Sleet and freezing rain limited the usual number of people who went to the Christmas concert of Lou Panacciulli's Nassau Pops at Chaminade. Yet the auditorium was about three-fourths filled. Some of the concertgoers later had dinner at the Davenport as did Bob and Pat Hinck, Joe McCarthy and Hilda Nagler. Also dining at the restaurant were Faust and Maryann Guarino. Maryann was formerly from Mineola.

Kevin Thomas owns that excellent engine and transmission repair shop, K's Auto, on Willis Avenue. He and his friend, Tom Perito, have joined "Locks for Love." They allow their hair to be clipped to provide hairpieces for cancer victims.

Frances Doyle was upset with the news that the Jericho Diner might be forced to move. She has been going there since it was the old Dixie Diner of Jim Trucks and then became the Dorian Diner. Frances and her husband, Eugene, live in Uniondale now but for 45 years they resided on Wilson Boulevard. Frances keeps up with her old hometown and participates in the Mustang Run along with her husband. The Doyles are friends of Judge Scott Fairgrieve and join him in the fight against drunk driving.

Speaking of the judge, we see that Tara Fairgrieve, daughter of Scott and Lynn, is now an assistant DA in Suffolk.

Every morning a group of women breakfast at the Jericho including Eileen Leone, Mary Jane Deignan, Teddy McCormack, Fran Dempsey, Vera Barrick, Florence Lee and Mary Calfapietra.

Anne and Mike Carragee of Herricks Road, Ann Talt of Royal Avenue, Julia McCrave, Ellen and Kevin Carragee of Boston and Grace and Moira Quinn dined at Cugini's.

That's another bank coming at the Northwest corner of Jericho Turnpike and Mineola Boulevard. We are becoming a banking hub with Roslyn, Astoria, North Fork, Citi, Bank of America, Millenium, Commerce, First National Bank, State Bank of LI, Chase, Sovereign and HSBC. Did we miss anybody?

Tom Tassone is serving at Corpus Christi as a transitional deacon. In about five months he will be ordained a priest.

Bill Heinricks, owner of Kuck's Deli, reports that his eyesight seems to be improving. Bill and his wife, Edith, live on Emory Road. The deli is now run mostly by his daughter, Sandy Pusey.

Gus and Carmella Ladato are glad that the diner on Herricks Road will be open again since they live nearby on Garfield Avenue. Gus is a retired city fireman.

Joby and Libby Thomas of Garfield Avenue are new residents of the village and new subscribers to the MA.

There is nothing like getting your first car, especially if it's a surprise Christmas present. Peter Fearon had no idea that his mom and dad, Maryann and Peter, were giving him a Volvo. Pete, his dad, is sales manager of a Volvo dealership. Can younger son, Kevin, be far behind?

Paul and Dorothy Senft live in Florida but came home to Mineola for the holidays. They lived here for more than 40 years. They were having lunch at my favorite diner as was Joe Pryor, an usher at Corpus Christi Church and formerly an insulation engineer.

Islander tough guy Chris Simon is a daily customer of Ceriello's in Williston Park. Chris has plenty of time since he has been suspended for 30 games after a reported attempt to injure an opponent. Last year he was suspended for 25 games after another incident.

Jay Leno likes to read small town police blotters. One item read that a man reported that his American flag had been stolen. It was 3 feet by 5 feet and was red, white and blue. Who would have guessed?

Was that a good idea that US Air had of advertising Pepto-Bismol on their food trays warning against diarrhea?