BY RAVYN MALVINO
The Village of Mineola Board of Trustees recognized individuals helping the community last Wednesday during a meeting.
Mayor Scott P. Strauss opened the meeting by congratulating two volunteer firefighters for being elected as “firefighters of the year” by their companies: Mark Swinson from Company 2 and ex-Capt. Sandy Sonera from Company 3.
“They are both hardworking and dedicated firefighters,” Strauss said. “These honors are well earned.”
“Our first responders here in Mineola are volunteers,” said Strauss. “Our Fire Department, our ambulance corps and our auxiliary police are all volunteers. If you’re even the slightest bit curious about joining any of them, please reach out to either me personally or the particular organization directly.”
Strauss added, “I encourage everyone to become involved in our community on some level and becoming one of our first responders ranks among one of the most rewarding.”
Strauss also congratulated the Girl Scouts from Mineola, Williston Park, Albertson and Roslyn who hosted an annual awards ceremony last month. “I congratulate all of the recipients for a job well done,” said Strauss. “The troop leaders, the families of the girls and the Girl Scouts themselves continue to keep this program running and successful.”
Trustee Paul A. Pereira attended the annual Kiwanis Super Bowl Sunday pancake breakfast at the cafeteria at Mineola High School. “It was great the Mineola school district was able to accommodate them and it was a nice morning before the Super Bowl,” he said.
Pereira said he is looking forward to Mineola’s St. Patrick’s Day parade on March 1.
“I want to take this opportunity to congratulate the Mineola Hurricanes 10U baseball team for becoming the champs of the 2019 fall baseball program,” said Trustee Paul S. Cusato. “In fact, they were the undefeated champions. The coaches of the team all played Little League baseball when they were kids and it’s great to see them giving back to our program.”
“On Thursday, Feb. 13, Mineola High School has Mineola Macaroni Night,” Trustee Dennis J. Walsh announced. “The proceeds will go to the Interfaith Nutrition Network (INN). They feed 500 people a day and on the weekends they have a food pantry in the Mary Brennan Inn.”
Walsh added, “Not only do they provide money for the inn, but students also make hundreds of cheese sandwiches, wrap them up and the inn distributes them.”
Walsh explained the great service done by INN for homeless people and struggling families. “We always all attend and try to get them as much money as we can,” he said. “It’s a terrific thing.”
Strauss said some holidays are approaching like Lincoln’s birthday and Presidents Day when the village will be closed. “Please pay attention to any schedule changes from our Sanitation Department,” he said.
Additionally, Strauss said whenever two or more inches of snow are forecast, cars should be moved off the streets until the roads are cleared to promote quicker cleanup.
