From The Mayor's Office
www.Gardencityny.net
By Gerard Lundquist

MTA/LIRR MAIN LINE CORRIDOR IMPROVEMENT PROJECT (THIRD TRACK)

Despite the Village's strenuous objections, I was informed last week at a meeting with MTA and LIRR officials that the Third Track proposal of the Long Island Rail Road is continuing under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) process. The MTA/LIRR advised that it has incorporated mitigation measures in its program in response to the public and the Incorporated Village's input at the scoping sessions.

In April, 2007 a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) will be submitted to the Federal Transportation Agency. There will be a public comment process later and construction is expected to start in 2009, staring in Queens and moving east.

The specific impacts on the Village of Garden City will be the lowering of the New Hyde Park Road Grade Crossing, the reconfiguration of the entrance to the grade crossing from New Hyde Park Road, the reconfiguration of the entrance to Hathaway Drive and Greenridge Avenue from New Hyde Park Road and Clinch Avenue. The installation of the track will be within the LIRR right-of-way but 14 feet closer to the properties located on the south side of the Main Line. The trestle above Nassau Boulevard. will be widened to accommodate the installation of the third track as well as the trestle above Tanners Pond Road/Denton Avenue. Neither of these crossings are scheduled to be modified.

MTA/LIRR officials assured us that they will meet with Village officials and residents during the Public Review Process and will incorporate noise attenuation barriers into the design.

We will continue to aggressively monitor the progress on this project including reaching out to our elected officials in conjunction with our neighboring Villages, and to do all that we can to mitigate and reduce its impact on our community.

SPECIAL THANKS TO ALL FOR THE ANNUAL HOLIDAY TREE LIGHTING

The 52nd Annual Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony took place on the Village Green last Sunday and it was a wonderful community event.

I would like to begin by thanking the Village Parks Department employees who decorate our Village each year for the holiday season. In addition, a special thank you to the Chamber of Commerce and to Astoria Federal for its sponsorship once again which this year provided us with music from the Village Music Makers, and talented Garden City High School Vocal Jazz Ensemble. A thank you also is extended to Riesterer's Bake Shop for the holiday cookies and to Chief Casey and the members of the

Garden City Fire Department for providing the hot chocolate and for arranging the safe arrival of Santa Claus. Thanks also to our Recreation Department and Village Maintenance Staff and also to our Police and Special Police for assisting with crowd control in the area.

On behalf of the Village Board may I extend my best wishes to everyone during this Holiday Season.

GARDEN CITY HIGH SCHOOL MUSIC PROGRAM - DECEMBER 20TH

Treat yourself to an evening of music and enjoy the accomplishments that our young people have achieved. The Winter Concert will be at 7:30 p.m. in the Auditorium of the Garden City High School.

SHOP IN GARDEN CITY FIRST

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.

QUALITY, SELECTION AND OUTSTANDING

CUSTOMER SERVICE SHOP GARDEN CITY FIRST!

OPERATION WOUNDED WARRIOR AND TOYS FOR TOTS

The Garden City Volunteer Fire Department is collecting donations for "Operation Wounded Warrior". They will form a "Long Red Line" of fire trucks and travel 1,200 miles round trip to deliver Christmas Care Package Items to members of the United States Military who have been wounded in combat operations in Iraq and Afghanistan and are recovering from these wounds in Camp Lejeune, North Carolina and the United States Naval Medical Center, Bethesda, Maryland. Items needed are letters/Christmas cards from home, quilts, blankets, t-shirts, towels, shaving gel, plastic razors, deodorant, tooth paste, baby wipes, koolaid, calling cards, Christmas ornaments with American Flag, chocolate, candy, cookies, popcorn, pretzels, chips, etc. They will also accept monetary donations (used to off-set their travel expenses). Donations can be dropped off at 347 Stewart Avenue. The Fire Department Volunteers will be traveling the weekend of December 8th to deliver these items to the two bases.

The Garden City Police Department and the Garden City Fire Department are accepting donations for "Toys for Tots". Any new toy donation should be unwrapped and dropped off at either the Garden City Police or Fire Department. The deadline for donations is December 22, 2006. The Marines will be picking up the donations at that time. I thank you for your generosity and ask that you give in the spirit of the holiday season to those who are less fortunate than we are.

S.T.O.P. PROGRAM

The Town of Hempstead Sanitation Department will conduct the last of its monthly S.T.O.P. (Stop Throwing Out Pollutants) program on Saturday, December 9, 2006.

Tomorrow's program will be held at Eisenhower Park - Field #3 located at Hempstead Turnpike and Merrick Avenue in East Meadow. The hours of operation will be 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Under the S.T.O.P. program, residents are able to take polluting materials to the facility and have them disposed of by a registered professional disposal company, free of charge. The facility will not accept the following materials: Ammunition, Explosives, Fireworks, Infectious or Medical Waste, Propane or Oxygen Tanks, Radioactive Materials, Unlabeled Materials and Fire Extinguishers.