One has to be around a long time (which I have been) to recall when the Hicksville Fountain was originally conceived and brought into reality by caring people in our town, selfless individuals who cared about things like environment, respect, and concern for where they lived...men and women who were active in local civic associations, along with members of Kiwanis and Rotary and the Hicksville Chamber of Commerce. These people worked together many, many years ago to create what actually became the only fountain in the Township of Oyster Bay. People were proud that this was and would be the symbol of Hicksville, a hamlet in that township.

Fortunately for Hicksville, the township eventually became part of the project and much of the maintenance in recent years has been assumed by the township, to Hicksville's benefit.

The Hicksville Chamber of Commerce has assumed a leadership role over the past several years in developing and improving the areas surrounding the fountain, and anyone would have to be blind not to notice the really beautiful park which is now open to the public for their enjoyment. Under the leadership of Patricia Conway who is just completing a three-year term as president of the chamber, grants were received to help with the improvement, the fountain being the so-called centerpiece, with memorial paving blocks surrounding it.

Doesn't this sound like a fairytale? It would seem so, but then most fairytales get to the scary part. That's where we are now. Here comes the scary part. Over the past weekend, the beauty and serenity of the park was defaced and demoralized by someone, or some group who, once again, thought it was a real blast to contaminate the water in the fountain so as to create suds to spill out all around it.

Wait, there's more...The authorities were called, and when an attempt was made to get rid of the suds, it was discovered that there were 14 dead birds concealed in the waters beneath the suds creating a stench in the air, and contamination to the water which has brought about an environmental problem of enormous proportion and expense.

Aftermath...This problem will be corrected. Why? Because there will always be those caring people around who will see that it is set to rights. Will this sort of thing happen again? Possibly. I believe that it is safe to assume that someone who is not sufficiently matured to realize the ramifications of their thoughtless and inconsiderate acts was the culprit. If I am correct in my assumption, it would then fall to those people who should be controlling those immature individuals to be more aware of what they are up to.

Make no mistake about it...The fountain has to be drained. This causes undue wear and tear on the pump which does this work. The maintenance staff from the Township of Oyster Bay will be assigned to do this project, thereby taking them from some other project in town. These people are paid for their services. Their pay comes from our taxes. We, in Hicksville, have been blessed with many workers who contribute their time and goods out of the goodness of their hearts, but somewhere down the line, we will all reach into our pockets to pay for the thoughtless, devastating acts of others. We will pay for this one.

Question of the Week..."It's 10 p.m. - Do you know where your children are?"

Effie C. Krogmann-Urschel

Public Relations-Hicksville Chamber of Commerce