The biggest event in our history will be held next year as we celebrate our 100th anniversary. The official logo was just released and appears in this issue. It has been arranged by Bob Hinck, one of the chairpersons to bring a 1906 caboose to Memorial Park for the event. Another chairperson, John DaVanzo, is planning a huge parade and extensive fireworks in Wilson Park. A four-day pageant will be held depicting our history. Tom Raad has ready a handsome brochure for mailing to all residents and a huge journal will be produced. It is hoped to have the post office issue a special cancellation stamp. The third chairperson, Candie Maia, is planning a ball to be held at the Jericho Terrace. Help is needed everywhere. All residents are urged to attend a public meeting to be held at the village hall May 24 at 7 p.m.

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Herb and Myra Jahn, owners of Main St. Hardware, were hit by a vehicle crossing a local highway. Both suffered broken legs and underwent surgery. We offer our hope and prayers for a speedy recovery.

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Judge Dick O'Callaghan and his wife Marguerite enjoyed dinner at the Davenport. Our waiter that night was Nuno Almeida. He and his wife Isabel and 13-month-old daughter Sofia live on Jackson Avenue.

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According to the attendees the talk and slide show given recently by historian and author Jeff Richman about the Green-Wood Cemetery in Brooklyn was very informative. The program was presented by the Mineola Historical Society.

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Victoria Mussa of Beebe Road tells us that her daughter Laraine Bautze and granddaughter Alessandra recently went to Ellis Island. While there, using a computer, they were able to get a photostat copy of the manifest of the ship Konig Albert which sailed from Palermo, Sicily. The manifest lists the name of Victoria's mother Vincenza Papa, who left her homeland at the age of 17. Imagine leaving alone on a journey to an unknown world at that age. She went to live with relatives in the Bronx who sponsored her. She arrived at Ellis Island in June 1911.

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How about a couple of newspaper headlines from around the US. "Court to try shooting defendant (better than a trial, I guess), Police begin campaign to run down jaywalkers (that's taking things a bit far); War dims hope for peace; Miners refuse to work after death; Couple slain, police suspect homicide; Red tape holds up new bridge (guess duct tape didn't work)."

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Tom and Dale Oswald and sons Thomas and Michael of Fairfield Avenue had a wonderful trip to the Hawaiian Islands.

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Former Corpus Christi priest Rev. Thomas Murphy was in town for the 75th anniversary of Chaminade High School.

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Bill Pokorny and his wife Ruth have lived on Barwick Boulevard for 55 years. Bill graduated from Andrew Jackson High School and enlisted in the Army. He fought in the North African campaign and the invasion of Sicily. He was wounded in the battle of Anzio Beach. His working career was with the LIRR as a train dispatcher, spending 32 years on the job. He joined the Mineola Fire Department in 1950. When Grace and I started the Mineola American he jumped right in to help. He organized carrier boys who sold the paper on the streets. He was a great help to us getting started. In his retirement he has been active in AARP and in planning trips for senior citizens. He and Ruth have three children: Tom, William and Ellen.

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Bobby Wulkiewicz of Marcellus Road is looking for work. He was formerly employed by the Town of North Hempstead.

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Lou DiDomenico, former village clerk of Mineola, had lunch at the George Washington Manor.

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Maureen McPartland of Birchwood Court wrote to me, "When I saw the picture of the Cas Alba, it didn't look familiar, especially since the address is the same as what is today Citibank. I've been living in Mineola for almost 53 years and always remembered this as a bank building (Franklin-EAB-Citibank). I checked the booklet I still have when Mineola celebrated America's bicentennial (your name was listed under committee as publicity). Quoted on the 1920's page "First bank in Mineola was Nassau County Trust Company incorporated in 1899, moved to a larger building on southeast corner of Second Street and Mineola Boulevard in 1922." So where did Cas Alba come in? Sure miss the theater we used to have, never understood why they couldn't have built the new building over it like it's done in the city. I could go on and on about some of the changes I've seen during my years here. Another thing I used to hope was that they'd make a park out of the grounds that is now Birchwood Court, but that's another story. I even remember the fair. My aunt and uncle lived on Roselle Street and would visit with them and go to the fair - great times. I'm not looking forward to the "construction" of the Roslyn Road LIRR underpass.

(Editor's note: The Cas Alba was right next door to the bank. I used to eat there once a month.)