A Word From Garden City Mayor Don Brudie

Go Red For Women: Feb. 1 will mark the eighth annual American Heart Association National Wear Red Day for Women to raise awareness that cardiovascular disease is the No. 1 health threat facing women today.  Unfortunately, most people still do not know that heart disease and stroke are the leading causes of death for women and 90 percent of women have one or more risk factors for developing heart disease. While 1 in 31 American women dies from breast cancer each year, 1 in 3 dies of heart disease.

The American Heart Association has posted on their website some ways to prevent heart disease:

• Don’t smoke
• Manage your blood sugar
• Get your blood sugar under control
• Lower your cholesterol
• Know your family history
• Stay active
• Lose weight
• Eat healthy
  

One of the components of Go Red for Women will be National “Wear Red Day for Women” on Feb. 1. On Friday, Feb. 1, wear something red - a red dress, tie, jacket, scarf, hat, blouse or shirt. Go Red For Women and show your commitment to reducing risk, improving health and saving women’s lives. Some of the activities planned for this year can be viewed on their website www.americanheart.org and http://www.americanheart.org, www.goredforwomen.org.

Yield for Pedestrians in the Crosswalk: Residents are again reminded of the "Yield for Pedestrian in Crosswalk" signs at the three mid-block crosswalks on Seventh Street between Franklin and Hilton Avenues.

State vehicle and traffic law states that motorists must yield to pedestrians who are crossing a roadway within the striped crosswalks. A motorist seeing a pedestrian entering the crosswalk must stop and permit the pedestrian to cross the street. Cars approaching the stopped vehicle from the rear are not permitted to pass.

The Garden City Police Department has been instructed to vigorously enforce these regulations and your cooperation when driving on Seventh Street and Rockaway Avenue near the east entrance to the Middle School will help to make these crosswalks safer for pedestrians.

A word of caution, however, to the pedestrian - do not place undue reliance on the signs or the crosswalks, even though the law requires vehicles to yield the right-of-way - they may not do so.

Budget Work Sessions: I would like to advise you that the board of trustees will be conducting work sessions to review the proposed 2013/14 Operating/Capital Budgets on:

• Saturday, Jan. 26: 8:30 a.m. Tour of Facilities and Capital Plan Presentation
• Wednesday, Feb. 6: 7:30-10 p.m. Budget Study- Work Session 1
• Thursday, Feb. 14: 7:30-10 p.m. Budget Study - Work Session 2
• Thursday, Feb. 28: 7:30-10 p.m. Budget Study - Work Session 3
• Thursday, March 14: 7:30-10 p.m. Budget Study - Work Session - Final
  

Board of Trustees Meeting Schedule: The next regularly scheduled board of trustees meetings will be on Thursday, Feb. 7, and on Tuesday, Feb. 19, at 8 p.m.  I encourage all residents to attend board of trustees meetings so as to be thoroughly informed of village issues from a first-hand perspective.