Man of La Mancha, Cervantes' magical story of Don Quixote and Sancho Panza, was playing according to the glittering marquee of the Mineola Theater. Broadway plays were presented at our theater from 1963 to 1969 at a fraction of the price you would pay on the Great White Way. Over the years we saw Oliver Twist, the Fantastics with Liza Minelli, Hamlet, This Was Burlesque with Hope Diamond, the Jewel Box Revue and a play whose name I don't recall with Darren McGavin. The attendance was not great and the house was hardly ever full after opening night. Expenses were very high and alas the theater was forced to close. The theater was located at the corner of Mineola Blvd. and First St.

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Kathy Ortman and her daughter Laura, 7, had breakfast at the Jericho. Laura was pleased because I thought she was nine. The family, Jude is the dad, live on Holly Ave.

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Former Fire Chief and still a top officer, Jack Gayson enjoyed lunch at Churrasqueira, Jack has adventurous taste and has tried the goat which he says is delicious.

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Karen Unser of Schuster Ave. gets around. Karen used to work at Eleanor Rigby's and the Ivy Cottage and is now with Tumble, Wash and Dry in Williston Park.

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Joe Stabasefski of Liberty Ave. raises beautiful big gladiolus. Joe and his wife Virgina are hoping to win a prize at the LI Gladiolus competition.

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Frank Rotter is coming along pretty well, according to his wife Joan, following his illness. Frank used to be on the library board and was in charge of the movie productions. He and Joan live on Wellington Rd.

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Good to see two ill people well enough to return to church. Both Joe Mannix and Jim Galante were at mMass at Corpus Christi. Joe's son is Deacon Brian Mannix.

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Our eldest son Richard has been appointed editor at large at People magazine. He was formerly with Entertainment Weekly. Our daughter Sr. Annmarie is director of communications for the IHM congregation, editor of their newspaper and producer of a weekly religious radio and TV program. Our younger son Thomas (not in journalism) is a CPA and chief financial officer for Automated Data Processing Co.

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Sorry to hear that Marian McCormack, former grand regent of the Catholic Daughters is seriously ill.

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Good to see Russ Miller back in the village.

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Sal and Marian Scibilia had breakfast at the Jericho. They have lived in the village for 48 years and still remember when the diner belonged to Jim Trucks and was called the Dixie.

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Remember American Show Repair owned by Lou Santosus located on Jericho Tpke? Lou ran his shop 50 years from 1941 to 1991 and worked until the day he died. He stayed open until 9 p.m. on Saturdays to catch the late crowd from the Mineola movie. Lou and his wife Mary lived on Jefferson Ave. Their son Lou began working there after school, starting when he was 8 years old. Lou of course went on to college and is today a real estate broker and our deputy mayor.

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Denise Schmidt, formerly of Mineola now resides at the Plattdeutsch in Franklin Square. Denise used to own Love Story, a hairstyling salon on the east end.

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Janet Losquadro is recovering nicely from her recent heart attack. She and her husband Manny own Hy-Grade Fuel on Columbus Pkwy.

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That handsome new standing street clock dresses up the entrance to our library.

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Marianne Martin has lived in Mineola for 57 years. She has three daughters, Joyce Perz, Claudia Martin and Barbara Mummers. All three girls graduated from MHS.

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Richie Holeck of Jefferson Ave. is engaged to Sandra Lisanti of the President Apts. Richie and Sandra met at the Gathering in Williston Park. Richie works for Al Grand Auto and Sandra was formerly on the reception desk at Winthrop Hospital. The wedding day is Sept. 19, 2003.

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Our neighbor for 49 years Blanche Paris recently celebrated her 98th birthday. "May you live 100 years."

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Teddy McCormack is a customer at Randi Cleaners. Teddy worked for many years for the village traffic court.