When multimillionaire Alexander Turney Stewart purchased 10,000 acres of the Hempstead Plain for the purposes of creating a community, little did he know that the resulting incorporated Village of Garden City would be proudly standing and thriving nearly a century-and-a-half on. From an aesthetic point of view, this community that takes up all of 5.3 square miles is a lush and vibrant jewel whose residences blend in seamlessly with the village’s ample displays of arboreal beauty and landscaped magnificence. No surprise that the National Arbor Day Foundation, in cooperation with the USDA Forest Service with the National Association of State Foresters, recently designated Garden City “Tree City, USA” for the twenty-third year. (The Garden City Bird Sanctuary and the stately Cedar of Lebanon on the Doubleday property are just some of the organic elements that undoubtedly helped lead to this designation.) So is it any wonder that the pride residents take in the physical aspects of the village are on an equally passionate and uncompromising level when on it comes to the school district? For decades, its high standards have been a beacon for families seeking out a rigorous educational experience for its children. The district’s extracurricular arts and athletic programs are equally extraordinary. (Garden City High School’s Trojans were recently ranked as the top-rated lacrosse team in the nation. The girls’ team has also been nationally ranked.)
Having graduated from nearby Hofstra University, I’m fairly familiar with the village, having driven in and around it for many years, never failing to admire the vibrancy of the community’s outward face. I’ve already attended a handful of trustee and board of education meetings and have quickly found the spirit of the Garden City populace to possess a vitality that is no less impressive. With this village having so much rich history under its belt, I look forward to digging in and writing stories that convey the dynamic essence of the village. In taking over stewardship of Garden City Life from my exemplary predecessor Melissa Argueta, I eagerly look forward to living up the standard she set and in the process, getting to know the people that are Garden City’s life force.
— Dave Gil de Rubio
