Our flag flew high at Valley Forge, Gettysburg, Pearl Harbor, Iwo Jima and at the Battle of the Bulge and it will always fly high.

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While friends Faust and Maryann Guarino of Oceanside were spending a few days at an upstate resort, they met Al and Dolores Lopez who used to own Jay's Department Store.

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Pete Fagioli and his wife Peggy had dinner at Eleanor Rigbys.

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Teri Napolitano is one of Seacrest Diner's most popular waitresses, who has worked there for 13 years. Her long-planned, eight-day trip to Paris took off just before the terrorist attack. Teri, who was ready to enjoy the Champs Elysees, the Eiffel Tower, the Seine and the opera said the attack ruined her vacation.

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Remember some years ago when the Mineola Recycling station consisted of two huge barrels for glass and aluminum products located at the end of Liberty Avenue near the pool?

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The newest member of the Dougherty family of Beebe Road is Aidan, who joins his six brothers and six sisters.

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Good to see Pete Roth around. Pete, who worked for the Water Department for 25 years, still lives on Jefferson Avenue in the house where he was born.

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Meter person Lori McCarron tells us that her brother, a city fireman, was one of those laboring in the heroic rescue effort. Hugh and his wife and children live in NYC.

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Jim Sherry, legislative aide to Senator Michael Balboni, had breakfast at the Jericho Diner.

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Alice Grom of Arlington Street will be taking off from her job at the Jericho Diner in October for the upstate hunting season. Alice is 80 years old, but nothing stops that lady. Hubby, Stan, cares little for hunting.

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The old County Courthouse was the John D. Arrmstrong home located where Howard Johnsons used to be. His father, John P. Armstrong, who was born in that house, held the office of County Judge from 1886 until his death. Later the courthouse was moved to Mineola. The building is about 235 years old. Prior to becoming the courthouse, it housed a pub known as The Three Tons. It was a popular gathering place for the race crowd to either celebrate or drown their sorrows. The track was once called the Hempstead Race Course.

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Silas Shaw opened the first blacksmith shop in Mineola in 1850 on Front Street. His son also had one on Second Street called the Practical Horse Shoer.

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Tom Millington opened a Sash and Window Blind store on Main and Third Street. We owe much of this information to the work of historian Tom Barrick.

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We recently talked with Gary Mazur , who was fire chief four years ago. Gary lives on Wilson Boulevard. Mineola's volunteer firemen and volunteer ambulance people are among our finest citizens and deserve our gratitude and respect.

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Village Justice John O'Shea reported 151 moving violations during the month of July.

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Julio Quijada, former busboy, now cashier, at the Jericho Diner, will be taking the month of January off to visit his mom and dad and their farm in El Salvador. The management assures us the diner will remain open the entire time. (This is an attempt at humor.)

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