Shifty characters hanging out, foul smells, broken bottles, abandoned auto parts and trash everywhere are the reasons that the village closed the Lincoln Avenue tunnel. For 50 years this 100-foot underground passageway let people from the east end of the village go to the west end without going all around Roslyn Road and Jericho Tpke.

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Some 34 cops enjoyed lunch at the Churrasqueira restaurant on Jericho Tpke. What a success this popular Portuguese establishment is. We remember when Manny Cavalho started his first little place near the corner of Willis Avenue and Jericho Turnpike. People used to call it the "Chicken Place." The big restaurant today seats hundreds and is always packed. On weekends people have long waits just to get a table.

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I recently met Islander owner Charles Wang and told him that ticket prices are way too high and that he could increase attendance by lowering prices. He said that the team is already losing money as it is. Mr. Wang did not seem impressed with my arguments.

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George Tyminski, a retired LIRR worker, had breakfast at the Jericho. His parents, George and Louise, are longtime residents of Mineola.

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I was surprised to see Buffy and Spero, owners of the competing Williston Town House, having lunch at the same place. Then I realized that their diner is closed for remodeling.

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Alice Squeri began to feel faint while leaving King Kullen's. As she began to stagger, two young women came to help her, and husband John called an ambulance. Alice, who lives on Pershing Pkwy, did not get the women's names, but one said she was a nurse at Winthrop Hospital.

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Cheers for Anna Spatola, Charlotte Hummell, Mary Ann Farmer, Dorothy Stange, Beverly Gaeta, Helen Beall, Dorothy Seelig, Helen Hinck, Maria Neves and Alice Palmer. These are the ladies of the Nimble Fingers who revealed their beautiful work at the Village Hall Jan. 4 and officially kicked off the celebration of Mineola's 100 years.

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What a great job the village workers did laying the RR tracks and the surrounding stone bed for the coming caboose, vintage 1906. They are calling the spot the "Mineola Spur." The caboose will be lighted at night and will be located at the northern stretch of Memorial Park.

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Former Corpus Christi priest, the Rev. Thomas Murphy, who is fighting for his life in the hospital, marked his 63rd birthday, Jan. 7.

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Carlos Reyes and his wife, Reina, lived for 15 years on Willis Ave. with kids Carlos, Gabriella and Daniela. Three years ago he opened his restaurant, DeCarlos, at 100 Herricks Rd. He seems to be doing pretty well, although others have come and gone like Wiegels, Glen Erin, Caps and Ian McGregors.

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At a recent game at Vancouver, the fans booed the singing of our national anthem. I know Canadians dislike our foreign policy, but to boo the Star Spangled Banner. Come on!

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Linda Doerrbecker lunched at our favorite diner.

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Jimmy, who owns the diner, has suggested his son-in-law as the commander or as a lieutenant if the village goes ahead with plans for its own police department. Steve Rovmeliotis is now with the Garden City force and before that was a NYC cop.

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The first people I was able to exchange New Year's greetings with were Sean Burke, Julia Ricca, Victoria Denzler and Donna Fucci.

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Lud Odierna has officially thrown his hat in the ring to run for mayor of Williston Park against the incumbent Doreen Ehrbar. Lud will present a full slate of candidates. He is a former trustee and a 33-year resident of that village. Good luck, Lud.

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We now have a new Unitarian Church at the corner of Hillside and Roslyn Rd. This is where the Baptist Church was formerly located. It's called the Beacon Church and is drawing large crowds on Sunday.

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An early centennial event will be the Ecumenical Service at the village hall on Feb. 16. Sally Patterson, who is in charge of the arrangements, says that Rabbi Anchelle Perl of Beth Shalom Chabad, Father James Bowman of Corpus Christi, Father James Williams of Chaminade and the Rev. Chester Easton of the Presbyterian Church have indicated they will be present. The Lutheran Church will also surely be participating.

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