Around the Town with Lou: August 27, 2012
Written by Lou Sanders Friday, 31 August 2012 00:00
Editor’s Note: Lou Sanders, who has his journalism degree from NYU, and his wife, Grace, founded the Mineola American in 1952, giving the village its first successful newspaper. Lou and Grace have lived in Mineola for 58 years, and his popular column is a signature feature of this paper.* * * *
“My dream is to own my own newspaper,” said my boss at the Binghamton Press, the daily I used to work for. I thought, good enough for him, how about Grace and I starting a paper? I went to every village in Nassau and the only place with no paper was Mineola. I had just $2,000 in the world, but 60 years ago in 1952 that was more money than it sounds like today. The first issue came out Sept. 3. Each week we prayed there would be another week and there always was.
On Sundays, I would go door-to-door selling subscriptions. Grace kept the books with her double-entry system. The paper was well received and in January of 1953, we were named the official newspaper of Mineola. I ran hard-hitting editorials backing different candidates in village and school board elections. I became the official moderator of the village staging debates for both village and school elections.
Debates in those days were exciting no-holds-barred affairs and hundreds would attend. I was active in the Chamber of Commerce and five times elected president. Sixty years ago, Mineola was primarily Anglo Saxon. Today, it is Irish, Portuguese and Italian. Grace and I played a part in the 50th birthday of Mineola (the village was founded in 1906), also in the 75th and the recent 100th anniversary.
A highlight for us was when I was honored by the local Democratic Club and Senator Charles Schumer and Rep. Carolyn McCarthy joined our family at our table with our children, Sister Annmarie, Richard and his wife Laurie, Tom and his wife Debbie and our oldest granddaughter, Tracey. We were so glad to see my lifelong friend John DaVanzo in attendance. John, of course, is a long-time Republican. It’s been a great 60 years for us. Mineola is a wonderful village with wonderful people.
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Ron and Kathy Woyciechowski, when they came up from North Carolina, visited Cathy and Bob Mondello of Liberty Avenue. They left Mineola six years ago. Kathy is one of the few people who was actually born in Mineola. Ron is able to see all the Yankee games. He is delighted with the fact that his team is so far ahead. By the way, a lot of fans are predicting a Yankee-Washington World Series.
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Maryann Burns is so helpful giving me leads and she loves the pool.
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A few people are availing themselves with the hearing aids at Corpus Christi Church.
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Ken and Ria Shea bought their home on Beebe Road 54 years ago. They have three kids; the oldest, Kim, heads up a Fortune 500 company in Virginia.
News
Saturday, 15 June 2013 00:00
Mega-project to redo Nassau’s Hub would see “trolly-style” car down East Second Street in Mineola
Mineola doesn’t fancy itself as a San Francisco treat, but if the $360 million Nassau Hub plan comes to fruition, residents could see a trolly-style-like tram rolling down East Second Street. Funding for the trolley would likely be funded by the federal government, according to village officials.
Nassau County spent a $5.1 million federal grant on the county/Federal Transit Authority-led feasibility study analyzing the practical nature of a transportation service through Mineola, as part of the Nassau Hub plan. One end of the plan would be the Mineola Train Station, with the Hempstead Bus and Rail Station being the other.
Friday, 14 June 2013 00:00
Locals question DA’s investigation
Across Nassau County, residents are reacting with confusion to the Nassau County District Attorney’s recent arrests of more than 100 men for soliciting prostitutes, including five from Mineola, ranging in age from 23 to 50.
The DA’s office not only arrested the men, but made public their names and photographs. That, some feel, is an over-reach. East Williston Attorney Jeff Kalenka thinks prostitution is a problem, but thought publishing the names “embarrasses” the men caught in the act.
“It doesn’t surprise me although I do disagree with what Kathleen Rice did because I think the ‘Johns’ or reported ‘Johns’ are innocent until proven guilty and to put their names in the paper embarrasses them, embarrasses their families and possibly unintended victims like their children,” Kalenka said outside the Mineola train station.
Sports
Thursday, 13 June 2013 00:00
Late Goal Leads Mineola Past Syosset
Brianna O’Brien’s tie-breaking goal with a minute remaining propelled the GU14 Mineola Mustangs to a thrilling 3-2 win over a skillful Syosset team on June 1. With the score knotted at two, Mineola’s Natalia Cotto raced to a loose ball ahead of the Syosset goalkeeper and poked the ball loose to the onrushing O’Brien, who calmly drove the ball into the goal.
Thursday, 13 June 2013 00:00
Gabrielle Schreib
Albertson’s Gabrielle Schreib will be wrapping up her record breaking Kellenberg Memorial High School Spring Track season this month running in the NYS High School State Championship in Middletown, NY and the New Balance High School Nationals in Greensboro, NC. She attended Mineola Schools until 2012.
Calendar
Yard Sale - June 15
Fathers Day Pancake Breakfast - June 16
Miss Irish American Society - June 29
Columns
The Worst-Case Coliseum
Written by Sheila Ferrari
Quinn’s Quest: Suburbia To Gracie Mansion
Written by Sheila Ferrari
Belmont Stakes 2013: A Sure Bet
Written by Mike Barry, MFBarry@optonline.net
