From The Mayor's Office www.Gardencityny.net

By Peter A. Bee

BUDGET WORK SESSIONS

I would like to remind you that the Board of Trustees will be conducting work sessions to review the proposed 2008/09 Operating/Capital Budgets on:

- Thursday January 31, 2008 7:00 p.m. (Operating Budget/Work Session)

- Saturday February 2, 2008 8:30 a.m. (Operating Budget/Work Session)

- Thursday February 14, 2008 7:00 p.m. (Public Presentation of Capital and Preliminary Operating Budgets at the Garden City Library)

- Thursday February 28, 2008 7:00 p.m. (Budget Study Session)

- Saturday March 1, 2008 8:30 a.m. (Budget Study Session)

These sessions are currently scheduled to be held in the Board Room at Village Hall, 351 Stewart Avenue, Garden City, New York unless otherwise noted above. With the exception of the February 14th session, these sessions are conducted in public but will not provide for public participation.

GO RED FOR WOMEN

February 1, 2008 will mark the fifth 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. These two diseases kill more than 480,000 women in the United States every year; more than the next five causes of death combined, including all cancers. On Long Island, more than 5,600 women die of heart disease and stroke each year.

One of the components of Go Red for Women will be National "Wear Red Day for Women" on February 1, 2008. On Friday, February 1st, 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.

Please show your support for women and join the American Heart Association as they "Paint Long Island Red". Some of the activities planned can be viewed on their web site www.americanheart.org.

BE PREPARED FOR STORM EMERGENCIES

The Long Island Power Authority (LIPA) has provided us with the following tips on being prepared for storm emergencies:

-"Keep a flashlight handy, along with enough fresh batteries, for each member of your family so no one will be left in the dark if the lights go out.

-Call LIPA at 1-800-490-0025 if someone in your household uses life-support equipment. Whenever we anticipate a severe storm, we will call you so that you can make advance preparations. Every effort will be made to restore your

electricity as quickly as possible during a severe storm. However, you should realize that there might be occasions when timely restoration is difficult. Therefore, we encourage life-support customers to ensure that their medical needs are taken care of in the event of a power outage.

-Standby generators require special considerations before being connected and should be installed only by licensed electricians. Improperly connected generators can prevent severe hazards to repair crews working on nearby electric lines. Call LIPA at 1-800-490-0025 to request their booklet, Home Generator Safety.

-Never touch or go near, or let anyone else go near, any fallen wires, even if you think they are safe. Call 1-800-490-0075, or call the police at 465-4100 to report a downed wire. If you are in a car that comes in contact with any down wires, stay in the car until help comes. If possible, drive clear of the wires."

VILLAGE'S WEB SITE

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 e-mail address and would be delighted to hear from Village residents about their concerns - it is as follows: MayorPBee@gardencityny.net