I would like to thank all the families who brought their children to what has now become a welcome annual event for our residents. It was heartwarming to see the faces of the children and their excitement at being a part of a wonderful evening of fun. All of the children seemed to enjoy the hayrides, pony rides, petting zoo and certainly all the goodies they received to top the evening off.

I am sure we will all agree that every event owes its success to those that volunteer. The Halloween Festivities are no exception. Countless hours were expended to make the event the Hugh success it was.

A partial list of the volunteers is as follows:

Tomasz Chorezpa

Carolina Coehlo

Jason Cunha

Doug Cunningham

Peter Danielson

Jason DeOliveira

Peter Ferreira

Hernando Gauto

Julio Gauto

Lori Gayson

Michael Gregorius

Crissy Lee

Ryan Logan

Andrew Marotta

Michael Marotta

Jen McGrath

Antonia O'Brien

Jeff Orr

Joel Orr

Janine Posillico

Luis Ribeiro

Sergio Ribeiro

Brian Saks

Matt Sanderleaf

Chris Silverman

Ryan Traina

Luis Tramontano

James Valente

Ben Volino

Peter Wain

Dan Zarchey

Joseph Tiseo

Amanda Chiu

Anjali Singla

Jacqueline Johnson

Eric Wong

Theresa Dolan

Matt Russo

Anthony Wong

Nicholas Fusco

Neeti Dharia

Diana Rodriguez

Ryan Barry

Jennifer Aven

Maryl Fitzpatrick

Denise Fitzpatrick

Vanessa Gonzalez

Rachelle Callahan

Jessica Valente

Vanessa Papadimitrios

Ashley O'Neill

Kristina Zunno

Caitlin Callahan

Stephanie Fabrico

Melissa Fischetto

Patrice Grosskopf

Ceu Lopes

Barbara Mattina

Stanley Stone

Joseph Baranello

(summer help)

Bella Champness, Jen Alfonso

Michelle Morrison

Maggie O'Shea

Theresa Lyons

Clark Kids

Liam, Dennis, Peter, Patrick

Brendan & Virginia

The sponsors who most graciously gave donations, which literally made this event possible, are:

Senator Michael Balboni

Forchelli, Curto, Schwartz, Mineo

Assemblywoman Maureen O'Connell

Carlino & Cohn LLP, ESQ.

Legislature Richard Nicolello

A Tasteful Thyme Inc.

Winthrop-University Hospital

Create-A-Frame Inc.

McDonald's

PACE-Parent and Child Education

Mineola Chamber of Commerce

Fleet Bank, Old Country Road

Spellman & Walsh LLP

I. Janvey & Sons Inc.

County Seat Self Storage Inc.

St. James Restaurant

Total Health Chiropractic

Dover Publications Inc.

Meyer Suozzi English & Klein PC

All Island Transportation

Murphy, Bartol & O'Brien LLP

Smith & DeGroat Inc.

Vessa & Wilensky PC

Tsontos Furs

Mineola Auto Care Corp.

Latham Bros.

Koeppel, Martone, Leistman & Herman

Mineola Animal Center

Scott Fairgrieve, Attorney at Law

Pvt. Adolph Block Post 1305

Herricks Travel Center, Inc.

Tobacco Junction

Massaro's Restaurant

LI Dental Center

Custom Funding Corp.

King Kullen Supermarket

Jack Gayson Plumbing & Heating

Pathmark Supermarkets

Mineola Hardward & Supply Co.

Fogarty & Fogarty PC

O'Donnell's Pub

Willis Hobbies Inc.

Mail Boxes Etc.

Williston Park Rotary

Knights of Columbus Council # 2502

Foresto's Mens Shop

Lisbon @ Night Restaurant Café

Fox's Department Store

Entenmann's Bakery

Jerome Wolfert D.M.D.

WTHE Radio

Strategic Alarm Concepts

Valente Contracting Corp.

Cassidy Funeral Home

Mineola Historical Society

Mineola Health Club

Mineola Auxiliary Police and Mineola Volunteer Ambulance Corps

Paternostro & DeFreitas, CPAs

Martin, Van de Walle, Donohue,

Mineola Athletic Association

McGahan, Catalano & Fairgrieve

Baker's of All Nations

Folding Box-Corrugated Box &

Western Beef

Display Workers Union Local 381

Mineola Memorial Post #349

Albert Zolezzi Auto Body Inc.

Jones & Jones, Attorneys at Law

Jack Martins, Attorney at Law

Rim Industries

Mineola Diner

As in years past, there is a group of men who prepare for the Halloween Festivities months in advance. Their collective creativity was evident throughout the Community Center as well as in the "Walk." Without the effort of those individuals the event would not be the quality event that it is.

I would like to publicly thank these special men. Thank you Gary Mazur, Rob Connolly and Bill Gresalfi and a heartfelt congratulations on a "job" well done.

The Village Offices will be closed on Tuesday, November 7th (Election Day) and on Friday, Nov. 10, (in recognition of Veterans Day). Although the Village Offices will be closed on Nov. 7 & 10 there will be regular garbage collections on these dates and in addition on Nov. 7 recycling collections will also occur.

Smoking puts people at risk for disease, and is cited by the Center for Disease Control as the leading cause of preventable death in the United States. Although many people would like to stop smoking, quitting is not easy. In recognition of the American Cancer Society's "Great American Smoke Out" on Nov. 16, Winthrop-University Hospital will offer a free hypnosis session designed to help people stop smoking. The session will be offered during the day at the Church of the Nativity, located at 172 Willis Avenue in Mineola, from noon - 1 p.m., with registration and free breathing tests at 11:30 a.m. It will be repeated on the evening of the 16th at Winthrop's Community Outreach Center, located at 101 Mineola Boulevard in Mineola, from 7 - 8 p.m., with registration and free breathing tests at 6:30 p.m.

James Cullum, certified consultant in hypnosis, will hypnotize participants during a group session. Although there are a number of ways in which people can quit smoking, hypnosis has proven to be one of the more successful methods smokers can try.

The program is offered through the Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, part of Winthrop's Institute for Lung Care. It is sponsored by a grant from the Stony Wold-Herbert Fund, Inc. Admission is free but seating is limited. Pre-registration is required. To reserve a space, please call 663-2579.