Around Town with Lou

By Lou Sanders

Bob Tenney of Colonial Ave. would make a great Santa Claus. He has a bushy white beard, always has a broad smile and is built generally along the lines of that popular figure. To top it off Bob drives a bright red Volks.

Former Mayor Ed Smith and his wife Evelyne visited Mineola, Missouri. Ed was there 15 years ago and said nothing has changed, Mineola has a general store and one gas station and is as quite as ever.

Peggy and Al Ford, formerly of Mineola Boulevard, have moved from Palm Coast, Florida to a new home in Deland, Florida. Their new address is Turtle Dove Trail, Deland, Florida 32724.

Gerard Terry was in the office the other day. As a prime mover in Democratic Party circles, Gerard has gone far. The Mineola High School Class of 1972 was pretty successful producing, as well as Gerard, Assemblyman Tom DiNapoli, Staten Island Advance Editor Judy Randall and our son Tom who is a CPA, VP and Comptroller of the Reliance Holding Group.

Steve Martone of Mineola was formerly with the Town and is now on the staff of County Executive Tom Gulotta.

A big party was held on Beebe Road and why not? It was the first birthday of Connor Smith, son of Peter and Karen Smith. The event took place on Dec. 6.

Fred Calfipietra attended a reunion of his World War II buddies who served with him in the South Pacific. The party was held in Farmingdale.

The mission held at Corpus Christi by Franciscan Fathers Francis Smith and Emmett Murphy was well-attended.

Five houses in a row on Roosevelt Avenue had their garages broken into on the same night. One family reported the loss of a brand-new bicycle.

Good to see Tom Flynn and his father Dan along with Jack and Gloria Sullivan taking up gifts to the altar on a recent Sunday morning.

A TV broadcast of Italian Culture night showed the entire wedding of Jim and Dora Bruno of East Washington Avenue.

Jaclyn Mondello and Madeline Leno do such a good job as church altar servers.

Many stores around town are rallying to the defense of the popular Portuguese restaurant on Jericho Turnpike posting signs in their windows saying "Leave Bairrada Alone." They are referring to the restaurant's ongoing struggle with the village.

Former Town Councilman George Soos and his wife Eleanor of Williston Park are still very active. George is vice-president of Westbury gardens and Eleanor works for a local ophthalmologist. Eleanor has lived in Williston Park all her life.

John and Mary Leonardi of Wardwell Road own Resurrection Press which specializes in religious books.

Knotts Pharmacy has gone out of business. Who would have thought that three of Mineola's oldest businesses would have hit the deck in the last year? Reese Buick, Jay's Department Store and Knotts all closed in 1997. Knotts had been here for 70 years.

Our friend Dr. Edward Gottleib has moved to his new location at 182 Hillside Avenue in Williston Park. The well-known dentist has bought that large building and with its own parking lot which they share with no one else. The same caring staff is on hand. Good luck Doc.

Sy Canton of our classified department is arranging the Fifth Army reunion in Italy on May 10. They will visit many WWII battle sites going to Anzio, Cassino, Florence, Rome, Pisa and Venice. Call Sy for more details at 747-8282.

Former Mineola American reporter Ruth Kazdan and husband Lennie of Colonial Avenue enjoyed lunch at the Jericho Diner.