Mineola Mayor To Address Village Overlays, Gov. Hochul’s Housing Compact At Rotary Luncheon

What’s going on lately in the Village of Mineola?

For an update, please join the MineolaGarden City Rotary Club at our lunch meeting on Tuesday, June 13, 12:15 p.m. at Mineola’s Davenport Press restaurant. Rotary will welcome as guest speaker Mineola Mayor Paul Pereira.

Mayor Pereira will speak about two recently enacted Village overlays: one in the historic overlay district in the downtown along with the Mineola Jericho Turnpike overlay district. The mayor will also discuss Governor Hochul’s housing compact.

Wishing to give back to the community which had given him so much, both personally and professionally, Paul Pereira had decided to run for and was elected to the position of Village Trustee in 2008. In 2011, he had been designated Deputy Mayor by former Mayor Scott Strauss who had served for 11 years. When Mayor Strauss decided not to run for reelection, Paul ran for and was elected to the position of mayor in March of 2022.

A 45-year resident of Mineola, Paul attended all Mineola schools, and graduated from Mineola High School in 1989 where he had been a four-year member of the wrestling and soccer teams and was also involved in student government and the Student Service Center.

Outside of school, Paul played MAA soccer and PAL roller hockey.

He went on to receive a Bachelor of Arts degree in History from Adelphi University in 1993 followed by a Master’s degree in History from Queens College. He also holds a Certification in School Administration from the College of St. Rose.

Very impressive is Mayor Paul Pereira’s continuing long-time association with the Mineola School District. Having begun his teaching career in the Mineola School District in September of 1993 as a member of the high school Social Studies Department, Paul also led the successful boys varsity soccer program for two decades, becoming the winningest soccer coach in school history. In 2023, Paul is completing his 30th year in the district.

Involved in several school community and charitable organizations for many years, Paul’s additional responsibilities included advising several clubs and classes, coaching athletic teams and coordinating international student exchange programs plus 5 exchanges with high schools in Portugal.

Paul has served as a member of the Site Based Management Team at the high school for several years and is one of the original members of the MHS Alumni Foundation and has been a dedicated member of the Long Island Portuguese Lions Club for the past 26 years. He had received the organization’s highest honor, The Melvin Jones Fellowship in 2016. The president of Portugal had awarded Paul the “Order of Merit” medal in recognition of his service to the community and promotion of Portuguese language and culture in the United States.

Paul says he, his wife Diana and their children, Andrew, Sofia and Ana look forward to calling Mineola home for many years to come.

All are welcome to join Rotary at the June 13 luncheon. (Fee, $35, payable at the door). To reserve for this or any event listed below please email Meg Norris at editor@ gcnews.com.

— Submitted by Althea Robinson with assistance from the Office of the Mayor of Mineola