With Athena

What a wonderful tribute to Bob Cangemi of the Garden City Shoe Shop in last week's paper and what a surprise for many of his customers. I heard about it just before the article from a former customer who now lives up near Rochester, N.Y. but who was a loyal customer for many years. We will all miss Bob and I took the opportunity to order a couple of new pairs of shoes from him so as to have a backup. Those of us who have problem feet and sizes know how well his shoes fit and how well they last. If you have gone to his shop to buy shoes or even just to have them repaired, do take the opportunity to stop by and wish him well and to say good-bye. We will all miss him and be worse off with his leaving. Farewell to a wonderful gentleman and a wonderful store keeper.

Diane Wall, membership chair of the Garden City Branch of A.A.U.W. has organized tis annual Membership Tea for Sunday, September 13th from 3 to 5 p.m. in the parlor of the Garden City Community Church. All members and prospective members are invited to come and welcome the start of its 2009-2010 season, learn what is in store in programming and what the group is all about. Come and meet an old friend and either greet a new friend or become a new member. The Branch gives a College Merit Award yearly and this year's winner was a young lady who received a BA in Spanish and a BFA in Studio Art from Adelphi. Her photography work has been exhibited at the Metropolitan Museum of Art where she has been a volunteer for several years and she also founded the Spanish Club at Adelphi. Julia Fahler is the Merit Awards Committee Chair for the Garden City Branch. Good work, ladies.

Marilyn Schmachtenberg, Veterans Affairs Chairlady for our local American Legion Auxiliary Post, is doing great work in this area. For many years the Auxiliary had adopted a veteran from the Northport V.A. Hospital and bringing him gifts and joy on their regular visits to him over the years. He passed away recently and Marilyn arranged to have a Mass said for him at the Cure of Ars Church in Merrick which a number of the Auxiliary members attended. Marilyn plans to visit Northport with a group of Auxiliary ladies soon to bring cheer to the veterans. Another lady doing a wonderful and needed job.

I hope that many of you sent your checks in to Jean Nedelka for the Legion Auxiliary's September 27th Bridge, Card and Games party complete with a generous hot meal all for $20 per person. The money the Auxiliary raises goes to help veterans at the Northport Hospital and veterans all over. If you can't attend, think of sending a check to Jean to help in the Auxiliary's efforts for our veterans. She lives at 111 Nassau Blvd., Garden City, New York and would love to have your help.

Happy birthday wishes go to Arlene Palmer, who celebrates her special day on the 16th of this month, to Bob Rudkin, who does the same on the 21st of this month and to George Cordes who celebrates his birthday on the 16th of September. Many happy returns of the day to all of you and many more of them.

Happy anniversary wishes go to Chris and Jim Adelmann who celebrated their anniversary on Labor Day. Belated good wishes to you on your 35th anniversary and many more happy years to both of you.

The Garden City Pool wound down on Labor Day after a show start in June (with 29 days of rain). July 1 brought cool temperatures, lots of breezes, and \ weather in the month of August to make up for it. The Labor Day weekend had a wonderful turnout for the faithful pool guests, so happy that we had these extra days in September as Labor Day was late this year. Now it's a long wait until next June, but we will make it. Thanks to the pool staff, the Lifeguards, the exercise ladies, and all who make this a wonderful place and also to Mari whose flowers make the area into a garden as well. See you next year AT THE POOL!

It's getting to be that time of the year again when we must bring in the house plants that summered outdoors for the past few months and so I have some tips for you. Bring your plants in before the end of this month, spray for insects first and repot if they grew too large for the pot they are in. Reduce water and fertilizer and put them in the same place they were before going outdoors. If you can open a window for awhile each day and shorten the time as you go, they will get used to being indoors.

The last day of summer is September 21st so enjoy.