Friday, December 23, 2016
Vol. 93, No.16
FOUNDED 1923
n
n
$1
LOCALLY OWNED AND EDITED
Bells are ringing PAGE 3 n Yes, Virginia PAGE 26
Stratford parents ask School Board to examine incidents BY RIKKI N. MASSAND Seventy-five people turned out to the December 14th School Board meeting to ask the Board of Education to examine recent events at Stratford School. While the specifics of the events were not discussed as per school district policy pertaining personnel matters, the uproar among Stratford Elementary parents was more than evident. Parents say that months of frustrations and a recent incident led them to attend the Board meeting at Garden City Middle School on a frigid night. At the meeting, the district administration heard residents speak about their concerns over safety of young children. Many of the parents said they grew up in Garden City and have returned for the schools., In addition to actions allegedly taken by a teacher that parents describe as “educational neglect” for a student with an IEP and subsequently, actions of school administration (Principal Eileen Velez-Vota), the school district’s follow-up communication to parents after a teacher left during a school day has more than stirred the Stratford parent base. The meeting’s priority topic for the scores of residents started to See page 48
Two years after controversy, Village to hold Menorah lighting
Village’s Building Code changes approved and applauded BY RIKKI N. MASSAND At its meeting on Thursday night December 15, the Village Board of Trustees unanimously approved three new changes to Garden City’s building code, including an amendment to the scope of roles and responsibilities of the village Architectural Design Review Board (ADRB). The three local laws, titled from A through C, were adopted and opined on by several residents at the meeting. They are posted in
their entirety on the village’s website and were distributed with an abundance of copies on December 15 at Village Hall. When the trustees’ vote was counted, over 25 people in the audience applauded. The outcome achieved was the culmination of discussions, efforts and scrupulous consideration. After well-received presentations, questions, inquiries and email correspondence compiled by Village Clerk Karen Altman and
BY RIKKI N. MASSAND
the Mayor’s Committee on Building Code Changes, heightened from September 8 through December 8, the final drafts of each of the three laws arrived. But a look at the process involved over the past 14 months, following the input of dozens of Garden City residents and people with high-profile professional architecture experience, shows a collaboration of local government and its residents that started with See page 47
After the Board of Trustees’ heard complaints from some and overarching thoughts on the use of religious symbols for holiday displays on village properties at the start of 2015, the subject of a menorah display accompanying the traditional crèche was brought up by Mayor Nicholas Episcopia at the December 15 board meeting. Garden City has a menorah, but it will not be lit with a ceremony presided over by the local synagogue’s rabbi. With some irony, as Garden City has adjusted its municipal festivities and displays since December 2015, this year the first night of Hannukah happens to fall on Christmas Eve, December 24. The village posted new event information on its website on Tuesday, December 20. “A Menorah lighting to signify the first day of Hanukkah will be held Saturday, December 24 on the Village Green. Michael Schor, Chief Investment Officer and Senior Counsel of Treeline Companies, will lead the ceremony. Residents of all faiths are invited to attend the brief ceremony, which begins at 4:30 p.m.” See page 47
GCHS Varstiy Swim and Dive wins first meet PAGES 54-55 New appointments for GC Library Board PAGE 6