The bright, newly-painted 1906 caboose will be lighted at night as it sits on its rails in Memorial Park. It will remain in place during the entire centennial year as we celebrate our 100th anniversary next year. The journal is nearing completion with the ads of merchants coming in at a steady rate. The Nassau Pops under Lou Panacciulli will start the year off with a free concert Sunday, Jan. 29 at 3 p.m. at Chaminade. An Ecumenical Religious Service is being planned by Sally Patterson in February at the Community Center. Sandy Pusey is in charge of the fashion show which will be held at the Knights Hall March 6. The Showtime Revue, directed by Maryann O'Brien, will be held May 4-5-6 at Mineola High School. Players are needed - singers, dancers and comedians.

In July we will open the time capsule which was buried in 1981. The big parade is set for Oct. 1 with 110 organizations expected to participate with floats, marchers, dancers and antique vehicles followed by a block party. There will be a flyover of a Vietnam helicopter. There will be fireworks at Wilson Park that night. The Village Ball will be held at the Jericho Terrace with music by the Capris. At the close of the year, Dec. 31, a time capsule will be buried and we will try to remember the location. This year we had a terrible time finding the one we buried in 1981 which marked our 75th anniversary. The three leaders on the centennial, Bob Hinck, John DaVanzo and Candie Maia, will be guest speakers at the January Chamber of Commerce meeting.

* * * *

The Piccola Bussola is a really fine restaurant located right in the heart of the village. The building has a long history at 159 Jericho Tpke. It has been a supermarket, a billiards hall, a comedy club called Chuckles and the home of several Portuguese Restaurants, the last being Lisbon at Night.

* * * *

Bob Rosenthal, former district court judge, is a fan of the new French restaurant, Saint Germain.

* * * *

The Chamber of Commerce is buying 18 benches and several trash receptacles for the Jericho Tpke. and Mineola Blvd. area, using their recently received grant money.

* * * *

Harold Feldstein of Mineola, one of the poll workers, told us his granddaughter, Lindsay Smith, skated in the Disney Ice Show. She was Heidi.

* * * *

It's crazy. Waldbaum's, CVS, Rite-Aid and Eckerd get the flu vaccine while family doctors get it last, if at all.

* * * *

Two Mineola ladies eating breakfast at the new Hudson Diner were Dolores Collins and her mom, Bertha Morawski.

* * * *

Joe and Marge Wood of Jackson Ave. and Joe's brother, Father Paul, have opened a transitional house for ex-convicts in Uniondale called Monica's Manor. They have 12 men there at the present time. The Woods have been involved in good works before trying to aid Vietnamese orphans.

* * * *

Father Tom Murphy, former Corpus Christi priest, needs our prayers as he battles for his life at Winthrop Hospital. Better news is that Bernadette O'Brien tells us that her husband, Pat, is doing very well and is recovering from his illness.

* * * *

John Tringali stopped over to my office to see me, but I was out. I'm sorry that I missed him. John for many years was the commander of the local American Legion. John and his wife, Irene, live in North Carolina.

* * * *

It's great to work close to home like Phyllis Clancy, who lives with her husband, John, on Foch Blvd. and works in a nearby shop in Williston Park.

* * * *

That top-rated painter Dennis Walsh enjoyed dinner at the Inn at New Hyde Park. He admired the paint job, since he was he man who did the work.

* * * *

Freida Graef was 101 years old Nov. 15. She lives with her daughter, Barbara Hartig, on Andrews Road.

* * * *

Marie Connolly, Edith Bamberger, Mary Calfapietra and Vicki Festa celebrated Edith's birthday at Patrick's East Side Grille.

* * * *

Jackie Schneider of Andrews Road likes to dine at the Jericho. She is a retired bookkeeper with a local union and later for Latham Lumber.

* * * *

Congrats to Paula and Mayor Jack Martins on the birth of Emma Sophia. This is the third daughter for Mineola's first family.