Over Mineola's 100 years, there have been many traditions in the village. One of them occurs twice each summer when the Nassau Pops Symphony Orchestra comes to Memorial Park to perform concerts. This year, the orchestra came to the village a little early, in January, to perform a concert in honor of Mineola's centennial celebration.

This past Sunday at Chaminade High School, the Nassau Pops was in classic form as it gave everyone in attendance something to remember the village's centennial celebration by. Those responsible for bringing the Pops to Mineola for a January concert including the Mineola Centennial Committee of former mayor Bob Hinck, trustee John DaVanzo and Candida Maia. Partial funding was provided by the law firm of John Spellman, who is the village's attorney.

Dignitaries in attendance included Hinck, Mayor Jack M. Martins, trustees Larry Werther, Linda Fairgrieve, Paul Cusato and DaVanzo as well as former trustees Al Ratto, Elizabeth A.J. Conlon, Tony Bellissimo, Lou Santosus and Judge Scott Fairgrieve.

Mayor Martins addressed the audience during a brief intermission to thank the Nassau Pops Symphony Orchestra for performing the concert, which was the perfect birthday gift to the village. Mayor Martins said during this centennial celebration year, it is appropriate to look back on all the people who made the village what it is - the former mayor and trustees, the volunteers and all the residents who have shaped Mineola into a place of fond memories, a place where families have been raised.

Just as it took the work of so many over the years to make Mineola the community it is, it took the work of many to make the centennial concert an event to remember.

As always, maestro Lou Panacciulli led the talented musicians who make up the orchestra, which played its patriotic melodies such as the Star Spangled Banner, Let Freedom Ring and the orchestra's signature song God Bless America as well as tributes to Broadway and the classic movies from MGM.

The Pops also played the premiere of Mineola's resident George Petersen's Centennial Celebration, a five-part piece consisting of a prologue, Memorial Park, Springtime on the Boulevard, On the 7:05 and the epilogue. The Pops also premiered Carl Strommen's Mineola Fanfare and his arrangement of the Centennial Waltz. The special talents of Petersen and Strommen were well appreciated.

The Pops were also joined by special guest Jeremy Stein Cushman, a 15-year-old violin prodigy who wowed the audience with selections such as the theme from Schindler's List, Flight of the Bumblebee and Millionaire's Hoedown.

Of course, no Pops concert would be complete without the delightful voices of Jack and Ann Cassin, who sang classic songs from MGM movies.

On this 100th anniversary of the village, the Nassau Pops Symphony Orchestra cemented its place in village history as one of Mineola's most special traditions.

The next centennial celebration event will be an ecumenical service on Feb. 16 at 7:30 p.m. at the Mineola Community Center.