With Athena

Memorial Day has come and gone and in another two days "June will be busting out all over" to a Rogers and Hammerstein tune. Memorial Day meant something beyond remembering our veterans in those long ago days as once we celebrated that day when we put away our dark shoes and bags and took out our white ones. Nobody would risk wearing white shoes or carry a white pocketbook until Memorial Day had passed. It was also the time to take out the picnic hamper, clean off the outdoor chairs, and put our house plants out on the screened porch or into our gardens for the summer. Life in those days ran on a regular schedule and the weather ran with it. For some of us, it still does and it's still safer to wait for this marker before putting those house plants outside.

More and more of our snowbirds are coming back to town and we welcome home Nita and Woody Johnson and Dorothy and Ed Alford. This year the Alfords celebrated their wedding anniversary with a party at The Breakers down in Palm Beach. It was their 57 th and the family joined them in Florida for the big day. It's always good to see those returning and we look forward to their coming home with great pleasure. Nita and Woody have been enjoying getting together with friends at the Cherry Valley Club and Woody has been welcomed back to the Retired Men's Club. Happy to see both couples.

The last Dinner/Bridge was held at the Cherry Valley Club last week and they had twenty-four tables in play following dinner. The first Small Slam was dealt, bid and made in 6 No Trump by Chris Harder and Nancy Peretz. The happy winners of the door prizes were Ed Alzner and Ellen Schwarz. The prize was dinner for two at the Club. Bridge Chairman George Rivara, announced that the next event would be held on the third Wednesday in September. Among those enjoying the evening were Annemarie Gordon, Hal Hecken and his wife Valerie, Barbara Haynes, Joy Losgar, and Arlyn and George Rath among many others.

Happy birthday wishes go to Michele Dyrland, who celebrates her special day on the 27 th, to Kay Thompson, who does the same on the 28 th, and to Marilyn Camp, who blows out the candles on her cake on the 29 th. May all the ladies have a great day, a wonderful year filled with good health and much happiness with many more to come.

An update on Bill Fendt is that he marked 84 years on the 17 th of May and he and his wife celebrated their 62 nd wedding anniversary on May 3 rd. Sorry we missed it, but have many more happy years together.

Although Helen Fearn no longer lives in town, she was a long time resident and an active member of the Cathedral of the Incarnation and also of the Community Club of Garden City and Hempstead. Helen celebrated her 93 rd birthday on May 21 st. If you are a friend of hers even a late card is appreciated so do send one.

June will bring with it the G.C Historical Society's annual meeting on Wednesday, June 3 rd and both members and non-members are invited to attend. This is an organization that you should join as it has wonderful activities for its members, as well as keeping alive as much of the history of Garden City as they can. If you can't make the meeting, do attend its annual Flea Market on the property of the Historic House on Saturday, June 6 th. Its consignment shop will be open on both days for your shopping pleasure.

Memorial Day could not have been better and there was a wonderful crowd out to say thank you to the marchers. Grand Marshall Tom Ryder, Garden City High School and West Point graduate, represented the 42 nd Infantry known as The Rainbow Division, as most of the Division is currently in Iraq. Tom recently returned from a tour of duty over there. Kathleen Rice, Nassau Country District Attorney, was also with the men of the William Bradford Turner Post in their line of march, along with a representative of the U.S. Navy. Joan Nedelka and Linda Burdi , with a couple of helpers from the Auxiliary, were helping those along the line of march obtain their poppies. This year there were more folks watching the parade along Franklin Ave. and I think that the benches along the route helped encourage this. As always, the biggest crowd was along Seventh Street and it was wonderful to hear their "thank yous" and see all the children waving their American flags. Some of those along the line of the parade were: Sue Hall, Terry Ferrari and her daughter, Gladys Clemmensen, Dorothea deLannoy, Steven Short, Joe Leto, and Filippo Balboni. There were several gentlemen watching who wore hats indicating they had been in the service. Think about joining the Legion Post - they would welcome you. See you next week.