The election is finally over. This column had to be written before the voting, but a couple of quick thoughts come to mind. The length of the campaign is ridiculous. March to November is way too long. Also let's do away with the Electoral College. This winner-take-all in each state is a bad idea. There is really no incentive for a Republican in New York to vote since he or she knows that the state's electoral votes will almost certainly go to the Democrats. Likewise what is the point of a Democrat voting in Texas when the state is sure to go to the Republicans? Also the candidates spend almost all their time in the 10 or so states up for grabs and ignore the rest. More people would go to the polls if the popular vote counted.

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On a recent trip to Silver Spring, MD to visit our daughter, we had the opportunity to visit Washington DC again. This year we went to the Smithsonian, the largest museum in the world. We went to the American History complex and got to see the preserved Star Spangled Banner that flew over Ft. McHenry, great scenes of WWII like the Battle of Iwo Jima, Battle of the Bulge, and the D Day landings at Omaha Beach. The American History is just one museum at the Smithsonian complex. There is also the American Indian, Air and Space, Arts and Industry, African Art, Natural History, The Portrait Gallery, American Art, Postal Museum, the Sculpture Museum and the Zoological Park. Each of these is a separate building. You could spend a month and not see it all. All of the Washington museums are free unlike New York where the newly renovated Museum of Modern Art is now charging $20. While we would have liked to walk through the WWII Memorial and the Raising of the Flag at Iwo Jima Memorial, rain interrupted our plans but we did see them from the car. We also saw Trinity University and Catholic University and visited the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception which was very impressive.

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While in Silver Spring we attended a wonderful Mass at St. Camillus celebrated by Franciscan Father Michael Johnson. This Mass is a mixture of African and American culture with bongo drums and percussion instruments with a kind of rock and roll atmosphere. About 1,000 people listened to Rev. Johnson's homily about a courageous woman in Kenya. She conducted a one woman crusade against a logging company's attempt to deplete a forest. The government arrested her, but when she was released she organized hundreds of protesters who were attacked with clubs by goons hired by the logging company. Soon after there was a new government in Kenya which sided with the people and the forest was preserved. That brave lady later received the Nobel Peace Prize.

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A couple of people have noted a dangerous situation. Traffic going north on Willis Avenue and Second Street is stopped by a red light. But cars traveling south on Willis have a green light. The pedestrians cross Willis when they see the traffic stop not realizing that cars are coming in the other direction. We have noticed a similar use of traffic lights at other intersections.

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Frank Fabrico works for Coach Realty and is a member of the Chamber of Commerce. He and his wife Annette live on Holly Avenue.

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Good chatting with Fran Dempsey, Very Barrick and Catherine Murphy at the Jericho Diner.

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Real old-timers may remember the Mineola Coal Co., owned by Phil Krug. Met his nephew Mike Hofgren who drives for Checker Cab. For 40 years Mike worked for GM, 10 of them overseas. Phil Krug was the leader of the Mineola Democratic Party and fought hard for the election of Al Smith. A street, Krug Place, bears his name.

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At Panera's Bread we met Denis and Jane O'Sullivan of Wardwell Road and later Frank and MaryJo Love of Latham Road. Frank is a deacon at St. Aidan's. MaryJo used to be very involved with the Mineola school system.

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Mildred Ridgeway of North Carolina, formerly of Beebe Road, was 100 years old Oct. 22. Must be something in the air around here as Blanche Paris who lives around the corner on Garfield Avenue was also 100 years old in October.

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Roberts Men's Shop is marking 50 years in business. When we first met Bob Seewaldt, the owner, he was a clerk at Foresto Men's Shop. He told me that he planned to open his own place soon; six months later he opened Roberts.

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Bill Greene, owner of Tsontos Furs, is the newest member of the board of directors of the Chamber of Commerce. Bill and his family live on Jerome Avenue.

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We welcome new residents to our village, Tony and Elise Sainato of Ferncroft Road. Elise works in our billing department at Anton Newspapers.