Residents are reminded that village offices will close at noon Friday, March 21, in observance of Good Friday and will reopen Monday, March 24. Correspondence may be dropped in the letter slot at the front of Village Hall.

The annual Easter Festival and Antique Car Parade, sponsored by the Garden City Chamber of Commerce, is scheduled for 1 p.m. on Easter Sunday, March 23. The parade will step off from Parking Field 9E and will proceed south on Franklin Avenue to Seventh Street, west to Hilton Avenue. Easter bunnies will be on Seventh Street during the parade.

Please take time from your busy day and bring the family down to see a great Garden City event.

On the recommendation of former Chair Trustee John Mauk, and with the concurrence of the members of the Committee, I have appointed Trustee Tom Lamberti to replace Trustee John Mauk as chairman of the Mayor's Committee on St. Paul's. Trustee Lamberti has assured me the Committee's work will go forward, and he is working diligently to bring forth the best possible options from AvalonBay for consideration by Garden City's public before any final decision is made by the board of trustees. The next board of trustees meeting will be the annual organizational meeting, on April 7. The meeting will be held in the Board Room at Village Hall. We were pleased to learn from the Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada this week that the Village's Comprehensive Annual Finance Report (CAFR) for the fiscal year ended May 31, 2007 earned a Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting. The Certificate of Achievement is the highest form of recognition in governmental accounting and financial reporting. This is the twelfth consecutive year that the village has received this national recognition. Special thanks are due to our Village Auditor, James Olivo and our Deputy Village Treasurer, Frank Kelly. I encourage residents to periodically utilize the village's website for information regarding the Village's operations, as well as items of seasonal and special interest. The address is www.gardencityny.net. Also please be aware that I have a village email address and would be delighted to hear from village residents about their concerns - it is as follows: MayorPBee@gardencityny.net.