Community Corner

A Word From Mayor John Watras

Mayor reminds residents and business owners that sidewalks must be cleared within 24 hours of a snowfall.

Well Check Program: With these last few days of frigid temperatures, I would like to ask residents to check on any neighbor who is alone, disabled or otherwise in need of assistance. The recent snowfall and below freezing temperatures have made it very difficult for many residents, especially the elderly and disabled.

The Garden City Police Department has a Well Check Program which provides a service for residents. The Police Department's Well Check Program is available to any senior citizen, a person with a disability or to any person suffering a hardship. Police Commissioner Kenneth Jackson has advised me that residents can contact the Police Department and be placed on its Well Check Log. Each morning, a person who is placed on the Police Department's Log can call to check in and let us know if they are okay or in need of assistance. If a person who is on the list does not contact the Police Department, an attempt will be made to contact that person either by phone and/or in person. Any person who wishes to be placed on the Garden City Police Department's Well Check Log may contact the desk officer at 465-4101.

Freezing Temperatures and Information on Snowfalls: The Police and Fire Departments have asked me to remind residents that with the recent freezing temperatures, it is in your best interest, if you are going to be away from your home for an extended period of time, to make arrangements for someone to check on your heating system, as there is a chance that your home will sustain frozen pipes which could result in severe residential damage while you are away.

Also, please be careful when warming up your vehicles in garages, which can result in carbon monoxide poisoning inside the garage and/or house.

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Be mindful that it is your responsibility to clear sidewalks within 24 hours of a snowfall. If you are unable to shovel snow or are going to be away, make arrangements to have the snow cleared from your sidewalk as this will be enforced by the Police Department. This is also applicable to the business community.

Collection of Christmas Trees and Wreaths for Recycling: A reminder to residents who have a natural Christmas tree or wreath to dispose of, please leave them at the curb on your regularly scheduled recycling collection day. They will be collected by the Department of Public Works and offered to other agencies for beach erosion control or rendered at the Village Yard for use around trees and shrubs as mulch.

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Please assist the village by removing tree stands, strands of electric lights and plastic bags from the discarded trees and cooperate with your neighbors by disposing of them only on the scheduled recycling collection days.

If you have an artificial Christmas tree for disposal, please call the Sanitation Department for a “Special Pickup” at 465-4031 or 465-4032.

Shop and Dine in Garden City: There are many things which make Garden City such an appealing place to live and work. One of these is our viable and welcoming business districts with their fine restaurants, unique shops and regional stores.

Many residents consider shopping and dining in our business districts as “experience shopping” because they meet friends and neighbors along the way and have an opportunity to interact with them. This is in stark contrast to frantically dashing through the crowds in the mall or the big box retailers.

I encourage residents to make a conscious effort to choose Garden City as the place to shop and dine. It would be extremely helpful to our business community if you could make one purchase daily in the Village stores. Customer service, selection and quality are outstanding. While shopping or dining let the merchant know that you appreciate them and all that they offer. I look forward to seeing everyone in town.

Board of Trustees' Meeting Schedule: The next regularly scheduled Board of Trustees’ meetings will be on Thursday, Feb. 6, and on Tuesday, Feb. 18, 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. I do hope to see some more residents at the board meetings in the coming year.


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