The Mineola Athletic Association will hold its Annual Opening Day parade on Saturday, April 21, at 10:30 a.m.

The parade will assemble at Wilson Park at 9:30 a.m. and the parade route is: Union Avenue north to Westbury Avenue, west to Roslyn Road, north to Jericho Turnpike, west to Mineola Blvd., south to Second Street, east to Willis Avenue and ending at the Mineola Little League Complex.

The National Baseball Hall of Fame (website is baseballhalloffame.org) has a "Trivia Quiz" which is as follows:

1. Who is the only pitcher to throw a no-hitter in an opening Day Game?

a) Nolan Ryan b) Kent Merker c) Bob Feller d) Warren Spahn

2. Who was the first American league pitcher to throw two no-hitters in the same season?

a) Virgil Trucks b) Johnny VanderMeer c) Nolan Ryan d) Allie Reynolds

3. Which of the following Hall of Fame pitchers never threw a big league no-hitter?

a) Don Drysdale b) Gaylord Perry c) Tom Seaver d) Bob Gibson

4. What pitcher is the most recent (excluding current season) to hurl a perfect game?

a) Dennis Martinez b) David Wells c) Kenny Rogers d) David Cone

5. A no-hitter was thrown at the very first night game at Ebbets Field. Who was the pitcher?

a) Paul Dean b) Johnny VanderMeer c) Jim Tobin d) Tex Carlton

6. Who was the only pitcher to pitch a no-hitter and hit two home runs in the same game?

a) Fernando Valenzuela b) Joe Wood c) Babe Ruth d) Rick Wise

7. Who is the only pitcher to throw no-hitters in four consecutive seasons?

a) Cy Young b) Sandy Koufax c) Nolan Ryan d) Bob Feller

8. Who is the only major leaguer to have caught four no-hitters in his career?

a) Roy Campanella b) Ray Schalk c) Alan Ashby d) Jeff Torborg

9. What major league club went for a stretch of 57 straight seasons without recording a no-hitter?

a) Phillies b) Athletics c) Tigers d) Senators

9. How many no-hitters were pitched in the 2000 major league season?

a) Three b) Two c) One d) Zero

The Social Security Administration has a website (www.ssa.gov ) and an 800 number (1-800-772-1213).

The website menu includes, among other things:

Electronic Publications

Disability Information

Supplemental Security Income

When a Beneficiary Dies

Medicare Information

Direct Deposit of Benefits

The toll free telephone number is staffed by Social Security representatives from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on business days. After 7 p.m. there is an automated service which has general information messages.

To avoid getting a busy signal or being on hold it is best to call early in the morning, later in the week and later in the month. These lines are the busiest early in the week and early in the month.

On Monday, April 30, the "Seniormobile" is coming to 222 Station Plaza North from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Representatives from the Nassau County Department of Health; LIPA/KeySpan (10 a.m.-1 p.m.)

And Nassau/ Suffolk Law Services (10 a.m.-noon).

No appointment is necessary. Should you like more information please call 571-5814. If you need a ride All-Island Taxi (746-2500) provides free taxi service to the "seniormobile".

On Sunday, May 6, the Mineola Fire Department will be hosting the 62nd Annual Nassau County Firefighters Memorial Service. This service will be held at the Chaminade High School Auditorium at 7 p.m. and will be preceded by a short parade which begins at the Mineola Middle School and ends at the Saville Road entrance to Chaminade.

The Cornell Cooperative Extension of Nassau County has "Helplines."

The Food and Nutrition Helpline at 454-0900 ext. 258 is available Monday to Thursday from

1 to 3 p.m. This "Helpline" addresses subjects such as: Food Safety, Food Buying,

Basic Nutrition, Food Storage, Food Quality and Consumer Referrals.

The Gardening Helpline at 454-0906 is available for your use Mondays to Thursdays from 10:00 AM to 12:30 PM. This "Helpline" has information regarding the following: Plant & Turf Care, Proper Watering Practices, Outdoor Insects and Plant Diseases, Pruning & Fertilization, Growing Fruits & vVgetables, Soil Ph Testing, and Household Pests.

The Cooperative Extension has a Horticulture Information Center at 1425 Old Country Road, Bldg. J, Plainview, New York. This "Center" is open Monday to Thursday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Soil tests as a diagnosis of plant/turf diseases and many other services and/or information are available.

Cornell Cooperative extension has a "Fact Sheet" entitled "Spring Lawn Care" (copies available at the Village Hall).

The following is taken from the "Fact Sheet": The first six weeks of spring is the time when 60 percent of the top growth of your grass is going to occur. The commercial fertilizer vendors encourage all to fertilize in the spring. Cornell Cooperative extension says do not. Their reasoning is that using a fertilizer in the spring which is "high" in nitrogen will cause greater "top growth" at the expense of establishing a strong root system.

Another reason, per Cornell, is that early spring fertilization results in "thin skinned grass" that will be more easily invaded by disease. Wait to fertilize until Memorial Day.

1. Bob Feller 2. Allie Reynolds 3. Don Drysdale 4. David Cone 5. Johnny VanderMeer 6. Rick Wise 7. Sandy Koufax 8. Ray Schalk 9. Philles 10. Zero