FLASH! There was a shoot at the gazebo across from the Garden City Hotel this past Saturday! No, nobody was shot as from the looks of it was either a fashion shoot or a commercial shoot. In all the rain, there were folks holding big round silver reflectors and others with cameras. However, with all the cars parked along Seventh Street and the big blue and white van in front of the action, I could not see who or what they were shooting. We do have some very pretty spots around the Village that would make lovely backgrounds for a photo shoot. After all, many brides come to the gazebo on Hilton Avenue to get their wedding pictures taken so why not other places. So if you are ever near one of these shoots, smile - you just might bet into the action.

It was Gardens As Art for the benefit of the ongoing restoration of the formal garden at the Nassau County Museum. The Gardens on the Tour were located in Roslyn and in Centre Island, with lunch at the lovely Sewanhaka-Corinthian Yacht Club on Centre Island. Attending, and I’m sure taking notes on the gardens were Garden City’s Barbara Gall, Kris Harder , and Frieda Stark .

The Garden City Hotel will be the setting on September 30 for the 7 to 10 p.m. Cocktail Party in honor of the 100th Anniversary of the Vanderbilt Cup Race. This affair is sponsored by the Suffolk County Vanderbilt Museum. If you have a passion for auto racing, you might give the Hotel a call and see if you can get tickets to this one. There is nothing Garden City loves so much as a party, and these fund raisers do so much in raising money to restore beautiful gardens, buildings and in this case - historic events.

The Garden on Cathedral Avenue was the setting for a lovely “Tastings 2004” by the G.C. Unit of the American Cancer Society. Mr. and Mrs. Paul Darrah were gracious hosts, the food was delicious, (as was the garden), and the prizes were sumptuous - that’s the only word that fit them. Among those working for the event and attending were: Sheila Connolly, Dana DeSimpliciis, Kate Digan, Britta Garcia, Melissa LeBlanc, Tara Minion, Cathy Murphy, Erin Nothel and Katie Rogers. A good evening for one and all and all for a very good cause.

The Cherry Valley Club was the setting for their first Dinner/Bridge of the season and there were twenty-five tables in play following the very delicious Buffet Dinner. The first Small Slam of the evening was made by Lucille and Ed Tilitz and as the evening waned, a Grand Slam was brought in by Florence Coffin and George Cordes . Among those attending were Jane Kruell and her daughter - up from Florida to get away from IVAN, Marie Scott, Clara Clark, Marge and Les Schnell, Miriam and Dick Benack, and Vincent Prestyly andhis charming wife , Ellie Singer, Nita and Woody Johnson, and Trudy Anderson . The date for the next event was announced by Chairman George Rivara as Wednesday, October 20th.

Gardens are beautiful any season of the year - yes, even in Winter when the stark limbs and branches give texture, line, and sometimes even color to a garden. Clark Botanic Garden in Albertson will be holding their 33rd Annual Fall Sale on Thurs., Oct. 7th from noon to 2 p.m., Fri., Oct. 8th from 10 to 3 p.m., and Saturday, Oct. 9th from 10 to 12 p.m.Garden City ladies - Dorothy Holl, Virginia Musabte, Mary Lou Pfeiffer, and Lois Ridgeway will be on hand to help you select from their Bulbs, Mums, Perennials, Dried arrangements, Dried flowers bunches, Pumpkins, Fall Veggies, Home Baked Goods and much, much more. Admission is FREE come rain or shine. Get thee hence!

Happy Birthday wishes go to Herb LaTaille , who will be celebrating his special day on the 28th of this month and Doris Stewart will be doing likewise on the very same day - the 28th. May both of the Birthday kids enjoy a wonderful day and have a great year ahead in which to have health and happiness and much more.

A 50th Wedding Anniversary is a truly great event and we have two couples who passed that milestone last year and are now celebrating their 51st. Barbara and Jack Nothel and Ernie and Tony Zarcone are the couples and may they both have many more years of wedded bliss in which to celebrate. Mimi and Richard Meismer are also celebrating their wedding anniversary as Sept. draws to a close and may they also have all the best that life has in store for them.

The passing of Mark Barbatsuly will be felt by so many. He touched so many through his business, through his church, through his many organizations, through his music, and he will be missed by all. He may not be with us, but he will be remembered. Our thoughts and prayers are with his wife Betty, his daughters Lisa and Kathryn, his parents Tom and Tina, and his sister Carol Efthimiou, and to all in his extended family. Their loss is ours too.

I’ll see you all next week - have a good one.