Friday, May 4, 2018
Vol. 78, No. 18
EARTH DAY CLEANUP
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Bethpage resident wins election seat BY GARY SIMEONE
Nassau County Legislator John R. Ferretti, Jr. joined the Town of Hempstead and the Levittown Community Council to participate in the 12th Annual Levittown Community Council Earth Day Cleanup at Veterans Memorial Park on Hempstead Tpke. and Shelter Lane, in front of the Levittown Public Library. Above: Donald Patane from the Levittown Community Council, Nassau County Legislator John R. Ferretti, Jr., Mike Cassano from the Levittown Community Council, Louise Cassano from the Levittown Community Council, Ginny Isola from the Levittown Community Council, and Island Trees Library President John Mikulin.
Arrest made in armed robberies The Nassau County Police, Major Case Bureau, arrested a Hicksville man for several robberies that occurred recently in Hicksville. According to the Robbery Squad and Burglary Pattern Squad Detectives, defendant Juan Carlos Ortiz, 25, was observed in the vicinity of S Broadway, Hicksville smoking what they say appeared to be crack cocaine from a clear glass pipe. When Detec-
tives approached, the defendant fled the scene on foot, disposing of a white garment and the above clear glass pipe. After a brief foot pursuit, the defendant was placed under arrest. The white garment (a hooded mask) and pipe were recovered. Police say that after an investigation, they determined that defendant Ortiz was responsible for the followSee page 26
Juan Carlos Ortiz
John Mikulin of Bethpage will take over the seat of past assemblyman Tom McKevitt after winning the 17th assembly district in a special election on April 24th. Mikulin, the Republican candidate, won the seat with over 2,000 votes against contender Matthew Malin of Seaford. “I am very happy that I won this election, but now it’s time to get to work,” said Mikulin. “I plan to work hard everyday and represent the people of the 17th assembly district to the best of my ability.” The 17th assembly district includes the towns of East Meadow, Levittown, Farmingdale, Bethpage, and Massapequa. He said that his top priorities are dealing with the opioid crisis that is affecting Long Island towns, lowering property taxes in the County, and recovering school aid from the State. “I plan to travel to Albany and advocate for our area and make sure we get our fair share of school aid,” said the 30 year old, who lives with his wife in Bethpage. “Too much school aid is going to New York City and not enough is going to Long Island.” In dealing with the current opioid epidemic, he said he wants to make sure insurance companies provide better coverage for people who are affected and harsher penalties for those peddling the drugs. “I want stricter penalties for people who are dealing these types of drugs by working together closely with law enforcement. It’s an epidemic that has to stop.” See page 26
Four arrested for sale of alcohol to minors
The Nassau County Police’s Second Precinct’s Problem Oriented Policing Unit (P.O.P.) arrested four employees of Hicksville businesses during a sting operation which targeted the sale of alcohol and tobacco to minors. According to police, during the “Project 21” initiative, which was held on April 27th, officers, with the assistance of an underage agent, the following individuals were arrested for Prohibited Sale of an Alcoholic Beverage: • Malkit Singh, 60, of South Richmond, N.Y., who allegedly sold alcohol to a minor at BP Gas Station-300 N. Broadway, Hicksville. He was also charged with Improper Posting of a License. See page 26
Wisdom Lane students pen space essays PAGE 4 Levittown resident wins college award PAGE 10