While it is customary for friends and acquaintances to wish each other a happy new year this time of year, in Mineola, people are wishing each other a happy centennial new year.

The village has entered the year of its 100th anniversary of incorporation and plans are under way for a gala celebration. The first official event was held at village hall last Wednesday when the Nimble Fingers presented to the village a centennial quilt with nine squares, each representing a key symbol in Mineola's history.

The Nimble Fingers began the endeavor early last year. Anna Spatola of the Nimble Fingers visited the Mineola Historical Society to research what each of the squares on the quilt should represent. After that, members were each assigned a square.

The nine squares on the 60" x 60" quilt include the fair tent since the county fair was held in Mineola; the Mineola Library;, the first airmail drop-off; Nassau Hospital, which became Winthrop; the azalia, the flower of Mineola; the county seat logo; farmlands since Mineola once was made up of farmlands; the old Willis Avenue School, and the Mineola junction railroad station.

Spatola did the border and hand quilted the work of art. "We were scared at first because we didn't know what was expected. You start off with a small idea and before you know it, it starts evolving," she said. "Each member came back with her square finished. That was exciting."

The quilt was well received at the board meeting with members of the board commenting on how beautiful it looked. The Nimble Fingers presented the quilt to the mayor, the board and the centennial committee. Mayor Martins said the quilt would be displayed prominently in village hall.

The ladies responsible for the beautiful quilt include Alice Palmer and Beverly Gaeta (county seat logo), Helen Hinck (library), Charlotte Hummell (county fair), Maria Neves (airmail drop-off), Dorothy Seelig (Mineola train station), Dorothy Stange (hospital), Helen Beall (farm), MaryAnne Farmer (azalia) and Anna Spatola (school, hand-quilting, border).

The next event in the centennial celebration will be a Nassau Pops Symphony Orchestra concert at Chaminade High school at 3 p.m. on Jan. 29. Admission is free.

* The village received the sad news that Bob Davanzo, the son of Bill Davanzo and nephew of Trustee John Davanzo, passed away on Jan. 4. Prayers and thoughts go out to the entire Davanzo family.

* A happy birthday to Helen Hinck, who celebrated her 95th birthday. Everyone sang 'Happy Birthday' to Mrs. Hinck. She is the mother of former mayor Bob Hinck.

* 2005 was a busy year for the Mineola Volunteer Ambulance Corps (MVAC), which responded to 1,498 calls in 2005. Pat Tobin is once again the president of MVAC.

* Mineola Chamber of Commerce passed its presidency from Carmela Bernacchio to Steve Ford of Willis Hobbies. Trustee Larry Werther praised Bernacchio for the work she did in her two years as president, saying that she set the standard by which future presidents will be judged. Trustee Linda Farigrieve commented on how active the Mineola chamber is.

* The village currently has a moratorium on use of the village hall community center. But at the Jan. 11 work session of the village board, Trustee Paul Cusato is expected to give a presentation on a policy the board can develop for use of the community center. The work session is at 6:30 p.m. in village hall.

* In response to graffiti that has been popping up around the village, resident Joe Toritto suggested passing a local law in which the village would give $1,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of a graffitist. Mayor Martins said it was a good idea and that counsel would look into the legality of passing such as law.

* The mayor announced there will be another hearing on the possibility of the village having its own police department on Jan. 18, 7 p.m. (This is a regular Wednesday meeting date). Mayor Martins is hoping to get other mayors from villages that have police departments to offer their perspectives.