Firefighting was his life with a successful career in the NYFD. Now Larry Egan and his wife, Luba, often travel, especially to Australia and New Zealand. One of their sons, Michael, lives in Sydney. Larry and Luba have lived on Frank Avenue for the past 40 years.

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Dennis Bussert of Brown Street works at Patrick's East Side Grille. Before that he was a bartender at Davenport and at Eleanor Rigby's. His dad, Robert, is a Pearl Harbor survivor.

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District Attorney Kathleen Rice drew a crowd of 70 at the last Chamber of Commerce meeting. It was a great meeting with some very spirited questions.

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It was a surprise to go into Werner's Deli and find Werner Garland behind the counter. On weekends he works at the deli he founded many years ago.

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James Wrenn is a young fellow training to be a volunteer fireman. Jim lives on Wellington Road.

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Marie Hollwedel and John McDonnell had breakfast at "Kiss the Chef." He is a retired mortgage underwriter and she worked for GE.

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Father Bruno lunched at Ivy Cottage. He is leaving St. Aidans and our former deacon at Corpus Christi, now Father Thomas Tassone will be going to the Williston parish. Joe Lester, owner of "Ivy" is a graduate of St. Aidans and MHS.

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Rick and Joanne Ueland had dinner at Patrick's East Side Grille. Rick used to be in the circulation department of The New York Times.

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Jack Garland, the writer of Mineola Memories lunched at the Seacrest Diner. He writes occasionally about things like the old "Haunted House" near the remnants of the old Motor Parkway in back of where the pool is now located. Jack lived his boyhood on Berkley Road and now lives in Bohemia. He was a member of the Garage Band, The Checkmates, who played for summer dances at MHS.

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Mayor Martins presided over the "Opening Day" ceremony of the John DaVanzo Community pool. All the board of trustees were present and five of the six school board members. Manager Dan Kopetic, all the lifeguards, Judges John O'Shea and Dick O'Callaghan, Assemblyman Tom McKevitt and, of course, John DaVanzo were there. Also present was Joe DiGiorgio, who never misses an opening and comes every day unless it's raining. Joe is the founder of the Mineola Ambulance Corps.

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Martin O'Donnell enjoyed a swim at the facility. He owns the Irish Pub with the same name. This will be a great year for the pool. With the price of gas going through the roof, people are staying close to home. The slow economy also finds more people enjoying the cost-free pool.

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Looking for some great Italian food? Try Papa Joe's, formerly Villa Margherita, opposite the skating rink on Hillside Avenue and next to the Herricks Theatre. Chef Bartolome, who spent 18 years at Mama Theresa's has joined Joe's staff. Papa Joe's is at 3338 Hillside Avenue, NHP. They are open 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. and to midnight on weekends. They deliver seven days a week. Just call 746-8323.

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Those guys doing the sewer inspection job for the village are doing good work. Fast and efficient.

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You often see those bumper stickers, "My Child is on the Honor Roll" and so on. Saw one the other day, "My Kid was named Inmate of the month at the County Jail."

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Paul Pereira had coffee at "Kiss." He is a real estate man who has lived here for 13 years

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It's Bishop John Dunne who attended Joe Mannix's wake, not Joseph. That was a misprint.

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The law, "Curb, Leash and Pick Up" after your dog, really seems to work . The $250 fine for violators does the trick.

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Edward (Woody) Ryder wrote to me: "Thanks for mentioning Betty Bradley, nee O'Connor, in your column of June 13. Yes, she was a former teacher. I was privileged to have been one of her students during my time in the East Williston School District. We've stayed in touch over the years and she is an inspiration to one and all, so much so, that it doesn't amaze me any longer that I married a teacher, too, who, hopefully, does for the students of New York City, what Betty Bradley was able to do, seemingly so effortlessly, on behalf of all the kids in the East Williston School District."

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