The village's solicitation law prohibits all unwanted commercial solicitations and distributions on all private residential property in the village and prohibits non-commercial solicitations and distributions on private property to the extent desired by the resident. This law was designed to protect residents from unwanted invasions of their privacy.

Any resident requesting not to be solicited should complete a "Notice of Objection" form at the village hall. Presently, the board has authorized certain groups to solicit door-to-door in the village. Those groups are: Long Island Neighborhood Network, Garden City Community Fund and the Girl Scouts of Nassau County.

The fire department has asked that residents be reminded that smoke detectors are required in all residences. Smoke detectors come in an assortment of models, including types that can be plugged in wall outlets or directly in a home's electrical system and others that are battery operated. While all are worthwhile, residents are cautioned to purchase only those detectors which have been approved by testing laboratories such as Underwriters Laboratory (U.L.). These devices can be purchased from hardware and department stores.

For minimum protection, a smoke detector should be installed outside of each bedroom or sleeping area with at least one detector on every level of your home. For maximum protection, sleep with doors closed and install a detector in each bedroom or sleeping area.

It is essential that smoke detectors be installed, tested and maintained in accordance with the manufacturer's recommendations. In the event that you have any questions with regard to the selection or placement of a smoke detector, please feel free to contact the Garden City Fire Department at 746-1301 as they will be pleased to assist you.

The Long Island Power Authority (LIPA) has provided us with the following tips on being prepared for storm emergencies:

- Keep a flashlight handy, along with enough fresh batteries, for each member of your family so no one will be left in the dark if the lights go out.

- Call LIPA at 1-800-490-0025 if someone in your household uses life-support equipment. Whenever we anticipate a severe storm, we will call you so that you can make advance preparations. Every effort will be made to restore your electricity as quickly as possible during a severe storm. However, you should realize that there might be occasions when timely restoration is difficult. Therefore, we encourage life-support customers to ensure that their medical needs are taken care of in the event of a power outage.

Standby generators require special considerations before being connected and should be installed only by licensed electricians. Improperly connected generators can prevent severe hazards to repair crews working on nearby electric lines. Call us at -800-490-0025 and request our booklet, Home Generator Safety.

Never touch or go near, or let anyone else go near, any fallen wires, even if you think they are safe. Call 1-800-490-0075 or call the police at 742-9600 to report a downed wire. If you are in a car that comes in contact with any downed wires, stay in the car until help comes. If possible, drive clear of the wires.