It began with a little store on Hillside Avenue in Williston Park and has developed into one of the largest hobby shops on Long Island. Almost 66 years ago, Al and Peggy Ford opened Willis Hobbies. Business really took off when they moved to Willis Avenue in Mineola. They sell planes, boats, trains, submarines, and feature a special children’s room. Steve and Kenny Ford, their sons, run the shop now. Steve manages the first floor, and Kenny the upper floors. Stephanie Ford, a daughter of Steve, is engaged to Frank Granata. They will be wed in August 2016.
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Ruth Kazdan of Colonial Avenue recently fell and broke her wrist. The cast the doctor put on can be removed so that Ruth can swim in the Mineola Pool, which is her delight.
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Jose Fernandez was honored by the Williston Park Rotary Club as the Business Person of the Year. He is the owner of the Sangria, a Spanish restaurant on Hillside Avenue.
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Jim Howard worked in the bankruptcy court for many years. He and his wife, Maureen, have lived in Williston Park since 1980. They like to eat at Jonathan’s restaurant.
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The word “curfew” comes from the French, couvert feu, or covered fire. The great fear of farmers in the Middle Ages was fire. When the church bells would chime at dusk, it would mark the time to cover all fires. This evolved into the English word curfew.
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Bird watchers noted that of all the birds, crows are the ones that fly in a straight line. Thus comes the expression, “as the crow flies,” indicating the distance to one’s destination by a straight line.
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Megan Mulqueen is a duel citizen of the United States and Ireland. She is the daughter of Karen and Tom Mulqueen. Megan now lives in Tipperary where she studies international business and is a great horsewoman. She is the granddaughter of Grace and the late Walter Weismantel who owned Weismantel’s Bakery on Jericho Turnpike. One of Grace and Walter’s other grandsons, Patrick Mulqueen, is a very successful trial lawyer.
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The County Seat Kiwanis and Mineola Bicycle are promoting Bike Safety for Sunday, Oct. 18. There will emphasis on wearing helmets at all times and prizes will be awarded for the best-dressed Halloween bike.
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On Oct. 27, the members of the New Hyde Park-Mineola Runners’ Club, including Ann Forte and Scott Fairgrieve, will compete in a half-marathon.
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We hope to hear that Virginia Scheidel of Sayville Road is soon on the road to recovery. She is the wife of Dan Scheidel, a long-time Third Precinct police officer.
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Allen and Lucianna Sankovitch have owned Franwin Pharmacy for eight years. Franwin Pharmacy, by the way, opened in 1934, and was then called Mineola Pharmacy. Allen and Lucianna are very busy these days with their four children.
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Maryann Guarino will take a four-day trip in September to Saranac Lake. She will visit many old friends there since she was born in that area in upper New York State.
Editor’s Note: Lou Sanders, who has his journalism degree from NYU, and his wife, Grace, a graduate of Adelphi, founded the Mineola American in 1952, giving the village its first successful newspaper. Lou and Grace have lived in Mineola for 60 years, and his popular column is a signature feature of this websit.
