Yes, I know we had a really rain filled weekend and yes, there was a small lake that appeared in the Parking Lot and probably in a lot of other places, too. However, it will be good for trees, plants, flowers, and grass - and you didn’t have to shovel it. Look on the bright side - spring will be here this Sunday and things must get better after that. I do hope that you got your clocks straightened out, voted in the Village election, and enjoyed St Patrick’s Day. Top of the season to you!

When spring comes, those who have boats start thinking of launching them but the folks over at Clark Gardens have a wonderful program coming up at 1 p.m. this Sunday, March 21st. Adam Grohman will be the Fireside Speaker with “Claimed by the Sea” as his program. He will discuss his book Claimed By The Sea Long Island Shipwrecks. This documents eleven different shipwrecks and maritime disasters in our local waters. You will hear about the Savannah, the Lexington, the General Slocum, and the Andrea Doria, to name just a few. Adam is the chief diver and researcher of the Underwater Historical Research Society and an Administrator at Long Island University. There is enjoyment in this for anybody who loves the sea. Refreshments will be served following his presentation. The fee is $8 for Members and $10 for Non-Members. You may even find there one of your G.C. neighbors such as Mary Lou Pfiffer and Virginia Musante, who are ardent volunteers.

Just about everyone enjoyed St. Patrick’s Day but few as much as Melissa Bradley. That is because it was a double celebration for her. Not only was there a parade in New York City for those of Irish ancestry, but it was her birthday. Hope it was a good one and that you have many more to celebrate. Others also celebrating are Rosalie Jahelk, who blows out the candles on her cake on the 19th (today) and John Christie who does the same on the 26th. May all the happy celebrants have nothing but health and happiness in the coming year and also for many more years to come.

The Art Department of the Community Club of Garden City and Hempstead recently enjoyed a slide lecture by one of their favorite speakers, Dan Christoffel, on the subject of Norman Rockwell, the painter of americana. The program was arranged by the Department Chairlady, Renate Rego-Monteiro and it was very well attended as usual. Among those attending were: Anne Daly, Veronica Witt, Terri Ferrari, Paula Rega and many others. There was a line from a song in “The King and I” that said; “If you become a teacher, by your pupils you will be taught” and that happened following the lecture. Two of the Community Club members told the speaker that in addition to the museums that he knew featuring the work of Norman Rockwell, there was another museum just outside of Rutland Vermont that was new to him. It’s good to learn something new,

Prem Chauhan hosted a program on poetry readings the very next day sponsored by the Drama/Literature Department. The poems were written by a Community Club member and were published in a number of literary journals. This too was well received. Enjoying the poems as well as the readings were: Ida and Jennie Catania, Sheila Birkenstock, Bonna Bishop, and Grace Murphy. It’s always good to learn something new about a person you’ve known for a long time.

Paula Balboni Roddles and her husband Jock came back to Garden City with a two-fold purpose recently. One was to visit her mother and father, Dr. and Mrs. Balboni , and the second was to attend a surprise birthday party for the husband of one of her best friends. It was a great visit (they live in New York City) and she even picked up some planting tips from the mother of her friend. A good time was had by all in spite of th heavy rains and howling winds.

It’s also good to know that there are so many excellent and well planned programs that can be attended to increase our knowledge and enjoyment of new and exciting things so very close at hand.

I’ll see you next week and also at the movies - Monday at the G.C. Library, that is.