I encourage all residents as well as members of the business community to attend the public forum on Thursday, May 29 at the middle school auditorium at 8 p.m. The P-Zone consultants, Mr. Fish (BF&J Planner) and Mr. Kiernan (Outside Zoning Counsel) will present to the public their recommendations to the P-Zone Committee regarding proposed zoning for the P-Zone.

I encourage the Property Owners' Association (POA) boards to attend and, I also want to say a special thanks to the POA leadership for carrying on the tradition of the POAs, which is to notify and encourage the residents most impacted to attend, which in this case are those who reside closest to the county's consolidation plans which have been widely publicized in the media.

If residents require further information, additional meetings with the consultants will of course be considered. Following this meeting 1) copies of the consultants' recommendations will be made available for those not able to attend, and 2) unanswered questions should be forwarded to the village in care of Village Administrator Robert Schoelle. After this presentation the P-Zone Committee will then present the report to the board of trustees.

For further information please contact village hall.

The community observed Memorial Day this past Monday May 26. I am sure that there are many in the community who remember that Memorial Day was originally called Decoration Day. The Garden City community has a long tradition of giving remembrance on that day for those who have died in our nation's service. Residents were encouraged to participate in the memorial church services held at the Cathedral of the Incarnation, formal parade and official ceremonies held in front of the middle school under the direction of the William Bradford Turner Post - American Legion. In addition, I encouraged residents to participate in the National Moment of Remembrance at 3 p.m. that day in their own way a moment of remembrance and respect, pausing from whatever they are doing for a moment of silence or listening to Taps. My sincere thanks to the veterans as well as other residents, especially the children who marched in the parade and took part in the ceremonies at the middle school. It is your participation that truly honors those who we remember this day for. I also want to thank the trustees, state officials and invited guests who participated with me at the viewing stand to pay our respects to those in the parade honoring those who died in the service of the nation as well as who spoke at the ceremony.

This year in particular, because of the continued efforts of this nation to fight the war on terrorism, we probably think daily about those who have died most recently in the service of our country as well as all those men and women both in the armed services and in supporting agencies throughout the world who are risking their lives in order to preserve and/or restore freedom for all.

A sure sign that summer is on its way is that the village's 2003 pool application has been mailed to residents during the past week. If anyone has not received an application, please call the Recreation Department at 465-4075.

Completed applications may be mailed or hand delivered to the Recreation Department Office in Village Hall at 351 Stewart Avenue, Garden City, New York 11530. Residents returning their applications by June 2, will receive two complimentary guest passes.

I encourage residents to take a membership this year, especially those who have not done so in the past. The pool complex is a wonderful recreational resource - it is a great place to renew friendships and establish new ones, read a book and swim in the adult pool as well as watch the children have a great time swimming and playing on the equipment. And of course we all enjoy the snack bar. The health benefits are numerous as long as you use your "sun block" and not stay in the direct sun too long.

The Town of Hempstead Sanitation Department will conduct the third of its monthly S.T.O.P. (Stop Throwing Out Pollutants) program Sunday, June 1. 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 June 1 program will be held in East Rockaway at Bay Park on Fourth Avenue. The hours of operation will be 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.