The Garden City Community Fund's (GCCF) sponsorship of the distribution of yellow ribbons to the entire village is another example of the extraordinary "volunteerism" of residents that I spoke of. This truly is what makes Garden City so very special. This event gave each of us the opportunity to demonstrate the village's hope for the safe return of our troops as well as those who are reporting on this war. I had the honor of meeting the following GCCF members who were responsible for this event: President Jerry Loughran; Vice-President Bob Cole; Executive Board Members - Donald Roe, Katie Colavito, Nancy Knowles, Cathy Cavanaugh; Director Jo-Anne Adams; and Event Coordinator Carolyn Herbst. It was wonderful to see so many children and parents who were volunteering to distribute the ribbons. I encourage everyone who hasn't tied a yellow ribbon to a flag, tree, or front door to do so - and keep them there until all are back home. On behalf of the residents I extend a sincere thank you to the GCCF. I also want to thank the Garden City High School Key Club for organizing the mailing of packages to eight Garden City High School male and female graduates and one graduate from Chaminade who, we have been informed, are serving in the US Armed Forces in the Persian Gulf. On behalf of the residents and board of trustees I sent a letter to each of these young residents to let them know that their village recognized their bravery and that the entire village was displaying yellow ribbons to let them know we were praying for their safe return. Prior to the outcry of village residents regarding the rumor that Food Basket was leaving and that the large drug store chain Duane Reade was to take its place, I announced on April 8 at the first Special Board of Trustees' (BOT) goal-setting meeting in public that Mr. Schoelle would be meeting with the new owner of several buildings along the south side of Seventh Street. On Monday, April 14 I, Trustee Rothschild, liaison to the business community; Administrator Schoelle, Mr. Filippon, superintendent of the Building Department, along with three chamber representatives met with this new owner. On behalf of the village I welcomed him to the community and encouraged him to work with the village administrator and the Building Department. I also shared with him, as did the chamber representatives, the need to preserve the integrity of retail businesses on Seventh Street - which is "our residents' downtown village shopping area." I voiced the grave concerns of the residents over losing the Food Basket and having it replaced with a Duane Reade drug store. I applauded him for his expressed desire to work with the village and his tenants, his plans to improve the façades of these buildings, especially the backs that face onto the 7S Parking Field. At the end of the meeting he indicated that he had not signed the lease with Duane Reade and that he would continue, for the time being, to market the Food Basket space. Please be assured that your concerns were voiced and heard. We are hopeful that with continued communication with this owner by the village and the chamber that we will get a resolution that will be best for the village. Change is difficult for everyone and, as we know from everyday life, there are always multiple facets to an issue. Please continue to voice your concerns to your property owner's associations, your board of trustees and when it involves the business community, the Chamber of Commerce board. As we know, it takes a village working together to maintain and enhance our wonderful community.

The board of trustees join me in extending our sincere gratitude to former Chief Leonard Rivera for the dedicated and professional level of service that he rendered to our village during his tenure as chief of the Garden City Fire Department. Our special thanks is also due to his wife, Francine, for having shared Lenny with us.

As a result of the fire department election, the new chief is Thomas J. Foley. He will be aided during the coming year by First Assistant Chief Edward Moran, Second Assistant Chief John P. Casey and third assistant chief James J. Meehan. We wish them well and thank them for their involvement.

All residents are asked to assist in the task of cleaning up our community to make it look like a beautiful "Garden City." We can do that by picking up paper, cans, bottles and other debris which may have been deposited on the streets and other public areas near their homes. A few minutes of cooperative effort by all of us can make our village look 100 percent better.

Residents are also reminded that rubbish should not be placed on the curb before the evening prior to the collection day. It is a detraction from the aesthetics of the village and poor treatment of one's neighbors to ignore the village law, which specifies that rubbish should not be deposited at curb side before the evening prior to collection.