With Athena All you hear nowadays are complaints about the heat. What do you expect -- it’s SUMMER! For several summers we have had a cool spell and there were complaints about them, too. In today’s world, when all the stores and a large percentage of the homes have air-conditioning, we have become accustomed to cool temperatures. Well, this is the summer that I remember from my youth (not that long ago). Then we went to the beach to swim and get cooled off and, as I recall, the sand was so hot you could hardly wait to get into the surf and cool down. I do hope that you remember these complaints about the heat when we are facing the cold, ice and snow of the winter. In my youth, we kept our houses cool by keeping the windows closed during the day with the shades down and the windoes were only opened very early in the morning and again late at night. So count your blessings and your air-conditioners and stop complaining about the SUMMER heat.

The place to cool off (even if you don’t swim) is the GC Pool. There are many who join and go to read, socialize, play bridge and relax but never go in the water. I will say that the bridge players are down to one or two tables when there used to be at least four or five but the swimmers are enjoying the wonderful crystal clear water. Among those who dip and swim recently were Gail Vitale, Marie Kelly (swimming but not bridge playing), Carol Countryman, Florence Dieterich and June Kwee. They have two exercise classes, one at 11am and the other early in the afternoon. The craft classes for the kids are popular, too, and that gives Moms a chance to get into the water.

Ruth and Nick LaBosco enjoyed an afternoon at Hofstra University where they attended a wonderful musical program of the music of Frank Sinatra. They reported that the house was filled (parking is great on Sundays), the price was right, and the music was great. They have a program of concerts and plays through the summer on Friday or Saturday nights or Sunday afternoons or evenings. So give them a call to get tickets and enjoy.

I think that more folks would have gone into Rockaway to see “A Salute to Floyd Bennett Field” but when the notice came out on Friday in this paper it seemed too late to make plans. A little forward notice of at least a week could make a big difference. It should be remembered that it pays to advertise.

Happy birthday wishes go to Laurie Hazlet who will be celebrating her special day on August 4th and to Edward Brennan, who will do his celebrating on the 6th of August. See, it’s here at last-- the last real month of summer. May each of the happy celebrants have a wonderful day and a great year filled with health and happiness with many more years to come.

On Wednesday, August 4th, there will be a meeting at the Garden City Historical Society House regarding the alternative plan to save St. Paul’s. It will take place at 7pm and will be presented by The Committee To Save St. Paul’s and the Garden City Historical Society’s Stop Demolition Committee. Make your reservations through a call to Maureen Traxler at 516-319-1906 or to Albert Intreglia @ www.gardencityhistoricalsociety.org or thegardencityhistorical

society@verizon.net. You should get all the facts before making your mind up on this important issue. Light refreshments will be served. Do remember that once the building is gone it cannot be replaced. All facts should be known in order to make a good decision.

It’s summer and things are slow in town what with vacations and getting kids off to visit colleges or getting them ready to return. These things start earlier and earlier as the years go by.

Guess that’s all for this week. See you at the pool and, to give you something to mull over during the week, your thought will be: Look at the doughnut, not the hole. That will give you something to mull over.