Al Ford died last month in Florida. He started with a little hobby shop in Williston Park and it evolved over the years to the Willis Hobby Shop, the store it is today, Mineola's biggest business and the largest hobby shop on the Island. Al, Jerry Mehlman, John Lindner and myself were the group that kept the Chamber of Commerce going for many years. Al was the treasurer for 15 years. Our condolences go to his wife Peggy and children Steve, Ken and Linda. A memorial service was held at the Lutheran Church of Our Savior.

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Steven Freitas works in the circulation department of The New York Times. He and his wife Dorita have lived on Grant Avenue for 15 years.

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Maureen Corrigan is with State Farm. She and husband, Frank, have three children, one of them being Brendan who is a classmate of Connor Smith at Corpus Christi School.

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Vito Stallone is a member of the American Legion and he is retired from the garment trade. He and his wife Joanne have lived on Cleveland Avenue for 41 years.

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Shortly after Walter and Grace Weismantel, formerly of Mineola, moved to Sun City Center, FL, he became associated with The Pelican Players Community Theatre. After appearing in plays and skits he is now on their board of directors. Can B'way be far behind? Walter and his very supportive wife, Grace, are now involved in arranging many social events for the group.

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Dom Calaci, my neighbor, worked with me for an hour and a half when I had car troubles. What a great neighbor Dom is. He and his wife Ann live on Garfield Avenue.

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Mary Kate Tusinski's family wants to wish her good luck in her new apartment out East. Mary Kate, who grew up on Musgnug Avenue, is a recreational therapist at the veterans' home in Stony Brook.

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Timothy Palma won the $2,000 scholarship from the Mineola Chamber of Commerce. At the chamber meeting he was with his mom Lynn and his Aunt Susan. Lynn worked at the refreshment stand at the Mineola Pool and has lived on Wilson Blvd. for 20 years.

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Betty Conlon died last month. She was the mother of Elizabeth Conlon, our former village trustee. Some may remember the "Two Bettys" Betty Conlon and her friend, Betty Cappa, used to attend every school meeting and were real "gadflies" as they challenged the establishment. They really kept the officials on their toes.

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Mary O'Donnell is doing very well after her terrible illness. Mike Castellano is a classmate of Kevin O'Donnell, the son of Martin and Mary. The boys are both at the Jackson Avenue School. Mike is the son of Tina and Manny of Marcellus Road, owners of the Maximum Station on Herricks Road.

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That proposed third track sounds like it will be a real bad deal for us. As Mayor Martins noted, Mineola and a few other villages will bear the burden from a move that the MTA says will benefit Nassau as a whole. Why are they trying to force our hand by tying grade crossing elimination to the construction of a third track? These should be separate matters. The MTA says that the third track won't be used for freight, but we are skeptical.

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Loretta Lenox, Mary Daraio and Susan Pennacchio retired after teaching many years at Corpus Christi School. They were honored at Mass and praised by Father Paul Dolan and Principal Susan Anaischik. The arrangements were planned by Sister Therese Ezelius.

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Sal and Michele Lombardo have lived in Mineola for the past six years. They have three sons and a daughter. Sal owns a company called Vinalum. They make vinyl decks, fences and windows.

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Blanche Paris, my next door neighbor, is 100 years old, but doesn't just sit home. Her friend Tom Spae took her out in the wheelchair and pushed her all the way to Sears in Garden City.

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Fifty years ago last month was the final edition of the Brooklyn Eagle.

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The online newspaper Slate gives you an overall view of comparing stories in The NY Times, Washington Post, LA Times and the Chicago Tribune. They study the pros and cons of the USA Today where all stories are completed on the first page rather than jump like they do in other publications. Lots of readers are not inclined to read stories that are continued on an inside page.