Drainage construction is currently under way in Parking Field 7S. The contractor has started work at the westerly end of the field and will progress in an easterly direction this week. The work necessitates temporarily closing entrances to the parking field and detouring pedestrian and vehicular traffic to other entrances to the field. Drainage construction will continue throughout this week.

We regret the inconvenience that this work is causing and are doing our best to accommodate residents and businesses.

I would like to remind residents that it is the residents' responsibility to water village trees planted in front of their homes. With the extreme heat last week the trees are in dire need of water. The proper way to water is to first loosen the soil around the tree if it has become baked hard and then allow a hose to run at the base of the tree at a rate slow enough so that the water will be absorbed into the area around the tree trunk.

Watering hours are from 5 and 10 a.m. and 6 and 10 p.m. Odd-numbered house addresses should be watered on odd-numbered days and even-numbered addresses on even-numbered days. Be sure that sprinkler timers are adjusted for the correct dates and times. Thank you for your cooperation.

We are all interested in physical fitness. Please walk and jog safely. Rule number one: obey the rules of the road, specifically for pedestrians. Jog facing traffic using sidewalks when possible. Obey traffic signals and signs. And remember, while every driver of a vehicle shall exercise due care to avoid colliding with any pedestrian, no pedestrian should suddenly leave a curb or other place of safety and walk or run into the path of a vehicle which is so close that it is impractical for the driver to stop. The rest is common sense, things we have all been told all our lives but perhaps tend to forget. Wear light colors and reflective material at night. Most running shoes are made with reflective material. Check yours. They are especially effective because the running shoes are always in motion. Pay attention, look where you're going and if you're using your walkman, make sure you can still hear what's going on. Above all remember the human body is no match for the automobile. In addition, when walking to a destination after dark walk along the illuminated sidewalk. Never take a shortcut that could bring you into a darkened area away from the view of other pedestrians or vehicular traffic.

Please share this information with your children.

It is wonderful to see so many Garden City residents as well as visitors to our village enjoying alfresco dining on New Hyde Park Road, Franklin Avenue and Seventh Street. The village piloted alfresco dining in the summer of 1996. The Chamber of Commerce supported outdoor dining as a strategy to encourage shopping in Garden City. They asked the village to change its code to allow outdoor dining by permit which the village did May 15, 1997. For the past nine seasons the number of businesses providing this feature continues to grow. This year there are over 25 businesses who have permits. There is no doubt that alfresco dining is an overwhelming success. I encourage residents to come early and combine shopping with dining outside at their favorite place.

This week's program is scheduled for Thursday, Aug. 10, and will feature The Chaperones - singing '50s and '60s music.

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 St. Paul's School. Please contact the Recreation Department (465-4075) with questions pertaining to the concert.