With Athena

So, it's the day after New Year's (or you are reading this on Nw Year's Eve) but if I am not mistaken, you have put off so many things such as your Thank You Notes , your New Year's resolutions, and last, but not least - your DIET! Do I have a prayer for you:

Lord, grant me the strength that I may not fall, into the clutches of cholesterol.

The road to hell is paved with butter, cakes are cursed, cream is awful and Satan is hiding in every waffle.

Beelzebud is a chocolate drop, Lucifer is a lollypop.

Teach me the evils of Hollandaise, of pasta and gobs of mayonnaise, and crisp fried chicken from the south.

If you love me, Lord, shut my mouth! Just think on these things and have a Happy, Healthy New Year.

The Friends of the Garden City Library will start up their popular Monday Matinee offering on the 5th of January with a showing of "Anthony Adverse" staring Olivia De Haviland and Fredric March. Close on its heels, the Community Club of Garden City will present Edward Carroll, founder of Memory Bank Unlimited in a program on "How to Have a Better Memory" at 1:30 at the Garden City Casino. If you attend, you will find out how to remember to write up your New Year's resolutions next year. On January 9th, you can enjoy Great American Music: the Broadway Musical and that should take you through the first full week of 2009 in fine style.

Our residents who went South to enjoy the warmer climate tell us of some of the wonderous things they saw during Christmas. One was the beautiful Christmas decorations in the beautiful Flagler Mansion Museum in Palm Beach. The other was the parade of boats all decorated for Christmas (one included Santa but not his reindeer) that floated down the intercoastal complete with music It all sounds great and we sure are happy they enjoyed such a spectacle.

Some of our Folk have something to look forward to as January comes in and thats because they have January birthdays. Happy birthday wishes go to Hal Hecken, who celebrates his special day on January 4th and to Catherine Kelly, who does ditto on the 5th. May you both have a wonderful day and a year filled with much happiness and lots of good health with many more years to come.

Unfortunately, Garden City lost a wonderful gentleman just before Christmas and that was Bill Haynes. Bill was active in the Garden City Community Church, in the Western Property Owners Association, and also enjoyed a good game of Bridge. always happy to lend a helping hand and always patient when listening to the problems of others as well as giving sound advice, Bill will be missed by all who knew him. Our thoughts and prayers are with his wife Barbara, his son Bill and his daughter Heather in their time of sorrow.

The Nassau County Coalition Against Domestic Violence will be holding its annual 'Best of Long Island's Restaurants, Wineries, Breweries and Bakeries at The Carlton - Eisenhower Park - on Monday, January 26th from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Reservations are due by January 10th and for more information you may call 516-572-0700. Reserved seating is available.

The Garden City Country Club is accepting reservations for its Dinner/Bridge on Wednesday, January 7th so Bridge lovers and those who love an injoyable evening out should be sure to make your reservations. Club members and their guests are welcome.

Reservations have been coming in for the Mid-Winter Dessert Card Party sponsored by the Community Club of Garden City and Hempstead on Thursday, January 22nd from 12:30 to 4 p.m. at the Garden City Casino. Get your check in to Mrs. Bea Mercandante at 48 Main Avenue, Garden City, N.Y. 11530 as soon as possible. Checks in the amount of $18 per person should be made payable to Community Club of Garden City and Hempstead. Don't miss this annual event for the benefit of their Scholarships and other Philanthropic activities.

And now - may 2009 be a wonderful year for you, filled with nearly all that you desire. Remember that if you got all you desire, you would have nothing to look forward to. See you next week.