This Saturday, April 5, marks the opening of the 2003 Little League Baseball season. The annual Little League Parade will step off promptly at 9 a.m. from Village Parking Field 9E onto 10th Street and proceed south on Franklin Avenue to 7th Street, west on 7th Street to Hilton Avenue, north on Hilton to Stewart Avenue for ceremonies at the Village Green.

With the opening of Little League, parents are especially encouraged to pay particular attention to driving safely in the area of village athletic fields. As youngsters are on their way to and from their scheduled games, many of them will dart between parked cars and will fail to look while crossing the street. Let's make this season not only a happy one but also a safe one in our village.

I also want to compliment the many residents who give so freely of their time and talent as managers, coaches, officers and directors of the Garden City Athletic Association. Please plan to attend the parade and give them and the players your support.

Please be advised that the board of trustees' meeting, which was scheduled for April 17, has been canceled. The next board of trustees' meeting will be on Monday, April 7 at 8 p.m.

I would like to thank the residents and employees who donated blood Tuesday, March 25. I am pleased to report that over 38 pints of blood were collected. You can feel proud of your personal involvement in helping those who depend on blood for life-giving support.

Since there is no substitute for human blood and no way of knowing when it may be needed to save or sustain the life of a family member, a co-worker, a friend or other members of the community, we must be sure that enough blood is available at all times to meet the needs of our area's hospitals and their patients.

Again, thank you and we look forward to your participation in our next blood drive in October 2003.

The Town of Hempstead Sanitation Department will conduct the second of its monthly S.T.O.P. (Stop Throwing Out Pollutants) program on Saturday, April 5. The program, which is being held at various locations throughout the Town of Hempstead, will make hazardous waste facilities accessible to as many residents as possible.

The April 5 program will be held in Long Beach on Pine Street. The hours of operation will be 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Under the 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.