Mayor Barbara Miller told residents that the board's been keeping a close eye on County Executive Tom Suozzi's Hub proposal, attending public meetings and such. "We're taking the recent Hub report very seriously," she said, "and we as a board have strong opposition to this with its effect on the village." Suozzi's office states, as they have in the past, that this study is in very preliminary stages.

Having once chaired the Environmental Advisory Board (EAB), Mayor Miller believes the issue belongs in their lap and suggested that the board, a citizens committee that represents all sections of the village, appoint a subcommittee to further probe the study.

Trustee Peter Bee, who represents the East, said making the EAB a possible lead entity certainly makes sense and suggested further discussing the issue at the next board meeting.

Eastern Property Owners' Association (EPOA) President James Carney, who attended the most recent public Hub meeting March 30, admits it's a very aggressive project. "Tom Suozzi, our county executive, has a lot of support from outside communities ... and a lot of political support from the people who will benefit greatly from this project - mainly Hofstra University, EAB, the major commercial property owners in the Hub area, as well as the Villages of Hempstead, Mineola, even Westbury."

Carney, however, believes the proposal would benefit everyone but Garden City, which he said would bear the brunt of a lot of new traffic and construction. "The East could bear the greatest burden, as well as the Central section," he said. "Your suggestion is well taken. You should rally the trustees and appoint a liaison. This could have a big environmental impact ... It's a dangerous project if it was not watched closely and not influenced by Garden City."

Dorothy Episcopia, who also lives in the East, said she's happy to hear that Mayor Miller wants to involve people in the Hub issue. "One thing that's very significant is that the definition of a Hub has expanded," she said. "It used to be defined by a Hub area - from Clinton Road, Old Country Road and down to Hempstead Turnpike and all the way out to Merrick Avenue. We now have a Hub, I believe, including everything to Franklin Avenue, which means that the entire Eastern section is now within the Hub."

As soon as the village received this latest study, Mayor Miller noted it was sent on with a very strong letter to local legislators with the board's opposition. "We'll continue to pursue that," she assured residents.