🌱Ex-NYPD Officer's Life Saved + Willie Park Parade July 4 + LIRR Work

Hello, neighbors! It's Wednesday in Mineola and I'm back in your inbox to get you caught up on the most important things happening in the community today.

First, today's weather:

Mostly sunny and pleasant. High: 83, low: 69.

📢 I’m looking for business owners and marketers in Mineola who want to build awareness, connect with customers and increase sales.

I have a limited number of sponsorships available to introduce our Mineola Daily readers to local businesses they need to know about. If that’s you, then I invite you to learn more and secure your spot now.

Here are the top stories in Mineola today:

1. Nassau County police and paramedics saved the life of former NYPD officer John Balestrieri when he lost consciousness while dining in a Franklin Square restaurant with his wife. They shocked Balestrieri with a defibrillator and then another five times as he was taken to NYU Langone Hospital - Long Island in Mineola, and six days later he woke up there in intensive care. The heroes who saved his life were recognized at a top cop ceremony. (CBS New York)
2. Mineola will be quiet for the Fourth of July, but next door, the Williston Park Fire Department will be hosting an Independence Day Parade on Monday, July 4 starting at 9:30 a.m. The parade starts at Broad Street, goes down to Hillside Avenue, turns on Park Avenue to Center Street and finally to Willis Avenue before ending at the fire house. (The Island 360)
3. The MTA is currently doing overnight work at the Mineola LIRR station through Thursday, June 30, from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m., with bright lights and noise in the area. Workers are reportedly removing ballast from the track beds for concrete tie replacements. (Village of Mineola)

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Today in Mineola:

• Cool Apps for the iPad & iPhone (In Person) — Mineola Memorial Library. (11 a.m.)
• STEM Lego Sandcastle — Williston Park Library. (4 p.m.)
• Art History Lecture: Tamara de Lempicka (In Person) — Mineola Memorial Library. (6:30 p.m.)

From my notebook:

• Nassau County Police Department: "Police Alert: Illegal Fireworks. Fireworks are illegal in New York State and can cause serious physical injury. We don’t make the laws, but it is our job to enforce them. If you know someone participating in the purchase, sale, or use of illegal fireworks, please contact your local #NassauCountyPD Police Precinct. Fireworks can cause serious pain and trauma to veterans, those with sensory challenges, and pets. Celebrate responsibly. If you see something dangerous or unsafe, call 911 immediately." (Nassau County Police Department via Facebook)
• Music & Memory: "Did you know? Listening to music and playing an instrument improves not only our mental well-being, but also our cerebral plasticity and our cognitive abilities." (Music & Memory via Facebook)
• Mineola Auxiliary Police Department: "The spring season of 2022 sprang early in Mineola, as one of the largest local events returned to the village's main roadways in all its glory. The Saint Patrick's Parade, hosted by the Irish American Society of Nassau, Suffolk and Queens (headquartered in Mineola), took to the streets on Sunday, March 6. There was a little bit of rain, but as Irish luck would have it, there was sunshine in each step of the marchers and four-leaf clovers in the eyes of every onlooker as the festivities went on. Many other local annual spring events, not having been held since before COVID-19, also returned to the delight of residents and visitors alike... and the proud members of the Mineola Auxiliary Police Department (M.A.P.D.) were there supporting our community." (Mineola Auxiliary Police Department via Facebook)
• Family & Children's Association: "Did you know that FCA provides free HIV supportive services, including helping you navigate testing, treatment, and more?! Today is National HIV Testing Day, the largest coordinated HIV testing event in the nation. You can get tested today for free at select Walgreens across the country. Can’t make it to Walgreens today? Call 516-935-6858 for our Hicksville Family Treatment and Recovery Center and 516-486-7200 for our Hempstead Family Treatment and Recovery Center to get started today." (Family & Children's Association via Facebook)
• Island Harvest: "Today kicks off the start of our Summer Food Service Program. We plan to deliver over 160,000 meals by the end of the summer for nearly 3,000 kids. We will be at summer and day camps, community centers, libraries, churches, and community-based organizations across Nassau & Suffolk counties. #IslandHarvest #Children #Hunger
  You can help make sure that we support all families in need: https://bit.ly/3yplyh9" (Island Harvest via Facebook)

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You're all caught up for today! I'll see you around.

— Joanne Gallo

About me: Joanne Gallo is a lifelong resident of Long Island and a writer/editor for 30+ years. After earning a B.A. in Journalism and an M.A. in Writing from NYU, Joanne was an on-staff editor for several consumer publications, including Features Editor for Soap Opera Weekly, Senior Editor for health magazine Energy Times and Executive Editor for The Johns Hopkins White Papers, a book series on medical conditions. Raised in the nearby town of Roslyn, Joanne is happy to call Mineola her home for the past 7+ years. She loves arts & entertainment, dining, gardening and all the natural beauty that Long Island has to offer.

Have a news tip or suggestion for an upcoming Mineola Daily? Contact me at Mineola@Patch.com