Public meeting space for village groups and organizations has been identified as a particular need by several individuals and groups lately and I'm pleased to remind residents that more than 73,000 square feet of meeting space is available in the village.

Actually there's more than 95,000 square feet available if we also include the Field House at St. Paul's. Garden City residents have always been enthusiastic participants in a variety of civic groups and causes and, as a result, Garden City has far more public space available than most villages. Most space is available free or at only a nominal charge by the incorporated village or the school district.

There is about 13,700 square feet of space in village-owned properties (about 36,000 if the Field House is included). The school district has about 48,000 square feet of space available to the public. Additionally, 13,000 square feet of meeting space is available through private organizations in the village, including churches and Adelphi University. Not counted in this survey are several large spaces at Adelphi that can easily accommodate theatrical productions and large meetings. If they are counted, the total space available is more than 100,000 square feet.

As Garden City continues to grow, we need to plan for the future. One space that is well worth considering is the historic Village Water Works Building at Eleventh Street and Cherry Valley Avenue. It has excellent potential as meeting space for several reasons; this historic building owned by the village, and, though largely undeveloped, has "good bones" and could easily yield 5,000 to 10,000 square feet of meeting space. As we recently did at the new Senior Center, village employees could do much of the work. This would be a cost-effective way of meeting a village need and having a minimal impact on village taxes. As we consider our budget for next year, this project is certainly one that needs to be carefully scrutinized.

In an effort to make it easier for residents to locate meeting space within the village, we are exploring how the incorporated village might develop a clearing house and conduit with the school district and Adelphi.

A list of available sites, their sizes, locations and availability are provided on the village website: www.gardencityny.net. The tax dollars of Garden City residents provide lots of options for groups big and small. We encourage you to take advantage of them.

I have been informed by the Mayor's Committee on St. Paul's that they are evaluating the responses that were submitted in response to the Request for Proposals for the Historic Main Building at St. Paul's. Additional information has been requested of the respective respondents and the committee will be meeting with respondents within the next two weeks to discuss their proposals in depth. Regrettably, all too often our young people are criticized for the negative behavior of a relative few. I am pleased to let you know that this Halloween was virtually free of vandalism demonstrating that our young people do care about their village. On behalf of the parents I thank residents for providing delicious but safe "treats" for the children.

Veteran's Day, Nov. 11, is the one day each year in which America remembers her sons and daughters who served in the Armed Forces of the United States. It is right that a gratified nation set aside one day a year to recognize and remember these men and women.

On Friday, Nov. 11, the William Bradford Turner Post of the American Legion of Garden City will hold a short memorial salute to these veterans at 11 a.m. at the memorial situated on the Library grounds at Seventh Street. All residents are invited and encouraged to attend these brief ceremonies.