Editor’s Note: Lou Sanders, who has his journalism degree from NYU, and his late wife, Grace, a graduate of Adelphi, founded the Mineola American in 1952, giving the village its first successful newspaper. Lou and Grace lived in Mineola for 60 years, and his popular column is a signature feature of this paper.
Saint Aidan’s Youth Group in Williston Park welcomed Heather Ganz so they could learn about the garden ministry of the Sisters of St. Joseph and Pope Francis’ encyclical, Laudato Si.
• • • •
Scott Fairgrieve ran the Suffolk County Marathon, which is 26.2 miles. His wife, Linda, completed the 5K, which is 3.1 miles. Linda is one of the few Mineola residents who was actually born here, 63 years ago. She and Scott have lived in five different houses in the village: two times on Emory Road, once on Jackson Avenue, and in two different houses on Mineola Boulevard. Scott, who is a judge, came from Garden City.
• • • •
Tony Nocito passed away. He was very active in the Mineola Athletic Association and the Mineola Mustang Run. He was on the committee of Hometown Party and a member of the Mineola Italian-American Club.
• • • •
Bill Greene, our local furrier, owns Tsontos Furs. He and his crew are hoping for a very, very cold winter. He also remodels, repairs, labels and cleans furs. He has owned the store for 17 years and is the immediate past president of the Mineola Chamber of Commerce.
• • • •
The Chamber of Commerce selected Lou Panacciulli as their Man of the Year. He was honored at the Crest Hollow Country Club. Lou recently retired as a high school music teacher.
• • • •
Bernadette O’Brien broke her arm recently and did rehab at Sunharbor Manor. After two months there she has returned to her home on Horton Highway.
• • • •
Jonathan Sommer, son of George and Helena of Mineola, will be married in June to Sara from Virginia, and the wedding will be held in that state.
• • • •
Diana and Kim Gephardt are doing okay. Kim was recently struck by an automobile while crossing a street, but he is in good shape now. His wife is the former Diana Weismantel, formerly of Mineola.
• • • •
Lori Gayson married Robin Henry on Oct. 1 at The Cottage at Milleridge. On a sadder note, Elaine Gayson, Lori’s grandmother and the mother of Rick Gayson, died. Rick and his wife, Karen, live in Mineola.
• • • •
Virginia Piloto is a granddaughter of Mattie Piloto of Mineola. Virginia works for Garden City urologist Dr. Mitchell Efros.
• • • •
In medieval times, there was very little to do. People used to love to dance. Ring dancing was very popular, as people would form circles and then a number of rings. To be first in line was considered a great honor and that person was called the “ring leader.” Today, this term is often used to refer to the head of some type of crime family.
• • • •
“What the dickens?” is a euphemism for “What the devil?” It has nothing to do with Charles Dickens. The first appearance of this term in print was by Shakespeare in his Merry Wives of Windsor. In that play, a character says “I cannot tell what the dickens his name is.”
• • • •
Ruth Kazden and her son, Paul, recently saw the play Jersey Boys on Broadway. They attended the show as part of the celebration of Paul’s birthday.
