Splash-that was me hitting the water as I went down the flume. No, not really, but the pool is open and the water is fine. Manager Dan Kopetic said all lifeguards have been hired, along with the other 18 attendants, which include the locker room personnel, the gate people and the pump house staff. This is Dan's ninth year as pool manager. The pool board members are Chairman Jay Monaco, Jeffrey Clark, Nancy Portoghese, Richard Maher, Maryann Langone and me. I have been a member for 40 years. Marta DeSoua is the activities coordinator and Anna Athan is the camp director. Three swim meets have been announced, all against the Stewart Manor team. Public meetings of the pool board will be held July 5 and Aug. 9, both at 11 a.m.

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With the school re-configuration study one of the buildings that could be closed is the Cross St. School. It was opened in 1931 for grades K to 8 and a gym was added in 1938. Its use as an elementary school was suspended in 1982 as it became a Nassau County Police Academy. Twelve years ago it was reopened as a school for grades 1 to 5.

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Manny Carvalho's Churrasquiera restaurant is the busiest eating place in the village and one of the finest Portugese establishments on the Island. Manny started with a little place on Willis Avenue with five tables and news quickly spread around town about this "great chicken place." It soon outgrew its little spot and Manny opened the large place he has on Jericho Turnpike in 1996. With a great location and plenty of parking, plus good food at low prices, he has made Churrasquiera a winner.

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Former Police Detective Dan Flynn likes to shop at King Kullen.

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Mary Daraio of Kenilworth Avenue and Susan Pennacchio of Columbus Parkway are both retired Corpus Christi School teachers, where they taught for 29 years. They enjoyed lunch at the Williston Town House.

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Among those dining at the Seacrest Diner were Ann and Sal Marconi, booth are active in he local VFW.

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Among the new Eucharistic Ministers at Çorpus Christi Church are former cop Tom Rudolph, Mary Brennan and Martha Sandoval.

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Soon to be wed are Richardo Rodrigues and Mariana Cristina Santos, both of Corpus Christi. Brianna Marchignioci of Corpus Christi and Michael Perro of St. Aidan's. Also, Thomas Pagano of Corpus Christi and Eline Boghaert of Sacred Heart in Monroe, NY.

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William Safire in his excellent language column in The New York Times, says that "Post" like in NY Post, originally came from Colonial times when you would nail a placard with news or an ad on a nearby post. He also writes that a Magpie is a bird that steals from other crows' nests. Thus, the new expression a "Magpie Website" meaning a site that takes info from other sites without credit or attribution.

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Sunday's Newsday has an odd price of $1.59. Wouldn't $1.60 make more sense? At any rate, people in this business are glad that Cablevision purchased the paper and not Rupert Murdoch. With the ownership of the Post and The Wall St. Journal, this would be too much of a concentration of power. Remember the Suffolk Sun that tried to compete with Newsday about 25 years ago? What do you think Newsday did with their advertising rates when the Sun started? No, they didn't slash them, they raised them. They felt that most businesses had to advertise in Newsday and by raising their prices, it would leave little or no money left for the Sun. It was a successful plan as the Sun expired after a six-year struggle.

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We sure miss Joe Mannix. He was always such an upbeat fellow with a good word about everybody. He was a Corpus Christi usher for 40 years and was the man who got me involved. Joe spent 20 years working for Grumman as a stock clerk in the Parts Dept. Joe and his dear wife, Catherine, celebrated their 60th in May. His son is Deacon Brian Mannix. Many people came to Cassidy's Funeral Home to pay their respects. Bishop Joseph Dunn was among those present as were Brian's wife Sue and Joe's faithful aide, Dorothy. Joe will be missed by all.

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Irene Barnett has lived here for 57 years. Her husband, Ken, died two years ago and he worked for Asher's Liquor Store on Jericho Tpke. She and Ken were married for 64 years and lived on Royal Ave. She follows the Mets closely watching on TV or catching the games on radio.

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Mary McGregor and Maryjane Deignan were honored for serving their church's outreach program for 20 yrs. While Mary Fitton and Catherine Toritto were honored for 10 years.

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Good to see Catherine Dougherty back with the Corpus Christi choir.

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Walter Weismantel, longtime resident of Minneola and now of Florida, is doing well. He and his wife, Grace, were active in the affairs of the Minneola Pool, now the John DaVanzo Pool. Walter was a member of the pool board and ran for the village board. Both are volunteers at their local hospital.

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Our oldest son, Richard, retired executive editor of People and his wife, Laurie, dined at the Downtown Restaurant on Mineola Blvd.

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