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The landscape design would add $14mm to demolition costs for a total of $32mm for demolition and a formal park.

More importantly, The St. Paul’s Committee estimated the average annual tax burden per household on each of these plans. Those costs would be:

• Façadism - Covered Turf Field --$1,200+ annually

• Façadism - New Building ---$1,100 annually (Based on 2012 Erwin & Bielinski Report)

• Community Center ----- $384 annually

• Demolition ------ $465 annually

A chart on Capital Cost Comparison for St. Paul’s Project Cost Estimation prepared by the Committee appears in an ad on page 19. For further information on Saint Paul’s, the Westerman Comparative Analysis Report, and the St. Paul’s Committee Report to the BOT, visit: https://stpaulsreports.org/ St. Paul’s Committee

To the Editor:

Congratulations to the newly elected members of GC government. You didn’t ask me but for the record, my recommendations with respect to St. Paul’s are as follows:

• Eliminate the so called St. Paul’s Committee (“Committee”) . I’m a member of the Committee (Finance sub Committee) and now fully appreciate that my membership was and is window dressing – to show residents the range and extent of “participation” in the process of figuring out what to do with the building. The truth is that the Committee has been dominated by a small group whose only interest is preserving the structure at any cost. Window dressing members like me have never been asked to provide any meaningful input. Nor were we invited to present at the several Town Hall meetings provided to residents over the past months;

• Re-engage the Westerman group to provide cost for a “plain vanilla” ball and chain demolition of the structure with grass and trees planted to fill the vacant space left by the building’s absence. The $17 million estimate which Westerman provided represents a delicate demolition process to preserve undefined “architectural treasures”. We don’t need this and we don’t need to spend money to preserve stuff not worth preserving. The reason the Committee instructed Westerman to provide this type of demolition was to increase the estimated cost of demolition- see following bullets;

• Westerman should also provide a cost estimate for the full rehabilitation of the building as described (and documented) by the Committee at a previous Town Hall meeting. The slimmed down

“Phase I” version of rehabilitation was never discussed with the wider membership of the Committee (i.e. me and many others) and is not fully explained in the Westerman report. The creation of this version of rehabilitation was clearly to provide a reduced cost estimate. However, it provides no practical use of the building without substantial additional costs;

• Provide clarification to the recent Town Hall presentation by the Committee. The presentation not only included Westerman’s overpriced demolition estimate ($17 million) but added $15 million for a pond and fountain without explaining how $17 million grew to $32 million. Additionally the report included the undefined Phase 1 rehabilitation version (see previous bullet) for the structure at a cost of $49 million. Clarification is needed since it seems obvious that the presentation (as delivered) was intended to show that rehabilitation will not cost much more than demolition. However, as explained above, both the demolition estimate and the rehabilitation estimate were edited to misleadingly show rehabilitation in a favorable light.

Sorry to be long winded and I know you will be busy with other important stuff but from my perspective, St. Paul’s is important and management of the process needs to be much improved.

George Kane

To the Editor:

Regarding St. Paul’s: A few months ago, I submitted a self-supporting suggestion by which the village could avoid the cost of razing St. Paul’s or the cost of its future maintenance and which would eventually provide substantial commercial tax revenues to the village. However, when first written, I was unaware that in 2004 the Mayor and Board of Trustees, with all good intentions to protect St. Paul’s, designated the entire St. Paul’s parcel as “parkland”, therefore, precluding the use of St. Paul’s main building for commercial purposes . . . as long as so “designated.”

To reverse the “parkland” designation and return St. Paul’s main building to a commercially taxable status, the village would have to pursue (as described by editor, Meg Norris) the “onerous” action called alienation of parkland which would require legal action and the associated costs. Ms. Norris also pointed out that final approval of any parkland change would require the approval of the State Legislature.

On Monday, March 13, “estimates for different scenarios for the building’s future” were made public and even the least costly scenario (demolition) was for $17,678, 312.00 . . . that is nearly 18 million dollars! Surely the legal and political costs of pursuing the reversal of the “parkland” status of St. Paul’s - main building alone - would not exceed a mere fraction of 18 million dollars and, at the very least, save the village at least the $18,000,000 cost of demolition (to say nothing of the other far more costly alternatives).

In view of Albany’s concern for the environment, surely a proposal whereby a village proposes its own revenue generating project, rather than seeking state funds - to safeguard the future of both open, green space and a unique, nationally registered, landmark - would be looked upon favorably. In seeking legislative approval, political support could be sought from the National Trust for Historic Preservation (Washington, DC), the New York Historical Society (Manhattan) and similar organizations, and surely Preservation Magazine (and similar publications) would be willing to publicize the village’s efforts.

Irrespective of one’s personal architectural preferences, St. Paul’s is a oneof-a- kind edifice and contributes significantly to the village’s unique character and, not only enhances property values, would offer a most prestigious and sort-after address to a perspective tax-paying occupant.

Therefore, why not avoid the cost to the village of the millions of dollars involved in any one of the proposed scenarios by returning St. Paul’s main building to a commercial tax status?

The preservation and prudent commercial use of St. Paul’s is surely in the financial, cultural and long-term best interests of both our Village and Long Island in general.

Captain Douglas A. Hard Big tent or circus tent?

To the Edit0r:

This letter was sent for print before any announcement concerning the designation of the person selected to fill the remaining Trustee position when the new Board of Trustees is installed. In his recent Garden City News letter (p. 2) Trustee Torino advocates that defeated mayoral candidate, Judy Courtney, fill the remaining Trustee seat asserting that she would make a good addition to the Board as a Trustee. However, Ms. Courtney ran for mayor, not trustee, and she agreed to run with a running mate, a disruptive mayor, who recently unsuccessfully sought to embarrass the now newly elected mayor,.

Former mayoral candidate Judy Courtney is a long time prominent resident with a history of involvement in Village matters. So one could say her inclusion as a board member would provide a big tent approach to governing. But would it then create a circus tent not focused on moving forward at a time when a cohesive policy towards the multiplicity of issues now confronting the village is needed?

Clearly, Trustee Torino is no longer a FABGC member in spirit if not in stat- ed fact based upon his endorsement of nonFABGC candidates during the election campaign. While Trustee Torino has every right to support whomever he chooses, it for the new mayor, Mary Carter Flanagan to decide who to select. In any event, objectively, would it be appropriate that Ms. Courtney be appointed as a Board Trustee in the present post election setting?

I think Mary Carter Flanagan was elected to be mayor based upon her consistent display of a calm and reasoned approach to Village problems as well as her impressive work ethic. Let her as new Mayor decide this matter without any disrespectful, political, counter productive blowback regardless of whatever choice that is made.

Steve Gorray

To the Editor:

I want to express my thanks to the wonderful people of Garden City I met while running for Trustee.

Without exception, everyone that I engaged with along the way was warm and appreciative of my effort. Wherever I met them, whether while knocking on their door, meeting them on their driveway, on 7th Steet Street, or after I spoke at the NC Planning Commission( later at the NC Legislature) opposing the Sands casino, they expressed their encouragement.

For the nearly 1,000 who were kind enough to vote for me, along with the over 100 residents who voted in my favor via absentee ballots, I want to express my heartfelt gratitude. Certainly, running alongside the new mayor, Mary Flanagan and the reelected Trustee, Bruce Chester was very special.

For those who might be interested in my takeaway, the answer is simple: Overwhelmingly positive and rewarding.

Last Tuesday, I fell short, yet I am more committed than ever toward working for the benefit of the Village. With every one of our children with homes in GC (all 5 of them plus their children) they are represent one part of my motivation to stay involved in our great town.

Once again, thank you for the journey…it was wonderful.

Richard Williams, Esq.

To the Editor:

We all have something in common. No matter our age or our walk of life, there is a special blessing that we have all experienced. In fact, it is quite likely that we have experienced it many times. That blessing is the experience of someone praying for us.

Whether it was a parent, a sibling, a spouse, a friend, someone prayed for us in our time of need, and we were probably not even aware of it when it happened.

The Church of St. Joseph’s Respect Life Ministry and St. Joseph-Bishop Baldwin Knights of Columbus Council would like to extend to Garden City residents a special opportunity to pray.

Prayers are powerful, and today we ask for the power of the prayers of Garden City residents for unborn babies. They are the tiniest members of our human family who are in danger of being killed by abortion every day, and have no one to pray for them. 3,000 unborn babies will be killed by abortion today and every day throughout the year.

On March 25, St. Joseph parish began its 32nd Annual Spiritual Adoption Novena. The purpose of the novena is to “spiritually adopt” an unborn baby who is in danger of abortion and to pray for the safety of that baby and his/her mother. We invite everyone to join us.

The adoption is not a literal adoption. Rather, it is an individual’s spiritual commitment to pray for one special baby in order that he/she may be allowed to grow and develop in the womb, and in nine months be born.

We may never know the baby for whom we will pray, but our prayers can be a great spiritual support for his/her mother and help save the baby’s life.

We suggest these two short prayers every day from March 25 to December 25:

A special Daily Prayer for Unborn Children authored by Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen:

“Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, I love you very much. I beg you to spare the life of the unborn child that I have spiritually adopted who is in danger of abortion.”

A special Daily Prayer for all Mothers:

“Precious blood of Jesus and Mary, inseparable in the Divine Pregnancy, nourishing the Sacred Heart of Jesus forming in her womb; connecting link between the divine and natural order; bless the pregnant women of the world, and help them to see the importance of their role in forming a new creation for God and an heir of heaven.”

At the doors of St. Joseph Church you will find Spiritual Adoption Signup Cards and pencils. The cards are perforated with the Enrollment part on the left side and the two Novena Prayers on the right side. Place the Enrollment part in a basket at one of the doors of the church and take home the Prayer Card.

Last week we celebrated the Feast of the Annunciation when the Angel Gabriel said to the Blessed Virgin Mary, “You will conceive and bear a Son.” Despite the surprise and the uncertain- ty that Mary felt, she said, “Yes, be it done unto me according to your word.” Mary said “yes” to life. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if all expectant mothers said “Yes” to life? Your prayers could give them the courage to do so.

God Bless you for your life-saving prayers.

We wish all our fellow parishioners, village neighbors and friends a Happy Easter.

The Church of St. Joseph Respect Life Ministry and St. Joseph-Bishop Baldwin Knights of Columbus Council #15809

To The Editor:

I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Garden City Teacher’s Association for inviting the Garden City seniors to a wonderful dinner prior to last week’s presentation of “Chicago.” Their hard work is appreciated.

I would also like to thank everyone who was involved in the production of “Chicago”! It was spectacular on every level! It seems to me that everyone in attendance enjoyed themselves.

Kathy Papp

To the Editor:

Passage of the New York Local Journalism Sustainability Act is important to assure survival of local journalism. Most communities are down to one local daily or weekly newspaper. Newspapers have to deal with increasing costs for newsprint, delivery and distribution along with reduced advertising revenues and competition from the Internet and other news information sources.

Daily newspapers concentrate on international, Washington, Albany, business and sports stories. They have few reporters covering local neighborhood news. Weekly newspapers fill the void for coverage of local community news.

I’m grateful that you have afforded me the opportunity to express my views via letters to the editor along with others who may have different opinions on the issues of the day.

Albany needs to join us in supporting weekly community newspapers. Readers patronize advertisers; they provide the revenues to help keep them in business. Let us hope there continues to be room for everyone including the Garden City News, Bethpage Newsgram, Jericho News Journal, MidIsland Times and Syosset Advance.

Larry Penner

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