Congratulations to Adelphi for making their homecoming weekend a huge success. Homecoming Weekend included Adelphi's Family Weekend along with Adelphi's Homecoming Parade and an Oktoberfest. The theme this year was "I Love NY/I Love AU." There were various floats included in the parade and giveaways. There were also over 200 alumni and guests who attended the festivities and participated in various games, which included baseball, soccer, softball, swimming and track.

We are very proud that Adelphi is part of the Garden City family.

Congratulations and a sincere word of thanks are due to the Chamber's Festival Committee and Garden City High School for the extraordinary effort that they expended to make the Oct. 16 annual Festival and Street Fair the success that it was. The magnificent weather made it even more festive.

On Sunday, Oct. 17, I attended the dedication of a spectacular scoreboard at the Stewart Field, donated by the Paul Eckna Memorial Foundation to the village's recreation department, with Trustees Peter Bee and John Watras, as well as Kevin Ocker, chairman of the Board of Commissioners of Cultural and Recreation Affairs. Eckna grew up in Garden City and loved football; he was number "77" of the Garden City Rams. He tragically lost his life September 11, 2001.

The GCAA and the village's recreation department coordinated the ceremony. Our thanks go to the Foundation, of course, but also to Tom Wright, Bob Jahelka and John Ernenwein, GCAA Thunder Football directors who worked closely with the Foundation in the development of this scoreboard. A number of individuals spoke of Mr. Eckna's great love of the village and football, including Garden City High School Assistant Varsity Football Coach Steve Finnell and GCAA President Al Vanasco. It was my pleasure to accept this gift from the Eckna family. Plans are under way to present his family with a proclamation at the board of trustees' meeting Thursday, Nov. 4.

Nassau County has notified us that they have canceled all of their flu shot immunization programs, including one that was scheduled later this month in Garden City. As the result of half the loss of the nation's flu vaccines for the 2004/05 season, the federal government is working closely with state and local health departments to distribute the remaining supply of vaccines.

The 14.2 million doses of influenza vaccine throughout the nation will be distributed within six to eight weeks to those determined to be at the greatest risk for the flu. Those include people in hospitals, nursing homes and in long term health facilities. Nassau County will work with nursing homes, health care facilities and doctors to meet their needs. If you would like more information please call Nassau County at 571-2500 and when more information becomes available, I will share it with you in a future column.