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Friday, February 15, 2019
Vol. 79, No. 7
$1
HYUNDAI FO R LESS
SERVING PLAINVIEW, HICKSVILLE, AND LEVITTOWN Call 86
6-781-6462
Residents make their voices heard at LIRR forum
A PLATE FULL OF COLORS
BY GARY SIMEONE
was developed by inventor Harrison Noggin, who wanted to give patients a chance to experience the wonders of a virtual reality world. “My goal was to be able to provide a way for individuals who have limitations placed on them by age, physical and cognitive barriers to experience the magic of VR,” said Noggin.
Many local residents and LIRR commuters expressed their frustrations with officials at the LIRR Customer Conversations event at the William Bennet Hicksville Community Center last Wednesday night. Soaring ticket prices, late trains and lengthy repair work were just some of the issues that were brought up at the event which took place from 6 pm to 9 pm. LIRR President Philip Eng was on hand along with other LIRR and Nassau County officials to discuss ongoing issues with the railroad and to answer people’s questions and concerns. “Your feedback and dialogue is important to us and that is why we have put together these events including the Meet Your Manager series, which we kicked off last year,” said Eng. “This is all part of our LIRR Forward initiative, that aims to improve the commuting experience.” Some of the complaints brought up at the event included overcrowded trains, underserved stations, and seemingly infinite repair work that has effected local residents and commuters alike. State Senator and Levittown resident Kevin Thomas asked the panel about an uptick in broken rails over the last few years and what officials were planning to do about it. “It seems like incidents have been going up since 2017 including a recent incident where there were broken rails at both Mineola and Wantagh lines that affected service,” said Thomas. “What kind of plans do you guys have in place to maintain the tracks over the long haul?” Eng answered that a 5-year capital program has been put in place, where track inspections and repairs will be dealt with on an immediate basis. “We’ve been using the Sperry Rail Service, which takes an in-depth look at the rails for potential defects that might lead to an eventual problem,” said Eng. A Hicksville resident, who said he was a longtime
See page 4
See page 4
To promote nutrition and wellness awareness, students at Bethpage’s Kramer Lane School were encouraged to wear red to symbolize fruits. Students wore different colors each day of the week to showcase the food groups. Above, kindergarten students William, Maggie and Ethan enjoy fruit snacks. Photo courtesy Bethpage Union Free School District
Virtual reality tour at nursing center BY GARY SIMEONE Patients at the Central Island Healthcare rehabilitation & nursing center will have a chance to travel to outer space, different countries and to fields of budding flowers on Thursday, February 28. The Virtu-Well Reality therapeutic program will be presented at the 202-bed rehabilitation facility through a unique
VR headset apparatus. “We are continually seeking innovative ways to care for our residents via modern technology that provide positive outcomes,” said Arthur Boden, administrator at Central Island Healthcare. “These virtual reality journeys are therapeutic and person centered and can be adapted to the specific needs of residents.” The Virtu-Well Reality program
Sci Oly students make strides PAGE 5 The Addams Family takes the stage
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