Friday, May 29, 2020
Vol. 96, No.43
FOUNDED 1923
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LOCALLY OWNED AND EDITED
Coach Flatley dies PAGE 29 n Class of 2033 PAGE 30
Board considering closing 7th Street to traffic for summer
REMEMBERING THE FALLEN
Restaurants, merchants to use outdoor spaces BY RIKKI MASSAND
The American Legion held a small ceremony to mark Memorial Day. Above, Ladies Auxiliary member Betty Erdos thanks Augustin Mingiuia-Murphy, his brother, Alexander and their mother for their service to veterans. See page 18.
Village offices to reopen for business, with precautions BY RIKKI MASSAND During the Garden City Board of Trustees’ May 21, meeting on Zoom, Village Auditor Courtney Rutt Rosenblatt led a discussion on the appropriate safety plans for the municipal government to establish as employees return to offices after New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s executive orders are lifted. As of the last week of May, Village
Hall officially remains closed and employees come in sporadically while many continue working full-time from home. Village human resources and executive staff have monitored Gov. Cuomo’s executive orders and briefings, as well as New York State Department of Health and Centers for Disease Control guidelines “that are relevant to the village’s economy, residents and employees.” Rosenblatt noted that all
decisions by the Village of Garden City since the brunt of the pandemic closed non-essential business and most public functions in mid-March were made to be in compliance with New York State’s guidelines. Categorized essential workers that are village employees include police, dispatchers, sanitation and others. “All decisions were made See page 37
During its meeting on Thursday, May 21, the Garden City Village Board of Trustees evaluated an idea to close Seventh Street to vehicular traffic through the summer months and into October for residents and visitors to enjoy al fresco dining, as well as shop outdoors at retailers. Unlike other summers on Seventh Street, attracting thousands of people for themed events, due to the pandemic this summer will be different. The fun and festive Friday Night Promenades that Garden City has become accustomed to over the last five years will not be happening. No mention has been made of the annual Belmont Festival, the traditional kickoff to the Friday festivities in the village’s T-zone of Seventh between Franklin and Hilton Avenues. The Board has decided to wait until its Thursday, June 4 meeting to further consider enacting the closure of Seventh Street to vehicles for several months to come. The agenda item originally appearing for the May 21 meeting also stated for Franklin Avenue and New Hyde Park Road restaurants that participate in outdoor, al fresco style sit-down dining would be permitted to expand for additional seating and to be able to display merchandise immediately in front of their establishments, “so browsing is possible without entering the store.” Dennis Donnelly, a former village trustee and the executive director of the Garden City Chamber of Commerce, noted the clear goal with stores, restaurants and retailers in the village and everywhere hurting financially. “In order to try and ease them back and give them a shot at survival, we proposed closing Seventh Street in a manner that would not really require police presence because the plan would completely block the street between Franklin Avenue to Hilton Avenue. All stores on Seventh have back entrances other than Leo’s Midway -- this would allow the restaurants to set up tables outside on the street instead of sidewalks only -- similar to what we do for the summer Friday Promenades. We are not talking about entertainment or anything like it because this is strictly a dining and an outside experience with tables for only six guests or less,” Donnelly told the Board. According to Donnelly there’s potential to maintain street cleaning See page 37
Village to keep brickwork at Nassau Blvd station PAGE 3 Diane Chapman retires after 29 years of coaching PAGE 38