Mid-Island Times (8/24/18)

Page 1

Friday, August 24, 2018

Vol. 78, No. 34

$1

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MARCHING TO COMPETITION

Bethpage volunteer firefighter accused of setting fires BY GARY SIMEONE

Marching band students from Levittown’s high schools get ready for competition season. Page 6

Libraries to receive upgrades BY GARY SIMEONE

As part of a $24 million state capitol fund package, local libraries, including Hicksville and Bethpage Public Library, will receive necessary upgrades. The appropriations, which are part of the 2017-18 state budget, are for 230 construction projects for libraries across the state. State Assemblyman Michael Montesano said that he was excited to hear about the repairs to local libraries. “Libraries provide our communities with more than just reading materials, and it is great to see them getting the upgrades they deserve,” said Montesano. “These are places which provide a sense of con-

nection and community both inside and outside of reality. They host events, programs, classes, and so much more to bring us together. I am thrilled to see construction begin to make them better places for us all.” As part of the overall construction project, three Nassau County libraries, including Hicksville, Bethpage, and Locust Valley Library, will receive upgrades to their exterior and interior levels. The Hicksville Free Public Library will receive $4,937 to replace a concrete apron and new flags on the side entrance of the library. The Bethpage Public Library will receive $107,520 to replace a portion of its roof.

Robert Sporing, director of the Bethpage Library, said that the state funding will be beneficial in fixing a roof that has been plagued with problems. “This is something we’ve had major issues with, including leaks over the years, and part of the roof blowing off in a storm two years ago,” said Sporing. “Fixing that section of the roof will be a huge help to everyone at the library.” He said that this will be the second major repair to the library, after the HVAC system was renovated several years ago thanks to state funding. The timeline for the renovations is scheduled for sometime in late September.

A Bethpage man was arrested last week on charges of committing arson and criminal possession of a weapon. Before his arrest, 20-year-old Christopher Cordeiro had served as a volunteer firefighter for the Bethpage Fire Department; Engine Company 5. A Public Information officer from the Nassau County Police Department said that Cordeiro was arrested after having been accused of setting a total of five fires dating back to June of 2017. “His arson spree allegedly began on June 25th, 2017 and ended on August 19th of this year,” said the PI officer from Nassau County Headquarters in Mineola. “He has been accused of setting a total of five fires and has also been charged with Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the 3rd Degree.” In the first fire, dating back to June of last year, Cordeiro allegedly threw a Molotov cocktail into a sump area in Bethpage causing an explosion and resulting fire. In the second fire, dated on March 1st of this year, he is accused of setting a dumpster fire at 67 Millpage Drive. In the month of August, he has been accused of setting a total of three more fires, including one at an abandoned house on Stewart Avenue, in a wooded area off of

Christopher Codeiro Broadway and at a storage shed at 121 N Herman Avenue. Cordeiro has been charged with five criminal counts including Arson in the 3rd Degree, Arson in the 4th Degree, and two counts of Arson in the 5th Degree. He is also charged with Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the 3rd Degree for the Molotov cocktail. Tom Iovino, a Bethpage resident, said that he was shocked to hear a volunteer firefighter was accused of committing arson. “You would never think that someone who is trusted to put out fires is the one who is starting them,” said Iovino. “I guess there is always one bad apple in the bunch, but I have faith that members of our fire department have the community’s best interest in mind.”

Students embrace Summer Reading PAGE 4 Hicksville schools celebrate staff PAGE 8


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