Last week, the West Hempstead-Hempstead Gardens Water District, which serves West Hempstead and Garden City South with water, detected amounts of the gasoline additive MTBE in its water supply. A health emergency was declared and three of the contaminated wells were pulled off line. As part of our preplanned emergency program, the Garden City Water Department opened two interconnect lines, which is providing approximately 500,000 gallons of water each day to the Water District enabling them to flush their system and restore full capacity until the backup wells can be placed on line.

In addition, the Garden City Fire Department responded to a mutual aid call from the West Hempstead Fire Department and made itself available to respond to fire calls and to join forces in distributing warning notices to households within the Water District. I am pleased that we are prepared and able to assist our neighbors during their time of need.

As adults we know that it is illegal to possess and/or use fireworks. The main reason they became illegal is because they cause injury. Residents are reminded that the Police Department will be on alert to interdict illegal fireworks' use to prevent community disruption and often needless injury. I strongly urge parents, who are the ultimate and most effective preventers, to ban the use of fireworks. Retail sales were prohibited in the village between the hours of 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. Tuesday, July 4. Certain exceptions are restaurants, delicatessen items and alcoholic beverages. In observance of the holiday, municipal offices were closed Tuesday, July 4 and reopened Wednesday, July 5.

There was no garbage and recycling pickup Tuesday, July 4. The western half of the village (west of Rockaway Avenue) will have garbage pickup on Monday and Friday and the eastern half of the village (east of Rockaway Avenue) will have garbage pickup on Wednesday and Saturday. There will be rubbish pickup on Thursday for the entire village. Residents scheduled for recycling July 4 are asked to put their recyclables out Tuesday, July 11. All other recycling days remain the same.

The Sanitation/Recycling Collection Schedule and Guidelines for 2006/07 were mailed to residents. I encourage you to review the schedule and to please retain it as a reference source for the upcoming year. If anyone has not received a copy, call the Department of Public Works at 465-4003.

Once again, compliments are due to the Recreation Department for arranging the 2006 season's outstanding Concert Series at the Village Gazebo, located on the Village Green at the corner of Stewart and Hilton Avenues.

This week's program is scheduled for Thursday, July 6, and will feature Lil Cliff and the Cliffhangers - jazz sounds and blues.

The program will begin at 7:15 and admission is free. Please bring your lawn chair or blanket and enjoy a very pleasant evening. In the event of inclement weather, the concert will be held at the Cultural and Performing Arts Center at Cluett Hall at the St. Paul's School. Please contact the Recreation Program Line (742-5888) with questions pertaining to the concert.