Solution By

The People

To the Editor:

The Committee to Save St. Paul’s (CSSP) and The Garden City Historical Society (TGCHS) want to dispel any misconceptions that residents might take from the statement in the Eastern Property Owners Association’s article [September 17] that our two volunteer organizations are attempting to prevent a vote on St. Paul’s. The EPOA article states: “It is likewise inappropriate for any organized group, be it the Committee to Save St. Paul’s or the Garden City Historical Society, to attempt to prevent a vote for all residents of the Village.”

CSSP and TGCHS are comprised of Village residents, just like the EPOA. These two organizations have specific goals and objectives; the Historical Society is chartered by the New York State Education Department. With that in mind, both organizations are keenly aware that all residents are entitled to their own views, and with a village of this size, those views can differ. What we don’t agree with is the notion that the only option left for St. Paul’s is demolition. We disagree with those on the Board of the EPOA and other residents who say that since this is the only option left, we need to vote on the money for demolition. Recent proposals for development of St. Paul’s from other groups make it clear that we have not exhausted the options.

A statement by the Board of Trustees’ Public Information Committee published in the September 24 Garden City News wrongly suggests that the Committee to Save St. Paul’s arbitrarily used an eight-million-dollar figure as the costs and expenses of demolition for the purposes of developing its alternative plan. The pattern of misinformation must stop!

The demolition estimates submitted by the Committee to Save St. Paul’s and The Garden City Historical Society were based on the Village’s own numbers, prepared by the Village’s paid consultant, K. Backus, and submitted to the residents in the public opinion survey on December 2, 2008, when the AvalonBay plan was rejected. These estimates were repeated in the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS), which the Board of Trustees voted to accept on June 17, 2010 [note that the vote was 4-4, and the tie-breaking vote was cast by Mayor Rothschild]. For the BOT to now insinuate that the estimates were picked out of the air by our two groups is totally unfair to the residents and completely misleading.

The village correctly states that it has never put forth demolition for an “official” public bid through a formal Request for Proposals process. Therefore, the cost of demolition, following a true RFP process should it occur, may well be different from the estimates used by the Village in the DEIS. However, CSSP and The Garden City Historical Society are confident that should this community go forward with saving the St. Paul’s Main Building for community use the benefits will far out-weigh demolition.

While the decision to go to the people for a public, binding bond referendum lies with the Village Board of Trustees, it is not inappropriate for CSSP or TGCHS to voice an opinion that the historic St. Paul’s building is worth saving and renovating for community use. We direct readers to Robert Reid’s comments in the September 24 edition of this newspaper, in which he points out through actual news accounts that the Village of Garden City’s intention, or at least its official community relations campaign in the early years following purchase, was to use St. Paul’s for municipal use.

To set the record straight, the Committee to Save St. Paul’s and The Garden City Historical Society—in recent presentations to residents, comments to the Board of Trustees, or written material—have never attempted to prevent a public referendum. Both organizations strongly believe that this is a Village issue, and as such, all Village residents are entitled to be part of the solution.

Peter Negri, President, Committee to Save St. Paul’s

Brian Pinnola, President, The Garden City Historical Society

Who Should Pay?

To the Editor:

The Committee to Save St. Paul’s and the Garden City Historical Society presented their plan to the Garden City Board of Trustees on June 29th 2010. It was also distributed to some of the property owner’s associations. The idea is for the Village to turn over the building to the Conservancy. The Conservancy could then raise private money and grants to rehabilitate parts of St. Paul’s. In addition, for the initial renovation the Conservancy would issue 15 year bonds paid for by lease payments made by the village. In other words, the taxpayers of the village would pay for the rehabilitation through increased taxes.

At present their plan is to rehabilitate about 10,500 square feet of the first floor and the chapel, with minimal repairs to the rest of the building. According to the Committee’s consultant, the anticipated repairs are predicted to last at least five years. After that more money may be needed for continued maintenance of the building. The Conservancy would also need village tax dollars for ongoing maintenance. The total expense of the plan is presently estimated at $10,000,000 plus the maintenance payments for the first 5 years. They assume that this figure is not much more than the cost of demolishing the building.

Private Conservancies are working well in many parts of the country. The Central Park Conservancy in NYC is an example.

Many residents of the Village are passionate about saving the building. Therefore, we applaud the establishment of a conservancy. So the question is not: Should the building be demolished? The question is: Who should pay for the rehabilitation and future maintenance costs of the building?

We believe that instead of granting the Conservancy the authority to rehabilitate the first floor and chapel at the expense of the residents, the Village should deed the building to the conservancy for a nominal payment. The conservancy could then renovate the space over a number of years as funds become available from the grants from public institutions and contributions from private donors. This is the procedure the Garden City Historical Society has been using for many years to improve their Apostle house on 11th Street.

Under these conditions, we would be willing to make, tax exempt, charitable donations to the conservancy and applaud their work. But, the expenses of the Conservancy should not be the burden of the tax payers of Garden City.

Arnold Finamore

Thomas Whalen

GC Resident’s

Views Ignored

To the Editor:

The Village Trustees should send alternatives for St. Paul’s to a public referendum, as should every project that requires additional Garden City debt. Over the years, the Village Trustees okayed over $20 million in bonded debt (including $6.8 million this year, largely for road and parking infrastructure) and roughly $105 million in future employee healthcare commitments (worse than debt because this goes up with medical cost inflation). The Village Trustees decided unilaterally that it was in resident’s best interest to incur these debts, but now they only may decide to give us a say on St. Paul’s?

St. Paul’s may be a unique historical building, but we believe its condition is a direct consequence of the priorities of the Village Trustees. The backdrop was the biggest real estate bubble in U.S. history, and Garden City could not deliver residents a reasonable plan to save St. Paul’s. This may seem odd, but it is consistent with the fact that Garden City neglected its infrastructure (roads, buildings, programs) over the last decade as our unionized employee salaries and benefits rose. Instead of scrutinizing our labor costs and efficiency, the Village Trustees have resorted to raising taxes, cutting infrastructure maintenance, eliminating services, and taking on debt at a now record pace. So, we probably should not be surprised that landmarks like St. Paul’s are likely beyond repair.

Just because 99% of Garden City residents don’t show up at the Village and School Board meetings, does not mean the POA-nominated Trustees are excused from seeking resident’s views. We fundamentally believe Garden City would be better off today if residents were asked to vote on the now roughly $125 million in Village debt/commitments. This has to be paid back through property taxes, so our position is that residents deserve full transparency and a say in the matter.

Ron Tadross

Ray Rudolph

How Many Members?

To the Editor:

Way back in the late 19th century, Remy de Gourmont, a French poet and critic, musing about beauty, opined “It was a city dweller, or a prisoner, or a blind man suddenly given his sight, who first noted natural beauty.” 

Have we had such a burst of optic enchantment, such a tsunami of sensitivity, right here in Garden City? i think so. 

A group, calling itself the Committee To Save St. Paul’s, has taken on a mission to save this edifice from the philistines who own the building, who, after 15 years of futile peregrinations, have twice decided that this grand old, bowed and beaten, relic should be demolished for the greater good. The committee feels that the architectural image of this fine village will be forever diminished by such a brutal action.

It may well be that some members of the subject group have superior credentials in the world of aesthetics, but it is reasonable to suggest that the influence of that superiority should not outweigh the wishes of the majority, who have expressed their views. 

I respectfully suggest that the head of the CTSSP, using his or her name, advise their fellow villagers, through this paper, how many individuals the group speaks for. Holding up the expressed, informed, will of the majority is not good citizenship.

 Frank Kiernan

Greening St. Paul’s

To the Editor:

As an architect and champion of fine architecture, I will not hesitate to state that St. Paul’s School deserves to be preserved. As a LEED-certified architect (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, by the U.S. Green Building Council), I can say that preserving this handsome and historic structure is the decision that makes the most sense in terms of environmental sensitivity. Without a doubt, the greenest building is the building that is already built. It is a repository of embodied energy, both in terms of materials and labor.

Leaving aside concerns about the aesthetic, cultural, and historic value, preserving St. Paul’s is the only decision that makes environmental sense. First, demolition and construction waste is the single biggest component of our waste stream. What sense does it make to recycle another plastic bottle if we are tossing tons of plaster, brick, stone, terra cotta and glass into a landfill? Repairing and restoring a building is the ultimate recycling project. We recycle plastic, newspapers, and soda cans; why not buildings? But the building cannot be recycled piecemeal, because the cornices, doors and stained glass we salvage would not make a dent in the tons of rubble to be carted away (with the attendant pollution in transport, of course). No, the building must be recycled in its entirety. And it can be, even after years of neglect. 

What of the environmental hazards in this building? To protect ourselves, shouldn’t we all wear moon-suits when we enter St. Paul’s? Shouldn’t we demolish this dangerous building to eliminate the threat posed by asbestos and lead paint? In point of fact, there is nothing in this building that poses an imminent hazard. Actually, demolition would release more potentially dangerous particulates into the air than will preservation. Is lead paint bad? Of course, but primarily when ingested. Thousands of older homes, including many, many in Garden City, have lead paint coating their walls. Proper maintenance – repainting to encapsulate the old surfaces – is what is required to keep this potential menace in check. The same goes for asbestos. If asbestos was as dangerous as the fear-mongers would have it, all of us would be dead, because we all grew up in homes and schools and churches that were full of asbestos.

In any event, lead paint and asbestos will have to be abated whether the building is rehabilitated or demolished and the costs for abatement may be cheaper if the building is not demolished. Again, proper removal is the remedy, not demolition. Indeed, crying “asbestos” and “lead paint” is the last refuge of the desperate.

St. Paul’s is a green building already, and far more green than anything that would replace it because it was built with what we might call now natural materials. Can the same be said of a new building constructed with synthetic materials and plastics, glass and plasterboard imported from the other side of the world? What of the pollution generated in the production and delivery of those replacement materials? That too is a green consideration. By contrast, the environmental pedigree of St. Paul’s is further enhanced by considering the materials and labor already in place, and still holding firm some 130 years on. Buildings erected before the 1940s were built in an era before mechanical ventilation systems and cheap energy. They were designed to be more environmentally friendly. Heavy masonry construction provides for passive ventilation, heating and cooling measures, the very features incorporated into cutting-edge design today.  

Demolishing this irreplaceable gem does not make any environmental sense. It is just another example of a wasteful, short-sighted society. And besides, isn’t St. Paul’s beautiful?

Laura Heim, AIA,

LEED Accredited Professional

President, AIA Queens Chapter

Guest speaker at The Garden City Historical Society’s

October 7, 2009 Forum, “The Real Costs of Demolition”

Adverse Impact

To the Editor:

The June 2010 St. Paul’s Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) contains the following findings:

• “demolition of the Main Building will have a significant adverse impact on historic resources”

• “demolition of the Main Building would have a significant adverse impact on the thematically listed A.T. Stewart Era Historic District, as it would result in the removal of one of the monumental contributing resources of the historic district”

• “the St. Paul’s Main Building is an iconic aesthetic resource in the Village…”

• “the demolition of the Main Building would constitute a significant adverse impact on the visual character and aesthetic resources of the Village”

• “the proposed project would have a significant impact on the component of community character relating to aesthetic and historic resources because it would cause a loss of the Main Building…”.

The DEIS attempts to justify the demolition of the Main Building by claiming that the Village would benefit by the addition of 7 acres of “open space.” In another part of the DEIS however, it is conceded that some of the “open space” would remain a parking lot. I suspect that the parking lot will be expanded. The current parking lot consumes approximately two acres of land. Thus, the 7 additional acres of open land is essentially 5 acres of open land with at least a 2 acre parking lot.

Moreover, this open land will be surrounded by Cluett Hall, the ugly gym, a parking lot, the trailers now used by the Recreation Dept. and Seniors as well as the busy intersection of Rockaway and Stewart Avenues. Should we spend over a million dollars per acre for this type of open space?

While the DEIS estimates that it will cost approximately $5.8 million to demolish Ellis Hall and the Main Building, there is no cost estimate for re-designing, re-grading, repaving and expanding the parking lot.

There are other costs in the DEIS that are not included within the $5.8 million estimate. For example, in a certain section of the DEIS it is noted that to avoid “direct physical adverse impacts on [Cluett Hall] an architect who is familiar with the treatment of historic buildings could be retained to design or review the design of the re-building, if necessary of Cluett Hall’s east façade in the location of the basement connected to the Main Building to be removed as part of the Proposed Action.” No effort is made to estimate the cost of this work. In short, the $5.8 million cost will most likely balloon to $8-$10 million when the project is finished.

In reading the DEIS, I searched for any recent study demonstrating the need to spend $8-$10 million for 5 acres of additional open space.

Instead of undertaking a current assessment of the Village’s need for more “open space”, the DEIS instead relies upon a 1993 Village Board finding that there was a “need to preserve additional open space within the Village for use and enjoyment by the Village residents.” As a result of that Board finding, the Village purchased 46.5 acres of land at St. Paul’s. Thus, the Village acquired 39 acres of “open space” or about 20% more open space than it had before 1993. In short, outdated information is being utilized to justify an $8-$10 million expenditure to increase our total open space by only 2%.

Before a decision is made to demolish the historic Main Building more information is required. Spending $8-$10 million for 5 acres of seemingly needless open space does not seem to justify the conceded “adverse impact” demolition will have on this Village.

David J. Sutton

Don’t Wreck

St. Paul’s

To the Editor:

This letter concerns the ongoing dialogue regarding the fate of St. Paul’s School. I represent a number of concerned former Garden City residents who have been following the debate for several years now. We believe it is time to add our voice to the many other supporters of St. Paul’s before the inevitable happens.

I am a 1957 graduate of Garden City High School and spent seventh and eighth grades at St. Paul’s. I lived on Chelsea Road, directly across from St. Paul’s. I remember, even as a young man growing up in Garden City, marveling about the superb planning and foresight that went into the development of this truly unique town.

Aside from the early architecture that included St. Paul’s, St. Mary’s and the cathedral, power and telephone lines were buried at a time when this was inconceivable for the rest of America. (Palm Beach, Florida, for example, is now struggling with the problem and cost of removing ugly telephone poles and burying power lines.) Busses were not permitted on residential streets, and fences were never permitted around homes. The beauty of Garden City was mandated by its founders and architects long ago. One only has to drive across the border from Hempstead to see the results of their efforts.

You know the history of St. Paul’s and its architecture and beauty. You also know what happened to other historic structures like St. Mary’s and the Garden City Hotel due to shortsighted decisions made by uncaring people. Please don’t let this happen again on your watch.

I urge you, Mayor Rothschild, the Board of Trustees, and current residents to continue your valiant efforts to save St. Paul’s. Please do not give up the fight out of sheer frustration. I know that you and your colleagues have considered many options other than the wrecking ball. I also know that the 2008 opinion survey indicated the majority of the residents supported something other than the complete destruction of St. Paul’s.

With this in mind, one option you may not have considered is an appeal to residents and former residents alike, graduates of St. Paul’s and GCHS, for donations to save and renovate the building for some combination of public and private use. Recently, in West Palm Beach, the old abandoned 1916 courthouse underwent a three-year restoration and now stands as a jewel in the center of town. It houses a museum, county offices and law offices.

Please do not let the wrecking ball touch St. Paul’s School.

Fred Rustmann

Palm Beach, FL

Revisit St. Paul’s Options

To the Editor:

St. Paul’s should be the center for GC government and recreation.  I know it’s been said that this approach was deemed inappropriate, but I think it’s time to revisit.  Times have changed.  The Village needs a larger tax base, more revenue, and the most attractive place for people to live, work, and entertain themselves.  As you know, there’s a lot of competition out there.

The Village Hall, PD, FD, Rec department, a large senior center (one instead of two), a youth center, a fitness center, an indoor playground, new library, and school admin are all things that could and should be moved into St. Paul’s.  It could be done in phases and as departments are moved into St. Paul’s, the current building/land should be sold off. You would strengthen the downtown, and increase the Village tax base while centralizing government and town facilities, improving the experience and image of Garden City.  You would keep a wonderful asset, something that sets us apart from the rest.  The Village could sell bonds incrementally to pay for the work, then pay them off with the sales of the current facilities.  If an RFP was issued, you would see the response.  It’s better than paying millions just to tear the thing down, isn’t it?

I know if this is looked into and done properly, I would have to assume that there would be MANY willing developers (e.g., Treeline, Polimeni, Engel Burman, Castagna, Albanese, Breslin, and Alfred Weissman to name a few) ready to build in Garden City.  Imagine the success of 7th street, but also east of Franklin, along Stewart (between Franklin and Hilton), extending west of Hilton along 7th all the way down to the end of 7th (school admin), and better utilizing prime space along Franklin.  Sell village plots of prime parcels along Franklin and 7th (there should be no parking lots directly on these streets and why do we have so many entrances to parking lots along 7th) or incent owners to develop them (e.g., DoubleDay should be allowed to build along Franklin, the new Winthrop Wellness Center building should be expanded up to the NCPD). This would all mean more taxes, more offices/residences to make downtown a better, more lively place to live, work and do business...all centralized downtown. The rest of Garden City will stay as suburban, charming, and beautiful as it is today.  The new facilities in St. Paul’s would make much better use of tax payer money since you are actually USING the building, which could be built to today’s standards (i.e., green, etc.).  I would also think the town would be able to obtain some grants since it’s a historic building being repurposed entirely for village use.  The village would be even more attractive, further increasing property values and the tax base, both for commercial and residential.

I know money has been put into town hall and the library, but that can be made up in the sales prices as well as how much is allowed to be built on the properties (increasing current and future sales price as well as tax revenues. Nothing out of character, just an extension of what’s there and successful now...3-4 stories at most. I also know people have parking concerns, but that could be worked out as well (see the Domus Green/old Texaco development). 

Perhaps this could be the beginning of a serious discussion.  I truly believe that this is an unprecedented opportunity to improve Garden City in MANY ways, and make it an even better place for decades to come.  

Best regards,

Bill Sweeney

Preserve St. Paul’s

Printed By Request:

Dear Mayor Rothschild and Members of the Board:

I just finished reading the letter that Fred Rustmann, a former classmate of mine, recently sent to you concerning the fate of St. Paul’s School. I’ve not been following the St. Paul’s debate for several years; the last I knew, the School was to be converted into a condominium complex. So I was shocked to learn that my hometown was contemplating the destruction of this iconic structure so central, literally and figuratively, to the heart and soul of one of the most remarkable villages in all of America.

I was raised in Garden City, living in the Village more than 20 years spanning the 40’s, 50’s and 60’s. I attended St. Mary’s elementary school before attending St. Paul’s through the 8th grade. For many years I was a member of the Boys and Men’s Choir at the Cathedral of the Incarnation and I graduated from Garden City High School in 1957.

While my life has taken me to the West Coast, I’ve attended most, if not all, of our high school reunions and whenever in the Village I always make a point of visiting GC’s landmarks that meant so much to me growing up. Unfortunately, those landmarks seem to be disappearing, one by one. I recall the loss of the Garden City Hotel, where our first high school reunion, that I organized, was held. Then came the demolition of St. Mary’s School for Girls that was located across the street from my charming, storybook-like elementary school where Miss Babcock taught me my ABC’s. And now St. Paul’s School, where Mr. Ramsbotham instilled in me a passion for American History, apparently is next in line for the wrecking ball.

I know that it’s easier for a non-resident, like myself, to advocate the preservation of St. Paul’s School. After all as a non-resident I’d not have a financial obligation to share in the associated costs. However, as Fred mentioned, there very well might be a solid base of financial support, both within and outside the Village, to finance the preservation of this magnificent structure, or at least portions of it. Perhaps that amazing façade could be saved along with that little jewel of a chapel where, over the years, thousands of students and their families attended services and concerts. I’ll always remember the inspiration I felt when I looked up at those gorgeous stained glass windows and sang the Ave Maria as an 8th grader. Or how about preserving the School’s clock tower that, like Big Ben in London, is a landmark worth keeping if only to remind Garden City’s youth that time was of the essence even prior to the advent of digital clocks and GPS. If Big Ben can survive German bombing raids during World War II, surely St. Paul’s stunning Victorian clock tower can avoid a locally launched wrecking ball.

In any event, I do hope that the Board can find a way to preserve St. Paul’s School, or at least its most iconic features, for public and/or private use. I’m aware that certain legal restrictions narrow the options and that the alternatives thus far explored have been found to be financially infeasible. I also appreciate that you’re all feeling great frustration over this controversial issue that’s confounded the Village for many years. However, when all is said and done I hope that each of you can look yourself in the eye and know deep down that you’ve done your very best, your creative best, to save St. Paul’s School; thereby drawing a line in the sand against further encroachment on the historical landmarks that make Garden City what it’s always been – one of Long Island’s and America’s most cherished towns.

Barry Lemieux

San Francisco

One Of A Kind

To the Editor:

As a member of the Garden City High School Class of 1957, I am writing to urge you not to tear down St. Paul’s School Building – an irreplaceable piece of architecture and part and parcel of the history of Garden City.  I attended GCHS, as did my five siblings, and we all had friends who attended St. Paul’s.  We also have happy memories of the Fourth of July outings spent on St. Paul’s field with old-fashioned running and potato-sack races, picnics and fireworks.  Our family has roots in Garden City going back some 70 years.

This building is one-of-a-kind.  Certainly someone can figure out a creative re-use of the, instead of just destroying a unique structure that is a landmark in the Village.

Peggy Healy

Irreplaceable

To the Editor:

I am writing to ask you to preserve St. Paul’s School.  

Please use your best efforts in finding a way to save a Village treasure and one of the most historic buildings on Long Island.  The building is irreplaceable and an architectural gem.  Do not let it go the way of the old hotel to be replaced by some miserable 21st century building.

Marjorie A. Musil

Bryn Mawr, PA, Garden City High School Class of ‘57

Protect The Structure

Printed By Request:

Mayor Rob Rothchild

Dear Mayor Rothchild,

As you are considering the next and  most crucial step in the St. Paul’s saga, we want you to know that we are absolutely opposed to the demolition of the historic building. 

We can envision small weddings, vow renewals or recitals in the Chapel followed by old fashioned tea receptions in one of the large rooms.  Such events would garner  fees for usage of the space.  Another large room could be filled with quality ping pong tables and bumper pool equipment for the use of young people who would finally have a destination.  This would be available from a membership fee similar to that charged at the Garden City Pool.   Other areas would be ideal for seniors to gather for meetings, lectures, movies, card games and exercise classes.   St. Paul’s should be the heart and soul of the village. 

It is entirely possible to come up with a plan to preserve and protect the entire structure while making parts of the building available for use by residents of Garden City.  We’re counting on you to be the leader of our village who finally makes the momentous and proper decision to save St. Paul’s.

Pat and Bob Kaliban

Thanks, Pool Staff!

To the Editor:

Labor Day weekend is always a little bittersweet in our house. Our kids are excited about starting school and fun fall activities, but are very sad that another season at the Garden City Pool is over. This year was certainly no different. In fact, our whole family had a terrific time there this year. We were probably just as disappointed as the kids to see the summer end!

We have always enjoyed the Pool. However, this year we found that the staff made an extra effort to organize additional activities that were great. We attended a magic show, got to say hello to Santa at the Christmas in July celebration, and wear costumes on Halloween “Fright Night.” Several “Friday Family Fun Nights” included great music. The movie nights on the hill that we enjoyed as kids ourselves were always a favorite. D & J refreshments provided snack bar specials in conjunction with these events, so getting “pool pizza” or a grilled cheese rounded out the excitement for the kids and us!

So as the seasons change, and the kids put away their winter coats in exchange for shorts and tee shirts, they will be counting down the days to opening day at the Garden City Pool. Thank you to the staff for all of their hard work!

Jennifer and Peter O’Hanlon

Cell Phone Towers

To The Editor;

The quality of life in the Village and all of Long Island is being negatively impacted by unsightly and obtrusive cell towers and other communication devices. It is urgent that Garden City’s residents are aware and informed about a serious concern regarding wireless telecommunication devices being installed in our Village.

As long time Village residents, we were appalled to learn that during this summer, NextG Networks had been erecting large Distributed Antennae Systems on utility poles located in homeowners backyards throughout our community, without having to notify in writing the abutting homeowners,

The units consist of a 4 foot tall unsightly industrial looking metal box and a large antenna. In some cases, this box was installed at height of only 6 feet which allows a person to easily come in contact with it.

The serious topic of cell towers and antennas has recently been a Newsday cover story on several occasions and a major news story on TV News 12 this past Sunday. The Town of Hempstead and other villages and towns across Long Island are meeting with residents and have instituted moratoriums and passed ordinances regarding the placement of such types of telecommunications equipment. According to NextG Networks, there are approximately 275 of their DAS units in Nassau County and the only units placed in homeowners backyards are in Garden City.

These units have been installed in the Village directly next to backyard BBQ grills, patio sets, jungle-gyms, and kiddie pools. Furthermore, some units are only several hundred feet from our Village playgrounds and schools. In yards, they are obtrusive, noisy and affect the residents’ quality of life. We believe the current placement of these systems will have a detrimental effect and adverse health effects from long term exposure to RF emissions.

We urge all residents to attend the Village Board meeting on Thursday, October l7th at 8 p.m. at Village Hall, 2nd floor, 351 Stewart Avenue. Residents’ concerns regarding the placement of these units in our neighbor’s backyards will be addressed and your input is welcome.

Maureen and Paul Leone

Larry and Mary Timmins

Paul and Jackie Straus

Larry and Sheri Demarco

Harriet Weiner

Solar Power Terrific

To the Editor:

Solar power is more affordable than ever, due to LIPA rebates and state and federal tax credits. If you would like to see the solar installation at our Garden City home and learn more, please attend the National Solar Tour & Green Buildings Open House this Saturday, October 2, between 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Solar power for a homeowner is simple. Once it is set up, it requires no effort to take care of the system. I have used my garden hose a few times to spray off dust and leaves, but that’s it. Our solar installation adheres to the Garden City building code and was approved by the town’s Architectural Design and Review Board. It looks quite attractive, like a big skylight; I wouldn’t object if a set of panels like this were on the street-facing side of a neighbor’s house. 

We installed our system in April 2008 and it has generated over 5,000 kilowatt-hours of power per year, saving over $900 on our annual LIPA electric bills. But, more important than the savings, we are cutting back on the amount of electricity that our family needs to get from other sources like oil or coal-powered generating plants by a third. The solar panels are expected to generate at least 80% of their original power level after 25 years of use. This means about a third of the power used in the home will be free of charge into the indefinite future, while LIPA’s rates will inevitably increase.

Saturday’s event is organized by the non-profit Renewable Energy Long Island. You are welcome to visit over 25 participating homes and businesses around the island to learn about solar energy - neighbor to neighbor - getting information from regular people who are powering their homes and businesses with clean, renewable energy. To find Tour sites to visit, please register for your free visitors pass on reLI’s website at: www.

renewableenergylongisland.org 

I hope to encourage other Garden City residents to use the financial incentives and help bring more clean energy to Long Island. If you are planning to build an addition on your house or replace your roof, please consider solar power as a part of those plans.

Douglas Yasso

Eagle Scout Project

To the Editor:

Hello, my name is Rob Adams. I am an Eagle Scout candidate with Troop 56 in Garden City (The Community Church). I am currently working on my Eagle Scout Project, which will benefit the Gerald J. Ryan Outreach Center, which is affiliated with Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal in Wyandanch. The first objective of my project involves a large-scale food drive. The following items are needed:

Cans of vegetables (green or mixed), Complete Pancake Mix, Syrup, Jelly, Peanut Butter, Beans, Any kind of Pasta (large or family sized items are preferred.)

Donations of food or money can be delivered to my home at 56 Brompton Road or you can arrange for me to pick them up by calling me at 516-742-0869. Thank you for your support and generosity

Rob Adams

Thanks For Support

To the Editor:

The Andy Foundation would like to thank Gracious Gestures for their continued support of our organization. This past summer owners Muriel and Roberta decided to close their retail store and move their design business across the street to Barnes Gallery, 2 Nassau Blvd, Garden City South. They generously donated carloads of retail merchandise to The Andy Foundation, which will be a welcome addition to our spring 2011 yard sale.

Greg, of Barnes Gallery, is also a longtime supporter of the Foundation. Many of the beautifully framed items at our events, are due to his generosity. With two local merchants located in one place, it is even easier than ever to support those who give back so much to our community!

The Andy Foundation is dedicated to helping children less fortunate than most .

We thank Gracious Gestures and Barnes Gallery for helping us achieve this mission.

The Andy Foundation