Here we are two weeks into the New Year and locked in the frigid cold with all these decorative touches of snow. Not only that, but the whole country is having snow and cold and even the folks who travel south to leave the chill of the north are having cold weather. The orange trees are being frozen to help them survive and the strawberry crops are also in danger. The result is the usual reaction - when it gets cold, the prices were already on the upswing. It is ever thus and there is not much we can do about it. Spring will be here around the middle of March so just wait it out.

The Nassau County Coalition Against Domestic Violence is holding its annual Best of Long Island’s Restaurants, Wineries, Breweries, Bakeries and more at Carlton at Eisenhower Park on Monday, February 1, from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Tickets are $100 per person or $150 for reserved seats made payable to N.C.C.A.D. V. can be sent to 15-10 Grumman Road West, Bethpage, N.Y. 11714. If you can’t attend, you can send a donation in any amount or call 516-572-0700 for further information. This is something that effects everyone, young, old, male or female and is a growing concern everywhere. Do try to help.

The ladies of the Auxiliary of our Legion post visited the Veteran’s Hospital in Northport for Christmas and they included a $10 gift certificate to each veteran in Ward 8A to spend in the PX and also gave each veteran in the unit a V-neck sweater. Those who went out with organizer Marilyn Schmachtenberg Blauert were: Jean Gustitus, Betty Erdos, Herb Blauert, Joe Keating, Joe Krattinger, and Pauline and Bob Rudkin . They also served the Ward cake, pudding, ice cream and soda. In short, they brought some Christmas cheer to those who served their country and they deserve a standing ovation for what they do.

The Thursday Lunch Group has started up again at the Garden City Community Church and the Hostesses for the month will be Martha Pearson and Pat Dalton. This past Thursday they had a group from G.C.C.C. Nursery School who sang for them and on January 28th they will have Garden City Police Officer Pedone to speak on senior safety. This is open to all senior citizens of the Village. All you have to do is call the church office at 746-1700 to make a reservation, bring a sandwich and they will provide dessert, coffee or tea and a program. You can meet an old friend or make a new one. The meetings are on the second and fourth Thursdays of each month. Try it, you’ll love it.

Happy birthday wishes go to John Lo Sardo, who will be celebrating his special day on the 19th of this month and to S hirley Jessen, who will be blowing out the candles on her cake on the 23rd of January. May they both have a wonderful day and a year filled with good health, happiness and many more years to come.

January seems to be nominating committee time for many organizations and the Auxiliary of the Garden City Community Church is getting ready to present its new slate. Linda Gambardella presented a gift of a gold cross to the outgoing President Kimberly Pauley recently. Kimberly will continue on the Board as Hospitality Chairlady and Linda will be the new incoming president. They are still looking for co-chairs for the Fall Fair and Nancy Layton-Ziems and Linda Gambardella will both be happy to guide the new co-chairs along the way. With help like that, who could refuse? Two gentlemen from Garden City have written a new show to be performed on Friday, and Saturday the 15th and 16th at 8 p.m. and on Sunday the 17th at 3 p.m. at the historic Performing Arts Center at Oyster Bay High School. The gentlemen are George Peterson, who wrote the music and Frank Roman who wrote the story and lyrics to the show Truck Stop. Do try to see it and support their wonderful talents.

Alberta Maggio is chairing the Joy of Reading for AAUW on January 20th. The book is Three Cups of Tea. Seems as though everyone is in a reading group these days and it surely is good to see that.

Thoughts for the week: do what you are afraid to do and in so doing you conquor fear and achieve your goals.

See you next week!