The Village of Mineola may be celebrating its 100th birthday with a banner centennial celebration in 2006, but there was plenty of news in 2005. Here is a look back at the top stories that made headlines: The reputation of the Mineola School District took a major hit this year when its assistant superintendent for finance and operations John Jackson, who had been the district's chief financial officer, was arrested and charged with third degree larceny. The Nassau County District Attorney's Office charged that Jackson paid for landscaping materials with school district funds and then had district employees do landscaping projects at his home in Commack. Jackson was later indicted on 20 charges including bribe receiving, falsifying business records and grand larceny. Jackson later pled guilty to stealing district funds and misusing employee time for personal gain. As part of his guilty plea, Mr. Jackson will make full restitution in the amount of $28,902 to the Mineola Union Free School District The Mineola School District entered into an agreement with Nextel to lease communication lines the district owns on top of the Empire State Building. As part of the agreement, the district received a $250,000 lease sign up and $846,780 annually for the next 15 years. The board of education tried to dedicate the money to bond payments on a bond referendum for capital improvements. However, the public failed to pass two separate referendums. Mary Murtha, a nurse at Winthrop-University Hospital, came to the aid of a worker who had nearly severed his arm. Murtha came out of her house on Berkley Road and used one of her husband's ties as a tourniquet to help contain the bleeding until an ambulance arrived. Mineola Mayor Jack. M. Martins commenced a lawsuit against Nassau County, which planned to sell its social services building as well as a parking lot next to the courthouse. Mayor Martins contended that the county failed to provide a parking plan for the vehicles that park in the lot. The mayor feared that the visitors for the courts would park on the streets of the Village of Mineola, creating further traffic and parking problems. The Mineola Board of Education put forth a bond referendum before voters for $23 million dollars to include capital repairs and improvements to the district's school buildings and grounds. In light of the arrest of Jackson, residents of the district failed the referendum overwhelmingly. Some deemed that some of the items contained in the referendum such as building a football field at the high school weren't necessary at the time. Lou Santosus retired from the village board of trustees after serving for a total of 17 years. Santosus is also a former chief of the Mineola Fire Department. In the annual village election, Mayor Martins, who ran unopposed, and Trustee Larry Werther were re-elected to another term. "Mr. Mineola" John DaVanzo was elected to the board. For DaVanzo, his election meant a return to the board after 40 years. He last served in 1965. The victory gave the New Line Party three seats and the majority of the board of trustees. The Mineola Veterans of Foreign Wars Private Adolph Block #1305 celebrated its 80th anniversary. Adolph Block was a Mineola man who served in World War I, losing his life in France at the age of 21. The post has been a mainstay in Mineola and dedicates itself to the veterans and their important role in the community. The ribbon was officially cut for the new library media center at Mineola High School. The Village of Mineola Board of Trustees unanimously passed a budget for the 2005-2006 fiscal year. The budget represented an 8.9 percent tax increase over the 2004-2005 budget. Despite having among the lowest proposed tax levy increases in Nassau County, residents of the Mineola School District failed the proposed the 2005-2006 budget. Rather than putting another budget before voters, the board voted 3-2 to adopt a contingency budget. Trustees John McGrath and Steve Siwinski cast the negative votes. In order to adopt the contingency budget, the board had to cut $1.8 million from its original budget. In the board of education election, Mary Ellen Williams was re-elected and Lawrence Carroll was elected to the board to fill the seat that had been occupied for some time by RoseAnn Buglione, who decided to retire from the board. Buglione was applauded for her dedicated service on the part of numerous students of the district. The board of education put before voters a $10.6 million bond referendum for necessary repairs to the district's buildings. The board decided to dedicate the revenue from Nextel to make the bond payments, meaning there would not be additional costs to the taxpayers. However, the referendum still failed. The Hampton Street School was recognized by the New York State Department of Education for its improvements on the 4th grade English Language Arts exam. It is discovered that according to the collective bargaining agreement between the village and Local 808 of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, village employees hired after 1988 should be paying part of their health insurance premiums. The employees' portion begins being deducted from the employees' paychecks causing the union to file for arbitration. Mayor Martins and village trustees join with other elected officials in opposing a possible plan to add a third trace to the Long Island Rail Road's main line, which runs through Mineola. The Village of Mineola mourns the passing of those who died in 2005. Among those who passed away are some well-respected residents: Elizabeth A. Conlon, Shirley Randall, Steven Husowitz and Tony Bernardo. Conlon was active in the Mineola political and school affairs. Her daughter Elizabeth A.J. Conlon served on the village board of trustees. Randall, a retired first grade teacher at the Jackson Avenue School, was also a community activist who loved education. Husowitz, who became a postal worker following his discharge from the Navy, had four citizen's arrests as a postman. He was born in a Pennsylvania coal-mining town. Husowitz served in World War II and was nicknamed Mighty Mouse for his small physical stature but big heart. Since water usage in the Village of Mineola was down, the board of trustees voted unanimously to increase water rates so that the revenue collected from water consumption is enough to pay for the expenses to produce water for the village. With the promotion of Dr. Michael Nagler to deputy superintendent of the Mineola School District, the board votes to name Edward Escobar as the new principal of Mineola High School. The Koeppel Ford car dealership on Jericho Turnpike was demolished as Chaminade High School bought the property to erect a gymnasium/auditorium. The concern among some taxpayers is that the property came off the tax rolls because Chaminade in a tax exempt entity. The apartment building at 101 Jackson Avenue was sold to a buyer who owns and manages apartment buildings. The new owners pledge to renovate and clean up the premises. Mayor Martins delivered his second annual state-of-the-village address, sponsored by the Mineola Chamber of Commerce. In the address, the mayor announces lobbying efforts to get the village's fair share of sales tax revenue from the Town of North Hempstead. Under a new law, each school district in the state has to undergo an audit by the New York State Comptroller's Office. The audit of the Mineola School District begins. The Mineola Chamber of Commerce holds two business showcases at the Jericho Terrace. A Taste of Mineola showcases the village's vast array of eateries and Mineola in Style showcases the village's clothing and accessories stores and hair salons. After six years in the works, the village's master plan was unveiled. The master plan is the village's blueprint for future development. Many meetings are expected to be held on the master plan in 2006. The task force appointed by Mayor Martins to study whether it was feasible for the village to re-institute its own police department issued a report saying it was both feasible and legal. The first hearing was held. Many more are expected in 2006. The state project to eliminate the grade crossing for the Long Island Railroad begins. The project involves depressing Roslyn Road underneath the railroad tracks. As part of the project, the Allied building is taken down. The Mineola Centennial Committee, led by John DaVanzo, Bob Hick and Candi Maia. Festivities, which include a parade and firework display as well as a centennial ball, are expected to take place the whole 2006 year.