The village board voted to accept the proposal made by the Mineola American Legion Memorial Post 349 and Veterans of Foreign Wars Adolph Block Post 1305 to redo the veterans monument in Memorial Park.

The dedication will come on November 11, Veterans Day, and exactly two months after the village and Boy Scout Eddie Kaiser unveil the 9/11 monument. Now, Memorial Park will have two new monuments to honor those who perished in acts of war.

The village board's approval came after the presentation by American Legion Post 349 adjutant Gerry Olsen at the last week's board meeting. Olsen was joined by post commander Sal Cataldo and VFW Adolph Block Post Commander Manny Grilo.

Currently, the monument in Memorial Park bears a plaque in honor of those who perished in World Wars I and II, facing the Mineola Memorial Library. The veterans and the village plan to flatten the back of the monument for the purpose of installing another plaque, 24 by 40 inches, in honor of those Americans who were involved in any military confrontation from the Revolutionary War to the current war on terrorism. The bottom of the plaque will bear the words "We Shall Never Forget." For each of the conflicts, the plaque will list the number of participants, the number of MIAs, POWs and those killed in action.

The plaque, which is entitled "The Price of Freedom," will not only serve as a reminder, but also a lesson to all as to what it takes to preserve freedom. The veterans approved prices for the project. It will cost $1,850 for bronze casting; $2,700 to mount and $1,500 to clean up the monument. The village has already approved spending up to $30,000, the same amount area it approved for the 9/11 monument. The veterans monument will also have lighting.

Mineola Hardware to close - Many may be surprised to see Mineola Hardware on Jericho Turnpike closing. The store has been a longtime business in the village.

Tax certiorari claims continue to plague the village. In the current operating budget, there is $450,000 set aside to pay for tax certiorari settlements. However, that apparently is not enough. The village has settled most of its cases for more than $900,000. Of the $450,000 that was budgeted for, $430,000 has been expended. Therefore, the village board approved up to $600,000 in bond anticipation notes (BANS).

There will be a hearing in the future for an application for a bank to go into 190 East Jericho Turnpike. Also, there will be a hearing for a Laundromat to go into 124 East Jericho Turnpike.

New superintendent of building Dan Whalen attended his first board meeting. He comes to Mineola from the Village of Westbury.

Fire hydrants will be flushed at the end of the month. Residents should be notified at least the day before.

It was announced that Leisure Passes will be needed to attend the Mayor's Halloween Party in October.

There will be a bin in village hall, 155 Washington Avenue, for the Coats for Kids Campaign, spearheaded by Randi's Cleaners. Anyone wishing to donate a coat can bring it to village hall once the campaign kicks off later in the month.

Despite photos that appeared on the front cover of the Mineola American they did not include Trustee Jack Martins, he did attend the christening ceremony of the new fire department pumpers at the firehouse. He thanked the fire department for the invite.

* A resident inquired about why the village allowed Chaminade High School to build a high physical fitness center so close to the sidewalk. Village attorney John Spellman said the variance to build the physical fitness center, which in on the north side of Jericho Turnpike, across the street from Koeppel Ford, fell under the jurisdiction of the Board of Zoning and Appeals and the Architectural Review Board.

The resident also expressed concern that an institution that has a tax exempt status is growing so much.

* A resident of Crandle Drive thanked the mayor, although Mayor Colbert was not present at the meeting because of the death of his mother-in-law, and the board of trustees for taking action in a building dispute in the area.

* Resident of Burkhard Avenue inquired about their problems with Friendly's restaurant. The village board said it would take action, even to the point of seeking an injunction to close Friendly's down if the problems of air conditioner noise and ventilation was not rectified.

* A resident inquired about the size of the sign for the 7-Eleven that is coming into the village. There has been no decision however from the zoning board.

* A resident pointed out that there was MS-13 graffiti at the northeast corner of Jackson Avenue and Marcellus Road.

* A resident of Emory Road asked if people in recreation areas are checked for leisure passes because people in the Emory Road basketball courts are being chased away, but keep coming back. In addition, they don't clean up after themselves. Mr. Spellman said the whole enforcement procedure is being looked into.

Also, the resident warned of prowlers breaking into cars and said there were prowlers on her property on a night early in July. The resident hopes police enforcement would take Mineola seriously. "We can't be a pass-through community. We are entitled to coverage," the resident said.

Representatives of the Mineola Civic Association hope to have Inspector Muscanera and Officer Larson at an upcoming meeting.

* In light of a Mineola man being diagnosed with West Nile Virus, a resident explained concern about puddles in a parking lot on the North side of Jericho Turnpike just east of Foch Boulevard.

* 5,800 Leisure Passes were issued this year.

* A resident of Birchwood Court asked the village to consider giving Birchwood Court resident more parking spaces when another municipal lot replaces the Kozy Shack property. The resident also asked the village board for use of the community center for pickup basketball games one night during the week.

* A resident was disappointed that the Mineola Memorial Library didn't carry the Christian Science Monitor. It was explained that each of the library departments order materials with no interference from the village board. If a resident wants a specific material, he or she can speak to a library department head and ask that the material be ordered. The library is still without a permanent director, but Deputy Mayor Lou Santosus said interim director Charles Sleefe is doing a fine job.

* There is still no word on the village's cable station, although events such as the Memorial Day Parade were taped. Also, the village board would look into having a web site.

* A resident expressed concern that businesses will come off the tax roll because the project to depress Roslyn Road under the railroad at the grade crossing is hurting the taxpayers.

* Anyone wishing to donate books other than text books that may be out-of-date can talk to the Friends of the Library.