Friday, December 29, 2017
Vol. 94, No.15
FOUNDED 1923
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Plaque still a topic at meetings
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Best store windows
LOCALLY OWNED AND EDITED
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"Will Sing for Food" PAGE 15
LAMPPOST WINNER
BY RIKKI N. MASSAND
As Garden City’s Village Board of Trustees completed its due diligence on an eight million-dollar water tower project, residents and elected officials are still discussing an inexpensive item first proposed in early 2017 - a plaque to honor former village mayors. At the Thursday, December 7 meeting of the Garden City Village Board of Trustees, WPOA Treasurer Arnold Finamore listened to Trustee Mark Hyer describe a street sign dedication planned for December 9. He was enthused to learn about the new “Chief Vincent E. Cashman Way” and suggested the Board of Trustees consider dedications that a mayors’ plaque would recognize for the village’s past leaders. “It seems to me if it is appropriate to have a street named for someone, then it would diffuse any argument against having a plaque commemorating the past mayors of the village. I would just like to point that out to you and suggest that it would be appropriate for you to vote for such a plaque,” Finamore said. The Board did not respond to his comment. When the Western Property Owners’ Association (WPOA) held its monthly meeting on November 14, the audience listened to memories of Garden City’s past leaders. The WPOA directors listened to Steve Duff, son of Mayor Daniel V. Duff, (Central, 1979- 81); Melinda Alfred, daughter of Mayor Raymond L. Regan, (West, 1973-74, 1974- 75); See page 32
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Garden City 2017 Year in Review BY RIKKI N. MASSAND
In 2017 the Village of Garden City recognized several priorities, accomplishments and projects around the municipality, none of greater historical significance than the shared public celebration of the centennial year of the United States’ entry into World War I and the base point for American troops, the Rainbow Division which was stationed at Camp Mills in the eastern portion of the village.
WWI and an American history lesson
The Chamber of Commerce held its 3rd Annual Adopt-a-Lamppost Competition during December. Thanks to an agreement with the Village, 100% of the proceeds from the Chamber run competition are given to a local charity of choice. The judging of the lampposts took place on Friday morning December 15th and was announced that same night at the Holiday Spectacular. The Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce that the 2017 winner for best decorated lamppost is: Garden City Friends of STEM!
On August 12 members of the Board of Trustees welcomed dignitaries from the U.S. National Guard and the Deputy Consul General of France, Eric Bayer, as the village hosted speeches and ceremonies that resonated with the community and left a lasting impression on visitors. Garden City invested into the restoration of the Rainbow Division monument near Clinton Road and Commercial Avenue. On June 1, the Board of Trustees approved $10,500 towards the restoration of the monument, with power washing and chemically cleaning the monument, re-caulking and color highlights totaling $9,625 plus an $875 contingency amount as Sprung Monuments of West Babylon was the contractor. “The beautiful restoration of the Rainbow Division Memorial for its Centennial Celebration is a respectful tribute to the history of Camp Mills, the Rainbow Division formation and to all of the men and women in our military families who have and continue to preserve our nation’s path of freedom,” said Village Administrator Ralph Suozzi. Major General Joseph J. Taluto, director of the Rainbow Division Veterans Foundation, spoke at the August 12 ceremony. Taluto started his comments with ‘thank-you’s’ acknowledging the many contributions of village personnel. “The mayor is going to thank so many people here in the village that I cannot begin to recognize who have made this place (the memorial) as it was in 1941. We See page 32
At year's end, school district projects near completion PAGE 10 Rotary celebrates at annual Holiday Luncheon PAGES 34-35