Keeping Cool in Garden City

Temperatures are expected to reach the low 90s Wednesday afternoon and the National Weather Service has even issued an air quality alert.

In Garden City, there are plenty of ways to beat to heat.

Escape to the ocean: While Jones and Long Beach Beaches are nearby, there are several others on Long Island if you want to remain in your air conditioned vehicle for a longer drive.

Play in a pool: After being closed to a repair, the Play Pool at the Garden City pool complex will be back in service when the pool opens today at noon.

Strike the heat: AMF Garden City Lanes is open early weekday mornings. AMF is also offering free weekly bowling for kids under 15 throughout the summer.

Catch a flick: AMC Loews Roosevelt Raceway in Roosevelt Field Mall has air condtioned theaters. There are several other movies playing today as well.

Hit up Museum Row: Nunley's Carousel is operating from noon to 3 p.m. through Friday and again on the weekends. $2 per ride. The Cradle of Aviation Museum is offering tours and IMAX movies. They are open from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is $14/adult, $12/child. Movies are more. The Firefighter's Museum is $5/adult, $4/child. The Long Island Children's Museum is open Tuesday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. General admission is $11. Children under 1 are free.

Eat something cool: Cupcake Corner Too!, "TCBY" Treats, Cold Stone Creamery, Dunkin' Donuts/Baskin Robbins and Haagen Dazs Ice Cream all offer cold, sweet treats.

Catch up on some reading: Garden City Library offers a cool setting for some reading fun.

Additionally, LIPA offered the following tips to stay cool, conserve energy and save money:

• Install a programmable thermostat and raise the setting to the highest comfortable temperature. You can save 3 percent on your air conditioning costs for each degree you raise the thermostat.
• Close doors leading to uncooled parts of your home. If you have central air conditioning, close off vents to unused rooms. Keep filters clean.
• Even if you have air conditioning, use ceiling and other fans to provide additional cooling and better circulation.
• Seal holes and cracks around doors and windows. Eliminate air leaks around window air conditioners with foam insulation or weather-stripping.
• Close blinds, shades and draperies facing the sun to keep out the sun's heat and help fans and air conditioners cool more efficiently.
• Turn off power sources. TVs, computers and other electronic devices draw power when they are in standby mode or turned off but still plugged in. Plug electronics into power strips and turn off the power switch when the items are not in use.
• Use timers and motion detectors on indoor and outdoor lighting.
• Replace old appliances with new energy efficient ENERGY STAR® appliances.
• If possible, install whole-house fans that bring in cooler night-time air that can pre-cool a house and reduce energy use in the daytime if heat is kept out by closing windows and shades.

For more information on how to save energy and money visit http://www.lipower.org/residential/efficiency/