Weekly Recap: Body ID'd, Basement Fire, Blood Drive

Busy week? No worries. Patch highlighted the top stories of the week you may have missed:

Casino Debate Continues Amongst Residents: Seniors and Garden City Casino members spoke out against a board consideration to use the Casino for senior activities.

Crime Blotter: Arson, Train Station Drug Bust: Garden City detectives arrested a male 19-year-old from Elmont for criminal sale and criminal possession of a half-ounce of marijuana at the Nassau Boulevard train station. During the investigation, an acquaintance of the subject, a male 18-year-old from Elmont was arrested for possession of a forged Florida driver’s license.

U11 Baseball Advances in State Tourney: The Garden City U11 boys baseball team continues to dominate in the New York State tournament after a win Wednesday night against Pennfield Little League. The boys went on to lose to Pennfield 6-4.

Burning Candles Ignite Franklin Court Basement Fire: The Garden City Fire Department responded to an alarm from Firecom reporting a basement fire at a Franklin Court residence early Wednesday morning. Occupants advised that they had left the residence for about 30 minutes and left candles burning on a table in the basement, Chief Castoro reported.

Island Harvest Food Drive Returns to GC Pool: Garden City Pool Cares Weekend, now in its fourth year, kicked off Thursday. Pool members and guests are encouraged to donate canned goods and non-perishable items or make a make a monetary donation at the Pool Office July 25-28.

Hempstead Lake Body ID'd as Missing Homeless Woman: The body found floating by a fisherman July 18 at Hempstead Lake State Park was identified as a homeless woman who went missing in the same area on Father's Day. Catherine Brady, who had a Garden City address, had been living in the park, according to multiple reports.

Nighttime Lane Closures Begin on Old Country Road: Lane closures on the Old Country Road bridge began Monday night, according to an alert from the New York State Department of Transportation, and will be closed and/or shifted between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m. Monday through Friday nights for approximately six weeks, weather permitting.

Blood Drive in Memory of Stacey Leondis: Garden City brothers Bobby and Jake Menges hosted a blood drive Thursday in loving memory of Garden City resident Stacey Leondis, who lost her life to osteocarcoma five years ago at the age of 23.

Lock Your Doors: Police Warn of Car Break-Ins: Garden City Police advised residents that the department has received multiple reports of money and other items stolen from unlocked vehicles parked throughout the village. Vehicle break-ins are on the rise throughout Nassau and Suffolk, police commissioner Kenneth Jackson said, adding that his department is currently investigating the trend with Suffolk police.

Mark Bonilla Guilty of Official Misconduct: The trial of Mark Bonilla came to a close Thursday, with the Hempstead Town Clerk being found guilty on one count of official misconduct. The charge stems from allegations he threatened to transfer an employee unless he gave Bonilla personal photographs of a female employee who had accused Bonilla of sexual harassment.

Library Board Seeking Ways to Restore Sunday Hours: In a letter to the board of trustees, Garden City Library board chair Randy Colahan requested a transfer of $32,158 in unused State Retirement System funds from the 2012-13 budget into the 2013-14 budget in order to restore the library's Sunday hours of operation.

NCPD Conducts Training Exercise At Roosevelt Field: The Nassau County Police Department announced it was conducting a multi-agency emergency response exercise at the Roosevelt Field Mall Sunday night.