Our guest speaker., amateur astronomer Bill Bradley with general program co-chairmen Kathy Mc Cormick and Ruth La Bosco and Community Club president Emily Sair. Members and guests of the Community Club of Garden City and Hempstead who attended the club’s general program at the Garden City Casino on March 3, 2010 had a rare treat in store for them as amateur astronomer Bill Bradley presented a beautiful slide show of photographs he had taken of the night skies over Long Island and upstate New York.

Entitled “Celestial Highlights” we were privy to Celestial phenomena rarely seen by the naked eye. Visible only with the use of high powered telescopes and exquisitely captured on camera by Mr. Bradley. We viewed the moon in all its phases and even saw a “Blue Moon.” We saw the sun rise and set over the shoreline and all the magnificent color it produced in the sky. We viewed the planets Venus, Jupiter and Mars and the Rings of Saturn. We learned about Auras, Conjunctions, Nebulas, Helixes, Galaxies and the fact that the International Space Station travels at 60,000 miles per hour and circles the earth once every 90 minutes. It was a most enlightening and enjoyable trip through the heavens and we thank Mr. Bradley for taking us there.

Past President Betty Pupke and Community Club members Sheila Birkenstock, Regina Dowling and Janet Castles Admire the Beautiful St. Patty’s Day Decorations on the Tea Table. Mr. Bradley is passionate about the science of astronomy but he admits it was not his first love. He is a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America. Worked as an executive chef, and until just recently helped to run the department of food and nutrition at Winthrop University Hospital. He turned to astronomy 10 years ago after purchasing a pair of binoculars to observe the night sky. He now serves on the Board of Directors of the Amateur Observers Society of New York and is a member of both the Astronomical League and the International Dark Sky Association. He is an activist against light pollution here on Long Island and in New York State. He does volunteer work with Hofstra University and its astronomy outreach programs which are sponsored by a grant from NASA and includes the “Stars in Parks’ and “”Music Under the Stars” programs. He as also worked closely with The Cradle of Aviation Museum in Garden City and played an integral part in the building of th AOS’s first Public Observatory located at the Custer Institute in the Town of Southold which houses the largest public telescope for viewing here on Long Island. A 25” reflecting telescope.

Prior to the start of the program Community Club President Emily Sair held a short business meeting during which Carolyn Kaiser gave her treasurers report. Then the slate of officers for next year was read by Nominating chairman Muriel Urban and approved by the membership. Changes to the bylaws and standing rules were brought forward by Past President Julie Fehler voted on and passed unanimously. Past President Muriel Urban then introduced our Speaker Bill Bradley.

If you have ever considered joining the Community Club now is the time to do so. Anyone joining in the month of March 2010 will be considered paid in full for the Club year ending in May 2011. Quite a bargain considering the wonderful array of interesting and educational programs, trips and fine arts. classes offered by the Community Club to its members so please call our office at 516 746-0488 on Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday from 9:30 A.M. to 12:30 P.M. to learn how you may become a member.

Special Notice: The Americanism/

Current events program “Women and the Railroad” featuring LIRR President Helena Williams has been rescheduled for Thursday, April 15, 2010.