Socially Speaking
With Athena

Christmas is about many things and gift giving is not the most important. Memories at Christmas - past and present - are beautiful trips down memory lane and we should all take that trip at some time during the holidays. I did it recently by going into Penn Station, walking over to Fifth Avenue and from there up to Rockefeller Center. The hustle and bustle were familiar. Macy's holiday windows were attractive as usual, but missing were all the old familiar haunts along the way. Oppenheim-Collins is gone from 14th Street and of course B. Altman's and their lovely Christmas windows are no longer there - the windows yes, the store no.

Other old friends are gone - Russek's, Woolworth's, Kreesge's, Knox Hatters too, and even the Lion's in front of the New York Library were missing their green wreaths. It took Lord & Taylor's with their memories of the holidays from 1890's to the 1950's to put a spring to my step and mind and the tree at Rockefeller Center was the icing on the cake. What a lovely lane to stroll down. Hope you can do it too.

Our trees in town are lit and look great and Santa's arrival brought joy to the faces of our children. The Youth Group at the Garden City Community Church will be holding their annual Christmas Tree sale on Saturday, December 9th from 8 a.m. to noon. Come smell a real live tree- fresh cut - and greet friends and neighbors and get a old-fashioned experience and help their Youth Mission as well. Your check is tax deductible.

The Thursday Luncheon Group at the church on December 14th will be entertained by George Petersen and Abe Rivera in a program of Christmas Music. Lynn Finnerty, Carol Schrafel and Linda Wagner will be hostesses. Lunch at noon (bring your own sandwich) and dessert and beverage will be provided. In need of a ride - call the church at 748-1700.

The warm spell the past few weeks may not have put you in the mood for Christmas, but it was ideal weather to put up your outside decorations, wreaths, lights, Santas and Reindeer, and all manner of other decorations have sprouted all over town and looks great.

The ladies of Helen Keller Services For The Blind will be holding their General Meeting - Party for Christmas - on Monday, December 11th in the large meeting room of the Garden City Library. Aurora Vinciguarra, Membership Chairlady would be happy to accept you as a new member (many hand make light work) and Irma Annuziato and Joy Losgar, Co-Presidents will also be there to greet you.

Happy Birthday wishes go to Madelyne Lynn and also to Angelo Romano who share December 12th as their Special day as do Tom Butler and Helen Ehmann who share December 13th as their Birthdays. Willa Ward is a gal who stands on her own and she will be celebrating on December 17th. May all those happy people have a wonderful day and a great year ahead filled with nothing but health and happiness and many more years to come.

Happy Wedding Anniversary to Lyla and Frank Kiernan, who will be celebrating their 56th Anniversary on the 9th of December and may they have many more years of wedded bliss in which to enjoy each other as well as good health and much happiness.

Mary Gagliardo is back from a recent tour with a group of friends she met through the Adult Tours here in Town. They visited a number of places and Mary enjoyed each and every one. Good to have you back in town and ready for the holidays. Wonder if she did some shopping while abroad?

If anyone deserves the Make a Difference Award Rob Alvey certainly is the one. Rob is never too busy to help out and is very committed to the Garden City Bird Sanctuary which has made a big difference in our town. Many people donate their time and effort keeping it in shape and others have added to it with planting a tree in memory of someone dear to them. It all adds up to something to be proud of but it would not have happened if it had not been for Rob. He will wear the honor lightly.

The Garden City Community Fund is no longer, but Jane Nelson who worked for it for a number of years is now with the Garden City Fund of United Way of Long Island. Jane tells me that most of the charities that were with the fund are now being handled by this group and that a mailing has just gone out from them to the residents of Garden City. There are many organization that need our help and if there is a season of the year when they need it most - this is it. Think about it!

O.K. - There are sixteen (16) shopping day left until Christmas. See you next week.