A huge crowd attended the ceremony in the park to honor the victims and heroes of September 11, 2001. Governor George Pataki delivered an inspiring address, as did State Senator Michael Balboni. Senator Charles Schumer made a fiery speech that stirred the crowd, Mayor Jack Martins served as master of ceremonies. Father James Bowman gave the invocation and Rabbi Anchelle Perl rendered the closing prayer. At the end of the ceremony candles were lit by passing the flame from one person to another. At the end I had a chance to speak briefly with the governor.

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Two wedding anniversaries were those of Paul and Irma Ratcliffe who were married 67 years on September 11. They have lived on Marcellus Road for the past 25 years. Fred and Lenora Sweetapple of Wardwell Road celebrated their 50th on Sept. 20.

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Tom Hayden, a singer of Irish songs, and his friend Mickey Tatem had dinner at Eleanor Rigbys. Tom is active in the Knights and lives on Bradley Court.

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John's Variety Store has complained that his next door neighbor, Curves, a women's exercise studio, is very noisy. We visited Curves and spoke to Janice Steponiatis. At the time there were a number of women exercising to music. When we went next door to the variety store we didn't hear any noise. In all fairness, however, we must say that we were at Curves, 74 Hillside Avenue, Williston Park at 10:30 a.m. I suppose later in the day when more women are using the studio it gets louder. Who knows?

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Ed and Mary Hilbert of Fairfield Avenue have lived in Mineola for 45 years. In fact Ed was born in Mineola. He is an usher at Corpus Christi Church. The Hilberts are customers of TK's Gifts on Jericho Turnpike.

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I recently met Kathy Flandorffer, daughter of Betty Conlon and sister of former village trustee Elizabeth Conlon. Kathy formerly lived on Latham Road and went to Mineola High.

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Al and Dolores Lopez, former owners of Jay's Dept. Store, visited Rocking Horse Ranch upstate and also celebrated a 50th wedding anniversary.

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Mary McGregor, widow of Jim, celebrated a birthday in July. Mary lives on Beebe Road.

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I thank Congresswoman Carolyn McCarthy and Assemblyman Tom DiNapoli for their warm greetings on my 80th birthday.

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Jim Lombardo entered his eighth decade on Sept. 14. He and his wife Vita live on Clinton Avenue. A party was held at the Davenport restaurant with their daughter and son-in-law Rosemary and Joe Skowronski, their granddaughters and friends attending.

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We lost a neighbor of more than 50 years on Sept. 4 with the death of Ellen Kurz. Our condolences to her children Richard, Douglas, Kenneth and Lisa. Ellen and her late husband, Richard, lived on Beebe Road. She is also survived by six grandchildren, two brothers, a sister, a son-in-law, two daughters-in-law and many nieces and nephews.

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In the recent primary the polls in the 17th were handled by Harold Feldstein, Barbara Thompson and Douglas DeFranco.

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Charles and Lila White live in Huntington. They were former residents of Williston Park and were married in the East Williston Community Church. They are both now in their 80s, but in good health. They recently vacationed in Greenport staying at the Soundview Inn.

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Speaking of Greenport, a very interesting store is Preston's Marine Supply opposite Claudio's restaurant. They carry small boats, tackle, anchors, lights, buoys, oars, all kinds of fishing equipment and prints of the sea and ships.

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Everybody who has any Irish in them loves a pint of Guinness. The drink is brewed in Dublin by the St. James Brewery Group. They have been brewing the great drink since 1759. Guinness is Ireland's most famous export and no pub would be without it.

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Claudio's, by the way, is the oldest family-owned restaurant in the country. Claudio's was founded in the mid-19th Century by Portuguese immigrants.

"Echoes of Ireland," a colorful and exciting show of traditional music, song, dance and humor of Ireland will be presented at the Irish American Center on Tuesday, Oct. 14. Contact Dennis O'Sullivan at 743-3271 for more information.