With Athena

September brought in cooler temperatures and more rain and now, to add the final touch we have had several trees around town whose leaves have started to turn. Fall is only a few days away but one tree at the intersection of Stewart Avenue and Cherry Valley Avenue has already turned and lost its leaves. It sits in lonely splendor on a triangle of land all by itself and I guess made its own statement to fall. Look for these signs of the changing season as we have some beauties right here in town. You don't have to travel to be a leaf peeper.

The folks at Clark Botanic Gardens will be presenting their 38 th Annual Fall Plant Sale on Friday, October 2 nd and Saturday October 3 rd from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day. They will feature mums, ornamental cabbages, pumpkins, fall and spring perennials, fall veggies, indian corn, house plants, bulbs and attic treasures and much more. Their cafe will provide hot beverage, soup, sandwiches and home baked goodies. Their gift shop will be open and there is no admission fee. It is open rain or shine. The Clark Gardens Auxiliary will be there helping out and so will Marie Ramos their President and Dian Kendrick their 1st Vice President as well as many other ladies from Garden City. Go, enjoy and come back with some really great things.

The ladies of the G.C. Branch of AAUW have been busy winning prizes. At their New York State Convention this past June, they won a commendation for their public policy activities over the year including voter registration and a visit to our legislators. Their monthly bulletin won the Award of Excellence, the highest level award. Amy Small , their Bulletin Editor for many years, always does a fine job. Georgene Harrison , the President, is always ready, willing and able to provide a ride to any of their meetings if a ride is needed. What a great team they have and congrats to you two lovely ladies for all you do for that organization.

Our American Legion Post leaders and the leaders of the Auxiliary held a Welcome Back Buffet prior to their first meeting of the season this past Wednesday. They meet at the Senior Center and all veterans and their wives are welcome to attend. They do a wonderful job of working with all veterans and they can always use another helping hand.

Happy birthday wishes go to Ray Finnerty who celebrated his special day on the 16 th of this month. Hope you had a great day and that you enjoy a year filled with good health and much happiness with many more years to come.

Friendship Luncheon Co-Chairs for the Community Club of Garden City and Hempstead, Ann Heinzelmann and Veronica Witt, are thrilled with the responses. They have been accepting reservations up through the middle of this past week. If you delayed making yours, you will be missing a wonderful kick-off to the 90 th year of this club's existence. The Big Birthday party will be on Wednesday, October 7 th at 1:30 p.m. at the Garden City Casino. All good wishes to these ladies and to their committees. What workers they are!

Would you believe that there are a number of over-achievers among us who have already finished their fall cleaning? (Yes, there are still folks who do that) They are so organized they have already started their Christmas shopping. Their motto is to avoid the crowds and, if they are not getting the bargains that are found just before the big day, they have a better selection and there are no crowds to tangle with. Let that be a lesson to you.

Taxes have always seemed to be with us in one form or another. James Madison imposed taxes on gold, silverware, jewelry and watches in order to pay for the War of 1812. In 1817, under James Monroe , Congress eliminated those taxes and replaced them with tariffs on goods imported into the United States. And that ends your history lesson for this week. Now get ready to welcome fall with all her vibrant colors on the 22 nd of September. See you next week.