Popular Corpus Christi priest Father Robert Batule said goodbye to the parish as he moved on to do important work in the diocese. In his homily he spoke of the Spanish explorer Ponce de Leon who searched Florida for the fountain of youth in the hope of gaining everlasting life. He said that all have gained the hope of eternal life because of the "Risen Christ." The Mass was concelebrated with nine priests and a deacon led by the pastor Father James Bowman. At a reception later Ed Curran presented him with a plaque from the retired police officers association. Other plaques were presented by Ann Galante representing the Town of North Hempstead, Elizabeth Conlon for the village, Anne Gallagher for the Rosary Society, Pat Gavin for the Catholic Daughters and there is one coming from the Knights of Columbus. Rev. Batule served nine years in the parish and will be sorely missed.

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Incidentally talking with Anne Gallagher we learned that she is a retired detective who served in the NYC Police Department.

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It was good talking with Muriel Salbador of Emory Road at the affair. She is the widow of Raymond Salbador.

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Mario and Sue Alves also live on Emory Road. Mario who is a big soccer fan works at Winthrop Hospital and comes from an old Mineola family as he was born in Mineola. His parents arrived here from Portugal in the early part of the last century.

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Trudy Pfleghardt of Wellington Road looks very young and surprised us by saying she has lived in Mineola for 44 years.

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Congresswoman Carolyn McCarthy will mention on the floor of Congress that the Mineola American will be 50 years old in September and will enter that in the Congressional Record.

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This year's members of the Pool/Recreation Committee are Nancy Portoghese Bauer, Jeffrey Clark, Sandra Clark, Ted Englis, Dennis O'Brien and myself. The pool director is Daniel Kopetic.

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Ran into Warren Olsen the other day. Warren, a retired cop from the 3rd precinct, patrolled downtown Mineola for some 20 years.

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Another cop is Bill Bennett of the Old Westbury Police Department. He and his wife Joy live on Emory Road but will soon be moving to Arizona.

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Candie Sparacino of East Williston had lunch at the Seacrest Diner. Candie works in the Circulation Department at Antons.

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I'm an ardent stamp collector and have about 10,000 entries in my albums. I receive stamps from all over the world from missionary nuns, friends of our daughter Sr. Annmarie. I recently came across a stamp commemorating the final encampment of the Confederate Veterans, issued in 1947. There is another which I don't have for the last reunion of the Grand Army. It hardly seems possible that when I was a young man there were still men living who fought in the Civil War.

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Alice Grom, waitress at the Jericho Diner, celebrated her 81st birthday June 2. She has worked at the diner for 33 years. Alice and husband Stan live on Arlington Street.

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Good meeting Angelo Orazio a few weeks ago. Angelo was our assemblyman for many years. Now retired he and his wife Adeline live in Searingtown.

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Congratulations are in order for two of Ellen Kurz's grandchildren. Kristina Kurz, daughter of Richard and Susan, graduated with honors and a B.S. Degree from James Madison University in Harrisonburg, VA. Jason Kurz, son of Douglas and Nancy, graduated magna cum laude from the State University at Brockport, his father's alma mater. In between these two events was the First Holy Communion of Joseph Lao, son of Lisa Kurz Lao and Frank Lao of Mineola. Proud grandma Ellen, a 51-year resident of Beebe Road, was kept busy during the month of May attending all of these happy occasions.

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Katie Barnwell was the first youngster at the pool this season attending the opening with her mom Cathy. Steve and Cathy live on Berkley Road.