As of Sept. 15, the village began issuing Railroad Parking Permits for the year 2008-09. The annual fee is $100 (this equates to approximately 40 cents per day).

Permits may be obtained at the Village Business Office, 351 Stewart Avenue. Residents who already possess a 2007-08 permit will receive a renewal application by mail, which may be returned to the village either by mail or in person. A photocopy of your registration must accompany your application and check. Current permits will be valid through September 30.

The Colonel Aaron Ogden Chapter of the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution has asked me to proclaim the week of September 17 through 23 as "Constitution Week" in Garden City.

Our nation's Constitution, adopted Sept. 17, 1787, provided a fundamental document for freedom and independence, which has become a way of life in our great nation. All of us have cause to pause and reflect on our heritage. Residents are urged to fly the flag all week in observance.

The next regularly scheduled board of trustees' meeting for the month of October are as follows: Thursday, Oct. 2 and Thursday, Oct. 16 at 8 p.m. Correspondence addressed to the mayor and board must be received by Tuesday morning Sept. 23 for the Oct. 2 meeting and for the Oct. 16 meeting correspondence must be received by Oct. 7 to be included with the board's communications for these meetings.

I was pleased to learn last Saturday that the addition of catch basins by our department of public works personnel during the summer, in several areas of the village which were prone to street flooding during heavy rain conditions over short time durations, had positive results in dealing with the several inches of rain that Tropical Storm Hanna delivered last Saturday. Although there was some street flooding on Nassau County roads within the village due to the volume of rainfall, village roadways did not experience flooding of any duration due to the department of public works aggressive preventative maintenance program.

The village had prepared for a much more severe storm but was fortunate to only have to mobilize a relatively small number of essential employees to deal with Hanna.

Special thanks to our volunteer firefighters and special police who were on standby during the storm as well as those residents who assisted the village by clearing the leaves that had accumulated by the inlets of the storm drains allowing the rain water to run into the storm drain system.

I was recently reviewing a publication that was published by the American Red Cross on the subject of hurricane activity. It was interesting to note that many Long Islanders don't believe our area is in danger of being hit by a major hurricane. Although there have been other hurricanes as recent as 1991 that have struck Long Island, two stand out as pivotal storms that affected many Long Island Communities. The devastation from the 1938 hurricane - dubbed the "Long Island Express" was enormous. The storm reshaped the shoreline of Long Island and created great economic and human loss. In 1985 Hurricane Gloria hit one September day and nearly leveled portions of central and eastern Long Island. The Island's east end is on the list of the top ten most vulnerable mainland United States areas prone to hurricanes.

While the Incorporated Village of Garden City subscribes to an emergency weather service and carefully monitors regional storm activity, in preparation for implementing its storm emergency plan, there is a lot that residents can and should do to make preparations for the upcoming hurricane season. In this and succeeding columns I will share information so that you can be prepared in the event that a major storm hits Long Island.

The following are just a few important ways we can all prepare for a hurricane:

Stock up. What you have on hand before a hurricane hits can make a big difference as to how well your family handles it. Create your own disaster preparedness kits - one for home and one to take with you as a "Go Bag" in case you need to evacuate - with enough supplies for everyone in your household.

Include in your disaster preparedness kit:

• Water - at least one gallon per person per day;

• Food: Non- perishable items you'd want to eat such as canned food (and a manual can opener), energy bars, peanut butter and other nutritious foods that require no refrigeration, preparation or cooking and little or no water;

• First Aid Kit: Pack a "how to" guide as well;

• Medications: Essential prescription and non-prescription items and medical information;

• Crank radio and flashlight or batter-powered radio and flashlight (with extra batteries) and a 12-hour glow stick;

• Clothing: A change of clothes, rain wear, sturdy shoes and protective gloves for everyone;

• Personal items: Remember specific items such as eyeglasses or contact lenses and solution, personal care and hygiene items, extra (charged) cell phone batteries and comfort items such as toys or books;

• Money: Have cash; ATMs and credit cards won't work if the power is out;

• Important family documents in a waterproof, portable container. Copies of driver's licenses, wills, birth and marriage certificates, insurance policies, proof of residence (deed or lease), recent tax returns, credit card and bank account numbers, Social Security cards, passport numbers, home inventory list, etc.;

• Special items for infants, elderly, pets or loved ones with special needs; and

• Written instructions on how to turn off electricity, gas and water if authorities advise you to do so. Remember you'll need a professional to turn them back on.

I encourage residents to periodically utilize the village's website for information regarding the village's operations, as well as items of seasonal and special interest. The address is www.gardencityny.net. At this time, portions of our village website are under construction and we are sorry for any inconvenience that this may cause. Also please be aware that I have a village email address and would be delighted to hear from village residents about their concerns - it is as follows: MayorPBee@gardencityny.net