Thanks To Village Employees For Snowstorm Efforts
With the snowstorm behind us, I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of the village employees who worked continuously through the night and day. These employees left their families and their homes so that they could tend to the needs of the village.
The Department of Public Works was assisted by the Recreation and Parks Department and the Water Department utilizing thirty-five pieces of village equipment. Special thanks also to the mechanics at the village shop who kept all of this equipment in good working order so that the Village streets and parking lots could be cleared of the snow.
I also would like to thank the Garden City Police and the Volunteer Fire Department as well as village hall employees who were able to come to work in order to assure that village hall was open and available for our residents. It is gratifying to have so many dedicated employees.
Police Department News
Occasionally in this column I will be including information from Commissioner Jackson of our police department. This week he has asked that I include the following.
The police department urges all drivers to ensure that they and their passengers wear seatbelts, or in the case of children under 8-years-old, proper child restraint seats. Safe-NY reports that 21 percent of all highway deaths in New York occur to occupants that are not restrained. This is more than factors such as alcohol or speed. On average, hospital costs for unbelted occupants are 50 percent more than belted occupants. According to New York State Law, all front seat occupants are required to wear safety restraints. The driver is responsible for front seat occupants under the age of 16. All rear seat occupants under the age of 16 must be properly restrained. Children under the age of 4 must be restrained by a federally approved safety seat. Children, ages 4 to 7, must be restrained in a booster seat or child seat in accordance with height and weight specifications of the child restraint manufacturer. The penalties for each restraint violation are 3 driver license penalty points and a fine up to $100 plus a New York State surcharge of $93.
Go Red For Women
Feb. 6 will mark the ninth annual American Heart Association National Wear Red Day for Women to raise awareness that cardiovascular disease is the No. 1 health threat facing women today. Unfortunately, most people still do not know that heart disease and stroke are the leading causes of death for women and 90 percent of women have one or more risk factors for developing heart disease. While 1 in 31 American women dies from breast cancer each year, 1 in 3 dies of heart disease.
The American Heart Association has posted on their website some ways to prevent heart disease:
• Don’t smoke
• Manage your blood sugar
• Lower your cholesterol
• Know your family history
• Stay active
• Lose weight
• Eat healthy
One of the components of Go Red for Women will be National “Wear Red Day for Women” on Feb. 6. On Friday, Feb. 6, wear something red—a red dress, tie, jacket, scarf, hat, blouse or shirt. Go Red For Women and show your commitment to reducing risk, improving health and saving women’s lives. Some of the activities planned for this year can be viewed on their web site www.americanheart.org andhttp://www.americanheart.org. www.goredforwomen.org.
Board Of Trustees Meetings
The next regularly scheduled board of trustees meetings will be on Thursday, Feb. 5 and on Tuesday, Feb. 17 at 8 p.m. I encourage all residents to attend board of trustees meetings so as to be thoroughly informed of village issues from a first-hand perspective. Although the budget process is on-going, the first budget presentation and tour of the village facilities will be held at 8:30 a.m. on Saturday, Feb. 7.
Village Board Of Trustees Budget Work Sessions
I would like to advise you that the board of trustees will be conducting work sessions to review the proposed 2015-’16 operating/capital budgets on:
Saturday, Feb. 7, 8:30 a.m. Budget Overview
Thursday, Feb. 12, 7:30 to 10 p.m. Budget Study – Work Session 1
Thursday, Feb. 26, 7:30 to 10 p.m. Budget Study – Work Session 2
Thursday, March 12, 7:30 to 10 p.m. Budget Study – Work Session 3 (if necessary)
Monday, April 6, 8 p.m. Adoption of Budget
These sessions are currently scheduled to be held in the boardroom at village hall located at 351 Stewart Ave. in Garden City. All residents are welcome and encouraged to attend.
