During the past year, the Garden City Recreation Department has concentrated on expanding programs and activities, as well as adding several other enhancements, for members of Garden City's growing senior population (22 percent and increasing).

During the year, the department has offered numerous activities to local seniors, including day trips to Ducks' games, the Cradle of Aviation Museum, the Philadelphia Flower Show, the Museum of the Moving Image and South Street Seaport.

Seminars have been provided on senior finances, elder care, Garden City's history, identity theft, Medicare and prescription drugs. Seniors have had the opportunity to enjoy workshops on line dancing, origami, drawing and poetry and writing, adult art classes, adult swim time at Adelphi University, tennis lessons and reduced rates for senior tennis time, stretch classes and "Seniors Days" at the Garden City Pool.

Noon concerts at Cluett Hall have also been offered. The recreation department has also established a senior information phone line, a long time goal of the village board of trustees. Residents can call with questions about activities the recreation department offers. Seniors may call 465-4190 Monday through Friday between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.

The department has also assisted with the establishment of a "Senior News" section in this newspaper, a weekly column highlighting upcoming events. The department has also formulated a senior discussion group to enable seniors to interact with the recreation staff to help promote more activities for the senior population and has hired a senior program coordinator. A senior readers program at Cathedral Nursery School has also been established.

Deputy Mayor Peter Bee, liaison to the senior population, noted, "I think a number of steps have been taken for this village to better address the senior population and I'd like to commend Mr. [Kevin] Ocker [recreation director] in that regard."

The Garden City Recreation Department's vision for the future includes a continuation of diversified activities for village seniors, the creation of a data base of the senior population as a by product of a community wide recreation and cultural needs and wants survey and completion of renovations to the St. Paul's cottages - to be used as a drop in facility for seniors to leisurely meet with other seniors for fellowship and social time. The department hopes to complete the renovations by November of this year.