Chaminade High School's plan to build an athletic gymnasium and auditorium on the site of the former Koeppel Ford dealership, located on the south side of Jericho Turnpike between Marcellus and Saville Road, was approved unanimously by the village board last Wednesday night.

The Catholic all-boys high school, which has a reputation for being one of the finest schools in the country, purchased the car dealership with the hopes of expanding the campus.

The school's president, Father James Williams, appeared in front of the village board last month to explain the proposal, which calls for a new regulation-size gymnasium to house such athletics events as wrestling matches and basketball games. Those events currently take place in the main building. The plan also calls for the construction of an auditorium.

The plan calls for some parts of the existing building to remain and some will be demolished and replaced. The showroom, featuring the glass located near Marcellus Road, will remain while the structure to the west of the showroom will be torn down.

The plan also calls for parking for an additional 75 cars. Property Chaminade bought on the north side of Jericho Turnpike can house 40 vehicles while on the Koeppel Ford site, there is expected to be parking for 35 cars.

At the hearing, some area residents expressed concern about the school holding events at the new facility that would bring in more cars to the area. However, Father Williams said that the student body would remain at 1,600 and the school will not be adding any events to its calendar and only events that are currently taking place at the school will be shifted to the new facility.

The application received approval from the village's zoning board and planning board. The Nassau County Planning Commission took no position, putting it in the hands of the village board. The motion to approve the application was made by Trustee Lou Santosus and seconded by Deputy Mayor Larry Werther.

A hearing for an application by Omnipoint to erect antennas at 267 East Jericho Turnpike may take place in November. An area resident, Helen Andretta, expressed concern as to the possible health risks having antennas in the area.

Although the Village of Mineola needs to grant a special use permit for the antennas to go up, the board cannot deny the application based on fear of health risks. The Telecommunications Act of 1996, passed by the federal government, sets the standards by which antenna emissions are acceptable. The only way a municipality can deny an application for cell phone antennas based on the fear of health risks is if the law was changed.

Residents who feel the law should be changed can write their elected representatives. They are:

Congresswoman Carolyn McCarthy

200 Garden City Plaza #320

Garden City, New York 11530

Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton

780 Third Avenue #2601

New York, New York 10017

Senator Charles E. Schumer

757 Third Avenue #1702

New York, New York 10017

The Village of Mineola Department of Public Works, under the leadership of Superintendent Tom Rini, has been using a vacuum to clean out the storm catch basins in the village. The Mineola Intermodal Center and Bus Depot project will require the MTA to take title of a part of Station Road. The village will use the firm of Smith and Salerno to get the road appraised. The village thought they had an agreement for a new contract with Local #808 Teamsters Union. The bargaining team for the union and the bargaining team for the village reached a tentative agreement. However, the contract proposal was turned down by the union members. Local #808 has been working without a contract since June 1, 2003. Mayor Martins with approval from the village board added Larry Speciner, Joan Hobbs, Fr. Gomide and Russ Sutherland to the village's ethics board. A moment of silence was held for Mineola resident Mike Guardino, who passed away on Aug. 23. He was the beloved husband of the late May. Devoted father of Karen and Michael. Father-in-law of Kathleen. Loving grandfather of Michael, Bridget and Mary Catherine. Mr. Guardino was a member of the American Legion Post #349 and a gentleman. Mayor Martins will be giving a state-of-the-village address at village hall on Sept. 21 The summer reading program at the Mineola Library was a success. Deputy Mayor Werther reported that 202 children signed up for the program with over 566 hours of reading time put in.

* Patrick Tobin, president of the Mineola Volunteer Ambulance Corps said the corps had been very busy this summer, answering about 380 calls. He thanked Tom Rini for his help with the upkeep of headquarters on Elm Place.

* Vincent Lupinacci of McKinley Parkway expressed concern about vehicles parking in a "No Standing" zone at the corner of McKinley Parkway and Jericho Turnpike. Mr. Lupinacci pointed out that when vehicles park there, it makes it very difficult to see oncoming traffic on Jericho Turnpike when exiting McKinley Parkway.

* Sal Cataldo said the village should collect its taxes in two payments. He also said that the members of MVAC want a new headquarters, and a building fund drive is underway. He said three signs advertising the building fund drive are sitting in the garage of MVAC co-founder Joseph DiGiorgio. He asked that the village put them up. Mayor Martins said that when MVAC makes a formal request, the board can then take action.

* The village accepted the resignation of a parking enforcement employee and will post to fill the position. The village is in the process of reviewing its parking enforcement since there are significant parking issues that occur from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. after the parking enforcement personnel shifts are over. A resident suggested a good place to start is Foch Boulevard and Jericho Turnpike.