All of Hicksville's gardens have changed from the warm, sunny glow of summer to the windy, cool colors of fall right into the crisp cold and bright days of winter.

Volunteers Bill Foley and Nick Brigandi, members of the Chamber of Commerce's Board of Directors, Foley's daughter, Patricia Smith, and George Ugalde and Tom Manaski recently tended to the garden at Kennedy Park with the clock tower, fountain and memorial walk of memories. Beds were turned and weeded. Bulbs were thinned and moved. Summer annuals were discarded and flowering kale plants were strategically planted in all the beds. Thank you to the Town of Oyster Bay for supplying our volunteers with these great fall plantings.

Foley and Larry Krummenacker, both longtime members of the Hicksville Fire Department, removed the fountain pump and even with the age on it, all parts were in good working order. All fountain wiring was ripped out and rewired and the piping was rerouted because the water level was too high and water would seep into pipes causing the breaker to go. The breaker, along with the sprinkler head in the garden area, was also replaced.

The fountain sounded and looked great until November when it was disconnected and blown out for the winter. We have to paint to make the fountain white again, but that is another story for the springtime. Foley and Krummenacker cleaned up all the litter and leaves in both parks and this last deed put the park to bed for the winter.

Our "Welcome to Hicksville' sign on Levittown Parkway and Old Country Road was again adopted by Martinos Landscape and Design. This bright splash of color in all of the green grass is perfect. All year, Martinos Landscape and Design tended to the sign by edging and weeding. We certainly thank you and would like to let you know that your efforts do not go unnoticed.

Kennedy Park is the next center of activity. Not only is it in the center of town, but everyone loves the spirit that emanates from the park. I recently received a letter from Hicksville residents Diane and Tony Crammer commending the appearance of Kennedy Park and the fountain (see page ******) . In addition, I get many calls from the commuters that they never get tired of passing our park every morning and evening on the train. I thank them for their calls and thoughts and say to myself, 'I guess everything we do is worth it.'

The Hicksville-Jericho Rotary Club and the Hicksville Fire Department held their annual Community Tree Lighting Ceremony on Friday, Dec. 6. We wish to thank the Rotary for supplying all of the trees that the organizations in Hicksville decorate. The Hicksville Fire Department has installed their Santa and Rudolph in the hot air balloon and the chamber will decorate its tree and the gazebo. The Town of Oyster Bay has installed electric and lighting for the gazebo so it can now be used for carolers who have their own sound system. Arrangements must be made ahead of time by calling the chamber office at 931-7170.

Special thanks to all our volunteers. Where would Hicksville be without all her wonderful volunteers. I am proud to say that I live in Hicksville.