(Editor's Note: Due to space constraints, this is Part I of the annual Year in Review. Part II will appear in next week's issue.)

Tom Suozzi continued his tenure as Nassau County Executive Jan. 1, when he was sworn in for his second term. Amid speculation that Suozzi would eventually announce a run for governor, the Democrat spent New Year's Day at home in Glen Cove addressing the crowd who gathered at the Robert C. Finley Middle School.

For those who expected speculation that Suozzi would announce a run for governor to be extinguished, the fire was only fueled when Suozzi made mention of state issues that impact Nassau residents.

The Garden City Police Department sadly announced the death of Garden City Police Officer Robert "Bob" Dempsey Jr. on Friday, Dec. 16. Mr. Dempsey was a Garden City police officer and before that served as a parking enforcement aide for the department. He also was a member of the Baldwin Fire Department and a former member of the United States Marine Corps and served during Desert Storm.

Officer Dempsey passed away suddenly at the age of 35 after undergoing minor knee surgery for an injury suffered in an auto accident on his way home from work. He left behind his wife, Dawn, and three small children, Meghan, Robert III and Jack. He is also survived by his parents, Robert Sr. and Arlene, and his sisters, Kathleen Devlin, Colleen O'Brien and Margaret Dempsey.

"Bob Dempsey was not only an outstanding police officer but an outstanding young man who was loved by all and he will be sorely missed," Garden City Police Commissioner Ernest Cipullo said.

Although Mayor Gerard Lundquist publicly stated that a decision on what to do with the historic Main Building that is St. Paul's would be forthcoming in "early 2006," a lawsuit filed Jan. 6 by residents Thomas Poole; Peter Negri, a former Garden City trustee in office during Barbara Miller's mayoral term; and James Edmund Keating held up the process.

The village was served with a summons and complaint seeking a judgment that no public funds could lawfully be expended to market the sale or lease of the St. Paul's Historic Main Building until state legislative approval was obtained. In addition, the lawsuit stated that if it was determined that the expenditure of public funds to market the sale of the historic Main Building to a private developer was "an entirely illegal use of public money" the village's consultant, K. Backus & Associates was required to repay any monies it had received to the village. Lastly, the plaintiffs sought a permanent injunction from making any further expenditures of public money to "market" the sale of the historic Main Building to private commercial developers.

Mayor Lundquist, speaking on behalf of the board, however, believed the lawsuit was meritless. "It is not illegal for the village to expend monies to hire a consultant to study the private development of St. Paul's School as a prerequisite to determining whether the village should seek home rule legislation to permit a sale or lease to a private developer," he said. "The village intends to vigorously defend this lawsuit and to explore the possibility of appropriate counterclaims against the plaintiffs."

Senator Kemp Hannon announced in January that the New York State Senate passed legislation (S.6409) to mandate lifetime registration for the most dangerous sex offenders and prevent sex offenders from coming off the registry. The bill was sent to the Assembly and signed into law by Governor George Pataki, following agreement by the joint legislative conference committee on the Sex Offender Registry created by Megan's Law.

"Our tough new registration law ensures that the most dangerous sex offenders never escape the Sex Offender Registry and establishes a model for the rest of the nation to follow," Hannon said.

The legislation mandates lifetime registration for Level 2 and Level 3 offenders. Level 2 offenders are allowed to petition for removal from the registry after a minimum of 30 years. Level 1 offenders are required to register for 20 years, and are automatically dropped off the registry after 20 years.

Garden City resident James Murphy marked his 7th birthday in a unique, selfless way. Instead of receiving gifts during his birthday celebration, he requested that his friends and relatives donate money to Winthrop-University Hospital's Child Life Center. The funds, totaling $1,325, were earmarked for the purchase of new books and other items for the Child Life Activity Center where young patients pass the time during their hospitalization. Nassau County Homicide Squad detectives investigated what they described as a fatal vehicle accident that occurred on Franklin Avenue, near 13th Street, Sunday, Jan. 22, at approximately 10:48 p.m. According to Nassau County police reports, a 56-year-old white male was found lying face down with severe trauma to his head. A southbound driver observed the victim lying in the roadway and called police, who said it was possible that the victim fell to the pavement before being run over by a vehicle, although no vehicle parts were ever found at the scene. The victim was pronounced dead at the scene just before midnight.

On Jan. 9, Kathleen Maura Rice was sworn in as the first female district attorney for Nassau County. The Cradle of Aviation in Garden City, filled with dignitaries and many friends, was the setting for this gala event.

Rice is one of 10 children, six girls and four boys. Her place in the family is seven. She grew up in Garden City on Nassau Boulevard and attended St. Joseph's grade school and the Garden City junior and senior high schools. Kathleen's parents, Laurence and Christine, currently live in Garden City.

Those in attendance got to see a little girl's dream come true as Rice's father held the family Bible upon which Kathleen placed her right hand to swear in. As Robert A. McDonald, Esq., the master of ceremonies and a friend of Kathleen's, reminded his colleagues, "She is hard working, one of the best and she enforces the law."

Mayor Gerard Lundquist swore in Headquarters Company Fire Captain Harold G. Frank III before family, friends and residents. Frank is a retiring Battalion Commander and Battalion Chief with the New York City Fire Department.

The Nassau County Police Reserves honored two members of Garden City's bravest and finest at their awards ceremony Jan. 9. Garden City Police Commissioner Ernest Cipullo submitted the two names for the award for their life saving actions during the rescue of an elderly woman from a vehicle accident and fire Nov. 15, 2005.

Then-Assistant Chief John Casey of the Garden City Fire Department and Detective Sergeant James Bartowski of the Garden City Police Department were honored with a Life Saving Award and Top Cop award, respectively, for their heroic actions. This is the first time the Nassau County Police Reserves included fire personnel in its program.

The Garden City Chamber of Commerce announced its selection of honorees for 2006 feted at the 4th annual Pineapple Ball. Selected as Garden City Citizen of the Year was village resident Robert B. Catell, chairman and CEO of KeySpan Corporation; George L. Engelke, Jr. of Garden City, chairman, president and CEO of Astoria Financial Corporation (NYSE:AF); and Russell G. Matthews, executive vice president of the Albanese Organization, Inc. as Businessperson of the Year.

The final chapter of Garden City High School's outstanding 2005 football season was written at the annual Section Eight Gridiron Dinner when Nassau's coaches voted for the Trojans - winners of the Rutgers Cup, emblematic of the top team in the county.

It was the third time that Garden City has won the Cup since 1992, and it ended speculation as to which of the county's four Conference champions, all of which finished 10-1, would be chosen. Garden City outscored their 10 Nassau opponents 391-43 and that was because of Coach Tom Flatley's long-established policy of not running up scores. The Trojans scored 240 of their 391 points in the first half. Another factor may have been that Garden City hadn't lost a Conference game in three years. The Trojans have a 28-0-1 record against Conference II and an overall mark of 30-2-1 in that time. A Long Island title in 2003 and Nassau titles in 2004 and 2005 were credentials that none of the other three contenders could match.

Thanks to the dream and commitment of one man touched by cancer, Long Island received a new state-of-the-art cancer treatment facility. The Michael J. Tenaglia M.I.R.A.C.L.E. Pavilion, located on the grounds of Mercy Medical Center in Rockville Centre, opened to patients.

The new Pavilion received its name from Michael J. Tenaglia, founder of The MIRACLE (Making In Roads Against Cancers Lasting Effects) Foundation. Michael, a former senior vice president for UBS PaineWebber and resident of Garden City, was an inspiring man with an unwavering commitment and dedication to helping cancer patients. In 1998, he was diagnosed with a rare and deadly form of esophageal cancer. He was given a 4 percent chance to live one year. At that moment, Michael decided that his life was to be defined not by what happened to him, but by how he reacted to this challenge. With his characteristic energy and optimism, he made his battle an advocacy for others fighting cancer.

The M.I.R.A.C.L.E. Pavilion was part of his vision to make a difference and to help others by bringing premier cancer treatment to Long Island. The Foundation raised more than $1 million to develop the unique 22,000 square foot treatment center, which is operated and staffed by doctors and allied health professionals from Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. The new pavilion offers radiotherapy, chemotherapy, consultation, diagnostic treatment and support services and has two new linear accelerators, allowing enhanced precision radiation therapy and reducing healthy tissue's radiation exposure. The new facility is capable of meeting the needs of 35,000 outpatient oncology visits per year.

The Third Squad reported the details of two arrests that occurred in Garden City Wednesday, Feb. 8, at 5:30 a.m. According to detectives, the owner of the newspaper stand at the Long Island Rail Road's Nassau Boulevard station reported that between Oct. 6, 2005 and Jan. 19, 2006 his deliveries of the New York Times and the New York Post were stolen. After MTA police, Garden City police and the Third Squad investigated, two employees of the Daily News were arrested for grand larceny.

The subjects were allegedly taking bundles of other companies' newspapers while they were making their deliveries. The loss incurred by the owner of the newsstand was approximately $2,100, according to police reports. Both subjects were charged with fourth-degree grand larceny and were released on a desk appearance ticket for a future court date.

County Comptroller Howard Weitzman warned at a February news conference that the Nassau County Police Department's Emergency Ambulance Bureau was not adequately prepared to meet the growing demand for ambulance services in the county.

"Nassau's police ambulance bureau already handles the majority of the county's ambulance calls, and that number is growing as Nassau's voluntary ambulance providers have found their resources increasingly strained," he said. "Unfortunately, our audit of the police department's ambulance bureau found serious deficiencies in technology, equipment and in the training and supervision of ambulance personnel, as well as a critical lack of record-keeping, that will hamper the department's ability to meet the growing demand.

In order to address these deficiencies, Weitzman called for the immediate implementation of a program to monitor and assess response times, improve staff training and supervision, and technology upgrades aimed at improving response times. "The bureau may need additional EMT staff as well, but that decision will require better information on current response times and an assessment of future needs," Weitzman said.

Responding to the comptroller's audit, the Nassau County Police Department stated, "The Nassau County Police Emergency Ambulance Bureau is one of the finest municipal ambulance services that exists in the country. Our AMT staff saves countless lives throughout the year ... The Nassau County Police Department employs an integrated response wherein an officer responds first, provides assistance and advises medical technicians of the situation while they are on their way to the scene."

The police department also stated that the average police unit response time is less than two minutes and that the average ambulance response time is six minutes as of January 2006.

"We're an island and no one is getting off," Senator Michael Balboni said as he discussed emergency preparedness with editors of Anton Community Newspapers. Balboni, who chairs the Senate Committee on Veterans, Homeland Security and Military Affairs, addressed his report, "After the Storm ... New York's State of Readiness." And while the state made some improvements in countering a catastrophic event, the senator gave barely passing grades to both Nassau and Suffolk counties. BK Sweeney's on New Hyde Park Road was burglarized during the early morning hours of Monday, Feb. 20. Garden City police report the incident occurred sometime between 3:45 and 7:50 a.m. Police stated the restaurant's manager responded to work that morning to find two basement doors and an air conditioner damaged. An investigation revealed $9,000 in restaurant proceeds was stolen from a locked desk drawer in the eatery's basement. Further, a $4,400 ATM machine with $67,000 inside was also missing. Damage from the forced entry totaled $3,500, according to police reports. During the Feb. 21 village board meeting, Mayor Gerard Lundquist swore in three of the Garden City Fire Department's newest lieutenants, Mark C. Frappied, Peter J. Clancy and Robert S. Noonan.

It was with great enthusiasm and support, albeit little surprise, that Nassau County Executive Thomas R. Suozzi stood before a crowd of more than 1,200 supporters in front of the Glen Cove house where his grandparents had lived to announce that yes, he is declaring his candidacy for governor of New York State.

"Now more than ever, New York needs a governor who is going to shake things up," he said. "New York needs a strong chief executive with a proven record of government reform and results. New York needs a skilled manager who knows how to balance budgets and tame bureaucracies. New York needs an independent leader who owes nothing to the insiders and the lobbyists and answers only to you," he said as folks cheered and waved banners reading "Tom Suozzi for Governor" and "Amigos de Tom Suozzi."

In an animated speech Suozzi declared that he "launched Fix Albany in large part because the values my [family] taught me, and which have always defined the Democratic Party at its best, seem to have vanished from our State Capitol."

The county executive summed up his major goals. "One: We can start to fund a settlement of the Campaign for Fiscal Equity lawsuit, and by giving schools in New York City and in low-income areas the funding they need and demanding more accountability and reform, we can give every child the quality education he or she deserves;

"Two: We can lower the property taxes that are crippling families and stifling the economy here on Long Island and throughout the State;

"Three: We can provide economic incentives, which, in conjunction with property tax relief and legislative reforms, can jumpstart a devastated upstate economy that, if taken alone, would make New York one of the poorest states in the country;

"And four: We can substantially increase our affordable housing stock, and relieve a huge strain on our state's working families."

Senator Michael Balboni and Senate Majority Leader Joseph L. Bruno unveiled a comprehensive package of legislation that would greatly enhance the ability of state, local governments, businesses and New York citizens to prepare and respond to any type of catastrophic event, whether manmade or natural, by requiring counties to put preparedness plans into place, establishing standards for evacuating and sheltering nursing homes during emergencies, and increasing penalties for individuals who tamper with nuclear power plants.

The legislation was announced at a Capitol news conference and came in the wake of a report released by the federal government, "Katrina:

Lessons Learned," which served as a wake-up call that New York must focus on preparedness now, before the eye of the storm is upon us. The Senate package covers a wide range of disaster preparedness issues, reflecting a shift in the mission of homeland security to an "all-hazards" approach in which localities must be prepared for all manner of disaster.

Senator Balboni, chairman of the Senate Standing Committee on Veterans, Homeland Security and Military Affairs, said, "Many lessons were learned from Katrina, but New York has its own lessons. We've had our share of catastrophe, and these lessons teach us that we must be prepared."

Unbeknownst to the Villages of Garden City and Mineola - two communities that would be vastly affected by Nassau County Executive Tom Suozzi's proposed HUB project, the legislature held a special meeting March 1 of the Planning, Development and Environment Committee to be briefed - by the Planning Department - on the HUB Major Investment Study (MIS) final report. According to Garden City Village Administrator Robert Schoelle Jr., the village learned of the meeting March 2.

The HUB's northern boundary lies just to the north of the LIRR Port Jefferson branch; the southern boundary lies just to the south of Hempstead Turnpike; the western boundary runs along Rockaway and Cathedral Avenues in Garden City; and the eastern boundary is Eisenhower Park. The area totals approximately 10 square miles and encompasses all or parts of the villages of Garden City, Mineola, Westbury and Hempstead, the hamlets of Carle Place and Uniondale and the unincorporated area of East Garden City.

Suozzi, who officially threw his hat in the gubernatorial ring just weeks prior, believes Nassau County is at a "critical crossroads in its economic development history." He calls his planning vision for the county New Suburbia. Tackling the challenges of expanding the tax base with smart growth development, relieving over-taxed residents, reducing automobile traffic and building affordable housing for the young, Suozzi said the solutions to these problems must center upon the commercial heart of the county - the Nassau HUB.

Responding to present and future competition and reduced occupancy rates caused by such competition, owners of the Garden City Hotel announced their desire to convert four floors of their establishment into residential condominiums. The conversion would enable them to reinvest from the net proceeds of the condo sales to upgrade all the remaining hotel rooms and expand and enhance the spa and exercise areas.

"This is the appropriate time to reposition this historic property for the future," Patrick Smalley, hotel executive vice president, told the Garden City Life. "With the hotel business on Long Island becoming increasingly saturated we believe this next step in the evolution of The Garden City Hotel is in the very best interest of village."

The targeted purchasers for the size and type of condos planned will most likely be empty nesters. All the proposed work will occur within the building; no enlargement of the hotel's existing footprint is foreseen and there will be no addition of square footage or any change to the hotel's outward appearance. Moreover, condominium owners will have use of the hotel's valet parking services and there will be dedicated parking within the existing lot for residents as well, according to Smalley.

Thomas McKevitt won the 17th Assembly District seat convincingly. "I'm honored and thankful to the citizens of the 17th Assembly District. I will do my best," he said. The East Meadow resident was sworn in during a ceremony at the State Capitol. He said his attention would be focused on addressing property taxes and school aid.

The seat became available when longtime Assemblywoman Maureen O'Connell ran successfully for county clerk. McKevitt faced off against Democrat Zahid-Ali Syed and won by a 3,414 to 1,653 margin.

With 220 middle school/high school special education students in the Garden City School District, officials March 7 announced their hopes to change the current makeup of Pupil Personnel Services (PPS) - what Superintendent Dr. Robert Feirsen described as a "difficult and complex system" - and put more responsibility in the hands of administrators.

District officials proposed the following reorganization: a district-wide PPS director (an administrator); a district-wide assistant PPS director (an administrator); a Grade 6-12 coordinator (also an administrator), a secondary sub-CSE (school psychologists), an elementary sub-CSE (also school psychologists) and a primary sub-CSE (consisting of building principals).

District officials believed the reorganization provided more of an administrative punch and gave more responsibility to school psychologists "to get the job done." Further, the reorganization established two full-time administrative positions; developed a system for administration, supervision and assessment of programs; assigned greater accountability for observation, supervision and evaluation of staff; and empowered administrators and supervisors to resolve issues with the building team.

"Life with special education goes on 24-7," Dr. Feirsen said. "It does not stop because the clock gets to three o'clock. It does not wait until nine o'clock in the morning."

In March, Adelphi University began construction on its largest campus enhancement project since moving to Garden City back in 1929. Over the next three years, Adelphi will expand and upgrade classrooms, rehearsal and performance spaces and recreational and athletic facilities at its main campus.

The needed renovations and additions will enable the university to remain a valued community partner and fulfill its mission to prepare talented undergraduate and graduate students for a wide range of life pursuits while fostering a passion for knowledge and a commitment to service.

The Village of Garden City approved the project and the university selected Damon G. Douglas Company to manage the construction. Cannon Design is providing architectural and engineering services.

"If Adelphi is to remain one of the foremost private institutions of higher education in the region - known for the competence of its graduates, its strong programs and interdisciplinary orientation, its welcoming of the community onto campus and its impact on the broader society - it must evolve to better meet the needs of its current students and the community," Adelphi University President Robert Scott said. "These campus enhancements will help us ensure a bright future for one of New York's oldest and most dynamic institutions of higher education."

Initial construction on the project began in March 2006 with completion planned for 2008. The approximately $94 million project will be supported through an integrated funding strategy of private philanthropy, bond sales and New York State matching funds.

Nassau County Executive Tom Suozzi announced that the proposal from the Lighthouse Development Group met each of his seven core goals for the redevelopment of the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum site, and lays out a plan that is consistent with his vision for "New Suburbia."

Among the highlights of the Lighthouse Development Group's $1.6 billion proposal are: a $200 million renovation of the Nassau Coliseum; a commitment from the Islanders NHL team to stay until 2025; a canal lined with retail shops and mixed-use residential-commercial development; the creation of a pedestrian-friendly 'Nassau Centre'; an investment in a transportation system; the construction of a minor-league baseball stadium and the development of next generation housing.

"After a thorough, competitive and open review process, my evaluation team has chosen the Lighthouse Group's proposal," Suozzi said. "Their plan stood up against top-notch competition, and emerged as the best of the best. It matches the vision I've been talking about for 'New Suburbia.' We can look forward to a new minor-league ballpark, a renovated Coliseum, new housing and office space that will create excitement at the geographic heart of Nassau County and create an engine for economic growth. And we accomplish this at no cost to the taxpayers, while significantly increasing the tax base."

The project is expected to generate approximately $160 million in net new taxes through 2025, Suozzi stated.

Nassau County District Attorney Kathleen Rice unveiled the first step in her strategy to combat drunk diving in Nassau County and in New York State. Flanked by Nassau County Police Commissioner James Lawrence, State Senator Charles Fuschillo, Major Walter Heesch of the New York State Police, Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) and members of the Nassau County Department of Probation and the Transportation Safety Board, D.A. Rice laid out sweeping changes to how her office will deal with prosecuting drunk drivers. She also voiced her commitment to working with legislative leaders at the county, state and federal levels to stiffen laws designed to combat drunk driving and to offer more treatment alternatives for those offenders with substance abuse problems.

"I stand before you today the proud member of a coalition devoted to saving lives in Nassau County. Behind me are leaders in the law enforcement community, in Albany, in our county government, and in our communities. I cannot take on the reckless decision by those 4,100 drivers alone - that's why I am honored to be part of this team and look forward to taking this first step together," D.A. Rice said. "Today is day one in our assault on drunk driving in Nassau County. It will be a long and hard process, certain to create opposition from the other side of the court room, but this step, and the steps that will follow, must be taken before more innocent lives are lost."

On March 13 at the Spring Sports Presentation, the Garden City High boys swimming and diving team was awarded the state champion, team scholar athletic award. The boys achieved an academic average of 96.794 percent - the highest average among all boys swim teams in the state.

Lloyd Mott, assistant director of the NYSPHSAA, presented a banner to the team, which was hung in the high school gymnasium. This was the third championship for the boys swimming and diving team. The high school has also been designated a "School of Distinction" for three consecutive years. The award's criteria was that all varsity teams have at least a 90 percent average.

For the first time in 20 years, a basketball championship returned to the Waldorf School of Garden City. Led by junior co-captains Christopher Smalley of Garden City and Michael Butigian, along with freshman point guard Daniel Lindsay, Waldorf posted an impressive regular season record of 18-5, which includes only one loss in IPPSAL league play.

Waldorf faced Solomon Schechter in the first round of the playoffs Feb. 14. With a strong showing from their bench, including a clutch 3-pointer from junior Leo Bruno, Waldorf won by a score of 54-45. The following evening, Waldorf squared off against Faith Academy for the league championship, held at SUNY Old Westbury. Despite having beaten Faith twice during the regular season, the game was close through the first half of play. After Smalley was sent to the hospital following a serious mid-court collision with an opposing player, the Waldorf School rallied behind their team captain and put the game out of reach for good, winning by a final margin of 74-60.

Despite numerous trips to the IPPSAL playoffs in recent years, this victory marked Waldorf's first basketball championship since 1986 and was the final achievement in an outstanding season.

On March 22, Garden City Mayor Gerard P. Lundquist participated in Nassau County's Mayors for Meals campaign by helping to deliver meals to homebound participants of the Meals on Wheels Program. This campaign was designed to promote public awareness of the program, recruit new volunteers to assist with the meal delivery and increase local fundraising efforts. Concurrently, other elected officials were also delivering meals to residents of their communities to support this valuable service.

In the Garden City area, the delivery of the meals is coordinated by Catholic Charities, Diocese of Rockville Centre. Mayor Lundquist started his day at First Christ Church in Hempstead where he joined Rockville Centre Mayor Eugene J. Murray and South Floral Park Mayor Angel E. Soto in picking up the meals to be delivered.

The following are results of the Tuesday, March 21, general village election in Garden City: Trustee Donald Brudie (Central) 152 votes; Trustee John Watras (West) 150 votes; Trustee Peter Bee (East) 60 votes; and Trustee John Mauk (Estates) 55 votes. All four gentlemen were elected to serve two-year terms as village trustee. The Third Squad reported the details of five arrests made in connection with an incident that occurred March 31 at 2:50 a.m. at The Garden City Hotel's Club Posh. According to detectives, the five defendants became involved in a physical altercation with security guards, causing injury to four of the guards, including a broken nose. Trustees unanimously adopted Garden City's proposed $52,503,036 village budget - an increase of 3.76 percent from that of last year's - during a required hearing April 3. A $36.98 tax rate is required to balance the budget, an increase of 3.10 percent over that of 2005-06. The increase will require the "average home" (one assessed at $13,200) to pay an additional $147.84 in village taxes per year. This budget included a five-year capital plan.

Hempstead became the first town in New York State to authorize cable TV choice, approving a cable television franchise agreement with Verizon Communications. Supervisor Kate Murray announced that the town board acted on a Verizon proposal at its April 4 meeting.

"The town board has heard the call for competition from neighbors across the township," Murray said. "I am proud that Hempstead Town is poised to be the first town in the state - and one of the first municipalities in the country - in which two cable television companies will compete for business."

Under law, local government permission is required in order for a cable provider to operate in the community. Additionally, the state's Public Service Commission (PSC) must approve the agreement between Verizon and the town before the telecommunications giant can broadcast cable programming to residents of Hempstead Town.

Cablevision was the only cable television provider in Hempstead Town but never had an exclusive contract with the town. However, the huge costs associated with establishing a cable infrastructure have discouraged potential competitors from entering the local market until Verizon filed an application with Hempstead to service town residents.

"Over the years, many residents expressed frustration that cable television was the subject of a monopoly," Murray continued. "With the approval of Verizon's cable franchise agreement, residents will be able to choose among competitors in the cable TV marketplace."

An audit of time and leave practices at Nassau Community College found abuses of compensatory time by top administrators, improper contributions to retirement plans for some employees and other instances of lax personnel practices, Comptroller Howard Weitzman announced.

"In fairness, our audit findings reflect no judgment on the quality of the college's administrators or their devotion to the college," Comptroller Weitzman said. "Nassau Community College has made great strides over the last decade to become one of the finest community colleges in the SUNY system, and certainly its leadership deserves credit for transforming Nassau into the respected institution it is today."

Comptroller Weitzman called on the college to review the appropriateness of the compensatory time already granted and reverse any accruals that were not made for extraordinary circumstances. In its response to the audit, the college stated that, upon notification of the violation by the comptroller's office in September 2005, it suspended the practice of making retirement contributions to faculty who are returning pensioners. The college also said it would refer the president's contract back to the board of trustees for renegotiation with respect to the excess retirement contribution.

Garden City trustees granted Alfred Weissman Real Estate, Inc. final site plan approval on their plan to rehabilitate 1300 Franklin Avenue, the former home of Saks Fifth Avenue. The multi-tenant, multi-use commercial building, which has been vacant since Saks closed its doors in January 2004, will comprise a lower level health club and fitness center (34,868 square feet), retail space (38,715 square feet) and a restaurant (5,000 square feet) on the main level and office space on the upper level (45,430 square feet). Although the building does have a penthouse, it will be used for mechanical equipment only. Alfred Weissman of Alfred Weissman Real Estate, Inc. took title to the property in February 2005. Construction could take anywhere from eight to 12 months.

The public corporation that runs Nassau County's only public hospital is "effectively out of cash" and will require additional county subsidies in order to pay its bills, Nassau Comptroller Howard Weitzman said in April as he released his monthly analysis of the Nassau Health Care Corporation's cash balances.

The report, which reviewed cash-on-hand as of April 14, found that the hospital corporation's cash and "cash equivalents" have fallen from $12.9 million in March to only $3.6 million in April. Working capital decreased to $2 million, a critically low level for an agency with an annual budget of approximately $490 million. In addition, the corporation had been deferring payments on a number of accounts payable, a practice likely to lead to a deterioration of the hospital's relationship with its vendors.

"Nassau's public hospital is in critical condition," Weitzman said. "Nassau University Medical Center remains the only safety net hospital system for Nassau's uninsured population. In addition, because the county guarantees the corporation's $300 million debt, its failure could have a drastic effect on Nassau County's own finances.

NHCC's new Chief Operating Officer, former Deputy County Executive Arthur Gianelli prepared an updated strategic plan that was expected to project the amount of additional county subsidies required to stabilize the corporation. The county's consultant, Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, assisted in that plan's development.

After lengthy discussions on whether to permit multi-family use on the south side of Stewart Avenue, of late, particularly assisted living, trustees did not approve Local Law 1-2006.

Trustees John Watras, Tom Lamberti, John Mauk and Donald Brudie, along with Mayor Gerard Lundquist, voted against it April 20 while Trustees Nick Episcopia, Peter Bee and Robert Rothschild voted in favor of it. To the disappointment of some, including Kevin Walsh, who represents the owners of 550 Stewart Avenue, and Eastern Property Owners Association (EPOA) President John Stark, Jr., the local law failed to pass.

A revised local law had to then be published with changes to eliminate multi-family residential use from the south side of 550 Stewart Avenue as a permitted use. Language included in the revised law for the north side was expected to remain the same as it was in Local Law 1-2006.

Nassau County Executive Thomas R. Suozzi signed 'Tobacco 19' into law April 26 in an effort to curb teenage smoking in the county. The law's definition of "tobacco products" includes cigarettes, cigars, bidis, chewing tobacco, powered tobacco and other tobacco products. With the exception of four states, the legal age for purchasing cigarettes is 18. In Alabama, Alaska and Utah the age is 19. The law went into effect 120 days after it was signed and is being enforced by the Nassau County Health Department.

Over 100 firefighters from seven fire departments came together to participate in the annual First Battalion Drill hosted by the Garden City Fire Department. The topic was roof operations, where firefighters learned the methods and techniques of roof ventilation and roof saw operations. "Operating on and properly ventilating a roof are complex and dangerous tasks. Regular and intensive training keeps firefighters prepared to act at a moment's notice," Garden City Fire Chief John Casey said.

Following a thorough classroom PowerPoint presentation, the firefighters arrived at the Garden City Village Yard where they worked at four intensive hands-on stations. The stations included how to start and operate a roof saw, gaining access to a roof, window and roof ventilation and roof cutting techniques. Garden City volunteer firefighter Richard Spatafora, with decades of New York City and volunteer firefighting experience, organized the drill.

As part of his ongoing campaign to develop affordable housing throughout Nassau, County Executive Tom Suozzi proposed at a May 8 press conference the development of "next generation" housing near Roosevelt Field Mall in Garden City. "We propose a model housing plan that will appeal to young people, the children of Garden City residents who are starting out in their careers, empty nesters who no longer need large homes and for those who work in Garden City but cannot afford to live there," Suozzi said.

The 11.8 acres of empty land - located off Ring Road, east of Clinton Road and north of Stewart Avenue - are landlocked and include a recharge basin. Suozzi, who admitted county officials didn't even realize they had the parcel available to them, said he is looking forward to working with Garden City trustees, who must grant him a zoning change from commercial to residential in order to push the project forward.

"This property happens to be in Garden City, which, historically, has been viewed as a community that didn't want to have affordable housing in it," Suozzi said. "I want to work with the Village of Garden City to create affordable housing in this location ... This piece of property can serve as a catalyst to help and stimulate that debate here in Nassau and throughout Long Island."

To spotlight what they called an affordable housing crisis, particularly a missed opportunity in Garden City, advocates camped out on the Social Services site at the corner of Eleventh Street and County Seat Drive May 11 to prove a point. The only way they can live in Garden City is in a tent.

Nassau County provided the permit for the overnight protest. Participants even set up a tent for County Executive Tom Suozzi, who said this of the 25-acre site at a Feb. 5, 2004 Garden City Village Board meeting: "I have zero interest in putting anything but upscale housing in that area."

Frederick Brewington, a civil rights attorney from Hempstead, told Garden City Life the 17 1/2 hour encampment intended to drive their point home. "We are here to raise the issue of affordable housing to a level that would require people to not stick their head in the sand," he said, adding, "We are here ... to show this ground is ours. Rain or shine, we won't change our mind."

Some 50 volunteers and six pieces of apparatus were needed to extinguish an early morning fire at Roosevelt Field Mall May 12.

The Westbury Fire Department responded to a 6:20 a.m. alarm and upon arrival at the scene, fire officials found a fully involved fire on the mall's second level.

According to Westbury Chief Joe Pascarella, the fire started at Pretzel Time, located in the Food Court, and is believed to have erupted as a result of faulty electrical wiring under the counter.

Pascarella stated that the Westbury Fire Department, which has jurisdiction over the mall, had the blaze contained within 20 minutes. Due to the fire, as well as heavy smoke and water damage as a result of the sprinklers activating, Pascarella estimates that the damage is between $10,000 and $30,000.

An alleged dispute in front of a home in North Bellmore led to five members of the Celentano family being rushed to Nassau University Medical Center with numerous injuries, including a broken leg. According to police, at 8:40 p.m. May 17, Joseph Cassidy, 31, of Garden City, allegedly got into an argument with a 26-year-old member of the victims' family, entered his 2004 Lincoln Navigator, and, leaving the driver's side door open, put the SUV into reverse, striking the man's brother, father, mother, 86-year-old grandfather and an unidentified neighbor. Cassidy then allegedly shifted the vehicle into drive and fled the scene, striking the victim's mother again, this time breaking her leg.

According to Detective John Holland of Nassau County's First Squad, victims Clara Celentano (mother) and Giuseppe Celentano (grandfather) were admitted for a broken leg and head trauma respectively. The unidentified neighbor and Michael Celentano (brother) were admitted for observations with lacerations and contusions to their heads. Michael Celentano. Sr. (father) was treated for a leg injury and was released.

Garden City Police Officer John McCarthy spotted the vehicle in a driveway and detained Cassidy. His brother, a passenger, was not charged. Cassidy was arrested and charged with six counts of second-degree assault and pleaded not guilty May 18 in First District Court in Hempstead.

Family and friends gathered in St. Joseph's Church in Garden City May 20 to remember a hero who made the ultimate sacrifice for his country.

Garden City native and Chaminade High School graduate Michael L. LiCalzi, a Marine 1st lieutenant, drowned May 11 when his M1A1 battle tank rolled off a bridge into a canal in Al Anbar Province, Iraq. The 24-year-old platoon commander in Company A of the US Marine Corps 2nd Tank Battalion was deployed to Iraq in late March of this year.

1st Lt. LiCalzi is survived by his parents, Carol and Gregory; his twin brother, Gregory; his second brother, Luke; his sister, Elizabeth; and a large extended family.

According to Garden City police, at 4:10 a.m. Sunday morning, May 21, Garden City Hotel security personnel called police when they heard what they believed to be shots fired in the parking lot. Police confirmed the same, finding four shell casings in the parking lot and a Nissan, which was struck three times. Reports stated that a dispute between two groups inside the hotel's Posh Ultra Lounge escalated into gunfire although no injuries were reported.

Garden City Marine Captain Christine Vallely (Garden City High School Class of 1997) had the surprise of her life when she returned from a seven-month tour of duty in Iraq, where she flew F/A-18 Hornets as part of an All-Weather Fighter Attack Squadron.

With a job requiring nerves of steel, Marine Captain Chrissie "got the shivers" when Navy Lt. Joseph Houser of El Paso, TX was there to greet her, in a suit, as she stepped off her aircraft. Joseph's bended-knee proposal, on the tarmac, was greeted with cheers from everyone in the excited homecoming crowd, including her dad, Thomas Vallely, who had traveled from Garden City to Beaufort, SC, to welcome his daughter home.

The joint-operations couple had met at the US Naval Academy in 1997 and graduated together in 2001. The happy couple is planning a February 2007 wedding, between deployments.

Senator Michael Balboni announced a legislative agreement that provided New York motorists relief from high gas prices by capping and reducing the sales taxes on gasoline. The plan, which lowered the cost of gasoline by up to 8 cents per gallon and saved New York drivers as much as $450 million annually, went into effect June 1.

Under the agreement, Nassau and Suffolk Counties have the option of passing laws to cap the local sales tax on gas at a fixed rate, which would provide further relief for Long Island motorists. "The state should not reap a windfall when the price of gasoline soars, nor should big oil companies get richer," Senator Balboni said. "The plan agreed upon by the Legislature will freeze the tax when gas prices soar over $2 per gallon, offering immediate and much-needed relief for struggling New York motorists."

New York State collected 4 percent of every gallon of fuel in sales tax, an average of 12 cents per gallon at current prices. As the price of gas goes up, the state collected more and more tax revenue. The legislative agreement required that service station owners pass along the savings to consumers in the form of lower gas prices. The State Commissioner of Taxation and Finance, in conjunction with the chair of the State Consumer Protection Board, enforce the cap.

Nassau County District Attorney Kathleen Rice announced that her office would begin offering an extensive in-service training program to the more than 30 Nassau County skilled-nursing facilities caring for some of the county's most vulnerable citizens.

"Part of my job as D.A. is to provide communities with information and educational programs that can prevent crime and ensure that the most vulnerable in our communities are not exploited," said Rice. "Rather than wait for a crime to occur, my office is taking pro-active, preventive measures with a goal of decreasing instances of abuse, neglect and mistreatment of the county's elderly."

The program is designed to supplement previously existing programs run by both the county and private facilities. Nassau County has 35 nursing homes and more than 50,000 residents over the age of 75. In February 2006, Rice also created the Special Victims Bureau, designed to handle crimes involving and victimizing the elderly in Nassau County. At that time she promised more changes in how her office dealt with elder abuse and neglect and vowed to hire specialists that have experience dealing with these types of crime.

Garden City was designated a Gold Medal School District by Expansion Management magazine in its 14th annual Education Quotient issue. A Gold Medal School District must rank in the top 16 percent of all school districts nationally.

Each year, Expansion Management compares more than 2,800 school districts across the country on how well the district is preparing its students to be part of the workforce after graduation. The special report is mailed to over 45,000 CEOs, vice presidents, directors and other officers of companies who have indicated they are considering expanding into new areas.

On top of this recognition, at the May 15 board of education meeting, Superintendent Dr. Robert Feirsen said that the Board of Regents and State Education Department named Garden City schools a "High Performing/Gap Closing District" because it met all applicable state standards for English language arts and math during the 2003-04 and 2004-05 school years and also made Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) in English language arts, math, science and the graduation rate during the 2002-03, 2003-04 and 2004-05 school years.

On May 21, the Mineola Volunteer Ambulance Corps (MVAC) responded to a call for assistance from the Nassau County Police Department (NCPD) on the corner of Marcellus Road and Jericho Turnpike for a motor vehicle accident involving a Nassau County Police Department ambulance and a minivan into the Cornerstone restaurant and bar. The ambulance also knocked out the utility pole, causing arcing of the wires above the scene. MVAC, operating at the scene, transported the NCPD AMT and two victims of the minivan, Williston Park transported one victim and NCPD transported the last victim. The Mineola Fire Department responded to the scene as well as NCPD Emergency Services Unit.

Thirty minutes later, MVAC responded to Franklin Avenue at Eleventh Street in Garden City for an accident involving another Nassau County ambulance and a Garden City unmarked police car. The Garden City officer was transported by MVAC to Winthrop Hospital. Luckily, no one was seriously injured.

Garden City experienced one of its most poignant Memorial Days. While the sponsoring American Legion's purpose has always been the honoring of this nation's war dead, the salient effort this year was to especially commemorate Garden City's 1st Lt. Michael LiCalzi, who died in Iraq two weeks prior.

Each speaker invoked his name since he symbolized what is good about his family, himself and Garden City. 1st Lt. LiCalzi's relatives sat in the reviewing stand and his grandfather accepted a commemorative plaque from Post Commander John Donovan of William Bradford Turner Post 265, American Legion.

Under a bright sun, the parade featured a great cross section of Garden City's organizations, including the school bands and Scouts. All marched proudly.

The New York State Senate gave final legislative approval to a bill, sponsored by State Senator Michael Balboni, which allows people with disabilities to more easily cross over the Queens County and Nassau County border on public transportation. Under the legislation, Long Island Rail Road and Long Island Bus service must coordinate with the Metropolitan Transportation Authority to coordinate a system to improve service between the two counties.

Queens and Nassau counties provide services for disabled persons, including those disabled due to illness, injury, age or other semi-permanent incapacity, who are generally unable to utilize mass transportation. Individuals are picked up at their residences and transported to a doctor's appointment or other location. If, however, the individual starts his or her trip in Queens and his/her destination is in Nassau County, that person would be dropped off at the border of Queens County and then required to cross over on their own or be picked up at the border by a bus service from Nassau County.

Under Balboni's legislation (5.3575A), the LIRR and Long Island Bus must set up a reciprocal agreement with the MTA to traverse the Queens County and Nassau County borders within a five-mile radius of the borderline to deliver disabled passengers to their destination. The legislation also passed the State Assembly.

The Garden City Middle School Marching Band burst with American pride at the 2006 Memorial Day parade, demonstrating patriotic spirit and exemplifying the true meaning of the holiday celebration. The theme for the band was a continuation of a project labeled, "Support Our Soldiers."

For five months prior, the Garden City Middle School Band Program had been working on Project S.O.S., which began with a request by Lieutenant Colonel Kenneth Storz of the 77th RRC 408th Personnel Services Battalion stationed in Iraq. The project was established in order to educate students about the importance of community service and to provide opportunities for service within the middle school band curriculum.

Colonel Storz's son, Matthew, a member of the eighth-grade band, provided the band program with a 'wish list' compiled by his father requesting that food items and other necessities from home be sent to his soldiers stationed abroad. Students amassed 18 large boxes containing food, personal items and many DVDs. Project S.O.S. allowed students to become aware of the efforts of the servicemen and women deployed around the world.

Adelphi University broke ground June 12 on its largest campus enhancement project since moving to Garden City more than seven decades ago. The future Centers for Performing Arts, Recreation and Sports, a complex that will include a complete renovation of Adelphi's historic Woodruff Hall gym, an upgrade and expansion of the university's 31-year-old Olmsted Theatre and the replacement of a 32-year-old structure that currently houses the popular Child Activity Center, are slated for completion in 2009. The new buildings and updated facilities will add classroom, rehearsal and performance space and expand and upgrade spaces for student recreation and athletic competition.

"Today is a milestone in our thinking; an essential step in our progress," Dr. Robert A. Scott, president of Adelphi University, said before an enthusiastic crowd. "Today's activities reflect the confidence shown in Adelphi by trustees, faculty, staff, students, parents, elected officials, neighbors and other friends."

On Monday, June 26, the children of Garden City Police Officer Robert Dempsey Jr., who passed away in December 2005, received US Saving Bonds from the Marine Corps-Law Enforcement Foundation at a ceremony held at Garden City Police Department headquarters.

Robert Aldrich and William Venezia, both Garden City residents and members of the Marine Corps-Law Enforcement Foundation presented $20,000 maturity bonds each to Megan, Robert III and Jack Dempsey, who were present, along with their mother, Dawn Dempsey, to assist them with their future college education costs.

The Marine Corps-Law Enforcement Foundation is a not-for-profit organization that assists families of former Marines who died under special circumstances as a law enforcement officer as well as families of Marines who are killed in the line of duty. Police Officer Robert Dempsey was a former Marine who served heroically during Desert Storm.

On Monday, June 19, the board of education and administration of Garden City Schools hosted a reception in the Garden City Middle School library in honor of Dr. Nancy Fredericks, who completed her term as vice president of the Garden City Board of Education. Board President Kenneth Monaghan presented Dr. Fredericks with a plaque in appreciation of her dedicated and devoted service to the Garden City School District. Gloomy weather didn't dampen the spirit of the Class of 2006. They marched proudly into the Garden City High School gymnasium as the Ceremony Winds Group, conducted by Brandon Psenicha, performed Pomp and Circumstances March No. 1. The Senior Chorale gave a magnificent rendition of The Star Spangled Banner, followed by the Alma Mater and Always There. Senator Charles Schumer tore up his speech, which received a huge round of applause. Keynote speaker Jennifer McLogan, WCBS News correspondent, related three career stories that concluded with three powerful messages: Grow in life and in your work; run the race; take a chance; the Garden City bubble is fragile. On Friday and Saturday, June 2 and 3, Team Garden City, under Coaches Laura Burke and Crystal Boyd, competed at the Empire State Games for the Physically Challenged. Athletes Matthew Castellano, Michael Lynch, Grayce Nix, Colin Ripp, Allison Silver and John Timmins outdid themselves, winning 12 gold medals, six silver medals and 10 bronze medals for Team Garden City. John Powell and Dr. Marylou McDermott had a great time June 28 as administrators, faculty, staff, family and friends gathered at the Stewart Manor Country Club to wish them good luck and success as they moved on to new career opportunities.