"It's crazy," "It's a death trap," "Ambulances should be standing by to take care of the injured," "Only a fool would use it." Such were the predictions when the Motor Parkway opened in 1909 with no speed limits. It was a long and winding road going from Fresh Meadows to Lake Ronkonkoma, a 50-mile stretch of the first concrete road in America. There were toll booths at both ends and cost $2. We can see how winding the road was with remnants around here. Next to the Legion Bldg. in Williston Park on Willis Ave. there is a stretch of about 300 yards, and then traveling south and a bit to the east we can spot another piece along Westbury Ave. in Mineola opposite Bruce Terrace. This stretch winds along that area behind the Mineola Pool. Even today there is a section just slightly improved, running between Dix Hills and Lake Ronkonkoma. When Robert Moses began building bigger and better roads, it spelled the end for the old Motor Parkway.

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At Eleanor Rigbys we met Eileen Leone with her son and daughter-in-law Joseph and Ann Marie and their children Pamela and Melissa.

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Michel and Sal Lombardo of Beebe Rd. are looking for a house for sale in the area for their daughter.

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Tim Warnecke is doing well following surgery which was necessary to repair his shoulder which was injured playing football.

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Mineola's oldest business is Vincenti's Barber Shop which opened in 1925. Frank Vincenti Jr. is big in "Save the Wolf" movement and helped to reintroduce the animal in Yellowstone Park. Where you might see a calendar featuring girls, Frank has one with a wolf on the cover.

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Arlene Hutchins and Robin Hill of Latham Rd. are looking for a good painter.

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Kitty Connors was having her morning coffee at the Jericho Diner. Kitty, who used to work at the library at CW Post College, has lived in Mineola for 45 years.

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Fred and Eleanor Sweetapple and neighbor Eddie Edele of Wardwell Rd. are looking forward to the pool season where they take advantage of the "Adult only swim" time in the early morning.

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Jim and Diane Bartscherer and daughter Bethanne of Seward Ave. enjoyed eating at Panera's Bread recently. Jim is a cop stationed at Headquarters.

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Corpus Christi Church collected $14,000 for the Tsunami victims.

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The Chamber of Commerce will hold a "Taste of Mineola" night at the Jericho Terrace with most of our restaurants exhibiting their best dishes. .

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Martin O'Donnell is just back from a snorkeling trip to Florida. Soon he and Mary will be taking a cruise to the West Indies.

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When I was mentioning Corpus Christi priests of the past, I forgot Father Dunne, now Bishop Dunne, and a man who was a friend, Jim Deegan. Jim left the priesthood to marry. When we were in Ireland we visited with him and his father who lived in Dunlevin not too far from Dublin.

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Have to make a correction. In my last column I mentioned that the new white boxes that have replaced our meters in many of the parking fields made change. They do not. If you put in a quarter you get 30 minutes of time. If you put in a dollar you automatically get two hours of park time. There is no change.

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Remember Ziegfelds which was next to what is now Panera Bread? It has been gone for about two years, but Laura Blake was behind the bar. Laura is now with O'Donnell's. Zeigfelds belonged to local people George Camarda and Josephine Alongi. Gensels' new home will be in that area of stores.

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