The board of trustees will hold a public hearing on Wednesday, Oct. 2, at 6:30 p.m. at the village hall, 155 Washington Avenue regarding:

A proposed local law amending Chapter 30 of the Municipal Code entitled "Zoning," Article III, entitled "Business Districts," Section 30-33, entitled "B-3 Districts (Special Office Use)" creating subsection (5) so as to permit parking garages which provide municipal parking in 35 percent of spaces.

All interested persons will be given the opportunity to be heard regarding this matter.

Following this hearing at 7:30 p.m. there will be a public meeting. The public is likewise invited to attend.

The Mayor's Annual Halloween Party will be held on Oct. 25 from 7 to 9:30 p.m. at the Community Center, 155 Washington Avenue. More information regarding this event will be in future columns.

October is National Breast Cancer Month. In an effort to promote awareness, Winthrop-University Hospital's Advances in Cancer Care series will present a free lecture, Breast Cancer Update: Not Just Business As Usual, on Tuesday, Oct. 1. Participants will have the opportunity to find out how new approaches to fighting the disease have made the management of breast cancer more diverse. The lecture will begin at 7 p.m. at the Winthrop Community Center, 101 Mineola Boulevard in Mineola, at the corner of Second Street. Participants are asked to arrive by 6:45 p.m. and to park in the rear of the building.

Alexander Hinderburg, MD, attending oncologist at Winthrop, will discuss new approaches to treatment that are providing patients with more options, and give an overview of new medications currently being used. A question and answer period will follow the lecture.

Admission is free, but seating is limited. To make a reservation please call (516) 663-9370.

Legislation creating the independent County of Nassau was passed by the State Legislature and signed by Governor Frank Black on April 28, 1898. The truck ladder house of the Mineola Fire Department Hook and Ladder Company was selected as the temporary home of the county at the board of supervisors' first meeting.

There was only one post office in present day Nassau County, when the Post Road from Jamaica to Sag Harbor was established in 1794.

This facility was unofficially known as Queens Court House from 1794 - 1805. Thereafter on May 21, 1805 the name was changed to North Hempstead and continued till 1868.

The Queens Court House was located in or about the area where the Waldbaum's Shopping Center currently exists.

Another post office known as the Hempstead Branch was established in 1844. It was named such since the Hempstead Branch of the Railroad met the main line of the railroad. The community and its postal facility changed the name in 1858 to Mineola.

The source of much of the above information is New York Postal History: The Post Offices and First Postmasters from 1775 to 1980 by John L. Kay & Chester M. Smith, Jr.

Many of our residents have been improving their homes and most homeowners' experience with their respective contractors has been acceptable if not good.

To make your experience a favorable one you may find the following information informative:

Landscapers and home improvement contractors are required to be licensed by Nassau County.

The Consumer Affairs Hotline (516-571-2600) will assist you in determining if the contractor is licensed and also what complaints during the last six years have been made about this prospective contractor.

Get several estimates and make sure that these various estimates include the same work and same quality of materials. Thereby, insuring that you are comparing apples to apples.

Talk to friends and neighbors that have had work done and it is strongly suggested that you personally look at the work.

The Nassau County Office of Consumer Affairs suggests that you "Walk Away From" fly by nights who "happen to be in the neighborhood." They may do shoddy work or worse yet, "take your money and run." You should also stay away from ads offering bargain packages. The necessary extras, better quality or larger sizes later become costly. Additionally, salesmen who pressure you to order now before the price goes up should always be avoided.

Finally, please call our Building Department at 746-0752 or 746-0750 and inquire as to what permits are necessary.

Be wary of "Contests." Some promoters might use the information on the "contest entry form," (i.e. your telephone number) to enroll you for a calling card which is then billed to your phone bill. The "entry form," in very fine print, says that by completing the form you have authorized the service.

Do not let this happen to you. Please carefully review your monthly telephone bill to assure its accuracy.