The focus on the future of the historic Main Building at St. Paul's during the past year has overshadowed several other important proposed projects that could dramatically impact our village. Your board of trustees is closely monitoring all of them. Here's a list of the most critical:

-LIRR's Main Line Corridor Improvement Project (Third Track).

-Sale by Nassau County of about 11 acres of vacant property on the eastern border of the village where county officials want workforce housing.

-Residential development of the Nassau County Social Services property on Eleventh Street.

-Development of the mammoth Nassau Hub, which could result in transportation links running right through the middle of Garden City.

-Preparation of the village's Five-Year Capital Budget Plan and Operating Budget for the next fiscal year.

I will continue to keep you posted on all of these projects and outline ways for you to make your voices heard on each of them.

Decorating, both indoor and outdoor, can be exciting. Here are some safety tips that can make your holiday event-free.

General Safety Tips:

-Do not place candles on or near any decorative vegetation or trees.

-Always use candles in holders that are sturdy and adequately collect dripping wax.

-Ensure that your family and people who are staying for the holidays know your home fire escape plan.

-Have your chimney cleaned and inspected before use for the season.

-Check all of your smoke alarms.

-Watch for overloading of electrical circuits. Use listed power distribution blocks or strips with automatic circuit protection when overloaded or overheated.

Trees:

-Choose a tree that is not dry and is not dropping needles.

-Use a stand that can adequately hold up the tree. Before placing the tree in the stand cut at least half-inch of the stem off to give a fresh surface for the water to be in contact with.

-Proper placement of the tree in water and ongoing maintenance will make the tree safe and last throughout the holiday season. Ensure that the tree stem is covered by at least 2 inches of water at all times and check the level at least daily.

-If needles or leaves fall off the tree readily when shaken or if the needles break when pinched, the tree is too dry for indoor use and should be removed.

-Trees should be a distance, at least equal to the height of the tree, away from open flames and sources of ignition. This includes heaters and fireplaces.

-The location of the tree should not be in the way of doors, windows or in paths used for exiting.

-Check to ensure that any decorative lighting that is used is "listed," such as the "UL" label, and that the lighting is for "indoor" use. Do not place lights on metal trees.

The village's solicitation law prohibits all unwanted commercial solicitations and distributions on all private residential property in the Village and prohibits non-commercial solicitations and distributions on private property to the extent desired by the resident. This law was designed to protect residents from unwanted invasions of their privacy.

Any resident requesting not to be solicited should complete a "Notice of Objection" form at the Village Hall. Presently, the board has authorized certain groups to solicit door-to-door in the village. As of this writing there are no groups that are soliciting with the village's permission.

Taxes

The second half of village taxes, which were due and payable Dec. 1, 2006, are normally subject to penalty if payment is not made within a 30-day grace period. This year the grace period has been extended to include Tuesday, Jan. 2, 2007, because the village offices will be closed Monday, Jan. 1. Any payments received after the close of business on Jan. 2 will be subject to penalty. For your convenience, correspondence may be placed in the letter slot at the easterly entrance to Village Hall.

Veterans' real property tax exemption: The deadline for applications for veterans' tax exemptions is Friday, Dec. 29, 2006. Applications cannot be accepted after that date.

Village offices will be closed Monday, Dec. 25, in observance of Christmas and will reopen Tuesday, Dec. 26, and will be closed Monday, Jan. 1, 2007 in observance of New Year's Day and will reopen Tuesday, Jan. 2, 2007. For your convenience, correspondence for the village may be placed in the "Letter" drop slot at the front door. I know that I often mention "Shop Garden City" and there is no better time than now to mention it again. Residents in the Village of Garden City are very fortunate in having a vital business community comprised of merchants who are committed to serve us from their shops along Franklin Avenue, Seventh Street and New Hyde Park Road. I urge each of you to continue to patronize these local businesses during the holiday season and throughout the year. Our business community wants to know how they are doing, so take a minute the next time you are shopping and let them know what you think about the quality of their products and attention to customer service.