He was the delivery boy for a butcher shop, but he dreamed of someday owning his own hardware store. He loved tools and was very handy and always liked to wander through hardware stores. The kid was Herb Jahn and he delivered meat for his dad's store on Second Street, the Nassau Meat Market. Hugo Jahn had opened the butcher shop in 1928 shortly after he arrived from his native Germany. The shop was originally located on lower Main Street, near where Fox's is today. Nassau Meat lasted until 1997, making it the last butcher shop in the village. Herb realized his dream 26 years ago when he opened Main St. Hardware, along with his wife Myra and son Kurt. Herb remembers when there were many hardware stores in the village. There was Richmond's, Ashby's, Jack's, Miranda's, Peterson's, Key, Price and Mineola Hardware. Today Herb's Main St. Hardware is the last in the village. They now do pretty well considering that they have no Mineola rivals; they do, however, have a strong competitor in Williston Park - Munders Hardware. Both are True Value stores. By the way, Herb and Myra will be celebrating their 50th anniversary on March 6. Herb is a member of the Chamber of Commerce.

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Don and Ruth Lindsly of Mineola must really like Villa Margherita, they eat there often.

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Julia O'Brien of Maple Place, one of the cooks at Corpus Christi rectory, is recuperating in Florida following a long illness.

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"The report of my death was greatly exaggerated," said Mark Twain after several erroneous reports that he was dead. The same could be said for Blanche Paris, my 100-year-old next door neighbor. Somehow the rumor started that the dear lady was gone and her death was announced in several places. Bill Cassidy, owner of Cassidy's Funeral Home, received lots of calls asking for viewing hours. I don't know how these false stories originate but can verify that Blanche is still with us, hopefully, for a while longer.

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The friendly Irish Pub, the "Recovery Room" near the hospital on Station Plaza, did something unusual. After eating there I left without my credit card and Tilly McPartland was good enough to bring the card to me at Anton's. Tilly's husband Noel and daughter Kelly own the "Recovery Room."

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Joanne and Augie Maroccia live in a very well-built house on Berkley Road. It was constructed in 1906 and with some renovations over the years is still in good condition.

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Lorenzo Licopoli, superintendent of schools, was enjoying a sandwich at Panera Bread.

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Joe Dores and his wife Zulmira have lived on Harrison Avenue for 18 years. He is the custodian at the Mineola Library. He used to tend bar at the Portugese-American Club and at one time owned a restaurant in Garden City Park, O'Continental.

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Jack Ryan of Roslyn Road had breakfast at the Jericho Diner. Jack worked for 20 years for the Federal Aviation Administration. He is a longtime member of Corpus Christi Church and recalls the days of Msgr. Edmund Fitzgerald and Fathers Thomas Manning and Vincent Hagan.

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He lives in the house where he was born on E. Jefferson Avenue. Pete Roth was the village meter reader for 18 years.

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The school district will have a tough time passing the $23 million referendum on Feb. 15. People are angry about the charges of dishonesty against former Assistant Superintendent John Jackson. Also the report that his replacement was being paid $825 a day hasn't helped.

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Larry Manachelli and his dad of the same name enjoyed breakfast at the Williston Town House. Larry owns Eleanor Rigbys.

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Chris Weimer of Mineola Boulevard has worked at King Kullen for quite awhile. Yes, girls, he is still single.