A Word From Mayor John Watras

Restaurants will compete for the best wings in the Wing-Off Competition. Proceeds of this contest will directly benefit the Long Island Red Cross for their efforts in the Sandy recovery. Contributing event sponsors include the New York Racing Association and Stifel Investment Services Group.

In order to accommodate the event as safely as possible, Seventh Street will be cleared of parked vehicles starting at 4 p.m. and will be closed to all traffic at that time. Parking fields to the rear of the stores (7S and 7N) will remain open. If your car is parked on Seventh Street, please make sure that it is removed prior to 4 p.m.

I hope to see you and your families there.

Friday Night Promenade: The festive atmosphere that we enjoy each year at the Belmont Festival on Seventh Street is planned to continue each Friday night from 6 to 10 p.m. during July and August.

Program organizers are working with representatives from the incorporated village to develop plans which will allow for the closing of Seventh Street each Friday evening between Franklin and Hilton Avenues (hopefully beginning as early as July 5) so that residents and visitors to Garden City can enjoy the outdoor dining and live entertainment offered by local restaurants as well as shopping in the stores and shops which will remain open during the evening. I hope to see you on a Friday evening.

Aggressive Driving Enforcement Program: The police department has been conducting an aggressive driving enforcement program that has concentrated on violations such as, but not limited to, speeding, tailgating, reckless driving, passing a red traffic light or Stop sign, unsafe lane/turns, failure to yield and passing stopped school buses. During this campaign numerous tickets have been issued for these violations. Many of these vehicle stops for aggressive driving have resulted in vehicle impounds as well as arrests for drug possession, wanted persons, DWI offenses and serious traffic offenses.

Motorists are encouraged to be courteous to other drivers and not retaliate to other persons’ driving habits or mistakes. Road rage incidents often escalate into serious offenses such as assault or other serious offenses. As such, motorists observing serious and dangerous driving behaviors are encouraged to call 911 rather than take matters in their own hands. Motorists are also advised of new state legislation enacted regarding texting and mobile device use (includes mobile phones) while driving. A person now convicted of this offense will be assessed five (5) points against their license. The police department will continue to make traffic enforcement a priority in an effort to make our streets safer.

Fireworks Injuries: As adults we know that it is illegal to possess and/or use fireworks. The main reason they became illegal is because they cause injury.  Residents are reminded that the police department will be on alert to interdict illegal fireworks use to prevent community disruption and often needless injury. I strongly urge parents, who are the ultimate and most effective preventers, to ban the use of fireworks.

The Fourth of July: Retail sales will be prohibited in the village between the hours of 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. on Thursday, July 4. Certain exceptions are restaurants, delicatessen items and alcoholic beverages.

In observance of Independence Day, municipal offices will be closed on Thursday, July 4, and will reopen on Friday, July 5.

Holiday Sanitation Collection: There will be no garbage and recycling pickup on Thursday, July 4. The western half of the village (west of Rockaway Avenue) will have garbage pickup on Monday and Friday and the eastern half of the village (east of Rockaway Avenue) will have garbage pickup on Tuesday and Saturday. Residents scheduled for recycling on July 4 are asked to put their recyclables out on Thursday, July 11. All other recycling days remain the same.

Shop and Dine Outdoors in Garden City: The residents of Garden City are very fortunate to have viable retail businesses on Seventh Street, Franklin Avenue and New Hyde Park Road where there is a good variety of quality merchandise and family dining experiences available to be enjoyed. Please support these businesses and enjoy the products, variety and outstanding customer service. Keep in mind that these merchants save you from traveling outside the village for your needs. Consider the harsh reality if we did not have these businesses here to service our needs. I look forward to seeing everyone in town.

Board of Trustees Summer Meeting Schedule: During July and August the board of trustees will meet only one time each month. The dates are Thursday July 18, and Thursday, Aug. 22, at 8 p.m. These meetings are held in the boardroom at Village Hall. I encourage all residents to attend board of trustees meetings so as to be thoroughly informed of village issues from a first-hand perspective.

Questions for the mayor? Email Mayor@gardencityny.net.