Children's Cultural Art Series Continues

The third show in the Mineola District Council of PTA's Children's Cultural Art Series continues with the Magic of Robert Austin at Mineola High School Theatre , on Saturday, January 8, at 2pm.  Tickets are available at the school box office 30 minutes before the show and  are $5 (children under 3 years of age are admitted free).

Recycle Christmas Trees and Lights

Town of North Hempstead Supervisor Jon Kaiman and the North Hempstead Town Board urged residents to recycle used Christmas trees and unwanted electronics this holiday season.

Tree-Cycling benefits the environment and the community by turning old trees into mulch for gardening and landscaping.

Residents can dump energy-gulping Christmas light...s too, every Sunday from 9:30am to 3:30pm until the end of January at 999 West Shore Road in Roslyn and hopefully make the switch to LED lights.

As part of the School Recycling Partnership Program, all participating school districts will hold an Electronic Waste drop-off location in January as well, so all those old electronic gizmos that are replaced by fancy gadgets this year, can be properly disposed of.

Just call 311 for E-Waste dates and locations and information on x-mas tree recycling or visit www.northhempsteadny.gov.

Area Merchant Coupons from TownPlanner.com

The Town Planner calendar we all get each year is a handy reference for coupons and area merchant information.  As one of many calendars MinWills residents receive, it no doubt ends up in the recycling pile for many of us.  Regardless, merchant info and coupons are still accessible via the Town Planner web site.  Just click through to either Mineola and The Willistons on the site to see what's available -- http://www.townplanner.com/

Charles Water Karate Teen Orientation Program

Charles Water Karate and Fitness is offering a one-month orientation to its program for just $149.  The orientation program, geared towards teenagers, offers a full refund if, after one month, the customer is not satisfied that the program is working to their benefit.  Visit the Charles Water site for more info on their program and philosophy: http://charleswaterkarate.com/index.htm

Free and Easy Checking at Astoria Federal Savings

Tired of worrying about maintaining a minimum balance or how many checks you've written recently?  Astoria Federal Savings' Free and Easy Checking is a program designed for those seeking a worry-free approach to managing their bank accounts.  Astoria's checking accounts come with no minimum balance or check-writing service fees.  For more information, please visit them at their Williston Park branch (162 Hillside Avenue) or on their site at http://www.astoriafederal.com/html/everyday_banking/checking/

MAA Soccer Board Meeting January 6

The MAA Soccer Board meets the first Thursday of every month.  All MAA Soccer members are invited.  The meetings begin at 7:30pm and are held at the MAA House off Willis Avenue in Mineola.

Village of Mineola Considering Turf Field at Wilson Park

At a recent Mineola Board of Trustees meeting, Superintendent of Public Works Tom Rini reported on estimated costs involved with installing a turf field at Wilson Park to replace the grass on Field 3.  Located behind the Mineola Pool, Field 3 is currently used by the Mineola Athletic Association for 11-v-11 travel soccer games and team training, as well as by the Mineola Police Athletic League for lacrosse and football training.

Mr. Rini reported that, based on early-stage estimates, simply replacing the existing field outline with turf would cost approximately $800,000.  If the Village opted for additional improvements and facilities, the cost could be in the $3.2 million range.  Those additional improvements and facilities could include widening the field and as a result moving the lighting towers; installing a restroom facility; and constructing a parking area adjacent to the field.

Installing turf would be ideal for this particular field, which has proven difficult for the Village to maintain over the years.  It is unknown at this time what amount of County or State grant money Mineola could apply for or the timing for installing the turf.

Mineola Village Master Plan

For those of you interested in the future of the Village of Mineola, the Village’s Master Plan is an interesting read and includes a detailed outline of the authors and committee members vision for what our Village will look like in years to come.  The Master Plan can be viewed at http://www.mineola-ny.gov/cmp/FinalCompPlan.pdf

TEAM WINTHROP MAKES STRIDES IN THE FIGHT AGAINST BREAST CANCER

Rafaelina Martinez, Administrative Director for Winthrop’s Department of Surgery; Linda Fox, RT(R)(M)(CT)MBA, Manager of Winthrop’s Breast Imaging and Diagnostic Center; and Alisha Ellis, LMSW, Breast Cancer Social Worker coordinated the October 19 effort by 65 Winthrop employees and friends to support the American Cancer Society in the 2010 Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk at Jones Beach.

The Winthrop Team raised nearly $24,000 for breast cancer research, with Winthrop team members Robin Battaglia and Rose Tramantana of Floral Park and Paula Rossetti of Bayside raising more than $3,400 together for this important cause.

Winthrop offers a full-range of breast services designed to support a woman’s every need. Winthrop’s Breast Health Center provides a multidisciplinary approach to breast health, offering not only services of skilled technologists, but also easy access to Winthrop’s team of board-certified physicians and specialists including radiologists, pathologists, medical and radiation oncologists, and world-class surgeons specially trained in breast, plastic and reconstructive surgery and supportive services including genetic counseling and social work.

To learn more about the comprehensive services available at Winthrop’s Breast Health Center, call 1-866-WINTHROP.

Mineola Library - Teen Volunteers Needed

Organized and detail oriented teens are welcome to apply at the Children's Desk to be an "adopt a shelf" volunteer at the Mineola Public Library. Volunteers will be responsible for keeping a section of the Children's Room book collection in alphabetical or numerical order on a weekly basis. Hours are flexible and volunteers will earn volunteer/community credit. Runs throughout the year. Open to those in grades 6-12 only. Apply at the Children's Desk.

Mineola Library Toys For Tots Drive

The Mineola Library will be a drop off location for the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve's "Toys for Tots" campaign. From December 1 to December 14, you may drop off a NEW and UNWRAPPED toy in the "Toys for Tots" boxed located in front of the Circulation desk.

Winthrop MD Secures Huge Research Grant

Congratulations to John F. Aloia, MD, Director of Winthrop’s Bone Mineral Research Center,  as he has been awarded a nearly $4 million research grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to support his research project titled, “Vitamin D and Osteoporosis Prevention in Elderly African Americans."

Dr. Aloia’s research goals are to determine if vitamin D supplements will safely reduce bone loss and improve physical performance in elderly African Americans, with the long-term goal of developing strategies for the prevention of osteoporotic fractures in African Americans. 

Additionally, Winthrop’s Osteoporosis Diagnostic Research and Treatment Center has been awarded a New York State grant to become one of six regional centers for the New York State Osteoporosis Prevention and Education Program (NYSOPEP). Osteoporosis is a progressive disease that causes bones to become brittle, causing people to become more prone to factures, loss of height and chronic pain.   NYSOPEP is an educational initiative within the New York State Department of Health which is committed to helping people build stronger bones by providing bone health education to the general public and medical professionals,.

Mr Memorabilia Store Closing Sale

Looking for a creative gift idea to decorate a room or highlight a friend's or child's hobby?  Mr Memorabilia at 345 Hillside Avenue is offering great deals on autographed items, mugs, jerseys, etc.... from now until the store closes.  Email fundraisinghelp@yahoo.com for more info.

TNH Seeking Holiday Hometown Heroes

The Town of North Hempstead is looking for reisdents to nominate neighbors who have made  a difference in the lives of others and their communities.  If you know of someone that makes a positive difference in Mineola and the Willistons, nominate them by downloading and filling out a form from the http://www.northhempsteadny.gov/content/search.aspx?search=hometown%20heroes site and then mailing them to Town Clerk Leslie Gross at 200 Plandome Road, Manhasset NY 11030.

Astronomy Roadmap to the Stars: The Night Sky Explained

The Mineola Public Library presents a class on astronomy in its Community Room.  Join Kevin Manning on December 8 at 6:30pm for an exciting Powerpoint presentation. Learn how objects in the night sky can be pinpointed with little understanding of the celestial sphere and its coordinates. Advanced registration required.

Mineola Village Board Meetings

Village Board meetings and public meetings are held on the 1st and 3rd Wednesdays of every month in Village Hall. Public hearings are held on the 2nd Wednesday and may also be scheduled on the 3rd Wednesday of the month.  Visit the http://www.mineola-ny.gov/ site for meeting times and other announcements.

Piccola Bussola Gift Card Offer

For those of you looking for good holiday gift ideas, Piccola Bussola of 159 Jericho Turnpike in Mineola is offering a free $20 gift card with every $150 in gift cards purchased.  The family-owned Italian eatery has become one of Mineola’s best and most popular restaurants.

East Williston Little League Registration Now Open

The 2011 Spring season for baseball and softball is only a few months away.  Please register your children before December 31 for the baseball and softball season.  Registration and information about the bprograms can be found at the http://www.ewlittleleague.com/ site.

Kiwanis Club Meetings

The Kiwanis Club of County Seat Mineola meets Mondays at 8 a.m. at IHOP, located at the corner of Willis and Hillside Aves. Interested prospective members are welcome to join the group for complimentary breakfast any Monday.

Nassau Pops Annual Christmas Concert

Maestro Louis Panacciulli and his Nassau Pops Orchestra will present their annual Christmas concert at Chaminade High School in Mineola on Sunday, December 12.  This annual event is the unofficial kick-off for Christmas in Mineola.  The concert begins at 3pm and as usual, admission is free.

“ARE YOU SLEEPING?” FREE LECTURE FOR SENIORS DECEMBER 8TH

Winthrop-University Hospital’s Health Update for Seniors community education program will sponsor a free lecture, “Trouble Sleeping? Causes & Remedies,” on Wednesday, December 8, 2010, at 1:15 PM. The program will be held at the Mineola Community Center, located at 155 Washington Avenue in Mineola. 

Qanta Ahmed, MD, Attending Physician at Winthrop’s Sleep Disorders Center will provide an overview of the symptoms, diagnostic process and treatment options for common sleep problems. Dr. Ahmed will also address their possible causes and provide tips for lifestyle changes that may improve the quality of sleep. A question and answer period will follow the lecture. 

Dr. Ahmed is board certified in Sleep Disorders Medicine and Critical Care Medicine. She is an active regional, national and international educator. 

The program begins with the lecture at 1:15 PM, followed by blood pressure checks at 2:45 PM. Admission is free, but seating is limited and reservations are required. To reserve a seat, please call (516) 663-3916. 

Health Update for Seniors is a free community health education program coordinated by Geriatric Health Services and the Winthrop-University Hospital Home Health Agency. For information on the Sleep Disorders Center or other programs at the Hospital, please call 1-866-WINTHROP.

MAA Spring Season Registration Under Way

Registration for the Spring 2011 Baseball, Cheerleading, Soccer and Softball seasons are now under way for the Mineola Athletic Association.  Please visit www.mineolaaa.org for more information on each program and to register online.

Register before December 31, 2010 to ensure you register at the early registration rate.