On Memorial Day, I had the privilege, along with fellow trustees, of attending the parade and Memorial Day ceremony held in honor of First Lieutenant Michael Licalzi, United States Marine Corps. I would like to commend the efforts of the William Bradford Turner American Legion Post No. 265, especially Commander John Donovan for having done an outstanding job. It was a very moving experience and a fitting tribute to Lt. Licalzi.

Compliments and thanks are also extended to all who participated in the parade. The music provided by the respective school district marching bands was wonderful and complemented the spirited line of march representing many village organizations.

I was particularly impressed by the number of residents who made their way to the Garden City Middle School and remained to hear the Memorial Day addresses. It was a special day to be an American and a resident of this wonderful village.

Please keep Lt. Licalzi and all service personnel who serve our country proudly, and their families, in your thoughts and prayers.

The board of trustees has issued a Village Facts on "Deciding the Future of St. Paul's" that was mailed to each household earlier in the week. It has also been placed on our village website.

Its purpose is to help assure that all village residents can knowledgeably participate in discussions on this important issue and make informed decisions as to the future of the Historic Main Building and to answer many of the important questions about St. Paul's.

I encourage you to read the Village Facts and to retain it as a reference.

The 8th Annual Belmont Festival at Garden City will be held this Friday, June 9, from 6 to 10:30 p.m. along Seventh Street and Franklin Avenue. The parade will step off at 7:00 p.m. from Village Parking Field 9E, proceed south on Franklin Avenue and west on Seventh Street to the Village Green. This exciting family event will include street performers, antique and vintage cars, firetrucks, parading horses, the Nassau County Police Pipe Band and the Garden City High School Band. Six bands will be entertaining along Seventh Street throughout the evening. Make it a part of your family's weekend plans.

In order to accommodate the event as safely as possible, Seventh Street will be cleared of parked vehicles starting at 4 p.m. and will be closed to all traffic at that time. Parking fields to the rear of the stores (7S and 7N) will remain open.

This past week the village mailed copies of the 2006 Splash Garden City Pool Newsletter containing pool membership applications to each residence in Garden City. This marks the annual countdown to the opening of the pool June 10. Please read the edition of Splash and familiarize yourself with all of the special events that are planned for the pool as well as the new membership category, the late day individual.

On opening weekend, June 10-11, pool staff will host an open house to all non-member Garden City village residents to give everyone an opportunity to see what a unique pool facility the village operates.

As you sample the fare from our Franklin Avenue and Seventh Street restaurants this Friday, June 9, I ask that you take a minute to meet the proprietors and return at another time to enjoy a delightful meal - you will be pleased with the quality, selection and excellent customer service. Regardless of the weather conditions during each school day for the past nine months, our school crossing guards have been at their designated posts to watch over our children. Please take a minute during the next few weeks to thank them for doing such a fine job to protect our young people.

The village mailed tax bills earlier this week to residents and their banks. The first-half of village taxes are due this month and will be delinquent and subject to a penalty if payment is not made by July 1.

If you have a question, please call the Tax Department at Village Hall at 465-4156 between 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.