Arizona, Albany, Lake George and of course Mineola are the places they came from to honor the late Tom Hassett. Tom, who died in Pheonix, was long active in the Knights of Columbus and his wife Betty in the Catholic Daughters. They were longtime members of the Irish American Society. Almost 100 persons paid tribute to him at a recent Mass at Corpus Christi Church. Dennis and Betty O'Sullivan, both past grand marshals of the local St. Patrick's Day parade were there as was another former grand marshal Jack Wheland and his wife Mae. We spotted Anne Maguffin, secretary of the Irish American Society and many members of the Knights and the Catholic Daughters. The Hassetts had lived in Mineola for many years.

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Bill Ressegue has resided in the village for 55 years and is one of the few people left who rooted for the old NY Americans in hockey. He was with his daughter Eileen when we met him and she told me that they recently had a 55th birthday celebration for him at O'Donnell Irish Pub. Laura Blake of the pub put the party together.

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Bill Henricks, owner of Kuck's Deli and a resident of Mineola is almost completely blind but still gets around doing a lot of walking. He can't see enough to drive, in fact he can't read or watch TV. The radio is his only outlet.

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Paul Ratcliffe and wife Diane live on White Road. He manages an elevator company in Long Island City.

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Those three good looking young women who call themselves "The Unit" because they travel together and are such good pals are Maureen Clark of Wilson Boulevard, Nancy Doyle and Peg Forero of Shortridge Drive.

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Gloria and Richard Corrao live on Latham Road. He is an engineer with Grumman and she is a retired Mineola school bus driver. When I saw her she was busy organizing a Christmas party for the women on the block.

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About one-third of our population is Portuguese. Their language is often overlooked in its worldwide influence. But more people speak Portuguese than French, German or Japanese. The language is spoken in Brazil, four countries in Africa and many enclaves on the coast of India and China as well as Portugal.

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John Hallissey of Wardwell Road has only lived here a short time. But he is an attorney who was formerly the village justice in Garden City where he had resided for 35 years.

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Ray Bertolino interviewed me on his radio show, My Home Town, the station of Nassau Community College. During the half-hour he talked to me about my career in journalism and about the 100th anniversary of Mineola. He also wanted all the pros and cons about the local police department vote. Ray lives in Mineola in the Fairhaven Apts. He is a graduate of Eton and Harvard. In fact he was the editor of the Harvard newspaper The Crimson. The station is at 90.3 FM. Ray has interviewed on his program Ed Lowe and Barry Farber. He is also a friend of Bill O'Reilly. And girls, he is good looking and single.

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Sarah Cascio, Jennie Scapellati and Alice Giolitto enjoyed lunch at Jonathans.

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Jerri Solosky is a good customer of the Cuttin' Club.

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Christos Dimarkos of Birchwood Court was long-associated with Sparta Diner.

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Speaking of diners, the Hudson Diner is up for sale largely due to the serious illness of Paula Walsh, the owner.

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Betty Bradley is a new resident of our village. Betty lived for 50 years in Garden City before moving to Birchwood Court. She is a good friend of Marge and Howie Hill and tells me that Howie is the best fisherman and the best bowler that she knows. Betty is also a good friend of Julie McCrave.

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Chris Lotito, a graduate of MHS and a longtime resident of White Road, is home recuperating from a heart attack.

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Because of the growth of the Mineola Chamber of Commerce it is now necessary for us to have a paid secretary. Madeline Phelan has taken the job. She and her husband Tom live in Williston Park.

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Popular Carolyn McCarthy has again been elected as our congresswoman. Carolyn lives in the village, works on the Mustang Run, came to the parade, holds many of her parties at Eleanor Rigby's and is a frequent visitor to our office.