Issuu

Friday, March 8, 2024

Vol. 101, No. 10

Garden City O ffice Agent of the Month

February 202 4

FOUNDED 1923 n LOCALLY OWNED AND EDITED

Most New Lis Michelle McA

tings

rdle Licensed Real Estate Salespe rson O 516.307.940 6 | M 516.306.4 134 michelle.mcardl e@elliman.com Garden City Office 130 7th Street

Small price increase for pool memberships

Women of GC PAGE 8 n Egg your yard PAGE 9

New arborist to focus on public beautification

HOOPS FOR HOPE

BY RIKKI MASSAND At its meeting on Wednesday February 28 the Garden City Board of Commissioners of Recreational & Cultural Affairs approved proposed GC Pool membership rates for summer 2024. The rate schedule will now go to the Village Board of Trustees for final approval. The Garden City Pool, which is operated as a separate enterprise fund, has had a positive balance for several years. A decade ago the situation was more fragile as there were capital projects performed to enhance the facilities that resulted in significant debt to climb out of. Rec. and Parks Superintendent Paul Blake explained that he’s proud of the work the department has done on pool finances, and the current position is to have $260,814 less in the form of a Village of Garden City contribution to the enterprise. The “Contribution from Village General” for 2024 is proposed at $539,186. “We are knocking it down from a contribution of about $800,000 this year to the contribution of $539,186. That is moving in the right direction towards getting everything back into the black ink as the enterprise should be,” he said.

BY RIKKI MASSAND The Garden City Board of Commissioners of Recreation and Cultural Affairs (Rec. Commission) were introduced to two new employees at its meeting on Wednesday, February 28. Both hires started their work in Garden City in the first two months of the year.

New village arborist hired

Increased rates offset higher costs

Blake said the increases are at least 3.5% across the board of membership categories. For a family membership (more than two people) the 2023 rate was $525, now proposed to increase to $540 – or 3.65% higher See page 68

This year’s Hoops for Hope event took place on Wednesday, February 28th at Garden City High School. Garden City residents came to support the Challengers and raise funds for the I’m Not Done Yet Foundation, which helps adolescent and young adult cancer patients. Please see full coverage on pages 66-67. Photo by Ed Rotondo

Six weeks ago Joseph “Joe” Umana started work as the new village arborist and horticulturist; a specialist to help Garden City’s flora flourish and address safety and beautification matters with trees, shrubbery and landscapes. He is a Nassau County native, and a Kellenberg High School and University of Delaware alumnus. Superintendent of Recreation and Parks Paul Blake said Umana has gotten off to a breakneck start and is running the village’s tree crew, “he’s making a big impact on the way these fellas do their jobs.” “We have seen a really positive difference already! Joe is taking charge of all village plantings going forward, and he’s already helped us make nice changes in the species of trees we’re buying. He has also helped us bring in some new suppliers, and Joe is taking over a lot of the responsibilities we used to contract-out,” Blake explained to the Rec. Commission. Last Wednesday night Mr. Umana offered insights and his ambitions for the greenery and tree program in the village, including the goal of working towards a more seasonal feel in the environment. He believes the Rec. Department will be proactive on plantings to make the Village’s flora exuberant and attractive. “We want to take things (like the plantings of new species) back for the village and we want to show residents that the village and the people working for the village can do this job and keep Garden City looking the way in which it always has, Umana explained He developed a love for nature and especially plants as See page 48

Wings soar through RVD Cyclones PAGE Guys and Dolls at Chaminade HS PAGE 16