Friday, September 30, 2016
Vol. 93, No.5
FOUNDED 1923
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LOCALLY OWNED AND EDITED
GC beats Carey PAGE 60 n Committee responds PAGE 2
With increased fee, Gallagher Tournament could exit GC
HAPPY ROSH HASHANAH
BY RIKKI N. MASSAND Garden City has a stellar reputation as a lacrosse town, and the Jay Gallagher Tournament “is a Garden City institution,” Joe Gambino, president and youth director of Garden City Girls’ Lacrosse Club, said on Wednesday September 21. During a Recreation Commission meeting held on the final night of summer, he commented on the outlook for 2017: in almost unthinkable scenario, the Jay Gallagher Tournament may need to be called off or held in another village. Every year for the past 18 years Tony Randi has run the Jay Gallagher Lacrosse Tournament at St. Paul’s. He presented the Board of Recreation Commissioners with a letter and delivered comments about what the impact of a $13,500 per day fee for field usage would have on his operations, which provides 100 percent of its proceeds to well-known, beloved local charities. Randi said the percentage is akin to 110 percent because of additional donations from attendees and participants, and the pressing issue now for his plans to hold the June 2017 Jay Gallagher Tournament will be the facilities’ fee Garden City sets forth. But instead of $13,500 the Commission had a figure of $14,850 that would go into effect June 1, 2017, just prior to the Jay Gallagher Tournament. At the September 21 meeting, Randi told the Commission he wants to know within the next two weeks (by early October) whether or not he
Children at the Garden City Jewish Center can learn about Jewish traditions at special services for the High Holidays. Above, girls take turns blowing a shofar (ram’s horn) which is sounded during Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. See page 18 for details.
GC students honored by Adelphi Univ. BY RIKKI N. MASSAND On Friday night September 16, a week into the school year, seven students living in Garden City got to kick off their senior year with a celebration of their academic achievement and community service by receiving Adelphi University’s annual Prize for Leadership, which grants them each $1,000 and an opportunity to take two free college courses at the Garden City campus.
Garden City Superintendent of Schools Dr. Robert Feirsen joined Mayor Nicholas Episcopia and Adelphi University President Dr. Christine Riordan with opening remarks at the reception held at the performing arts center. Feirsen spoke about the difficult evaluation process to narrow down the field of this year’s Prize for Leadership candidates. He told the audience of administrators, faculty, Garden City residents and families from
all over that “no one is here by mistake.” “There are many in our community that have done remarkable things. A few have risen to the top,” Feirsen said. He introduced GCHS Principal Nanine McLaughlin and Gina Christel, director of guidance for Garden City Public Schools, who commented on the 2016 recipients’ chief qualification. See page 25
See page 25
GC Pool falls short of fiscal target for 2016 BY RIKKI N. MASSAND
Topping off the 2016 pool season, Village of Garden City Recreation data including feedback from members was relayed to the Commission by Kevin Ocker, the village’s department head for Parks and Recreation, Pool Director Steve Espey, Assistant Pool Director Tom McGerty at the September 21 Recreation Commission meeting. There will be a summary presented to the Board of Trustees in October. For summer 2016 (fiscal year 2016-2017) budgeted revenues from the pool enterprise were $1.199 million from memberships, $250,000 in other revenues and in all $1.356 million. However pool memberships this year fell $60,000 short of target. All other categories were short by $35,000, meaning the enterprise as a whole fell $95,000 short of projections. The pool’s operating staff was where the budget was underspent this summer, making the enterprise’s expense side very favorable. Savings were achieved by less attendant hours and in all a positive of $80,000 See page 26
Harvest Days at Hemlock School PAGE 27 GCHS Varsity Soccer records big win PAGE 57