The 1999-2000 Mineola PAL Roller Hockey season has begun. These youngsters range from age 5 to 17. Their games take place at the two rinks we have in our Village. The Raymond Uhll Memorial Rink at Willis Avenue and Second Street holds the teams with players who range from 5 to 11 years old. The Wilson Park Roller Rink holds the teams with players who range from 12 to 17 years old.

Games run seven days a week. The younger children play on Monday through Friday from 6 p.m. until 9 p.m. and on Saturdays and Sundays from 9 a.m. until 8 p.m. The older children play on Monday through Friday from 6 p.m. until 10 p.m., Saturday from 1 until 6 p.m. and on Sunday from 2 until 10 p.m.

Come on down to support these athletes in their pursuits of athletic excellence.

Village Offices will be closed for a half-day on Thursday, Dec. 23, and all day Friday, Dec. 24. In observance of the Christmas holiday, there will be no garbage collection Friday, Dec. 24. The holiday schedule for this week is as follows:

If your garbage is normally collected on Monday and Thursday, it will be collected on Monday, Dec. 20, and Wednesday, Dec. 22.

If your garbage is normally collected on Tuesday and Friday, it will be collected on Tuesday, Dec. 21, and Thursday, Dec. 23.

Recycling, rubbish and newspaper collection will be on regular days.

The Mineola Planning Board will meet on Tuesday, Dec. 14, at 7:30 p.m. at the Village Hall, 155 Washington Avenue.

On the agenda for this meeting is the application of Michael Asfour, 239 Elm Place for a zoning variance to maintain front vestibule with insufficient front yard set back.

The Board of Zoning and Appeals will hold a public hearing on Thursday, Dec. 16, at 8 p.m. at the Village Hall, 155 Washington Avenue regarding the following applications:

Please take notice that the Board of Zoning and Appeals of the Village of Mineola will hold a public hearing on Thursday, Dec. 16, at 8 p.m. at the Village Hall 155 Washington Avenue, Mineola, New York upon the application of:

Doug Donnelly- 157 East Jericho Turnpike. Application for a Zoning variance to maintain prefabricated rear addition with insufficient off street parking, maintain 6ft high chain link fence with barbed wire, and maintain existing sign contrary to Chapter 30, Article 1, Section 30.6; Chapter 30, Article 7, Section 30.72; Chapter 30, Article 9, Section 30.94; Chapter 30, Article 6, Section 30.61(D)(1); and Chapter 30, Article 8, Section 30.83(A)(2) of the Incorporated Village of

Mineola Municipal Code.

156 First Street, LLC - 156 First Street. Application for a Zoning variance to convert basement storage to office use with insufficient off street parking contrary to Chapter 30, Article 1, Section 30.6 of the Incorporated Village of Mineola Municipal Code.

Michael Asfour - 239 Elm Place. Application for a Zoning variance to maintain existing front vestibule with insufficient front yard setback contrary to Chapter 30, Article 1, Section 30.6 of the Incorporated Village of Mineola Municipal Code.

The public is invited to attend and all those wishing to be heard will be given an opportunity to speak.

The Mineola Fire Department was organized in 1888. It consists of three companies which operate pumpers.

Company Two is the truck company and it operates the Heavy Rescue Unit, the Aerial Ladder and Bucket Truck.

The Mineola Fire Department is an all volunteer department. The volunteers spend countless hours training on department apparatus and at the Nassau County Fireman's Training Center, located in Bethpage where they learn the intricate techniques of search and rescue and firefighting.

In December, during the holiday season, the Mineola Fire Department runs "Operation Santa." This project involves responding to over 300 phone calls.

Santa and his helpers, Frosty and Rudolph visit children at their homes, schools and places of worship.

If you would like a "visit" from Santa, please call 747-5860 to schedule a visit.