The events of this past week will be forever etched in my mind as I am sure, they will be in yours.

The murderous terrorist acts that occurred on Sept. 11 have impacted all of our lives.

As the events unfolded on Tuesday, I declared a state of alert. Winthrop-University Hospital was advised to stand by to potentially receive patients. We communicated with the Nassau County Police Aviation Unit and made available landing sites at Wilson Field.

We communicated with the schools and our uniformed volunteer services, Mineola Fire Department, Mineola Volunteer Ambulance Corps and the Mineola Auxiliary Police.

The Mineola Auxiliary Police assisted in traffic control, the Mineola Volunteer Ambulance Corps dispatched Emergency Medical Technicians and an ambulance to Manhattan. The Mineola Fire Department also went to a staging area in the city.

With the great cooperation of all the clergy in our village and the graciousness of Father James C. Williams and the Brothers at Chaminade, an Interfaith Service was held on Thursday evening at 6 p.m. The clergy who participated were:

Father James C. Williams - Chaminade

Father Robert Batule, Father Thomas Murphy - Corpus Christi Church

Reverend Robert Taylor - Episcopal Church of the Nativity

Pastor Chester Easton - First Presbyterian Church of Mineola

Rev. Dr. Robert Mursch - Lutheran Church of Our Saviour

Rabbi Anchelle Perl - Congregation Beth Sholom Chabad

It was heartwarming to see so many in attendance and again our community has demonstrated its sincere concern for others.

Regretfully, the lives of so many of our residents have been impacted by the cowardly acts on Sept. 11. We must help, in any way possible, those so affected.

We are exploring as I write this article the availability of grief counselors and whether they would make themselves available to serve our residents at village facilities.

In the interim, if you know someone who needs assistance please have them contact South Nassau Community Hospital Counseling Center, 2277 Grand Avenue, Baldwin at 546-1370.

The hours that this Center is currently opened are: 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., Monday - Friday and on Saturday from 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.

I am committed to do anything and everything possible to assist those in our community who have been impacted by the occurrences on Sept. 11.