It’s only two weeks until Silent Night or Ho, Ho. Ho time and there is still time to finish writing your cards and buying that last present, the one you just don’t know which one to buy. If you want to cut down on frazzle time, just shop here in Garden City. A donation to the American Cancer Society’s Garden City Unit will take care of those cards for folks in town. To get in under the wire for publication, you could call Chris Cote 248-5224 who might have some answers for you. If the deadline has passed, remember them for next year. Sorry, Chris, if you are not the one to call, but the Community Calendar of Events has not come out yet for the 2009-2010 season and your number is the most current one I have.

Some folks have a little more cash for this season thanks to the 50/50 from the Telephone Pioneers. They are Pat Wilson and Doris Haiswirth, Happy shopping ladies. While not a great sum in today’s world, every little bit counts.

The Auxiliary of the Garden City Community Church were very happy with the results at its Election Day Fair. Guess it will have a new name if they keep it on the new date instead of Election Day. They had more volunteers and plenty of happy shoppers, too. The Co-chairs Nancy Layton-Ziems, Linda Gambardella and Auxiliary President Kimberly Pauley were very happy. See you next year, ladies!

The Youth Group of that same church will be holding its Annual Christmas Tree Sale on Saturday, December 12th so get there early and pick one of those really fresh trees all the way from New England. The proceeds from the sale go to the Youth Group’s Mission Trip.

The Community Club of Garden City and Hempstead has been busy getting ready for the holidays. It held its annual Greens Day recently and made sprays for the five Veteran’s Memorials, the 9/11 Memorial and the Firemen’s Memorial. They also made three arrangements each for both the Garden City Library and the Hempstead Library. In addition they made arrangements for the Village Hall, the Police Department, Fire Department and the Recreation Department. Some of those working elves were Helen Schneider, Paula Rega, Martha Widner, Karen Reiter, and Isabel Smith among many others. Pictures will follow when they get them. Good work, ladies.

The Garden City Country Club hosted its Ladies Christmas Luncheon/Bridge this past week when there were 23 tables in play. The first Small Slam of the day was made in 6 Diamonds by Pat Keinath and Rose Parescidi. Rosemary Going was the happy winner of the monthly door prize. Bridge Chairlady Muriel Urban announced that the next Ladies Bridge would be held on Thursday, January 21st and wished one and all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Joan Kuster, Alice Brown, and Noel Burke were among the many Garden City folks who attended the exhibit and talk by Robert McMillan on Global Passage with selections from his Panama Canal collection. It was held at the Ruth Harley University Center at Adelphi University. Bob’s collection will be on display at the Harley Center until January 10th. Don’t miss it!

Happy birthday wishes go to Angelo Romano, who will be celebrating his special day very soon, to John Mirrione and Tom Butler who share the 13th of December as their special day and to Willa Ward who will be blowing out the candles on her cake on the 17th and to Arthur Hug who will be celebrating his birthday very soon now. May they all have a wonderful day and a great year filled with good health and happiness with may more to come.

Happy wedding anniversary wishes go Frieda and Bob Stark who will be celebrating theirs on the 19th of this month. Many more happy years to you both and only good health in which to enjoy them.

Unfortunately we must also mark the passing of Donald Muller. Don and his wife Blanche lived on Washington Avenue for many years until downsizing right here in the village. Don was active in the Cathedral of the Incarnation and in the Retired Men’s Club where he could be found playing with his bridge buddies most days. He was always willing to help out where he could and will be remembered by his many friends here in town. Our prayers and thoughts go to his wife Blanche, his son and daughter, and his grandchildren. He can be remembered with donations to the Cathedral Restoration Fund.

Happy Hanukkah to our friends of the Jewish faith. See you next week.