Library, Village Trustees visit nearly completed Children’s Room

On Friday, March 24, Mayor Cosmo Veneziale stopped by the Library to review the status of the Children’s Room renovation project with Director Marianne Malagon, Assistant Director Ralph Guiteau and Barbara Grace, head of the Children's Department.

Prior to its March 20 meeting, the Garden City Board of Library Trustees paused to reflect on efforts these past few years, reviewing the status of the Children’s Room renovation project now that construction and most of the furniture installation is complete. Current and recent Library Trustees worked to help provide funding, with legislative funding for the designs, reimbursable SAM grants, and Capital Reserve funds. They then were involved in and approved designs, finances, technology, furniture, change orders and other decisions.

During the project, the Library Board received support and assistance from the Village Board of Trustees, particularly its previous and current Library liaisons, Colleen Foley, and Lawrence Marciano, Jr., who visited the nearly completed space with Library Trustees prior to the March 20, 2023 Library Board meeting. On Friday, March 24, Mayor Cosmo Veneziale stopped in to view the completed work with Director Marianne Malagon, Assistant Director Ralph Guiteau and Barbara Grace, Head of the Children’s Department. The Mayor provided input about the Circulation and Children's service desks during the design phase.

Library staff is working with Village staff and the general contractor to complete punch list items and secure approvals prior to moving materials back into the space and reopening to the public. Materials will be moved as soon as possible. Library staff looks forward to seeing patrons in the new space soon.

Stephen Baymack

The Baymack Team

Licensed Associate RE Broker stephen.baymack@compass.com

M: 516.216.0244

Laura Baymack

The Baymack Team

Licensed RE Salesperson laura.baymack@compass.com

M: 516.537.3050

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Mineola-Garden City Rotary will be honored to welcome NC Legislator, Laura Schaefer to report on legislative issues and activities on Tuesday, April 11, 12:15 at Mineola’s Davenport Press restaurant.

The Legislature is the law-making body of Nassau County consisting of 19 different members from 19 different districts. Its function is to form policies and create laws which affect all citizens of Nassau County.

According to its website, the legislature monitors the performance of county agencies and makes land use decisions as well as legislating a variety of other issues. It also has sole responsibility for approving the county budget

It is expected that Legislator Schaefer will touch on the current issues which so profoundly affect the residents of Nassau County and all of Long Island, i.e., Governor Hochul’s deleterious high density housing plan for suburbia and the proposed plan to establish a casino at the NC Coliseum, among others, among other topics.

Laura Schaefer was first elected to the Nassau County Legislature in

2013 and was re-elected by wide margins in 2015, 2017, 2019 and again in 2021 to represent Legislative District 14 which includes Garden City, Garden City South, Carle Place and portions of several other towns.

Laura grew up in Westbury where she also resides. She graduated from Adelphi University with a B.A. in Communications. She was later admitted to practice law in New York State, receiving her Juris Doctor from Hofstra University School of Law.

As an elected Nassau County Legislator, Laura’s advocacy is not only limited to her representation of clients as she also represents over 71,000 constituents. Her committee leadership roles include the areas of capital planning and budgeting, intergovernmental operations, public health and social services in which she has gained extensive experience in funding for community revitalization projects.

Laura is chairwoman of the Planning, Development and the Environment Committee, vice chair of the Towns, Village & Cities Committee, and serves as a member of the Rules, Public Works Aircraft Noise and Health and Social Services Committees. Laura currently practices at Walsh Markus McDougal & DeBellis, LLP in Garden City.

Rotary’s lunch meeting on April 11, featuring Laura Schaefer as guest speaker, is open to all who would like to attend (Fee: $35). To reserve, please email Club President Meg Norris at editor@gcnews.com

Not a stone was unturned at Rotary’s lunch meeting last Tuesday when Hempstead Town Councilman Tom Muscarella reported on the many issues of concern affecting both the Town, the County and all of Long Island.

Whether it was Information relative to the Hempstead Town budget, which Councilman Muscarella said is frozen at the 2022 level, thereby saving tax payers money while still enhancing services … opposition to Governor Hochul’s urban housing plan for suburbia strongly receiving bi-partisan opposition by state, county, city and village officials … or the highly disputed proposed casino at the NC coliseum, Rotarians and guests heard it all.

Referring to his fellow council members and officials on the Town Board, Tom also focused on the many components that result in “good government and fielded the many questions posed by those in attendance.

Tina O’Keeffe Honored

It’s always a pleasure to recognize our fellow Club Rotarians’ achievements outside of the realm of Rotary. This week we recognize Rotarian Christina (Tina) O’Keeffe, who among others, was awarded the Courage, Confidence and Character Certificate by the Garden City Association of Girl Scouts at the NC 2023 Recognition Awards Ceremony on March 16. Tina was honored for demonstrating extraordinary efforts to advocate in Girl Scouts’ best interest. Kudos to Tina from MineolaGarden City Rotary.