Friday, December 2, 2016
Vol. 93, No.13
FOUNDED 1923
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LOCALLY OWNED AND EDITED
Tea party PAGE 9 n Tree sale PAGE 20
TURKEY TROT RIDERS
Board approves zoning change, path cleared for Ring Road hotel BY RIKKI N. MASSAND The first hurdle is cleared for Marriott’s Residence Inn hotel brand to come to Ring Road, adjacent to the Maggiano’s Little Italy restaurant. While some in the village and others in Nassau County objected to the project and local zoning code changes that would permit a hotel use in Garden City’s vicinity bordering Roosevelt Field, on November 17 the Village Board of Trustees approved the zoning change for the CR (commercial-residential) zone, with developers on hand to talk about their vision for a 163-room hotel building just under 60-feet tall. Trustee John Delany said he hoped that all members of the public were aware that the process for approving the actual hotel and its site plan and specifications is a separate consideration, noting that at the hearing “this is strictly a motion and a law to change the zoning.” Mayor Nicholas Episcopia explained it as the first step in a process at the municipal level for Garden City to go over the plans. “This changes the zoning and this project first will have to go before the Planning Commission so the site plan is approved, then would come the actual structure itself in front of the Architectural Design Review See page 53
6200 runners from 38 different states participated in this year’s Turkey Trot, held on Thanksgiving day. Above, a couple of free riders enjoy cheering on the runners. See page 56 for story, more photos.
After 52 years, a move from 7th Street BY RIKKI N. MASSAND After 52 years there will be a new beginning for a store that captured the cheerful, aromatic fragrance and ambiance of downtown Seventh Street, earning scores of loyal Garden City customers over generations as only a small family business can do. Owner Tim Feldis says everything at the current 160 Seventh Street location as well as new signage, seasonal items and décor will be moved
to the new store location, 301 Nassau Boulevard in Garden City South. “We love Garden City – this village is very unique and special, it has a special community and hometown feel that is very unique today, and it is wonderful. Considering that we are on Long Island and that this is the New York Megalopolis just keeps expanding, Garden City is just a haven near that. It’s difficult that we won’t be on Seventh Street but we are not mov-
ing far. Garden City South is a beautiful location and we are right there. For a lot of our Garden City customers, we’re going to be even closer,” Feldis said. The close-knit Feldis Florist family extends to many loyal customers. That includes other small business owners, people who live in the village, perhaps working for Feldis over the years when they were students, and those who grew up in Garden City See page 49
With eyes on Summer 2017, Rec Department reviews pool success BY RIKKI N. MASSAND At the Recreation Commission meeting held Wednesday, November 16 at the new senior center, several reflections on the success of the Garden City Pool in 2016 turned into eyes for further enhancements next summer. It isn’t too soon to start planning as expenses are expected and another increase in family memberships will be pursued, with marketing strategy ready to be implemented right after the holidays. Kevin Ocker, the village’s department head of Parks and Recreation, explained that his staff and the Board of Commissioners of Recreation and Cultural Affairs set targets and sought ways to increase revenues for the pool enterprise, reported as underperforming during the village budget processes in early 2014 and scrutinized more with each budget cycle since then. The pool bathhouse project and several facility upgrades had been targeted as ways to bring the facility forward and drive demand for memberships. That planned has worked as although pool revenues projected for 2016 have not met expectations, memberships continued to mount. See page 49
A treasured instrument connects alumni PAGE 46 GCHS Varsity Football wins LI Championship PAGE 61