Since Linda Fairgrieve was elected to the Mineola Village Board two years ago, a lot has changed in her life - her mother died, her husband became a judge, she became the chairperson for the Mineola Mustang Run, had heart surgery, returned to work as a full-time claims examiner and visited Italy. However, one thing Fairgrieve hopes doesn't change is her position on the board.

On March 19, Fairgrieve will run for re-election on the board of trustees so she can continue to work to improve the village she grew up in. Fairgrieve was recently nominated by fellow trustee Elizabeth A.J. Conlon to run for a second term under the Hometown Party slate.

During her first term in office, Fairgrieve is proud of what the village board and the residents were able to accomplish. In her speech at the Hometown Party convention, she cited the opening of a new firehouse (on Washington Ave.) and renovated library, the expansion of notification for hearings involving commercial properties and an increase in the line in the budget for tax certiorari from 240,000 to 400,000 as well as the improvement of the summer recreation program and star of the senior recreation program, which she attributed to the efforts of Ms. Conlon, as some of the positive changes undergone in Mineola over the past two years.

Fairgrieve also cited her concern for the village's aesthetic look, citing the passing of the historic preservation law and the board setting up an architectural review board. She also wants to be a part of future projects such as the downtown revitalization program, the construction of a new, straight Mineola Boulevard bridge and the Roslyn Road railroad grade crossing project. "The current board is working together and thus you feel a great deal is being accomplished," she said during her speech, accepting the party's nomination.

Fairgrieve did express some concerns when it comes to the village finances such as the 8.6 percent increase in village property taxes from fiscal year 2000-2001 to 2001-2002. She also expressed concern about the additional expenditures bonded for that were required to complete the library, firehouse and other projects within the village's infrastructure.

In addition, the village board has approved bonding to pay tax refunds. Hopefully, though, according to Fairgrieve, by increasing the budget line for tax refunds from 240,000 to 400,000 and continuing to increase that line in the budget, the village won't have to bond anymore to pay refunds.

In her last campaign in 2000, Fairgrieve was critical of the bonding done by the village board for such projects as the library, pool and firehouse. However, in her recent speech, she acknowledged her position on bonding has been modified to some extent. Fairgrieve said in her speech that bond rates are excellent and wants to ease the burden the economy is to everyone and maintain the village's infrastructure.

Fairgrieve also mentioned the numerous cell phone antenna applications the village had been inundated with as another area of concern. "We have turned it down in residential areas because of residential concerns," she said.

Fairgrieve also vowed to continue to be responsive to resident concerns.