedia giants, combined forces to form the largest book club marketer in America, Bookspan was born. The multi-billion-dollar media conglomerate created 450 additional jobs at its Franklin Avenue location - book club headquarters - nearly doubling the workforce to 900 employees.

Governor George Pataki visited the site in January to help executives inaugurate the first phase of the completion of the additional 135,000 square feet of space to the firm's existing facility. "The $45 million expansion will strengthen Long Island's economy and produce hundreds of new jobs for Nassau County residents," Pataki said.

The building, located at 501 Franklin Avenue, has been a village landmark since 1910 when Theodore Roosevelt first laid its cornerstone. Originally the home of Doubleday, it's a fitting homage to England's Hampton Court. Part of the investment by Bertelsmann and Bookspan was allocated for the preservation and restoration of the building.

Inez Norman Spiers passed away peacefully in her sleep at the Westbury Senior Care facility in Jericho Jan. 12. Her 51-year association with Garden City schools left many milestones. In 1948, Inez began her legendary career as teacher in charge of the Speech and Drama departments for grades 7-12 at the Garden City Junior-Senior High School, in what is now the main building of the Garden City Middle School.

She then took over sponsorship of Masquers, a theatre arts club that then produced one play a year. Within a few years, she moved the number up to three plays a year with some of the proceeds going to the PTA Scholarship Fund. Inez moved with the senior high school faculty when the new Garden City High School building was occupied and later directed the Sound Studio for public and special announcements.

The Adelphi NY Statewide Breast Cancer Hotline and Support Program received a belated anniversary gift in January - $50,000 in federal aid Senator Hillary Clinton helped secure. Clinton visited Garden City to officially make the announcement at hotline headquarters - Adelphi. She also toured the facility and met with program volunteers.

Garden City's Locust School hosted the 2nd Platoon of the 2nd Battalion, 25th Marine Regiment in January, under the direction of Gunnery Sgt. James DuPont, father of a Locust School kindergartner.

Anna Smith led students in singing patriotic songs, including Grand Old Flag, This Land Is Your Land and God Bless America. All kindergarten and first grade students from Locust, Hemlock and Homestead Schools made the Marines tokens of their appreciation, including cards with drawings and messages of support and well wishes. Laminated for durability, these cards were designed to be small enough to be carried by the Marines as they were deployed. Students officially presented the cards Jan. 18. Moreover, Locust School classes designed class posters, displayed at the base in Garden City.

After more than a month of deliberation, village trustees voted 5 to 3 in favor of granting Adelphi University a special use permit to construct a three-story residence hall on the northwest portion of its campus.

Trustees Jon Segerdahl, John Mauk, Brian Murray, Gerard Lundquist and Peter Bee approved the application. Mayor Robert Lewis, along with Deputy Mayor Barbara Miller and Trustee Peter Negri voted against it. Construction should be complete in July/August of 2003. This is the first new construction in over 17 years on the campus.

Diagnosed with esophageal cancer three years ago and while traveling back and forth to New York City's Memorial Sloan Kettering for aggressive chemotherapy and radiation treatments, Garden City resident Michael Tenaglia made a pact with God that if he survived his surgery, he'd help people with cancer. Tenaglia fulfilled his end of the deal when he co-founded, along with his wife, Patti, the Garden City-based MIRACLE (Making In Roads Against Cancer's Lasting Effects) Foundation.

Going further with his vow to help, The MIRACLE Foundation pledged $1 million toward a new facility right here on Long Island. He and Patti helped break ground at Mercy Medical Center Feb. 8 to make way for The MIRACLE Building, a $7.1 million cancer facility that will soon offer state-of-the-art treatment locally.

The facility will soon provide more than 30,000 cancer treatments annually and house a Gamma Knife, providing non-invasive stereotactic radiosurgery. The building will also house an Acqsim, which integrates treatment planning and delivery for optimum results as well as a Positron Emission Tomography (PET) scanner.

In a bizarre course of events, Nassau County Legislator Dennis Dunne, Sr. (R-Levittown) announced his candidacy for New York State Senate. But in less than 24 hours, he reneged on his decision to run. If Dunne followed through on his challenge, he would have been vying for fellow Republican State Senator Kemp Hannon's seat during a primary.

The Most Reverend John R. McGann, who led the Diocese of Rockville Centre for more than 20 years, died at Mercy Medical Center. He had been admitted to Mercy a week prior for treatment. Born in Brooklyn, he was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Brooklyn in 1951. He was serving in Brentwood in 1957 when Nassau and Suffolk counties were carved out of the Brooklyn Diocese to form the Diocese of Rockville Centre and automatically became a priest of the new diocese. He became diocesan bishop in 1976 upon the retirement of Bishop Walter P. Kellenberg. In 1999, at the age of 75, he tendered his resignation to the Holy See, as required by church law.

A funeral Mass was held Feb. 4 at the Cathedral of Saint Agnes in Rockville Centre.

In an effort to ensure that citizens are appropriately represented by their elected officials, the Joint Legislative Task Force on Demographic Research and Reapportionment released a rough draft of new state legislative district boundaries in February. The plan proposed to shrink Long Island's Assembly delegation from 22 to 21 seats, granting the remaining seat to New York City. The proposed lines adhered to the principals expressed in the Voting Rights Act and followed each decennial census of the state's population. A series of statewide hearings to gather public comment on the plan were held. A memorial service at the Inez Norman Spiers Theatre in the Garden City High School was held for the late Inez Norman Spiers in February. In place of floral tributes, donations were sent to the Alumni Fund of Garden City High School. Donations were added to the scholarship fund. A scholarship for theatre students was to be established in her name if funds were sufficient.

The Zonta Club of Long Island honored Althea Robinson, executive director of the Garden City Chamber of Commerce for the past 25 years, as Woman of the Year for 2002 March 21.

Zonta International is a worldwide service organization of executives in business and the professions working together to advance the status of women. The club's Long Island branch honored Robinson for successes achieved through her business activities and her community contributions.

More than 100 local residents living in village apartment buildings, condominiums and co-ops demanded that the Garden City Board of Education make a motion to consolidate property classes 2, 3 and 4. Fed up with what they called exorbitant taxes year after year, some warned the board of a forming coalition and even threatened they'd sue if necessary.

Properties in Nassau County are divided into four property "classes" for the purpose of collecting school real estate taxes. Class 1 properties are residential homes; Class 2 properties are multi-family homes, including condominiums, apartments and co-ops; Class 3 properties are areas owned by utilities; and Class 4 properties are considered commercial.

Although Board President Kenneth Monaghan admitted he and fellow board members recognized the inequality between the taxes Class 1 and Class 2 property owners must pay, he didn't consider Class 1 taxes to be significantly askew when compared to those of Class 2.

"You put your right foot in, you put your right foot out. You put your right foot in and you shake it all about. You do the hokey pokey and turn yourself about. That's what it's all about."

Children sang the familiar song as they anxiously awaited a grand tour of the Long Island Children's Museum's (LICM) newly opened site in Garden City. Local politicians, including former Nassau County Executive Thomas Gulotta, later applauded for his work with the museum during his tenured position, mingled with enthusiastic LICM administration during the 40,000-square foot facility's grand opening Feb. 27.

Once children officially helped politicians cut the ribbon, they entered a wonderland of exhibits, rides, games and gadgets, including a gigantic bubble machine and news and weather station, to finally experience first-hand what museum officials had waited for all along.

Rotary has many child-oriented programs, including the Youth Exchange Program where the Rotary brings in deserving foreign high school students to study in US schools. They live in the host community with volunteer families for one year. The Mineola-Garden City Rotary hosted Andrea Morassi, who comes from northern Italy. Morassi attended Garden City High School and passed all four Regents exams.

Village election results for Garden City and Stewart Manor were as follows:

Garden City

Incumbent Village Trustees Peter Bee, Barbara Miller and John Mauk received 142, 133 and 141 votes respectively. John Watras, who replaced Brian Murray in the west, received 131 votes. The Western Property Owners Association (WPOA) nominated Watras upon hearing Murray opted not to run.

Stewart Manor

Incumbent Trustee James Kelly, who ran unopposed on the Unity and Village Party lines, received 38 votes (24 - Unity, 14 - Village). Philip Milone, who also ran on the Unity and Village Party lines for an open village justice seat, received 35 votes (21- Unity, 14 - Village).

By a vote of 2,311 to 1,201, Nassau County voters turned down a request by Nassau BOCES to purchase an office building located at 71 Clinton Road in Garden City. The results may have been related to an exceptionally high turnout of Garden City voters and misinformation about the tax impact of the proposed purchase widely disseminated a week before, according to BOCES officials.

In recent years, Nassau BOCES had been working to minimize costs passed on to local school districts by pursuing a strategy of owning rather than renting facilities. The March 19 referendum was the third time in three years that BOCES had gone to voters for permission to make a purchase - permission that is required any time a BOCES wishes to buy or sell a building. The previous two votes were successful.

After an outraged group of Class 2 property owners complained about having to pay "exorbitant taxes year after year," they demanded the board of education act responsibly and consolidate property classes 2, 3 and 4. Some even warned of forming a coalition of residents living in Class 2 properties, including apartment buildings, condominiums and co-ops and threatened to sue if a decision to consolidate was not made.

Board members tabled the resolution in order to share with Class 2 owners statistics of every real estate transaction made in the village. Although at the February meeting Board President Kenneth Monaghan said, "We'd like to get this done in one month so we can address this issue and bring closure to it by the March 18 meeting," there was no mention of their decision during the March meeting.

Because the board had until June to officially decide, members could have moved beyond the March 18 date with regard to reaching a decision - which is what apparently happened. "We have ample time to review this if we need to," Monaghan said.

Just after 7:30 a.m. Easter Sunday morning, March 31, a train coming into the Nassau Blvd. station struck a 65-year-old Garden City man who was originally standing on the westbound platform. According to Garden City police, the Nassau County Homicide Squad as well as the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) police also worked on the case. New York State Assemblywoman Maureen O'Connell offered a grant to the Garden City Fire Department for the purchase of a thermal imaging camera. Fire Chief Larry Nedelka accepted the grant on behalf of the entire department, noting that thermal imaging technology is a powerful weapon in searching for victims or downed firefighters trapped in a blaze. "This technology allows us to see through smoke, giving us an advantage when looking for trapped victims or a firefighter who has fallen," he said, "and it is a valuable tool in being able to identify the 'lay of the land' when entering a building.

Pansies were her favorite flower and Meghan Kenny Halloran's family and friends began a tradition of planting the richly colorful annuals in her memory since she lost her battle with breast cancer in September of 2000. She was only 31. On April 2, what would've been Meghan's 33rd birthday, members of the Adelphi NY Statewide Breast Cancer Hotline and Support Program joined the Kenny family and their friends to give life to "Meghan's Garden" outside the south entrance of Adelphi's School of Social Work. Hicks Nursery, where Meghan's father Larry Kenny works, donated the flats.

Family and friends created Meghan's Pansies at the hotline and support program, where Meghan volunteered after her diagnosis. She helped as a computer troubleshooter and was most concerned about educating young women about the disease. The garden had already existed in memory of Bernice Kramer, a breast cancer hotline volunteer, but was built upon when Meghan died. A plaque bearing "Meghan's Garden" now sits in the area.

The Garden City board of trustees officially adopted the nearly $42 million 2002-03 village budget, a .93 percent reduction from the 2001-02 budget, during a hearing April 1. The 2.63 percent tax rate increase of $30.44 required the "average home" (one assessed at $13,000) to pay an additional $101.40 in village taxes per year.

Moreover, provisions for balancing the budget included $2,406,672 in current surplus, $4,225,382 in estimated revenues and a $35,330,034 tax levy. The 2002-03 budget included a five-year capital plan. The board of trustees and executive staff met extensively to "maintain the highest level of affordable municipal service while striving to keep property tax increases at a minimal level." As a result, purchases of equipment and a number of projects were modified, deferred or eliminated.

The Garden City Chamber of Commerce honored Kenneth Mataix, owner of Bagelman in Garden City, with the "Business Person of the Year" award for 2002 during the Chamber's annual meeting and dinner dance at The Garden City Hotel April 19.

Through his significant contributions to the local economy, to the advancement of the Chamber's aims and objectives and to the community's welfare, Mataix met the criteria for the award, established by the Nassau Council of Chambers back in 1984.

On April 19, at its 76th annual meeting and dinner dance, the Chamber of Commerce saluted Matthew Cody and Robert Cole, Jr. as "Citizens of the Year" for 2002. These gentlemen were feted as the 32nd co-recipients of this prestigious award, established by the Chamber in 1970 to acknowledge volunteerism and outstanding service to the Garden City community. Both are past presidents of the Garden City Community Fund and were honored for their diligent service to the fund over the years, most especially for their dedicated efforts toward the Garden City Community Fund Family Relief Fund. It's been noted that the two men went above and beyond in their efforts toward this project - leading a committee that worked tirelessly to assist Garden City families impacted by the September 11, 2001 tragedy.

The historic St. Paul's building stands in the village as Cornelia Stewart's memorial to her husband, Garden City founder Alexander T. Stewart. With overwhelming residential approval, the village acquired the Victorian Gothic structure on Stewart Avenue through condemnation from the Episcopal Diocese of Long Island in 1993.

The 48.6-acre complex has since become an integral part of the community's heritage, providing space for athletic activities and community events, including the successful Breeders' Cup Garden City Community Fund Family Relief Fund Benefit.

The Mayor's Committee on St. Paul's, originally formed in 1993, strongly opposed tearing down the main historic building but favored, in the best interest of the village, demolishing Ellis Hall and the cottages during a meeting in April. Further, it recommended the appointment of a "St. Paul's Conservancy" committee to promote increased utilization of interior space of the main building for residential use and encouraged a constituency within the village for expansion of community use of the entire campus. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places and viewed by most as a significant value to Garden City, numerous proposals have been offered over the years as to what to do with the empty building.

"Father Brown," as he was affectionately known by his congregation at Christ Episcopal Church on Jefferson Street in Garden City, died suddenly Saturday, April 13 on his 66th birthday. Instituted as Rector of Christ Church in 1967, the Reverend Byron Howell Brown, Jr., had recently retired.

The beloved husband of Marylou; father of Jeanne, Thomas, Timothy and Janice; father-in-law of Lisa and Mary Patricia; and grandfather of Aidan Byron, Sarah Margaret, Frances Anne and Matthew George, Father Brown was an active Garden City resident serving in many community volunteer capacities. A Mass of Christian Burial celebrating Father Brown's life was held Sunday, April 21, at the Cathedral of the Incarnation.

Despite threatening weather, the Easter Sunday parade turned out to be another glorious spectacle gracing Garden City's downtown for the 47th year. Hundreds of special interest, classic and antique cars turned out for the parade and exhibit. Sponsored by the Garden City Chamber of Commerce and directed by Dr. Gerald Corva, the procession boasted cars from every era. Adding to the festivities were a barbershop quartet, a DJ plus dash plaques for all car owners (courtesy of Automobile Club of New York) and trophies for car winners in various classes (courtesy of State Bank of Long Island). The Kiwanis Easter bunnies and King's "Kingsley Bear" mascot delighted the youngsters with picture taking and lollipops.

First graders from Garden City's Locust Street School helped plant and dedicate a tree in front of village hall in honor of National Arbor Day. Students assisted Village Arborist Michael Didyk and members of the Civic Beautification Committee, including Charlene McGowan, Florence Beach and Althea Robinson in planting the red sunset maple tree. Village Administrator Bob Schoelle, Jr., Locust Principal Bernice-Theresa Acevedo and first grade teachers, including Carol Link, who orchestrated the school's program, were also on hand.

Garden City, named a Tree City by the National Arbor Foundation, in cooperation with the US Department of Agriculture Forest Service and the National Association of State Foresters 13 years ago, has consistently met the four required Tree City standards: maintaining a tree department, upholding a village tree ordinance, implementing a tree planting program and observing Arbor Day.

The Garden City Board of Education adopted the proposed 2002-03 $66,497,128 school budget during the April 23 school board meeting. "The board examined all elements of this budget and made cuts where needed," Board President Kenneth Monaghan said.

With $16 million in bonds Adelphi University borrowed from Hempstead's Industrial Development Agency (IDA), plans to construct a three-story dormitory on the northwest portion of its Garden City campus and convert office space in the existing Earle Hall back into 25 beds for students was under way in May.

Despite lack of residential support, after more than a month of deliberation, the board of trustees voted 5 to 3 in favor of granting Adelphi the special use permit to go forward with the project. The application also went before the village's Planning Commission and Architectural Design Review Board before it eventually returned to the board for final site plan approval. The dorm is slated to open in fall 2003.

Expecting the Garden City school board to finally decide on whether or not they'd approve the consolidation of property Classes 2, 3 and 4 during a May board of education meeting, residents still left without definitive answers. Board members opted to defer their ruling yet again until they received confirmation from the county and state on whether or not the consolidation would affect Class 1 owners.

Class 2 owners first approached the board last January, urging them to approve consolidation because they said they were "fed up" with having a disproportionately larger share of school taxes. The whole idea to consolidate Classes 2, 3 and 4 first came about when the Long Beach and East Williston school districts approved the change not too long ago.

The Garden City lacrosse family paid tribute to one of its own May 11 during a ceremony for Ryan Kohart, a victim of the September 11, 2001 World Trade Center terrorist attack. Kohart's lacrosse number was retired and presented to his family during a 10:45 a.m. commemoration to be held just before the Garden City versus Levittown Division game at Garden City High School. Kohart, a 1994 Garden City High School graduate, was one of four brothers, Geoff, Adam and Brett, to play lacrosse for Garden City. He later attended and starred at the University of North Carolina. On May 4, a tribute to the more than 100 law enforcement officers who died September 11, 2001 trying to help others was held by the New York State Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) during a tribute ceremony in Hicksville. The names were added to the Memorial Wall at 911 Police Plaza. A crowd of more than 500 attended the ceremony. The day began with a procession down West John Street. The families of the 71 police officers lost were each given a rose to place in front of the Memorial Wall and a bouquet of roses was also placed to represent all those who were not present.

Introduced as "Mr. 501" because he spearheaded major renovations to Bookspan's new corporate headquarters at that address on Franklin Avenue, Bill Gatti, senior vice president of Human Resources and Administration, described a May ribbon cutting ceremony as a "marriage of people and space and the reinforcement of need and harmony that it creates."

The multi-billion-dollar conglomerate created 450 additional jobs at the new site, doubling the workforce to 900 employees. 501 Franklin now includes Bookspan's executive, marketing and administrative operations and Bertelsmann mediaSystems (BmS) data center. The site was originally built in 1910 with Theodore Roosevelt laying the cornerstone.

By a vote of 1,736 to 1,138, Garden City residents passed a $66,497,128 school budget for the 2002-03 academic year May 21. The budget was a 14.73 percent increase from the previous budget of $61,287,626. Board President Ken Monaghan, who ran unopposed, was elected to a three-year term as trustee. He received 1,779 votes.

The spending plan provided for the continuation of the district's ongoing program initiative plan, which included The Writing Center, summer school and AIS, a district-wide research initiative, curriculum and professional offerings, the Summer Institute for Staff Development, Superintendent's Conference Day and the BOCES Model Schools Staff Development.

Long Island's newest museum, The Cradle of Aviation, officially opened to the public May 20. The museum honored Long Island's role in the development of aviation, with many record-setting and historic flights taking place on the island.

Irate villagers received violations regarding where flagpoles were situated on their property. The Life received e-mails from people in Florida and Colorado, saying "your 'city' fathers are anti-American wimps" and "you need to have a talk with your mayor, everybody in Florida is talking about this story - it's hard for us to understand."

Village officials however stated, it wasn't about being "anti-American" or unpatriotic. "This isn't about flying the American flag. We're not telling residents not to fly their flags. They can fly their flag ... flying the flag was never the issue. This is quite simply a safety issue."

According to village code, a flagpole's height must equal its distance from the edge of the street for safety and aesthetic reasons, particularly so that it won't interfere with traffic if it fell. Board trustees requested village officials review the code to see whether or not it needed to be updated.

Lyme disease patients, toting lime green signs, rallied in front of Senator Kemp Hannon's office May 29, chanting, "Senator Hannon hear our pleas! We need your help to fight Lyme disease! Senator Hannon pay attention! Lyme disease needs intervention!" Voices of Lyme/NYLyme, a completely grassroots organization that has been working for the past two years to stop OPMC harassment of doctors who treat the disease, organized the rally.

Protesters claimed the senator refused to support any companion legislation in the Senate to the Office of Professional Medical Conduct (OPMC) Reform Bill A11330, which provided due process for physicians that treat Lyme disease and are being investigated by the OPMC New York State agency.

Memorial Day started out cloudy with a touch of rain in the air but turned out to be a great day for a parade. Flags were arrayed on the communion rail on both sides with the American flags on the right, facing the audience. The Very Rev. Dean James Cardone of the Cathedral conducted the service. Rev. Major Brian McNamara, USAFR and grand marshal, gave the address. Rev. Lynn Sullivan, Rev. Stephen Peverley, Canon Dr. Johncy Itty and the new Canon Musician Lawrence Tremsky at the organ did their parts flawlessly.

For the first time, after many years of trying, we had a float depicting the World Trade Center Twin Towers, constructed by Boy Scout Troop 55. Pastor William Meyer of the Lutheran Church of the Resurrection closed the ceremony with a benediction. It was the end of a perfect morning, which started with clouds and ended with brilliant sunshine.

On May 29 Garden City Police Officer James Sommer had completed a day tour and was off duty. He went to the Village Valet Cleaners on Franklin Avenue to pick up clean uniforms. As he exited the cleaners carrying several uniforms, a male subject approached carrying a four-inch gravity knife. The subject pointed it at him demanding money.

Officer Sommer identified himself as a police officer by showing the subject the uniforms. He then ordered the subject to drop the knife. Officer Sommer disarmed and subdued the subject and held him until fellow officers arrived. The subject was identified as a 20-year-old Mineola male and was charged with first-degree attempted robbery.

After Lyme Disease patients protested in front of his Westbury headquarters claiming he won't support a health reform bill that could potentially change the way the Office of Professional Medical Conduct (OPMC) works, Senator Kemp Hannon said Bill A11330 was solely directed toward procedures a doctor undergoes during the professional discipline process.

He stressed Lyme Disease patients are not being denied treatment. "They're suffering from a chronic illness and feel they want to get long-term antibiotic treatment. We're not denying these folks the treatment. We're not denying something is wrong. It's a question as to whether it's in the disciplinary process that they can achieve their ends. They've convinced themselves that they can. But really, is that going to happen? I'm not sure." Hannon added he was not opposed to looking into how the OPMC or any agency reviewed the conduct of doctors.

The state legislature approved a plan that shrunk New York's congressional districts by two and altered all five of Long Island's congressional boundaries. Similar changes took place in the New York State Assembly months prior.

The new boundaries, as drawn by the Joint Legislative Task Force on Demographic Research and Reapportionment, added a significant amount of constituents to the 4th Congressional District, which includes towns like Floral Park and Garden City. Specifically, the 4th C.D. gained well over 50,000 people due to the change; some of whom were completely new to the district while the remaining constituents were a result of a population increase since the 1990 census.

The new lines, deemed the result of a "fair and balanced" plan, adhere to the principles expressed in the Voting Rights Act and follow each decennial census of the state's population.

During a special ceremony at Garden City's Belmont festival June 7 on Seventh Street, officials recognized the New York Racing Association (NYRA) for its extraordinary efforts, on behalf of the community, in helping spearhead the Breeders' Cup Garden City Community Fund Family Relief Fund Benefit at the St. Paul's field house. The event generated more than $850,000 for local families affected by the tragic terrorist attacks. The ceremony was part of the fourth annual Belmont Stakes Festival, which began with a street festival along Seventh Street. Clowns, street performers and six different bands entertained well into the night while vendors and restaurateurs offered a taste of Garden City. A parade down Franklin Avenue onto Seventh Street featured members of the resurgent New York Islanders; players from the Arena Football League's New York Dragons; several vintage automobiles; and the world-famous Budweiser Clydesdales. The Village of Garden City was very pleased to host the festival for the fourth consecutive year, Mayor Robert Lewis said.

When Pastor Bill Meyer retired June 30 as senior pastor of the Lutheran Church of the Resurrection in Garden City, he left an indelible mark on the congregation and community at large, a ministry defined by service to others. He spent 21 years at Resurrection, an era that congregation President John Mesloh describes as "an exciting time of growth during which we have prospered under his leadership." Mesloh was also the congregation president in 1981 when Pastor Meyer arrived.

Pastor Meyer preached his last sermons June 30 during the 8:30 and 11 a.m. services. In the afternoon, a retirement dinner in Pastor Meyer's honor was held at the New Hyde Park Inn. Speakers included members of his family, representatives of the three congregations he served and other church and community leaders.

At approximately 7:30 p.m. June 20, local shoppers at Roosevelt Field Mall ran for cover as shots were fired near the second floor food court. According to Detective John LaVelle of Nassau County's 3rd Squad, Maurice Burkes, 29, of Hempstead allegedly verbally confronted an 18-year-old male from Lynbrook and two of his friends as the 18-year-old talked to a relative on his cell phone.

Burkes, according to police reports, took exception to something the victim said while on the phone and followed the victim and his friends to the upper level food court where he pulled a defaced 9mm handgun from his waistband, aimed it directly at the victim's head and pulled the trigger. "Fortunately for the victim, the safety mechanism was on the gun," Det./Sgt. Giambrone of the county's 3rd Squad said.

Burkes first approached the victims in front of Foot Locker on the mall's first level. Once they shook hands and parted ways, the victims headed upstairs to the food court. Unbeknownst to them, Burkes followed them, approached them again. Before the victim's attempted to turn and walk away, Burkes pointed the gun at the victim and attempted to pull the trigger. According to Giambrone, when Burkes realized the gun's safety was on, he pulled back the gun and released the safety.

"The three subjects began fleeing in different directions on foot when Burkes took aim onto the victim who had the cellphone and fired one round, from approximately 15 to 20 feet away, and struck the individual in the right ankle," he said.

The subject was charged with second-degree attempted murder, second-degree criminal possession of a weapon, third-degree criminal possession of a weapon, criminal use of a firearm, first-degree assault and resisting arrest.

For the fourth consecutive year, the Garden City High School Girls Lacrosse Team won the New York State Championship. The Garden City girls have dominated the state championships since its inception in 1995, winning six out of eight state championships.

While trustees and members of the Mayor's Committee on St. Paul's crunched numbers and pondered possible uses for the structure that's stood as a memorial in the village to Garden City founder A.T Stewart, the New York State Court of Appeals refused to hear an appeal by the village in the Kenny lawsuit. The village wanted to appeal a decision in a suit brought by the Kenny and Rafferty families over leasing the main building to CareMatrix, an assisted living facility developer.

The case went to trial in June 2000. In March of that next year, State Supreme Court Justice John Burke ruled that if the village leased the property, it would be "an illegal alienation of a public trust property" because St. Paul's was purchased for the purpose of municipal use. The judge enjoined the village from "leasing or selling to a private commercial entity any portion of the St. Paul's property without the approval of the New York State Legislature."

The village unsuccessfully appealed that ruling to the state's Appellate Division because the court upheld the original decision. The village then wanted to appeal the case to the state's highest court, the Court of Appeals. That court denied their motion.

At the Chamber of Commerce's season finale luncheon June 6 in collaboration with the Garden City Historical Society, dignitaries from Garden City founder A.T. Stewart's birthplace of Lisburn, Ireland addressed members. Mayor Councillor Jim Dillon charmed the audience with tales of the city's status. Additionally, Principal Alister McReynolds of the Lisburn Institute told of efforts to establish a faculty and student exchange here in Garden City and environs.

Marie Ennis, a structural engineer, and Jorge Szendiuch, an architect, both of Einhorn Yaffee Prescott, Architecture & Engineering (EYP), presented their findings June 27 to various Garden City organizations, the village board and the local media after an extensive look at the village's historic St. Paul's building.

The study sought to find out whether or not all the current departments in village hall, including the police and fire departments, could be relocated to the main building. EYP's study found that the move is feasible to make but cost was a primary factor. Through their scrutiny, Ennis said, "A building in such bad condition can in fact be brought back to life" even though time and lack of attention have taken their toll.

The Garden City High School Class of 2002 graduated under beautiful skies June 28. The program was filled with distinguished speakers, each of whom had a powerful message for the graduates. The highlight of the graduation ceremony was an inspiring and motivating address given by former Mayor of New York City, Rudolph Giuliani. Senator Charles Schumer also attended graduation. He suggested students take a chance on themselves. The Stewart Manor Fire Department was organized back in 1927. Edward Jackson was the department's first chief. The first apparatus purchased was a 1926 Brockway pumper. Before the Stewart Manor Fire Department was formed, it was known as Stewart Manor Co. #4, under the protection of the New Hyde Park Fire District. Today, it is a part of the 1st Battalion with the Bellerose, Bellerose Terrace, Floral Park, Floral Park Center, Garden City, Garden City Park, New Hyde Park, Mineola and South Floral Park Fire Departments.

The New York State Court of Appeals, the state's highest court, reversed a lower court decision in an important zoning action involving Roosevelt Field Mall. Cullen and Dykman LLP successfully represented the Village of Garden City in this matter. The suit involved the proposed expansion of Roosevelt Field Mall, the largest mall on Long Island and the fifth largest mall in the nation, which borders Garden City.

In 1999, the Town of Hempstead's Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA) denied the application of the mall's owner, The Retail Property Trust, to further expand the mall and build 184,000 square feet of additional retail space and a 187,000 square foot third level to the north parking deck in connection with the opening of a Saks department store. The mall needed a special exception to build the proposed additions because the mall already exceeded the square footage permitted by the local zoning code.

Garden City opposed the expansion because of the effect it would have on traffic in the area and environmental conditions in and around the mall and because of the close proximity of the Stewart Avenue Elementary School to the mall. The village retained a traffic expert and an environmental expert who both studied the proposal and testified in opposition to the application.

A mass mailing updating residents on St. Paul's went out in July to keep villagers, particularly those new to the community, abreast of what the board planned to do with the historic landmark.

The mailing, dubbed Village Facts, also went out because of Judge Burke's May 2001 ruling that stated the property must be for municipal use and could not be used for private operations. Trustee Jon Segerdahl said the mailing's impetus first began when he was president of the Eastern Property Owners Association (EPOA). Approximately 7,100 households received it.

Mayor Robert Lewis appointed a committee, comprised of several members of the village's board of trustees, to coordinate the examination of potential alternate uses for the village's "P" (Public) District, which includes the numerous Nassau County buildings on Franklin Avenue. Trustee Peter Bee chairs the committee, comprised of himself, Deputy Mayor Gerard Lundquist and Trustee Peter Negri.

Mayor Lewis made the appointment in conjunction with Nassau County's process of engaging a consultant to develop a strategic real estate plan to consolidate county buildings, many of which are located within Garden City's "P" District. The plan is intended to organize county government facilities into several "campuses" designed to house together government departments that perform related functions.

The village board unanimously approved the Recreation Commission's recommendation to close the fields at St. Paul's for the fall 2002 and spring 2003 seasons. Trustees approved a contract and allocated a certain amount of money for the renovations, including turf work and a new irrigation system. The fields are expected to open by summer 2003.

Garden City Center Associates, care of the Albanese Organizations, proposed that 116 Eleventh Street be converted from residential use into private supplemental parking to serve the commercial community along the west side of Franklin Avenue between Tenth and Eleventh Streets.

The Albanese Development Organization tore down the home on the property because it no longer made economic sense to continue paying taxes on an empty house. The plan proposed to create 56 new spaces. The plan further proposed that Lot 10 be expanded four feet to enable the conversion of the westerly two rows of parking to 8.5-foot parallel spaces. In doing this, the total number of spaces in Field 10 would increase by six. In total, 62 new parking spaces could be provided if the plan moved forward.

During a press briefing at her office on Fulton Avenue in Hempstead, Congresswoman Carolyn McCarthy updated members of the local media on several pressing issues being discussed in Washington. Homeland security, long-term health insurance, gun safety and education were some items on the agenda. After four local Republicans announced their candidacy for the 4th Congressional District (C.D.) and the deadline for signed petitions came and went, Republican Daniel Frisa of Salisbury challenged the nominating petitions submitted by opponents Alan Skorski, Marilyn O'Grady and Steve Irace. As a result, Skorski withdrew from the race while O'Grady and Irace began a legal battle to prevent themselves from being eliminated from the ballot set to go before voters at a Sept. 10 primary. The Nassau County Liberal Party appealed a State Supreme Court decision stating that Congresswoman Carolyn McCarthy's (D-Mineola) name be removed from the party's line this November. In August, Republican candidate Daniel Frisa of Salisbury successfully bumped McCarthy from the Liberal line, alleging she did not secure the required number of signatures to remain on the party's ballot. Jack Olchin, chairman of the Liberal Party since 1960, appealed the Aug. 16 decision by Supreme Court Judge Robert Roberto.

During a four-hour board meeting Aug. 22, the board covered several pressing issues currently facing Garden City. Trustees voted 7 to 1 in favor of authorizing Mayor Robert Lewis to sign a contract with the Kanner family to move their home from 115 to 113 Tenth Street. The plan then depended on home-rule legislation.

Mayor Lewis, who thought the solution preserved the home as well as the neighborhood's integrity, noted that if the home-rule legislation didn't pass, the move would have become null and void. According to Village Administrator Robert Schoelle, the Senate approved the legislation and once the Assembly reconvened, it was expected to pass there as well.

The Appellate Division of the State Supreme Court awarded 4th Congressional District (C.D.) candidates Steve Irace and Marilyn O'Grady, both of Garden City, the right to keep their names on the Sept. 10 Republican primary ballot. The 4 to 1 decision was the result of an appeal set forth by both Irace and O'Grady after opponent Daniel Frisa of Salisbury challenged their nominating petitions.

Frisa, a former state assemblyman and member of the House who lost his seat to current Congresswoman Carolyn McCarthy (D-Mineola) in 1996, argued that neither Irace nor O'Grady secured the necessary number of signatures to remain on the ballot.

The Appellate Court heard Irace's and O'Grady's case on Tuesday, Aug. 27. A decision was made the following afternoon. At that time, Frisa appealed the decision to the Court of Appeals on the grounds that the Appellate Division was wrong on the law.

Village trustees voted in favor of entering into agreement with Cathedral Nursery School to temporarily lease the cottages on the St. Paul's property. For quite some time, the nursery school had been looking for a temporary place to serve its students until it either found a new location by way of building or renting on a permanent basis.

Out of the 230 people the Cathedral Nursery School serves, 175 are Village of Garden City residents, according to Cardone.

The school intended on having 15 staff members park on the cottages' property between 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. Although the village agreed to enter into agreement with the nursery school to lease the cottages for possibly three years, both parties still had to meet to iron out all the details, including the lease's cost and length.

Village trustees conducted a work session in September with Einhorn Yaffee Prescott Architecture & Engineering, P.C. (EYP) to further discuss St. Paul's and how to effectively get the building through the winter. Temporary repairs at the roof level to minimize water infiltration were estimated at anywhere from $50,000 to $100,000.

Applying the band-aid afforded village trustees time to decide whether or not they'd go forward with making permanent repairs to the roof for $5 million and possibly follow up with the remaining renovations to the masonry, drainage system and more.

EYP officials toured the building Sept. 4 in order to re-evaluate the scope of the work to be done. In doing so, Marie Ennis, a structural engineer with EYP, said more damage occurred to the roof since the prior month. A decision was not made since no action is taken at a work session.

As the one-year anniversary of September 11, 2001 fell upon a nation, a memorial service at the gazebo enabled residents to remember those who died and the heroes who perished trying to save them on that morning that turned America upside down.

Over a dozen Garden City residents were killed during the attacks and many neighbors gathered at the green to pray for the lost and console the mourning. The Very Reverend Dean Cardone of the Cathedral of the Incarnation, Rabbi Stephen Wise Goodman of the Garden City Jewish Center and Reverend Joseph Schlafer of St. Joseph's Church offered comforting words to a grieving community.

Clutching American flags, distributed by members of the Garden City Fire Department, mothers, fathers and children listened. The Combined Police and Fire Color Guard raised flags. The Garden City High School Chamber Choir and Women's Chorus closed the brief but poignant observance with God Bless America. Many local houses of worship offered services. Flags strewn Seventh Street thanks to the Garden City Chamber of Commerce and the volunteers who put them up. Then, as the sun set on a village that lost many, Garden City lit up with "signs of remembrance."

Over 100 volunteers distributed candles, along with luminary bags, care of the Garden City Community Fund, to every resident of the village, requesting they light the candle and place it on their front walk prior to sundown on September 11. Over 6,500 candles/luminaries were hand delivered to every home in Garden City. On the evening of the anniversary of the worst attack on US soil, a village flickered with hope.

The Village of Stewart Manor planted a Korean lilac tree in the municipal lot at Chester and Covert Avenues Sept. 11. The tree, which flowers in the summer, stands as a symbol of peace.

At Senator Kemp Hannon's request, the Nassau County Department of Public Works, under the greater authority of Nassau County Executive Thomas Suozzi, completed a study of the Franklin Avenue/Fourth Street intersection and found that a traffic signal was warranted. The determination also specified that, due to various access points to the site, the developer of the Bookspan site, Rockrose Development Corporation, was responsible for the design and construction of the traffic signal.

"Approval for this much sought after traffic light is a significant step forward," Hannon said, "as we work together to improve pedestrian and vehicular safety and enhance the overall quality of life in our hometown of Garden City."

The administration and members of the board of education of Garden City schools put new security procedures into effect at the administration building, located at 56 Cathedral Avenue. All visitors must enter through the Cathedral Avenue entrance where a receptionist will buzz them in. All approved visitors are then given visitor identification cards. Residents must also enter at the Cathedral Avenue entrance and sign in for all board of education meetings (the public meetings and work sessions).

From Sept. 6 through Sept. 16 a mural commemorating September 11, 2001 hung in Bloomingdale's in the Roosevelt Field Mall. The handmade mural was thought up, planned out and created by Girl Scouts in Troop 1693, including Sara Sylvester, Kristin Giambrone, Molly Tittler, Katie Tauches, Kristen Jendras, Emily Sylvester and leaders Joanne Meyer-Jendras and Edwina Sylvester. The mural is a colorful work of art representing freedom. The red and white stripes are filled with inspiring quotes from freedom fighters and freedom believers, giving viewers a chance to reflect on how lucky Americans are to live freely in the US.

On both sides of the image nearly 3,000 blue and red ribbons hung in remembrance of all those who lost their lives in the World Trade Center attacks. The mural was not only shared with visitors in the mall but also with viewers at the Bloomingdale's flagship store in Manhattan.

Nassau County legislators said "yes" to a law that bans smoking in all restaurants, bars and most indoor workplaces in the county, making it the strongest anti-smoking restrictions in the state, The law, modeled after other clean-indoor air laws in the country, such as California's, will protect workers from secondhand smoke. The legislation, which passed along all party lines 10 to 8, will go into effect in March 2003. Stewart Manor celebrated its 75th anniversary in October. Residents, business owners and community leaders took part in the festivities when a parade marched through town and ended with a block party in front of Stewart Manor Village Hall. Senator Michael Balboni, who took part in the celebration, congratulated the entire community upon marking the special event in Stewart Manor's history.

The Garden City Police Department, taking further steps to fight the war on terrorism, unveiled computer terminals in 10 of its patrol cars that will provide access to the statewide counter-terrorism network and provide immediate information regarding any counter-terrorism-related information while patrolling the village.

Lieutenant Governor Mary Donohue and John Scanlon, Governor Pataki's director of the New York State Office of Public Security (OPS), along with local officials Senator Kemp Hannon and Assemblywoman Maureen O'Connell, launched the first mobile access to the State Counter-Terrorism Network at Garden City police headquarters. Garden City has been selected because it's the first department in the state to extend the network to the mobile computer system in the police cars using wireless telecommunications.

A section of electrified Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) track on the Central Station, between Washington Avenue and the V turnoff to the Country Life Press station, became a major cause of concern in the East.

According to Nick Episcopia, Eastern Property Owner Association (EPOA) president, residents were under the impression that the electricity would have been turned off after renovation work on the Hempstead line was completed. "Now the LIRR states they need electrified tracks for train turn-around,'" he said.

According to Bryan Dolan of the LIRR, however, the tracks in that area were always electrified. "There has always been an electric third rail in that location. Four years ago it was extended slightly to address a signal issue and gate crossing issue to allow greater flexibility to allow the gates to stay up for longer periods of time.

"The electric was always on but was turned off, however, during track work and then extended to address the gate issue. We extended the electric third rail on that track to address that problem. We do have a new section of third rail between Franklin and Washington Avenues. The extension that I speak of enabled us to get trains in there that would free up the issue with the grade crossing," Dolan said.

Although a great deal of Senator Michael Balboni's time during the post-9/11 period had been devoted to his enormous responsibilities regarding emergency management, he was equally proud of the long list of diverse legislation he developed these past few years. Balboni ran for his fourth term in the 7th Senate District.

"There's a high level of hypocrisy in the Senate and someone has to get out there and talk about it," state senatorial candidate E. Chris Murray of Westbury said weeks before the Nov. 5 election. He vowed to do just that if voters let him grab current Senator Michael Balboni's seat in the 7th District, which covers several communities, including Floral Park, Stewart Manor, New Hyde Park, Westbury, Mineola, Manhasset, Port Washington and Great Neck.

Without extensive political experience, the practicing attorney challenged Balboni because he felt New York failed its people. Murray cites prime examples of just how he thinks the state did that, including New York's lack of suitable healthcare and job training to those who need it.

Senator Kemp Hannon, the Republican incumbent in the 6th Senatorial District race, sought his eighth term. Hannon, who was first elected to the Senate in 1989, said that the last several years in office have been both rewarding and challenging. He noted that one of the biggest issues facing New Yorkers is the economy - in terms of what it means for job creation, job retention, revenue structure and education. As chairman of the Senate Health Committee, Hannon cited healthcare as another of the important issues facing residents today.

An alumni of Chaminade High School, Boston College and Fordham Law School, he is a lifetime resident of Nassau County and resides in Garden City with his wife Bronwyn and their twin daughters, Alexandra and Madeleine. The 6th Senatorial District, which was minimally affected by the recent redistricting throughout the state, covers communities such as East Meadow, Farmingdale, Garden City, Levittown, Massapequa and Plainview.

"I have no prior political experience whatsoever," Norman St. George, Democratic candidate for the 6th Senatorial District, proudly told Anton Newspapers during an interview. "I'm not a politician and I don't want to be a politician." The Roosevelt resident, a trial attorney with a practice in Mineola, wanted to promote change in a district where he claims there hasn't been enough. His platform touched on issues like education, affordable health care, the environment and the economy.

The 6th Senatorial District, which was minimally affected by the recent redistricting throughout the state, covers communities such as East Meadow, Farmingdale, Garden City, Levittown, Massapequa and Plainview.

Congresswoman Carolyn McCarthy launched her bid for re-election to Congress before a crowd of friends, neighbors and supporters at the official opening of her campaign headquarters in her hometown of Mineola. She was first elected to Congress in 1996 on a platform of gun safety after her husband was killed and her son injured by a crazed gunman on the Long Island Rail Road in 1993. She was re-elected in 1998 with 53 percent of the vote, and in 2000 with an overwhelming 61 percent. Although still committed to passing common-sense gun safety legislation to keep guns away from children and criminals, McCarthy has emerged from her third term in Congress as a well-respected leader on education and health issues.

Incumbent Maureen O'Connell announced her bid for re-election in the 17th Assembly District. She was the first woman elected to represent the district during a special election back in February 1998. Serving on the Alcoholism and Drug Abuse, Election Law and Judiciary Committees, O'Connell is the only registered nurse currently serving in the state legislature. With one of the highest environmental voting records among all her colleagues in the Assembly, as determined by environmental advocates, she ran on the Republican, Conservative and Independent Party lines.

The 17th Assembly District encompasses Mineola, Garden City Park, Garden City South, East Williston, Williston Park and parts of New Hyde Park, Carle Place, Westbury, Uniondale, Albertson, East Meadow, Franklin Square, Floral Park, North Merrick and now Bellmore and portions of North Bellmore.

Westbury resident Thomas Sobczak announced he would be the Democratic candidate for the 17th Assembly District (A.D.). A former registered Republican and party supporter, Sobczak ran against Republican incumbent Maureen O'Connell.

Cloudy skies and light mist didn't dampen the Garden City spirit at Homecoming 2002. Students, the board of education, administrators and faculty all marched to the beat of the high school marching band. The alumni barbecue at the high school provided a great meeting place for the Class of '67, that celebrated their 35th reunion.

The stands were filled with excitement at half time of the football game when Dan Oppedisano and Meg Lindsay were voted Homecoming King and Queen. The Masquers advertised their fall show, Father of the Bride, and wound up winning for best float.

During a work session Oct. 29, officials from the village's business district, chamber of commerce and governing body discussed the feasibility of a BID (Business Improvement District) in Garden City. Although BIDs can essentially help restore unattractive storefronts, fill vacancies within the district, increase sanitation collections, improve signage and enhance sidewalk sweepings, some questioned the need for such a program in a village that already does so much to cater to its business community. The district would entail Franklin Avenue and Seventh Street but would not however, include New Hyde Park Road because a BID must be contiguous. Residents and business owners on Covert Avenue in the villages of Stewart Manor and Floral Park received a visit from New York State Governor George Pataki and former New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani. Senator Michael Balboni joined them as they strolled down the avenue, stopping at several businesses to greet shoppers and store owners like Peter O'Hanlon and Frank Schlichte of Manor Delicatessen.

Local voters returned incumbents to their seats in Congress, the Senate and the Assembly in November.

In the 6th Senatorial District, Republican incumbent Kemp Hannon defeated Democratic candidate Norman St. George. Hannon received approximately 61 percent of the votes while St. George received approximately 35 percent. Right to Life candidate Paul F. Callahan received 2,067 votes (3 percent) while Liberal candidate Patricia Maher received 528 (1 percent).

Michael Balboni, the Republican incumbent for the 7th Senatorial District, was re-elected to his fourth term. Balboni received approximately 47,480 votes (62 percent), defeating Chris Murray, the Democratic, Liberal and Working Families candidate. Murray received approximately 28,751 (38 percent).

Incumbent Maureen O'Connell, who was elected to the 17th Assembly District during a special election back in February 1998, was re-elected. O'Connell received approximately 24,449 votes (69 percent). Democratic challenger Thomas Sobczak received approximately 9,930 votes (28 percent) while Right to Life candidate Joseph Cascio received approximately 1,082 votes (3 percent) and Liberal candidate Jacqueline Maron received approximately 169 votes (0 percent).

Carolyn McCarthy was re-elected to her fourth term in the newly reapportioned 4th Congressional District. McCarthy received approximately 92,232 votes or 56 percent. Marilyn O'Grady received approximately 70,215 votes (43 percent) while Tim Derhman received approximately 823 votes (1 percent.)

Saint James Lutheran Community Church of Stewart Manor celebrated its 75th anniversary (1927-2002) throughout 2002. The congregation, with members from Garden City, Floral Park, Elmont, Stewart Manor, Garden City Park, New Hyde Park and Franklin Square, held a successful dinner/dance at Koenig's restaurant in Floral Park.

Mayor Robert Lewis appointed Trustee Peter Bee as board liaison to Garden City's senior citizen population, of which 22 percent are over the age of 60, in an effort to ensure the village is meeting their needs. Accepting the appointment, Bee said there seemed to be a "gut level" of perception among the trustees and staff that perhaps those needs are not being adequately addressed.

Willing to investigate what could be done by way of needs assessment, trustees and faculty from Adelphi University created a survey in which a large number of seniors from the village participated as well as service providers from the village and surrounding areas.

Professor Regina Tracy of Adelphi's School of Social Work conducted it, noting quite a bit of information had been collected in an effort to identify the gaps in services and the study was intended to offer suggestions of how to effectively close those gaps.

Deputy Mayor Barbara Miller, on behalf of Mayor Robert Lewis and the board of trustees, along with County Executive Thomas Suozzi and Long Island Convention Visitors Bureau President Michael Hollander hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony in honor of the multi-million dollar restoration and renovation of the Garden City Hotel Nov. 7.

The historic hotel dates back to 1874. In the past, the original hotel hosted US presidents, world leaders and internationally known celebrities, including Charles Lindberg (on the eve of his trans-Atlantic flight), former President John F. Kennedy, Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, Bruce Springsteen, The Rolling Stones and Arnold Palmer.

To the dismay of many villagers, Nassau County residents, by a vote of 4,515 to 3,135, gave Nassau BOCES permission to purchase two buildings, including 71 Clinton Road in Garden City, and some "relocatable classrooms" during a Nov. 19 referendum. More than 7,500 people turned out Nov. 19 to vote, more people than in any of the other three votes held by Nassau BOCES in recent years.

Specifically, voters approved the purchase of the Nassau BOCES Administrative Center, the purchase of the Rosemary Kennedy Center in Wantagh and an existing 5,000-square foot relocatable building and four new relocatable classrooms for use by outdoor education programs and an alternative high school at the Nassau BOCES Brookville Environmental Education site.

Crime Stoppers and the Nassau County Police Department sought the public's help in connection with a bank robbery that occurred at Astoria Federal Savings Bank on Franklin Avenue in Garden City. On Nov. 15 at about 6:35 p.m. a man entered the bank. Once inside, the suspect approached the teller's window and demanded money. The suspect had one hand inside his jacket in a manner that led the teller to believe he had a gun. The teller handed the subject an undisclosed amount of US currency. The subject then fled on foot through the rear door of the bank. The bank was open for business at the time of the robbery. On behalf of the Garden City Bird Sanctuary, Robert Alvey of Garden City, sanctuary president since its inception, requested the village permanently waive water fees at the site. He cited several reasons, including the fact that water is used sparingly, but as needed, during dry conditions. Alvey called on trustees at a village board meeting but received a letter of denial from the village shortly thereafter.

Members of the Garden City Special Police still serve the community proudly despite the drastic decrease in members when compared to when the force was first created prior to the United States' entry into World War II. The civil defense unit, which later became a police and firefighting auxiliary, celebrated its 50th anniversary last year.

With activities delving much deeper than Sunday morning church traffic, the membership extends an open invitation to all Garden City residents over the age of 21 to apply to join the ranks and serve the village. Call Captain Jakubowski at 739-8326 for details.

The Garden City Hotel's annual tree lighting ceremony honored the late Michael Tenaglia of Garden City, who lost his battle to esophageal cancer, his wife, Patti and their four children. With more than 100 residents attending, the St. Paul's Greek Orthodox Church choir performed holiday favorites, children anxiously awaited their much-anticipated visit with Santa and Monsignor Thomas Hartman, president of Telecare, reflected on Christmases past.

Deputy Mayor Barbara Miller had the distinct honor for the second year of bringing greetings. Members of Garden City High School's MIRACLE Club performed their newly recorded song, One by One, which was inspired by the late Michael Tenaglia. As Patti and her four children hit the switch, the hotel's Christmas tree gleamed in a community that Patti says has truly shown the season's true meaning - the gift of giving.

The village board received a letter from Central Business Partners (CBP) Principals Dan Pisark and Lloyd Zuckerberg, consultants trustees retained for the possible establishment of a business improvement district (BID) in Garden City. In part, it stated they were no longer in a position to provide the village with this service because both have become involved in other projects that precluded them from having the time to offer ongoing services for this assignment.

Mayor Lewis, admittedly disappointed in their decision to quit, said, "It's unfortunate and a shock to me as mayor. I thought they signed on for the whole project but apparently you can't force someone to do something they don't want to do. They have withdrawn their services, which puts us behind after spending 20 some odd thousand dollars."

Garden City Village Trustee Peter Negri suggested converting the St. Paul's building into a community center, with a library at its heart. "The village has studied the issue of how best to use the St. Paul's building for years. I strongly believe that the best use for the building would be as a community center, with a relocated library at its heart. There are many reasons 'why,' but let's start with 'why not,'" he said. At a press conference at Eisenhower Park, US Senator Charles Schumer announced that a program called Geesepeace is making its way to Long Island to help alleviate the Canada geese overpopulation that now threatens the health of local residents and the environment. Schumer put Nassau officials in touch with the Geesepeace program and helped bring the program to Long Island.

The Town of Hempstead awarded the Stewart Manor auxiliary police unit a $500 grant, according to Town of Hempstead Supervisor Rich Guardino and Councilman Joseph Kearney. The money is earmarked for recruitment, equipment and training.

"The auxiliary police play an important role in maintaining peace and order, promoting safety and protecting the general welfare of our community," the supervisor said. "The Town of Hempstead is pleased to support the Stewart Manor Auxiliary Police, whose members help protect the quality of life we all enjoy here."

Almost 8,000 local families voiced strong opposition to a possible New York City commuter tax and want what's been described as the city's "revenue scheme" derailed as soon as possible, Hempstead Town Supervisor Rich Guardino and Councilman Jim Darcy said during a Dec. 10 press conference.

The Town of Hempstead spearheaded a massive petition drive which encouraged residents to voice their opposition to the reinstatement of a tax that could be as much as 2.7 percent of a commuter's income. Residents responded en masse and Guardino and Darcy are forwarding the names to Governor George Pataki, New York State Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno and Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver.

Several hundred residents and visitors turned out for the 48th annual tree lighting Dec. 8. It was the first to be celebrated amidst a blanket of snow. Entertainment included the Village Music Makers and the Garden City High School Vocal Jazz Ensemble's presentation of a repertoire of holiday tunes. Santa Claus arrived on the fire department's pumper truck turned sleigh to the delight of the hordes of children who received coloring books and crayons from Astoria Federal Savings, a contributing sponsor. Kingsley Bear from Kings Super Markets distributed candy canes. US Senator Charles Schumer took time from his busy schedule to visit Anton Newspapers Dec. 6 to share with editors his latest proposals, which his Congressional counterparts are now reviewing, as well as get an update on the latest issues affecting Long Island's local communities. He touched on many issues, including struggles of the middle class, the money he helped secure for New York in the aftermath of September 11, 2001 and identity theft.