Socially Speaking

With Athena

HAPPY NEW YEAR AGAIN! We are four days into 2008 and I hope you have been practicing writing the year the correct way. It is always good at the start of a new year to look back to the past and see what happened for better or for worse as that is the way we can correct things. Sometimes it also helps to look further back to check on our progress and that is just what I did. I went back to 1908 (No, I was not around then but others were and they wrote things down) found the following at midnight a 700 pound "electric ball" fell from the flagpole on top of the New York Times Building, the first ball drop in Times Square. One year later came a nearly 2-1/2 hour flight by Wilbur Wright, the longest to that time by an airplane. During that year the U.S. Navy's Great White Fleet sailed around the world, Admiral Robert Perry began his conquest of the North Pole and six automobiles set out on a 20,000 mile race from New York City to Paris, while Henry Ford's Model T went into production in Detroit, Michigan. Theodore Roosevelt was President and it was the end of his term. What a year that was - think about it and I can only hope that 100 years later our 2008 will be as good.

The Community Club's first ever Christmas Party for its members was a huge success. The idea was President Marye Heston's and she is to be congratulated on its success. Reports have it that there will e another one in 2008. Parties are a lot of work and some of those lending a hand were: Rosemary McCarthy, Ruth LaBosco, Phyllis Dima, Grace Murphy, Mary Polak, and many others.

Jackie and Bill Polon are back from their Caribbean Cruise and reported fair skies, fair winds, and a wonderful and relaxing time, just what we all go away for. Welcome back, it is good to have you with us again.

Christmas was a family affair for Jane Nelson, with her daughter Martha, son-in-law Doug, and grandson Ian enjoying the day and the visit from Santa.

Christmas had its downside for at least one lady in town. What was going to be a lovely dinner at the Garden City Hotel was turned upside down when Eleanor (Ellie) Marshall had a bad fall and is now at Winthrop University Hospital with a broken shoulder and other injuries. She had surgery this past week and by the time you read this let us hope that she is on the road to recovery. Ellie was very active in the women's Auxiliary of the American Legion here in town as well as in the Garden City Community Church and the Community Club of Garden City and Hempstead. If you know anyone in these groups, they might have more information on her recovery. If not, I will be keeping on top of it.

We have only one birthday to report on and that is for Catherine Kelly, who celebrates her special day on January 5th, We wish her a wonderful day, a great year and many more to come in which to enjoy both health and happiness.

Don't forget to start the year off with the Garden City Library's Monday Matinee - January 7th at 1:30 p.m. of "Jane Ayre" starring Orson Welles and Joan Fontaine. Sally Richmond has arranged for the members of the Garden City Branch of A.A.U.W. to attend. Come early and stay to enjoy Tom Richmond, Sally's husband, lead a brief discussion for one and all who attend following the film. What a great treat!

A lively lady left Garden City earlier this past year and I just heard of it. Helen Schwaner passed away in the late spring, a wonderful wife, mother, and friend to so many. She and her husband Bob were members of the Garden City Country Club, and had been active in the club's Bowling League for many years. One of Helen's activities was tap dancing that she took up for enjoyment and exercise. She was a lovely lady, always willing to help and always with a kind word. Our respects to her husband Bob and to her family. She will be missed by all.

Hope your New Year was a great one.

See you next week!