Vol. 78, No. 35
Friday, August 31, 2018
$1
SERVING PLAINVIEW, HICKSVILLE, AND LEVITTOWN
Congregants see to save church from demolition
TOP MUSIC HONORS
BY GARY SIMEONE
Levittown Public Schools’ Division Avenue High School and MacArthur High School musicians participated in the New York State School Music Association’s Majors Festival last month at Hofstra University, earning top designations. The Division Avenue Symphonic Band, above, received Level 5 Gold
Fall Festival planned in Plainview-Old Bethpage BY GARY SIMEONE
The Plainview-Old Bethpage Library will again be the host of the annual Plainview-Old Bethpage Chamber of Commerce Fall Festival. The festival, which will take place on Sunday, September 30th, will be chock-full of unique arts and crafts vendors, and plenty of games for adults and kids alike. Ned Marzigliano, a local businessman who will serve as festival chairman, said that this year’s festival will include more family-oriented activities. “There will be more games that families can participate in, and a bouncy house for the kids which we didn’t have last year,” said Marzigli-
ano, a State Farm agent in Plainview. “We will also have the Southampton Animal Shelter pet-mobile on hand, where families can participate in fundraising efforts and potentially adopt an animal.” The festival will include more vendors who will be selling a unique range of items. There will be crafts, clothing, and hand-designed objects for sale, as well as chotskies-like figurines and small pieces of jewelry. “Some of our vendors will be selling things like comic books and baseball cards and things you can hang in your house or place in your garden,” said Marzigliano. For the first time in its history, the festival will have two presenting Platinum sponsors: TD Bank and
Akiva Shapiro Law. Andrew Lamkin, Chamber president, said that sponsorship is key to having a successful festival. “The festival’s growth and success is dependent on sponsor involvement,” said Lamkin. “Ned and his committee have worked tirelessly in organizing what undoubtedly will be another successful event for the Plainview-Old Bethpage community.” The event will take place from 10AM to 5PM. in the parking lot of the Library. It will be the seventh year in a row that the festival will take place in this location. Preferred Promotions Arts and Craft Festivals will be event promoter for the second year in a row.
The St. Matthias Church on the border of Wantagh and Levittown has been in existence since 1904. The structure is in peril, though, as the Church’s Episcopal diocese wants to sell the building in order to make a profit. Congregants of the church feel differently, though, as they want to save the 114-year-old building from being sold and ultimately torn down. Two months ago, the Town of Hempstead’s Landmark Preservation Commission voted unanimously that the building should be granted landmark status. This would prevent the building from being sold and possibly being demolished in the process. “We are awaiting word from the Town Board after making the recommendation of landmark status for the Church,” said Town historian and Commission member Tom Saltzman. “The next step would be that the Board will take the information we provided and schedule a public hearing. After getting feedback from the public, they would make their decision.” Saltzman said it was important to save historic structures like the church because there are so few in existence in the Town. “The church is in its original shingle-style shape, which was the style of that time period. It is in exceptional condition for a building of its age.” He said that the main reason that the Commission is seeking landmark status is because it wants to see the building’s exterior maintain its original shape. “We are open to any type of adaptive reuse of the building’s interior, as long as the exterior is maintained,” said Saltzman. “It can be used as an ice cream parlour, candy store, or doctor’s office. We just want the exterior preserved.” The St. Matthias Church has been a traditionally African-American and Latin-American church. The last Mass that was held in the church was in April.
Free rabies clinic for dogs, cats, ferrets PAGE 3 Lazy Days of Summer summer event PAGE 4