Socially Speaking

With Athena

Here we are into 2008 with the Big Chill only to have it followed by close to early spring temperatures. It's enough to confuse anyone including our poor plants, but the only thing we can really do (and don't we all) is complain. Just remember, you don't have to shovel rain, wind, or cold so look on the bright side.

The Mid-Winter Dessert Card Party sponsored by the Community Club of Garden City and Hempstead is really taking off. Reservations are coming in as everyone is ready for some action. This affair is for the benefit of the Club's philanthropic activities and scholarships. It will be held on Thursday, January 24th from 12:30 to 4 p.m. at the Garden City Casino. Reservations in the amount of $15 per person should be made payable to the Community Club of Garden City and Hempstead and mailed to Mrs. Bea Mercandantis, 48 Main Avenue, Garden City, New York 11530. Get your table together and join in the fun.

There were many house parties again this year here in town, but some opted to gather their group and have dinner out. One such group has been doing this ever since they got together on a tour. Among them were Mary Gagliardo and Ed Palkot but they did have many others. Dinner was at the Milleridge Inn and extra dessert was at one of the members houses. What a nice idea and so nice that they have always stayed close.

Joan and Frank Nedelka enjoyed the holidays in Maryland with family. They went down and the others came up and Maryland was the spot in between - another good idea when travel is involved.

The Garden City Country Club held its first Dinner/Bridge but they did not start off the New Year very well as not a single Small or Grand Slam was dealt, bid, and made that evening. This must surely be a first. Enjoying the evening were: Irene and John Christie, Elizabeth and Charles Dunleavy, Ethlyn Marlett, and Pat Dolan. Bridge chairlady Muriel Urban announced that the next Dinner/Bridge would be held on Wednesday, March 12th when maybe the luck of the Irish will help out.

Pat Dalton and Martha Pearson will be the January hostesses for the Thursday Luncheon Group at the Garden City Community Church. Bring your sandwich - dessert and beverage will be provided as well as a program. If you need a lift, call the church at 746-1700.

Sally Richmond has arranged for Dr. Richard Brettell to continue the discussion of Watteau and Chardin on Friday, January 25 at 10 a.m. as part of their continuing Tour of The Louvre. This is sponsored by the Garden City Branch of A.A.U.W. and will be held at the Garden City Library.

Happy birthday wishes go to Joe Leto, who celebrates his birthday on the 12th, to Jean Noble, who does the same on the 13th and to Richard Benack, who will e blowing out the candles on his cake on January 16th. May you all have a wonderful day and a great year with plenty of good health and much happiness with many more birthdays to come.

It has often been said that you can take some people out of Garden City but you just can't take Garden City out of them. Margaret and Brick Howe moved up to Ticonderoga a few years ago, but they keep in touch with what is going on here. They are doing well and because their family is now far flung; they are busy spending free time in California and believe it or not Connecticut. It's nice to hear from them and good to know all is going well.

Some of our Snow Birds in Florida are busy doing the theater scene with a Mark Twain Musical Melodrama and a visit to see the Flagler Museum decorated for Christmas. They are Dorothy and Ed Alford, who send their greetings to all of us.

Since so much of the west is snow bound I thought this item would e of interest to you. The New York City subway system is the result of transportation issues exacerbated by the blizzard of 1888. Believe it or not!

See you next week!