The day started off dark and gloomy but when the Mineola Fair opened at 11 a.m. the sun was shining and it was a beautiful day. Peter Gollobin did his usual fine job as MC keeping the action moving all day long. Many of the 10,000 people who came stopped by our table to say "hello" to Grace and me. Among them were: Barbara and Rocco Filazzda, William Messina, Veronica Vale, Nikolas and Kristopher, Bob Carlsen, Marcel Chaillol, Tim McCue, Karen, Drew and Campbell Goulet, Joe Wittmann, Jeanette Michael and Anthony Giaimo, Frank Fabrico, Alice Wilken, Evan Chan, Lynn Clifford, Dolores Mangold, Kathy Mortillo, Sheri Simpson, Edward Jones, Sandy Clark, Lawrence Blessinger, Jr., Marilyn Dore-Pignataro, Michael Cali, Linda Jason, Anthony Donnelly, Luann Scribani, York and Dawn Staub, Marian Rooney, Barbara, Amanda and Janine Miller, Danny Russelman and Megan, Muriel Delbar with Wheatley Key Club volunteers, Marie Masino, Marianne Martin, Bruce and Mariann Burns, Gabe Parajos, Teresa Richards, Soraya Zahn-Rogers, Walter and Grace Crosby, Vivian and Gerald Manuta, Rob Connolly, Chris Franz, Carey and Anthony Russo, Brian, Katie, Tom and Caroline Fallon, Denise Deodato and Yolanda Ojeda.

* * * *

Next year Mineola may have a competitive swim team. It was agreed at the meeting of the Pool/Recreation Committee to continue to have just intermural swim meets this year in the hopes that a number of outstanding swimmers will be found among those participating and to develop a competitive team from them. It was announced that we already have 24 of the required 25 lifeguards. The pool has been repainted and opening day will be June 14. Cell phone use must be limited to just a couple of minutes. This year's committee consists of Nancy Portoghese Bauer; Jeff Clark; Steve Franzini; Richard Maher; Jay Monaco, the chairman; Neil Piloto; and me. Mayor Jack Martins also attended the meeting. Last year 6,300 passes were issued although a number of them were never picked up. Pool hours will be Monday, 2 to 9 p.m. and the rest of the week, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. The pool has a staff of 60.

* * * *

At the Davenport Restaurant we met Larry and Sarah Cascio of White Road who are both EM's at Corpus Christi Church. They were celebrating Larry's birthday which was May 24. At another table we spoke with Mary Becker of Wisteria Avenue and Joe Mauro of Mineola.

* * * *

I thank Tom Genovese of Jerome Avenue for his thoughtful note.

* * * *

The biggest crowd ever, 100 people, attended the last chamber of commerce meeting at La Cisterna. Mayor Jack Martins installed the new officers. Carmela Bernacchio is the new president. Agnes LaRose, who won the grand prize at the Mineola Fair, was among those in attendance. The mayor made a brief address.

* * * *

Good to see former chief of detectives Ed Curran around town. Ed is still active in the retired police officer's groups.

* * * *

Spams are really something. Over the three-day Memorial holiday we at Anton, which has a chain of 18 weekly papers, received 12,381 e-mails. Just a bit over 300 were legitimate news items.

* * * *

Nellie Bly was one of the first women newspaper reporters. Staffers at the New York World, a paper published by Joseph Pulitzer in the early part of the last century, were amazed when a woman was actually hired. She ended up getting many a scoop and received journalism awards. Today about half the reporters are women.

* * * *

The new Subway on Mineola Boulevard wants 12 seats. That certainly sounds like a reasonable request.

* * * *

Frank Rotter looks well in spite of his recent illness. Frank was long involved in the Mineola Library. He was a member of the board for eight years. Even after he left the board he stayed active being in charge of the weekly movie programs and was involved with the "Friends of the Library." Frank has been a member of the Knights of Columbus for 37 years and before he was taken ill attended almost every meeting. Frank fought in WWII with the Fifth Army in North Africa, Sicily and Italy. He and his wife Joan live on Wellington Road.

* * * *

Herb Seaman is 93 years old and has been a member of the Mineola Fire Department Co. #2 for 71 years. His wife Marion and daughter Nadine live on Marcellus Road.