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Friday, September 14, 2018
Vol. 78, No. 37
HFD holds 9/11 ceremony, unveils new facility
CAR CRUISE EVENT
BY GARY SIMEONE
As part of Levittown’s 70th Anniversary Events ,Legislator John Ferretti attended the Car Cruise on Wednesday, July 18th, at Island Trees Middle School. Pictured: Matthew J. DeGregorio – Commander of VFW Post #9592, Legislator John Ferretti, Peter Stasinski – Member of Post #9592, and Miriam Stasinski – Peter’s daughter.
Sears mural finds new home at Athletic Ctr. BY GARY SIMEONE
The massive oil painting of Long Island, that adorned the wall of the old Sears store in Hicksville for decades has found a new home right down the street. In late August, workers began the process of removing the mural, which depicts a historical map of Long Island, to the Hicksville Athletic Center. Town of Oyster Bay Supervisor Joe Saladino, who helped coordinate the removal project, said that he was glad that the mural
would find a second home within the Town’s borders. “The Sears mural is a piece of our town’s history, and has great meaning to the Hicksville community,” said Saladino. “Our combined efforts will ensure the mural’s preservation for generations to come right here in the heart of the Town of Oyster Bay.” The mural was painted in the 1960s by Manhattan-based artist G. Hunter Jones. It was painted to remind residents of the importance of Long Islands history. A meeting took place at the now
defunct Sears property earlier this year to decide the fate of the mural which measures 20 by 15 feet in length. At that meeting, which included Town officials and Sears property owners, it was decided that restoration and relocation was the best option available. Larry Rose, a representative of Seritage Growth Properties, who owns the 26-acre site where Sears was located, said that over $30,000 was invested in the removal, restoration, and installation process. Seritage funded both the feasibility See page 10
It was a two-pronged event on Sunday, September 9th at the Hicksville Fire Department, as a 9\11 memorial ceremony was held and a new training facility was unveiled to the public. The new facility was built in honor of the late Fire Chief George Howard, who was a victim of the 9/11 tragedy. The memorial service was held for 10 Hicksville residents and responding firefighters who died on that fateful day, 17 years ago. Karl Schweitzer, commissioner of the Hicksville Water District, served as chairperson of the Remembrance Ceremony. “The tragedies of that day forever changed the Hicksville community,” said Schweitzer. “Today is day to remember neighbors, loved ones, and fallen heroes who paid the ultimate sacrifice for our safety and freedom. As a community, we do our part every year by remembering those who lost their lives at this ceremony.” During Schweitzer’s speech, Volunteer Fire Department Chief Robert Chiz and members of the volunteer fire department unveiled the new training facility to the public. In his statement during the ceremony, Chiz spoke about how much honorary Chief George Howard and Ex-Chief Terrance Farrell meant to the Hicksville community. “George and Terry were two of the most courageous firefighters this department has ever had, and I cannot think of a better way to honor their memories each year than with the creation of this training facility,” said Chiz. The new facility was put in place as part of a New York State grant that enables fire departments to build training facilities to help train new and veteran firefighters. Fire district commissioners contacted the American Fire Training Systems company to design and construct a three story training tower. The tower will serve to conduct training drills for volunteer and veteran firefighters. “We are dedicating this new facility and a lasting piece of this department to our fallen brother, George Howard, as we build the future of this department,” said Schweitzer.
A great start to the new school year PAGE 15 New assistant principals appointed PAGE 7