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Friday, November 27, 2020
Vol. 80, No. 48
SERVING PLAINVIEW, HICKSVILLE, AND LEVITTOWN
TOWN HONORS FIREFIGHTERS
Middle School hosts virtual food drive BY GARY SIMEONE
Hempstead Town Supervisor Don Clavin, Councilman Dennis Dunne, Sr. and Town Clerk Kate Murray presented the Town of Hempstead Firematic Award to Levittown Fire Department Fire Medic Michael Lively on November 8, in recognition of Michael answering many emergency calls during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Also attending were Levittown Fire Chief Alfred Williams, Captain Fred McFarland and Commissioners Joseph Bentivegna, Ken Rochon, George Anderson and Joel Bearman.
Arson suspect sought
Nassau County Police detectives are seeking information related to an incident of arson which took place in Hicksville on Sunday, September 27 at 4:30 a.m. in Hicksville. Eighth Precinct officers responded to a call for a fire alarm located at 350 South Broadway. Upon arrival, officers observed an active fire in the building and the Hicksville
Fire Department responded to extinguish the fire. No occupants were inside the building at the time of the fire. Police say they determined that an unknown subject had intentionally started the fire. The subject is described as a white male, heavyset, wearing dark shorts, green hooded sweatshirt and white sneakers. The subject had thrown a
rock through a window, causing it to break, and then threw an incendiary device into the building causing the fire. Detectives request that anyone with information regarding this incident to call Nassau County Crime Stoppers at 1-800-244-TIPS or call 911. All callers will remain anonymous.
The Mid-Island Times & Levittown Times is Published every Friday by Litmor Publishing Corp. Periodical Postage paid at Hicksville, N.Y. 11801 Tel 931-0012. USPS 3467-68 Postmaster: Send Address Changes to: The Mid Island & Levittown Times 821 Franklin Ave., Suite 208, Garden City, N.Y. 11530. Meg Norris Publisher
In a normal year around the Thanksgiving holiday, students from the H.B. Mattlin Middle School in Plainview would deliver food supplies to the Mid-Island Y JCC across the street. Those plans were altered this year by the pandemic, so the students and teachers had to formulate a new plan to help feed Long Island’s less fortunate. Students used their imagination and creative skills to come up with an idea for a virtual food drive. They created hunger awareness posters and innovative flyers and videos to help promote the event. The event is titled “Be-The-Change Virtual Mattlin Middle School Food Drive.” Susan Epstein, seventh-grade family and consumer science teacher at Mattlin, helped to coordinate and organize the food drive with the students. “I worked with the students, who were learning about hunger on Long Island this month, and they wanted to do something to make a difference in their community,” said Epstein. “Normally they’d be helping to stock the pantry at the Y across the street, but weren’t able to do that this year because of COVID.” The food drive was done in partnership with the Rudman Family Food Pantry and the online charity organization yougivegoods.com. It will be held from December 1 until December 23. People who are interested in donating can click the link on the website, and the food items will be sent directly to the Mid-Island Y’s pantry. Students in Mrs Epstein’s class said that putting together the virtual food drive and creating the care packages at home was a great feeling, knowing they were helping others in need. “I feel really good about myself participating in this community service project because I enjoy helping out people in their time of need,” said seventh-grader Jason Jeng. Emily Layton, a seventh-grader, said the virtual food drive would bring holiday cheer to people, and “it’s a really good feeling knowing that I’m helping those who are less fortunate than myself.” Isabella Quagliato shared her fellow students’ sentiments, saying “it really makes me feel great to participate in this project because I love to help all people who are in need.” Dr. Mary O’Meara, superintendent of Plainview-Old Bethpage Central school district, said “I’m thrilled that we can provide our students with a way to give back to the community in a safe way. Our students always enjoy giving back to the community, and it’s wonderful to see that our teachers were able to think of an alternative and creative way to have our students continue that tradition.” To find out more about the virtual food drive, you can visit www. ugivegoods.com/Be-The-Change.
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