Friday, May 26, 2017
Vol. 93, No.36
FOUNDED 1923
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LOCALLY OWNED AND EDITED
Kiwanis news PAGE 12 n Wildlife lecture PAGE 20
Albanese Org. objects to zoning change supported by Chamber BY RIKKI N. MASSAND A public hearing that began on May 18 and will continue when the Village Board meets on Thursday, June 1, has the undivided attention of major real estate and commercial stakeholders in Garden City, including a prominent voice who helped in the early years of organizing the village’s downtown along with former trustees and former mayor Robert Rothschild. A week ago Russell Matthews
This is the time to register your child(ren) for the Garden City Public Schools Summer Enrichment Program taking place at Stratford Avenue School from July 3rd through July 28th. Mail-in registration is taking place now, during the month of May. Space is limited, so registration is on a first come first serve basis. This will be another exciting summer program of activities for Pre-K to 11th graders from Woodworking to College Essay Writing!
Belmont Festival kicks off summer on 7th St. BY RIKKI N. MASSAND On Friday June 9 the Village of Garden City will welcome thousands of families as the 20th annual Belmont Festival returns to Seventh Street from 6 until 10 p.m. As downtown’s new tradition delivers, the Belmont Festival held the day before the finale of horse racing’s Triple Crown events will spark the next three consecutive summer months of Friday Night extravaganzas in Garden City. Every
weekend will be loaded with outdoor dining, music, kids’ activities and entertainment set to distinct themes. On May 23 Dennis Donnelly, the executive director of the Chamber of Commerce, spoke over the telephone about this year’s Festival. At the Thursday, June 1 Village Board of Trustees’ meeting Donnelly plans to highlight more of the Festival’s 20th anniversary. Consistency proves to be king and he says the Chamber and residents who have inquired so far are all
looking forward to familiar favorites. There will be children’s games and pony rides, three different bands and scores of local exhibitors lining Seventh Street. Businesses from dentists and tutors to food stores, boutiques and Lord & Taylor will all be promoting at the Belmont Festival. The “Starting Gate” of the Belmont Stakes as well as a bounce house are planned too. Donnelly said the Belmont has been a pretty good draw for 20 years See page 42
learned about the zoning changes for Seventh Street and the logic presented to the trustees. Looking big picture, the principal and executive vice president of the Albanese Organization isn’t at all pleased by this proposal. Eleven years ago Matthews was honored by the Garden City Chamber of Commerce at the annual Pineapple Ball as 2006 Businessperson of the Year. Last See page 42
Committee says it’s time for later High School starting time BY RIKKI N. MASSAND
At the Tuesday, May 16 Garden City Board of Education meeting, “Option 1” for instituting new school starting times was formally recommended to the school board, with a one-hour presentation from members of the in-district starting time steering committee including administrators, staff, students, parents, and community groups. The Board said it would reserve decision on which option to choose until it receives more information about a variety of issues such as
traffic, busing and the impacts on student activities. With the proposed change Garden City High School would begin the school day at 8:30 a.m. and end at 3:10 p.m. Garden City Middle School would start the day at 7:40 and end at 2:30 p.m., with a study or homework period to follow dismissal. First grade would retain a starting time of 8:30 a.m. and end at 3:05 p.m. but the kindergarten grade would move from that starting time, with their 2:20 dismissal, to a 9:15 See page 45
Memorial Day parade
Garden City’s Memorial Day Parade will take place on Monday, May 29th. The parade will start at 10 am and marchers will step off at Cherry Valley Avenue and 10th Street, moving east on 10th Street
to Franklin Avenue, then south on Franklin Avenue to 7th Street, west on 7th Street ending at the war monuments by the Garden City Library (across from the Garden City Hotel).
Literacy night at Stratford Ave. School PAGE 40 Varsity boys lacrosse goes to county finals PAGE 65