The tradition of the Mineola Mustang Run was kept alive when hundreds of runners and walkers lined up near Mineola Middle School to participate in the 3.1 mile run, which is held each year to benefit various organizations throughout the village.

There are numerous events held throughout the year, which bring the community together. The run brought together various organizations and businesses that made donations for an event that promotes athletics as well the idea of community members helping each other.

Chairman of the Mustang Run Committee, Scott Fairgrieve, was busy for months organizing the race along with Bill Kaiser, Dolores LaCourte, Maddy Maffetore, Tony Nocito, Joyce Gorycki and other volunteers who made the morning a success.

The day began with a 1-mile fun run/walk. After trophies were handed out to the participants, the 3.1-mile run was kicked off. Participants gathered anxiously during the singing of the national anthem by Gerry Hanson. Then Fairgrieve introduced the dignitaries present including Mayor John P. Colbert, trustee Elizabeth Conlon, Mineola American Publisher Angela Anton, Town of North Hempstead Receiver of Taxes Ann Galante, Town of North Hempstead Clerk Michelle Schimel and Hilde Laskau, wife of Henry Laskau, who was honored by the race being dedicated in his memory.

Laskau, a middle-distance runner, escaped a Nazi concentration camp and later came to the United States and lived in Mineola for a period of time. He became one of the greatest U.S. walkers ever.

All together the Mineola Mustang Run drew 700 participants and the beneficiaries of the run - the Mineola Volunteer Ambulance Corps, the Mineola Athletic Association, Mineola Police Athletic League, the Mineola Auxiliary Police, the Mineola Fire Department, the Mineola Historical Society and Mineola Youth and Family Services - will each receive $2,500 to $3,000.

Following the race, trophies and raffle prizes were awarded including a mountain bike donated by Hempstead Lincoln-Mercury.

Some of the community members who finished the race include Mineola Fire Department Chief Scott Strauss, Mineola Fire Department Captain Christopher Franz and his wife Karyn, fire department ex-captain Robert Connolly, Chamber of Commerce President Manny DeFreitas and Father Robert Batule.

Fairgrieve said he was pleased with the turnout for the run. The Mineola Mustang Run Committee would like to thank the following sponsors for their assistance in fund-raising efforts:

Winthrop-University Hospital

A & D Offset Printers, Ltd

Albert Zolezzi Auto Body

All Fire Systems, Inc.

All Island Taxi

Alliance Reporting Service

Alliance Welding (Floral Park)

Anton Publications

Assemblyman Candidate Emil Samuels

Bagel Express

Bank Of New York

Bedquarters

Bill Miliano (Accountant/Enrolled Agent)

Bina Office Furniture/Computer Furniture

Cassidy Funeral Home

Chiropractic Health Care Center (Dr. Gail Stevens)

Churrasqueira Bairrada Restaurant

Clara Valderamma At Prudential Galeria Real Estate

Coltin, Baddish & Shapiro, Cpas

Congresswoman Carolyn Mccarthy

Councilman Angelo Ferrara

Councilman Jim O'connor

County Executive Thomas Gulotta

County Seat Kiwanis

Cross County Telephone Systems

Custom Funding Corporation

D. Reis Furniture Mfg. Corp.

David Bruce Brokerage Ltd.

Day-Op Center Of Long Island

Dial-A-Mattress

Dover Publications

Drs. Klein, Geier & Lipp

Dunkin' Donuts, Jericho Turnpike, Mineola

Eab

Eleanor Rigby's

Family Chiropractic Center (Sandro S. Femia, D.C.)

Fidelity National Title Insurance Company Of N.Y.

Fleet Bank

For Birds Only (Pet Lovers U.S.A.)

Fred Pollack, Esq.

Friends Of Judge Claire Weinberg

Gallagher, Walker And Bianco, Esqs.

Gensel's Gallery (Mineola)

Glendale Medical Group (Dr. Joseph Pisciotto)

Entenmann's Bakery

Gorilla Security Systems

Gullwing Motors, Inc.

Hammill, O'brien, Croutier & Dempsey, P.C.

Harry Katz Carpet One

Hempstead Lincoln-Mercury, Garden City Saab, John Lotito-Sales Consultant

Independence Community Bank

Irish-American Society Of Nassau, Suffolk & Queens, Inc.

Jack Gayson Plumbing & Heating

Jack Martins, Esq.

Jericho Diner

Jerome Wolfert, D.M.D.

John O'shea, Esq.

John S. Davanzo Republican Club

Judge Jonathan S. Kaiman

Kenneth L. Sommers, D.D.S.

Knights Of Columbus Corpus Christi Council

Koeppel Ford Of Mineola

Koeppel, Martone, Leistman And Herman (Attorneys At Law)

K's Auto

L.I. Women's Health Center

La Misinetta

Latham Bros. Lumber Co., Inc.

Lawrence T. Jones, Esq.

Legislator Richard Nicolello

Lipa

Maguire & Maguire

Martin Shear, D.M.D.

Martin, Van De Walle, Donohue, Mcgahan, Catalano & Fairgrieve

Martorella, Grasso & Co., Llp

Massaro's Pizzeria & Restaurant

Master Bath And Kitchen Plus

Mayor John P. Colbert

Mcdonald's (Mineola)

Meltzer, Lippe, Goldstein, Wolf & Schlissel, P.C.

Merrill Lynch

Meyer, Suozzi, English & Klein, P.C.

Mike Fink-Realtor/Century 21 Laffey

Mineola Animal Center

Mineola Bicycle-Lawnmower

Mineola Chamber Of Commerce

Mineola Health Club

Mineola Hometown Party

Western Beef

Mineola Lions

Mineola Teachers Association

Mistic Beverage

Mkm Abstract Services, Inc.

Mr. Jay Appliances & Tv, Inc.

Nassau Chromium Plating Co.

Nassau Sports Therapy, P.C. (Michael G. Gallagher, M.S.P.T.)

North Fork Bank

Oheka Castle Caterers

Paradise Island Fine Chinese Cuisine

Paternostro, Defreitas & Co., Llp

Peter E. Shapiro, Esq./Westerman, Shapiro, Pollack & Draghl Llp

State Senator Candidate Jon Brooks

Queens Bridal Center

Randi's Drive-In Cleaners

Richard Dubin, D.D.S.

Richard & Jessica Dwyer

Ridgewood Savings Bank

Ross Orthopedic Group

Rynkar, Vail & Barrett, Llp

Senator Michael Balboni

Sidney B. Browne & Son

Spellman & Walsh

Sperry Federal Credit Union

Station Plaza Coffee Shop

Supervisor May Newburger

The Bank Of New York

Topaz Abstract Corp.

Total Health Chiropractic (Dr. Ann Forte)

Town Clerk Michelle Schimel

Tres Belle Hair Design (Mineola)

Trustee Elizabeth A.J. Conlon

Tsontos Furs

2001 Friends Of Tom Suozzi (Glen Cove Mayor)

Ufcw Local 342-50

Vecchione & Vecchione (Attorneys At Law)

Villa Liquors

Village Hair Cutters

Vito's Bakery

Walter Moloughney, Esq.

Wendy's

Willis Hobbies

Williston Park Town House

Wthe Radio

Mineola Mustang Run Award Winners

Runners - Male and Female

Overall Winners

Luis Mejia 16:10.3

Una Broderick 19:26.8

10-Year Age Group

Shane O'Leary 20:00.2

Shari Seidman 25:54.5

13-Year Age Group

Michael Brady 18:20.9

Sara Pagano 24:56.4

20-Year Age Group

Oscar Ramos 18:17.7

Lauren Ueland 21:31.9

25-Year Age Group

Miguel Rodriguez 18:13.1

Amy Stack 23:53.9

30-Year Age Group

Gerardo Martinez 17:27.5

Karyn Franz 22:46.9

35-Year Age Group

Thomas Taylor 17:11.2

Barbara Cronin-Stagnari 21:39.8

40-Year Age Group

Robert Pasqual 18:29.4

Anne Garger 22:43.9

45-Year Age Group

Patrick Rafferty 19:12.8

Miriam Mulvey 22:39.9

50-Year Age Group

Vinny Pizzo 18:49.0

Ellie Gavin 22:55.7

55-Year Age Group

David Frisone 21:30.1

Frances Doyle 30:29.1

60-Year Age Group

Mike Andreachi 21:07.4

65-Year Age Group

John Toner 25:32.0

Walkers - Male and Female

Overall Winners

John Berookhim 25:47.4

Linda Goldstein 33:34.6

10-Year Age Group

Andrew Helme 39:11.5

Nicole Smith 40:12.5

13-Year Age Group

Justin Paley 46:07.7

20-Year Age Group

Dina McMahon 43:03.4

25-Year Age Group

Louise Loughlin 43:10.5

30-Year Age Group

Patricia Connelly 42:04.8

35-Year Age Group

John Buckley 43:05.8

Evelyn Maffucci

40-Year Age Group

Marie Grisafi 37:52.6

45-Year Age Group

Joseph Folks 31:39.4

Barbara Hafner 36:43.7

50-Year Age Group

Richard Spatafora 35:37.7

Rita Congelosi 44:23.8

55-Year Age Group

Donna Ehrenberg 35:23.8

Jeffrey Koch 38:57.9

60-Year Age Group

John Shilling 32:12.5

Irene Kanzler 37:46.5

65-Year Age Group

Gerry Granger 43:41.9

70-Year Age Group

Jake Jacobson 32:12.5

Mary Brierley 43:36.3

Mineola Resident Top Finishers

Runners - Male and Female

Christopher Connelly 19:14.6

Lauren Ueland 21:31.9

Walkers - Male and Female

Jeffrey Koch 38:57.9

Dale Oswald 39:51.7