Please join the Garden City Unit of the American Cancer Society and The Miracle Foundation on Friday, September 16 for “Tasting 2005.” The much-anticipated annual end of the summer party will be hosted by Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Englander, in their beautiful garden at 85 Fourth Street, from 7 until 10 p.m.

Thirty of our local restaurants will delight you with their fare, and two local vineyards and Walk Street’s Martini Bar will quench your thirst, as you catch up with several hundred of your friends and neighbors. There will be fabulous door prizes to win, including a stunning diamond necklace from H.L. Gross & Bro.; an Apple IPOD; a night out on Broadway (two sets of four tickets); a weekend in a cozy Southampton cottage; Jets memorabilia; a gift certificate to Bella Bay; a gift to the Red Door Spa; five 1/2 personal training sessions at The Personal Training Studio; an IMAX movie and lunch at Jonathan’s a tandem bicycle; a Clinique gift basket; a monogrammed Lilly Pulitzer fabric beach tote and towel; a fall tulip installation by Harder Landscape; a gift certificate to The Uptown Grill; and a basket of cheer from Garden City Wines and spirits. Tickets to win these door prizes cost $10 each, or six for $50, and winners need not be present.

Another way to win is by supporting the 50/50 raffle for the American Cancer Society’s Camp Adventure. Over the years, the Tastings benefit has enabled over twenty children to have this one-of-a-kind vacation. Camp Adventure is a one-week overnight camp for children with cancer and their siblings, ages 6 to 18. Held each August on Shelter Island, the camp provides an opportunity for kids to just be kids while receiving the medical attention they need from pediatric oncology professionals. Activities are like those found at any camp, and include sports, arts and crafts, swimming, nature hikes, archery, and many special events, like dances and carnivals. Tickets cost $100 each. Alternatively, you can support Camp Adventure by purchasing a “hope” bracelet for $20 at the “Tastings” event; all proceeds will go to benefit Camp Adventure.

Tickets to the event cost $100 each, or $75 each for seniors. All tickets are available by sending checks payable to The Miracle Foundation to Mrs. Jennifer Schmitt at 113 Brompton Road in Garden City, NY 11530 (the event proceeds will be divided equally between the American Cancer Society and he Miracle Foundation). As summer comes to a close, this last big outdoor gathering is a truly fun way to support these worthy charities.