With Athena

June is busting out all over with enough coming up to keep you busy and happy for the whole month. As you read this it is time for the Belmont Festival right here on Seventh Street starting at 6 p.m. and ending at 10 p.m. so put down the paper and get over there. It is a family affair with music, activities and for the children, food and much more - a chance to meet and greet both new and old friends and get into the spirit. Your horse may not be running or winning, but racing really stared here in Garden City (on the Hempstead Plains) so you will go home a happy person either way. I'll be looking for you.

The very next day, while the horses are running, there is the Annual Sale Day sponsored by the G. C. Historical Society on its grounds on 11 th St.. Its consignment shop will also be open for your shopping pleasure.

In addition, we have the G.C. Pool opening, Mark Twain coming to town on June 13 th, Flag Day (the 14 th), the SEPTA Street Fair, and Father's Day. Now that should keep all of you busy and happy.

The Nassau County Coalition Against Domestic Violence will be holding its annual Spring Gala on Tuesday, June 9 th from 6:30 to 10 p.m. at The Carltun, Eisenhower Park. The funds raised go to help the increasing problems associated with battered women and children, seniors and even men in today's society. The Coalition sponsors a Safe House and helps women and families get back on their feet and make a new and safer life. If you want to help by attending the Gala, which raises money to continue their work, you can call 516-572-0700 for a reservation for it or for more information.

Just in time for Father's Day, Planting Fields Arboretum at Oyster Bay has a program on "The True History of Chocolate" by Dr. Michael Coe, the grandson of William Robertson Coe, the founder of Planting Fields. You can make a reservation for Dr. Coe's talk to be held in the Mansion by calling 516-922-8682. Members are free and for Non-Members the fee is $10. Refreshments will be served.

The G.C. Branch of AAUW held a very successful and delicious Installation Luncheon this past Monday at Maxxel's Restaurant with they had a wonderful turnout. The speaker was great and the ladies are looking forward to the coming year. Ursula Lashen was pleased with the number of reservations that came in and thanks were given to Joan Afflerbach, Margaret Delahunt and Lynn Maguire along with Amy Small, Mary Ann Garrett, Regiand Dowling, Gerry McHugh and many others for all their work this past year. Now all the ladies can rest until the fall.

Happy birthday wishes go to Frieda Stark who will celebrate her special day on June 5 th and to Kay Hayes, who will blow out the candles on her cake on the 7 th of June. May you both have a wonderful day and a year filled with good health and much happiness with many more years to come.

Closing out the month of May - Memorial Day in fact - Nita and Woody Johnson celebrated their 64 th wedding anniversary. That's a really big one and all the best to you both. May you have a great year and we will all look forward to you celebrating another glorious year in 2010 when you make it 65 years.

Mary Tobacoff, who retired to Williamsburg, Va. a number of years ago, celebrated her 102 nd birthday this past March. Mary was a long time resident of Garden City, who worked for the N.Y. Telephone Company and was a member of the Community Club of Garden City and Hempstead, where she served in their Music Dept. She graduated from Adelphi College in 1929 and enjoyed her alumni reunions and her bridge games at the G.C.Country Club. She always had a smile and a helping hand whenever and wherever it was needed. Happy Birthday, Mary.

The History Committee under the chairmanship of Joan Afflerbach is doing a fine job getting ready for the opening program of the Community Club of Garden City and Hempstead on Wednesday, October 7 th, 2009. The Club was established and held its first meeting and program on Wednesday, October 7 th, 1919. This year's program will feature items of interest from the many Departments of the main Club over the years. There will also be many items of interest that can be viewed by the members and their guests as well as the traditional anniversary (or birthday if you prefer) cake. The Community Club was formed by a group of ladies from both Garden City and Hempstead who met to roll bandages and hold teas and entertainments for the soldiers during World War I. It was felt that they had so much in common they should form a club and they did. The result - as they say - is history.