Two Westbury High School students were arrested in connection with the robbery that occurred in the parking lot of Super Stop and Shop, 530 Old Country Road, Hicksville, on Dec. 21, 2001 at 6:50 p.m.

According to detectives, the 21-year-old female victim was about to enter her car in the parking lot of the grocery store, when she was attacked from behind. The perpetrators grabbed her around the neck and struck her in the head with a heavy object, fracturing her skull. Her assailants fled with her wallet, cell phone, cash and credit cards, leaving her pocketbook behind.

Edward P. Mangano, the veteran Republican legislator representing Hicksville, was installed for a fourth term on Jan. 3, 2002, during inaugural ceremonies that saw a Democratic-controlled county administration come to power for the first time in decades in Nassau.

Legislator Mangano (17th district), an attorney from Bethpage, vowed to work with the new administration, as well as the Democratic-majority County Legislature, to help solve the county's ongoing fiscal woes - and for a better Nassau. He was optimistic that the new Democratic County Executive, Thomas Suozzi and his administration, will work with members of the legislature, including the Republican minority, in a bi-partisan manner for the good of the county.

On Jan. 16, the Hicksville School District held a public meeting with community taxpayers to discuss a proposed $42 million bond issue to address a broad spectrum of infrastructure projects that would touch virtually every student in the district.

After two-and-a-half-years of planning and discussions by district administrators, school board members and community residents and a review by a citizen bond advisory panel, the Hicksville School District unveiled a bond issue designed to overhaul the district's facilities and enhance instructional programs. Included in the proposal were expenses for roof replacements, energy efficient windows, toilet and plumbing renovations, electrical service, ceiling tile replacement, athletic field modernization, new classroom technology, telephone, fire and security upgrades, fencing and asphalt pavements.

A ribbon cutting ceremony was held on Thursday, Jan. 17 to mark the completion of a $5 million renovation project at the Hicksville Train Station. The station, operated by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) Long Island Rail Road (LIRR), received a new, larger station building, as well as exterior improvements.

The exterior work included demolition of the former station building, and construction of a new, larger building in its place. The building includes new brick work, glass block window treatments, large glass storefront-type entrances, and ADA-compliant doors. Also installed were two new vendor kiosks, a new police kiosk, new curbs and new paving. In addition, seven station staircases are slated to be rebuilt in the spring, and new handrails and railings will be installed. Interior improvements include a new, larger waiting room and ticket office, along with ADA-compliant rest rooms. Also installed were a new air conditioning and heating system, new tiled walls, terrazzo floors, and two new interior retail spaces. A mosaic mural was also designed in the waiting room area, and is expected to be completed soon.

The work, which began in January 2000, was funded by the MTA LIRR Capital Program.

After more than two years of planning, the Westy Storage Facility in Hicksville opened on Jan. 25 at the southwest corner of West John and Wycoff Streets, just north of Hicksville train station. The four-story, 175,555-square-foot facility, houses approximately 1,300 storage units in 14 various sizes and offers 25 parking spots.

In March 2001, the Oyster Bay Town Board granted Connecticut-based Arredondo and Company the necessary permits to construct the building at the former site of the Gilison sweater factory. The Hicksville facility was Westy's 11th storage center in the tri-state area and third on Long Island, with other locations in Farmingdale and Lake Success. Each building is equipped with state-of-the-art security, including motion detectors, glass discriminators, laser beams and video scanning which monitor when customers enter and exit the building and their storage space.

The Most Reverend John R. McGann, who led the Diocese of Rockville Centre for more than 20 years, died on Jan. 29 at Mercy Medical Center. Bishop McGann had been admitted to Mercy a week prior for treatment to build up his strength which, in recent days, had been waning.

Born in Brooklyn, Bishop McGann was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Brooklyn in 1951. He was serving in Brentwood in 1957 when Nassau and Suffolk Counties were carved out of the Brooklyn Diocese to form the Diocese of Rockville Centre and automatically became a priest of the new diocese. He became diocesan bishop in 1976 upon the retirement of Bishop Walter P. Kellenberg. In 1999 at the age of 75, he tendered his resignation to the Holy See, as required by church law and it was accepted on Jan. 4, 2000.

A funeral Mass was held on Feb. 4 at the Cathedral of Saint Agnes in Rockville Centre.

Family and friends gathered at the Holy Family Roman Catholic Church in Hicksville on Feb. 14, Valentine's Day, to celebrate the wedding of Rose Stelmack, 92 of Hicksville and Keith Hubbard, 74 of Seaford.

The couple met a little over a year ago during a Thanksgiving dinner at the home of Stelmack's niece, Jackie Varriale, in Bethpage. A widow for 14 years, Stelmack said she wasn't looking for a relationship, let alone a marriage, when she arrived at her niece's home. Hubbard, a widower, said that he wasn't looking to get married again either, but that all changed the minute he arrived for dinner. The couple dated for a little over a year before Hubbard asked Stelmack to marry him.

In an effort to ensure that citizens are appropriately represented by their elected officials, the Joint Legislative Task Force on Demographic Research and Reapportionment released a rough draft of new state legislative district boundaries and included a proposal to reduce Long Island's Assembly delegation from 22 to 21 seats, granting the remaining seat to New York City.

The gymnasium of Hicksville High School came alive on March 1 for the district's annual Color Night. Established in 1992, Color Night is intended to raise money for the high school's Parent-Teacher-Student Scholarship Fund.

Students, teachers, parents and administrators were divided into teams of orange and black to compete in various beat-the-clock games, including scooter races, a hockey shoot, basketball relays, volleyball matches and obstacle courses. The evening began with a student performance of the Star Spangled Banner. The Hicksville Varsity Cheerleaders and the Starlet Kickline team also performed.

Through events such as Color Night, the Hicksville High School Parent-Teacher-Student Association (PTSA) is able to offer 10, $400 scholarships each year.

The Town of Oyster Bay proposed a two-phase draft traffic plan for a three-quarter mile area of Hicksville that would connect Newbridge Road and Broadway. Known as the Hicksville Hamlet Plan, the project - the result of extensive surveys of local traffic in and around the downtown which showed the need for additional east-west roadways through Hicksville - included the elimination of existing roadways, business and parking in order to construct new roads throughout the hamlet.

To do so, streets would have had to be widened and extended while others would have had to be closed. The proposed plan also called for the elimination of access to various Jerusalem Avenue businesses, existing commuter parking lots and businesses located in various strip malls. While town officials stated the proposed plan would improve business patronage and traffic flow within the heart of the community, commercial property owners in Hicksville were opposed, stating it will have a negative effect on both business and community life.

Kiddie Academy Child Care Learning Center, a comprehensive and developmental childcare facility, opened a 10,000-square-foot facility on West John Street in Hicksville on March 4.

Established in 1981, Kiddie Academy provides a child care program designed to promote intellectual, social, physical and emotional growth for children 6 weeks to age 12. In addition to providing daycare five days a week, Kiddie Academy offers before and after care for working parents complete with bus service to and from schools in the surrounding communities. In September the center began running a full-day kindergarten program.

The Hicksville center is divided into 12 age-appropriate rooms constructed in bright shades of blue, green and yellow with low interior walls that are four-feet tall to allow for greater visibility throughout the center. For security purposes, each room is equipped with video cameras and employees are required to wear photo identification badges and submit a pass code in order to enter the building.

Some 60 residents gathered at the Burns Avenue School on March 4 for a special meeting featuring Dr. Edward Finn, then-superintendent of Hicksville Schools.

The purpose of the meeting, which was conducted by the NorthWest Civic Association, was to provide the community with an opportunity to ask questions and express concerns over the school district's proposed $41.8 million bond referendum set to go up for public vote on March 20. Through an organized question-answer session, Dr. Finn discussed the details of the bond, including specific items and cost estimates, to those present.

The proposed bond, which was all-inclusive, was broken down to such categories as facilities, instructional, additions and grounds.

Representatives from the Town of Oyster Bay announced that they have relinquished the proposal to eliminate existing roadways in order to construct new roads throughout the hamlet of Hicksville.

Some 60 civic members and business owners gathered at a town-called meeting at the Hicksville VFW hall on March 13. At this time, town officials stated that a draft roadway proposal, which falls under a larger proposal known as the Hicksville Hamlet Plan and called for the elimination of roads and commercial property to construct two new east-west roads that would connect Newbridge Road and Broadway, was off the table.

Officials for the town stated that neither the Hicksville Hamlet Plan Committee nor the community would have ever let that proposed concept go through in the end unless there was overwhelming support from the community at large, [including] the civic community, the business community, the residential community and the committee members.

On March 20, residents of Hicksville voted 1,207 to 1,007 against the school district's proposed $41.8 million bond referendum. The defeated bond included various infrastructure and educational elements for taxpayer consideration and also called for the replacement of machinery and boilers, the installation of energy-efficient windows, roof and ceiling tile replacement, upgraded electrical and plumbing service and new fences, and asphalt/cement pavements. Air conditioning in the middle and high school auditoriums, security upgrades such as re-keying, new lighting, reconstructed athletic fields, two new classrooms, the construction of working kitchens at all elementary schools and new telephone systems were also included.

The Nassau County Court System began a pilot program intended to offer treatment as an alternative to incarceration for non-violent, repeat misdemeanor offenders whose criminal behavior was driven by substance or alcohol abuse or addiction. The program, which is known as the Nassau County Treatment Court, is presided over by Honorable John G. Marks, a resident of Hicksville. Individuals enrolled in the program are required to complete a four-phase remedial system ranging from enrollment in community-based treatment programs and therapy to involvement in outside support systems. Participants are also subject to random drug and alcohol testing. To be eligible for completion or graduation from the program, participants are required to attend an appropriate 12-step program, volunteer 25 to 50 hours of community service and remain substance-free for at least six consecutive months.

Members of the Hicksville Gardens Civic Association had the opportunity to voice their concerns regarding the condition and use of Tudor Park, located just west of South Oyster Bay Road, between Tudor Road and Lyons Court. Oyster Bay Town Councilman Joe Muscaralla and Rob Walker, assistant to town commissioner of parks, also attended the meeting.

Residents stated that their children can't use the park because it is constantly being utilized by people who play soccer and requested that park use, including days and hours, be limited. Residents also requested that the town look into providing additional parking for patrons of the park in an effort to avoid congestion on residential streets.

Walker agreed to work with residents to eliminate park use by those organizations or individuals who do not have permits and to talk with those organizations that do have permits and try to get them to scale the parking back. He told residents that the town is also looking into constructing two additional fields in an industrial area of Hicksville.

Representatives from Costco Wholesale attended a meeting of the Duffy Park Civic Association on April 9 to discuss the construction of a 148,000-square-foot facility on the southwest corner of Charlotte Avenue and West John Street. The meeting was attended by approximately 50 residents, including members of the NorthWest and Jericho Gardens Civic Associations.

In December 2001, Costco Wholesale Corporation and Westbury Realty, which owns the property, submitted an application to the Town of Oyster Bay requesting to build a Costco at the site of the former Jones Institute, a senior facility which closed in the late 1970s. The property runs westerly to the intersection of Cantiague Rock Road and southerly to the railroad.

Louis Soloway, an attorney with the East Meadow firm of Certilman Balin Adler & Hyman, representing Costco, said the site would house only the Costco store, which includes a tire center and 741 parking spaces. No other retail store would be constructed on the property. Rusty Collins of Costco Wholesale said that bushes and shrubs, as well as a spring mix and grass, would be planted around the property to make the area more aesthetically pleasing and that parking would be centrally located around the building and all deliveries, compactors and utilities would be located in the back of the building so as not to be seen from the street.

Robert Lauro, a representative from Bohler Engineering, PC in Melville, met with residents of the Midland Civic Association on April 17 to discuss the possibility of constructing businesses at the 23-acre center and on both the northwest and southwest corner of the site. Sears, which currently owns the property, will remain in its current location.

The new businesses will not be required to obtain variances from the town and additional parking will not be needed. Originally, Sears had proposed constructing a Walbaum's at the back of the property. Although those plans have since been pulled, the aesthetic agreements made between Sears and Hicksville homeowners will remain in effect.

Although contracts have not yet been finalized, the northwest and southwest sections of the property will most likely house a bank and a small counter-serve facility such as Krispy Kreme. A tenant for the third and center piece of available property, most likely a retail store, has not yet been determined.

In response to public comments, the Hicksville Board of Education authorized a revised bond referendum for June, giving residents of the district the opportunity to vote on two separate propositions regarding capital projects.

The first proposition sought approval to borrow up to $33,250,000 for technology and facilities projects while the second proposition sought approval to borrow an additional $5,710,000 for improvements to the building facilities and grounds. In addition, the high school science room/laboratory and several roofing projects were removed from the bond and added to the annual budget, elementary school kitchens were taken out of the bond completely and other projects, including fountains, asphalt and ceiling tiles were reduced in scope.

Dawna LoPiccolo and John Mraz met on Christmas Day 2001 at Ground Zero. They began dating after New Year's and in May, they were married at the sacred site that brought them together.

LoPiccolo, a 35-year-old divorced massage therapist originally from Levittown, began volunteering at Ground Zero immediately following the attacks. She typically celebrated Christmas Day with her grandmother, but her passing earlier that year had LoPiccolo looking to go back to the city. Mraz, a 43-year-old widowed New York City firefighter with Engine Company 248 in Flatbush, was also working that day. He was not, however, scheduled to be at Ground Zero, but ended up being reassigned when another department was in need of an extra man to work at the site.

Toward the end of the day, Mraz was the last of the many firemen to get his massage. Several days later both LoPiccolo and Mraz, unbeknownst to one another, called another firefighter they both knew asking about the other. They began dating after New Year.s and were married during a 15-minute ceremony under the metal beams that had formed a cross after the towers collapsed.

On May 21, residents of the Hicksville School District voted in favor of the 2002-2003 spending plan of $74,273,536. The budget, which was broken down into two propositions, is a 5.37 percent or $3,882,365 increase over the current year's budget of $70,441,171.

Residents voted 1,785 to 1,125 in favor of proposition #1, which related to the district's 2002-2003 spending plan for administrative, program and capital costs. In addition, residents voted 1,621 to 1,155 in favor of a second proposition relating to the appropriation of $50,000 to the Hicksville Gregory Museum, as in previous years, for educational services associated with its programs.

Based on the approved spending plan, the district's tax rate will increase by approximately $3.78 per $100 of assessed valuation or 8 percent. For 2001-2002, the estimated tax rate was $47.19 per $100 of assessed valuation whereas this year, the estimated rate could be $50.97 per $100 of assessed valuation.

To officially kickoff National Volunteer Week (April 22-28), Senator Kemp Hannon bestowed the New York State Senate Liberty Award, one of the state's highest commendations, on more than 15 honorees who aided in the rescue or recovery efforts after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. Among them was Hicksville resident Sandeep Pahuja, who aimed to deter terrorism and biased attacks by fostering attitudes of tolerance and understanding.

Created in 2000, the New York State Liberty Award is given to individuals who have merited special commendation for exceptional, heroic or humanitarian acts and achievements on behalf of their fellow New Yorkers and their community. In the wake of the attacks, Pahuja, a senior at Bethpage High School, founded Students United, a school club comprised of multiethnic students with the intent to raise awareness of diversity in culture and commonalties as caring Americans after a college friend became the victim of a biased crime shortly after the attacks.

Although discrimination did not become a problem in Pahuja's community, Bethpage High School Students United celebrated multiculturalism and focused on fundraisers. Activities included the making of a multilingual banner of unity with 15 foreign languages hand sewn by students onto cloth and a talent show which raised close to $4,000 for the 13 Bethpage families personally victimized by the attack on the World Trade Center.

On May 4, a tribute to the more than 100 law enforcement officers who died last year trying to help others was held by the New York State Fraternal Order of Police (FOP). During a ceremony in Hicksville, the names were added to the Memorial Wall at 911 Police Plaza. Among the inscriptions are the names of the 71 officers who perished in the Sept. 11th terrorist attacks, including Hicksville's own New York City Police Officer Walter E. Weaver and Port Authority Police Officer George Howard.

A crowd of more than 500 attended the ceremony, including families of officers lost on Sept. 11th. The day began with a procession down West John Street. The families of the 71 police officers lost in 2001 were each given a rose to place in front of the Memorial Wall and a bouquet of roses was also placed to represent all those who were not present.

Prior to the memorial service, the FOP Memorial Wall at 911 Police Plaza was inscribed with the names of more than 1,000 of New York's finest, dating back to 1792. Every year, the names of fallen officers are added to the wall.

The new state legislative district boundaries, as drawn by the Joint Legislative Task Force on Demographic Research and Reapportionment, reduced Long Island's Assembly delegation from 22 to 21 seats, granting the remaining seat to New York City. As a result, the 14th A.D. was eliminated and Hicksville was moved into the reapportioned 15th A.D.

Since Assembly members Marc Herbst and Donna Ferrara, who are both Republicans, resided within the same district, the party was left with no other choice but to choose between the two representatives and Ferrara was selected over Herbst.

Joseph Mondello, Nassau Republican chairman, said the GOP chose Ferrara because some 80 percent of the newly configured 15th A.D includes her current district with Hicksville being the only addition. Ferrara has been a member of the Assembly for 10 years.

The Joint Legislative Task Force on Demographic Research and Reapportionment reduced the number of Congressional Districts (C.D.) throughout the state from 31 to 29. The elimination of the two districts was the result of slow population growth as determined by the 2000 Census. Specifically, the plan combines two western New York districts as well as two Hudson Valley districts and slightly rearranges Long Island's congressional boundaries.

The change in congressional lines led to the shifting of communities within the districts as well as increase of a little over 74,020 constituents per district. The new plan increased the population of the 3rd C.D. 74, 024 to 654,361. Of that increase, more than 40,000 people resided in a different district prior to the change in congressional lines while the remaining are new to the communities in the past 10 years.

The change in congressional district lines adheres to the principles expressed in the Voting Rights Act and follows each decennial census of the state's population. One person-one vote, the idea behind the redistricting plan, should be observed so each district has approximately the same number of people in it. The U.S. Supreme Court decisions in the 1960s clarified the constitutional intent to provide equity of representation for all Americans in both congressional and state legislative districts.

Residents of Hicksville passed Proposition 1 of the school district's revised bond referendum 1,066 to 946. Proposition 2, however, was defeated by 123 votes. The revised bond was submitted after voters rejected the original proposal for over $40 million earlier in the year.

Proposition 1, in the amount of $33.25, gives the district permission to perform various technology and facilities projects and upgrades, including Passage of Proposition 1 allows the district to borrow a little less than $33.25 million for technology and facilities projects, including energy efficient windows, electrical upgrades, plumbing, ceiling tiles, fire alarm and public address upgrades, roof drains and columns, ventilation, temperature controls, fascia, a new telephone system and boiler, roof and toilet replacements.

The second proposition, which could have only become effective if voters approved both Proposition 1 and Proposition 2, sought approval to borrow an additional $5.71 million for improvements to the building facilities and grounds.

Residents voted against the district's proposal for such athletic projects as district-wide reconstruction of the ballfields, improvement of drainage and maintenance with an irrigation system that preserves the field, new backstops as well as reconstructed tennis courts, a new press box/concession stand and new football field lighting. In addition, passage of Proposition 2 would have enabled the district to cover the costs of fence work, auditorium renovations, security upgrades and air conditioning installation.

During a ceremony appropriately held on Flag Day, then New York State Assemblyman Marc Herbst honored six local veterans for their bravery and dedication during their years of military service. Herbst presented the awards, which included the Conspicuous Service Cross, Conspicuous Service Star and the New York State Medal of Merit, during the Friday, June 14 ceremony at H.R. Singletons in Bethpage.

To be eligible for these three awards, members of the armed forces were required to meet certain criteria as well as receive certain awards during their years of military service. Of those nominated, only six members of the 14th A.D. qualified. The New York State Conspicuous Service Cross Award was presented to Joseph P. Jablonsky (posthumously) and Walter W. Gaylor, both of Hicksville. Vazquez of Hicksville and Carozzo of Farmingdale both received the New York State Conspicuous Service Star and the New York State Medal for Merit. Also receiving the Medal for Merit were Peter Guiliano and Edward W. Collins.

Sparks flew during a Hicksville Board of Education meeting when school board members voted 5 to 2 in favor of appointing Maureen Bright as superintendent. Bright, the district's current assistant superintendent for Hicksville Schools, replaced Superintendent Edward J. Finn who retired.

Of all items to be discussed during the meeting, including special education programs and a new attendance policy, it was the appointment of Bright that sparked public debate. Many residents argued that the board's agenda did not reflect the motion to appoint Bright and that the appointment of a new superintendent should have taken place after the district's new board members begin their terms in early July. Still, others argued that the district did not conduct a proper search for a new superintendent, stating that Bright may not be the most qualified candidate.

At a meeting of the Hicksville Gardens Civic Association last week, Nassau County Legislator Edward P. Mangano (R, 17th L.D.) addressed the key issues residents want corrected before November's local elections.

The list of concerns was compiled during an earlier civic association meeting where members and residents met to discuss changes needed in the Hicksville community. Among the residents' most pressing concerns were the Twin County Asphalt Plant, the Hicksville Freight Yard, the Grumman property and the Kozy Shack factory as well as illegal dumping and illegal housing and the Hicksville Long Island Rail Road station.

The Hicksville Board of Education held its annual reorganization meeting on July 9. At this time, the board for the 2002-2003 school year was sworn in, including newly-elected members Caryn Calabrese, James Pino and Augustine Tornatore.

Richard H. Pfaender was voted in as the new school board president, replacing Nancy Callari; Peggy Theiss was elected vice-president, replacing Pfaender; and Pat Love will serve as the new secretary of the board, taking the seat vacated by Theiss. Alesia Sommers, who rejected Theiss' nomination to elect her as secretary, agreed to accept the position of deputy district treasurer, formerly held by Love.

As newly appointed president, Pfaender appointed members of the board as chairs of school board committees. Sommers was appointed to the facilities committee; Theiss to the finance committee; Love to the policy committee; and Tornatore and Calabrese to the curriculum committee. Pino was appointed the new Community and Council Liaison and Parliamentarian and Sommers was appointed PTA Council delegate.

A Mass was held on June 30 in honor of Sister Eileen McMahon, who retired after serving as principal of the Holy Family School for 32 years. Rev. Msgr. Edward Donnelly, pastor of Holy Family Parish, and associate Pastors Rev. Varghese Kocherry and Rev. Vincent Schifano celebrated the Mass.

Sister McMahon, a former teacher and guidance counselor, is a member of the Dominican Sisters of Sparkhill. A model principal with a beautiful nature of giving and caring for those under her care, Sister McMahon has inspired her fellow sisters and lay teachers of Holy Family. Together, their dedication to the education of students earned Holy Family the honor of being named a School of Excellence by the United States Department of Education.

In May 1990, Sister McMahon traveled to Washington, D.C . to receive an award from President George Bush in recognition of Holy Family being a School of Excellence. She was also honored by the New York State Education Department's School Recognition Program.

At the Hicksville Board of Education's July 24 meeting, board members discussed and amended policies of school board procedures and listened to residents' concerns regarding fees charged to the Hicksville Summer Lacrosse Camp.

Residents questioned a proposal on the agenda calling for a Waiver of Facilities Use Fees for the Summer Lacrosse Camp's use of fields at the Old Country Road School. The waiver, which was unanimously approved by the board, eliminates fees charged to the organization. As a result, members of the lacrosse camp will pay only a registration fee to the non-profit Hicksville Summer Lacrosse Camp.

Twenty-six year old Matt Morillo of Hicksville won the "Best Short Film" award at the 2002 Long Island International Film Expo for his latest production, Good Tidings. The 15-minute film about a family torn apart by divorce focuses on the struggles of 21-year-old Stephanie, the youngest daughter in the family. In the film, Stephanie's father tries to get involved in his daughter's life while introducing her to his new wife and baby.

The Hicksville Board of Education appointed Maureen Bright as the new superintendent of schools. Bright, an employee with the district for the past decade, replaced Dr. Edward J. Finn who retired Aug. 1.

At this time, Bright took some time out of her busy schedule for an interview with the Hicksville Illustrated News. She discussed her educational background and her career experience as well as her goals and ideas for the Hicksville School District.

Bright is currently serving her first year of a four-year contract as superintendent.

New York State Senator Michael Balboni sat down with a group of editors at Anton Community Newspapers, bringing them up-to-date on issues he's been paying close attention to since Sept. 11, 2001.

Balboni said work in Albany has always been serious, but since a year ago, it has taken a more sober direction. Admitting people often turn to Washington and the federal government for answers on terrorism, Balboni said the bottom line is that local governments will have to be equally equipped since there are 70,000 law enforcement officers in New York that will have to deal with any problems that may arise.

Additional issues addressed by Balboni during the roundtable included whether or not local authorities have the power to retain anyone in violation of a visa, the Water Facility Security Act, evacuation issues, terrorism in Israel and the government's attention toward emergency preparedness.

With the one-year anniversary of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, local civic, religious, political and community organizations came together in remembrance of those who lost their lives in the day's tragic events. The Hicksville Illustrated News dedicated two consecutive issues in September in memory of those lost.

The Hicksville Chamber of Commerce named Luz Rosenthal, manager of the Bank of New York's Plainview office, as their Businessperson of the Year. Rosenthal, a native of Guayaquil, Ecuador, was honored at the 2002 Small Businessperson of the Year awards breakfast sponsored by the Nassau Council of Chambers of Commerce.

Rosenthal joined the Hicksville Chamber of Commerce in 1992 and has been a board member for the past seven years. She is also actively involved in the Bethpage Rotary Club - presently serving as treasurer, and is a member of the Plainview-Bethpage Lions Club. She has also taken an active interest in the Rotary's Gift of Life program and was a member of the Bethpage Chamber of Commerce.

Rosenthal and her husband, Rick, live in Wantagh.

Marc Herbst is the recipient of the Hicksville Chamber of Commerce's Citizen of the Year Award for 2002. Herbst, Republican-Conservative and former assemblyman for the 14th Assembly District, is a lifelong resident of Nassau County and the district he represented.

Herbst, who grew up in Plainview, is a lifelong resident of Nassau County and the district he currently represents. With the support of more than 75 percent of voters, he became the first resident of Hicksville ever elected to either house of the state legislature when he won his seat in the 14th A.D. during a special election in February 1994.

Herbst and his wife, Carol Cobb D'Alba, met in Albany and currently live in Hicksville. They are the proud parents of Victoria and Kerri Herbst and Suzie D'Alba.

Two Long Islanders - one a former B-17 radio operator who dropped weapons of war in April 1945 in the German city of Leipzig and the other who was on the receiving end of those bombs - flew together as friends in a World War II Flying Fortress from Republic Airport in Farmingdale.

While volunteering at the American Airport Museum at Republic Airport, Guenter Bier of Hicksville and Seymour Cohen of Westbury realized they had met once before. Nearly 60 years earlier, Cohen tried to bring an end to the murderous Nazi Third Reich by dropping bombs from his bomber jet in Leipzig, some 20,000 feet above where Bier and his schoolmates had taken shelter.

Today, the two men have a friendship forged out of mutual respect and enormous camaraderie that was recently celebrated with the commemorative flight onboard one of the few B-17s still flying. The flight was made possible through Stop & Shop Supermarket's Flight of Aces program.

The Hicksville Board of Education members announced plans to hold an education forum to open the lines of communication with the public and interact with community members on a number of issues. The district hired Syntax Communications, Inc., a Sayville-based public relations firm which has worked with approximately 300 school districts throughout New York State.

In an effort to get parents more involved, board members suggested offering education forums based not only on what can be done, but what has been done. The board suggested topics, such as the Regents examinations and the new bond referendum, which would attract members of the community to participate in the education forum. Board members were also in favor of making the forum informal so that residents would be more inclined to present their opinions.

Tuyet Doan Barnes first came to the United States with her parents in 1975. The 15-year-old Vietnamese refugee had just three small bags to her name and the clothes on her back.

Soon after their arrival, the Rev. Theodore and Nancy Grant of Hicksville took in the Doan family and eight months and a great deal of community support later, the family moved into their own Hicksville home. But three years later, Barnes found herself being relocated once again, this time to Florida.

Although they kept in touch through written correspondence and telephone calls, Barnes and the Grants went 24 years before seeing each other again. A reunion occurred when Barnes and her husband, Rick, drove up from Florida to spend a week with the family that gave her a place to call home so many years ago.

A 16-year-old high school student working at a Hicksville division of Chase Bank through a school internship, was arrested for allegedly changing customers' credit card account information in the computer and purchasing more than $30,000 of sports paraphernalia over the Internet. He was charged with grand larceny - 3rd degree and computer tampering - 3rd degree.

The student was working in the Chase Bankcard services division as part of the Westbury School District's School-to-Career internship program. Placement in the program required several screenings and interviews and he was selected for the position out of a group of 20 students. Thirteen other students enrolled in the program were also investigated.

Hicksville School District board members and residents gathered in the crowded board room of the administration building to applaud the district's teachers for their success in the inclusion education program as board members were honored for their work toward improving the district. Superintendent Maureen Bright presented board members with a certificate of appreciation for their dedication in serving the district.

In addition, school board members honored longtime Hicksville resident Sebastian Ralph Grasso, a veteran of the US Navy who served during WWII. Through Operation Recognition, legislation passed by the New York State Department of Education, educational credit is awarded to veterans like Grasso who could not complete their high school education because they served during active duty in WWII or the Korean conflict.

The Hicksville-Jericho Rotary Club held a '50s Dinner Dance to raise money for Samantha Mahler and Sarah Weippet who were diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). The dance, which was held at Levittown Hall, was attended by more than 250 people and all proceeds went to offset the cost of medical expenses for the Mahler and Weippet families.

Local voters returned Republican incumbents to their seats in Congress, the Senate and the Assembly this year.

In the 15th Assembly District, Republican incumbent Donna Ferrara was re-elected to serve her sixth term, defeating political newcomer and Democratic challenger Jim Buonagura Right to Life candidate George Jung.

Residents of the 6th Senate District re-elected Kemp Hannon to his sixth term. Hannon, who was first elected to the Senate in 1989, defeated Democratic candidate Norman St. George, Right to Life candidate Paul F. Callahan and Liberal candidate Patricia Maher.

In the 5th Senate District, Republican incumbent Carl Marcellino defeated Democratic and Green Party candidate Roger Snyder and Liberal and Right to Life Party candidate Paul Nehrich. Marcellino was first elected to the Senate in 1996.

Michael Balboni, the Republican incumbent for the 7th Senate District, was re-elected to his fourth term. Balboni, who also ran on the Independent and Conservative Party lines, defeated Chris Murray, the Democratic, Liberal and Working Families candidate.

In the 3rd Congressional District, Republican Incumbent Peter King prevailed to win his sixth term in Congress. King was challenged by political newcomer and Democrat Stuart Finz and Liberal candidate Janeen DePrima.

Hicksville's NorthWest Civic Association (NWCA) filed a request for information on activity, manifests and documents of operation, as well as labor hours logged for freight activity at the Hicksville Freight Yard between Jan. 1965 and Dec. 1997. The request was made under the Freedom of Information Law (FOIL) to the Metropolitan Transit Authority Long Island Rail Road (MTA LIRR).

In 2001, an agreement was made between the MTA, LIRR and the New York and Atlantic Railway (NYA). As part of the agreement, the Garden City freight yard was permanently closed to all future rail traffic, with the exception of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus train which heads toward Nassau Coliseum once a year. In addition, the LIRR and NYA agreed to exchange storage yards for equipment and trains. Specifically, the LIRR would provide NYA with a Hicksville yard facility in exchange for the Garden City yard facility.

Members of NWCA, however, believe they have become victims of economic discrimination and have spent close to two years participating in verbal and written correspondence with state and county representatives.

Hicksville native Vincent Luisi published a book on the first 25 years of the New York Yankees baseball team. New York Yankees: The First 25 Years, published by Arcadia Publishing, is a compilation of the photos and text about the team from 1903 to 1928.

With over 200 rare photographs, many of which are published for the first time, Luisi's book takes sports fans on a journey through the formative years of the team commonly referred to as the greatest winning team of the 20th Century. The First 25 Years was the first of four books to be published by different authors on the history of the 100-year-old baseball franchise. In it, Luisi highlights many facts about the Yankees franchise that even the most diehard fan doesn't know.

The Hicksville School District held a Memorial Dedication Ceremony on Nov. 23 at the high school to dedicate a memorial in memory of Hicksville school alumni and community members who were lost on September 11, 2001.

During the ceremony, musical selections by the Hicksville High School Wind Ensemble and the Fork Lane chorus set the tone. Hicksville residents and high school alumni Robert Senn of the New York City Fire Department and John Flynn of the New York City Police Department raised the flag that flew at Ground Zero on the high school flagpole. High school student Liliana Cabrera led the Pledge of Allegiance and alumnus Jennifer Perkowski sang the Star Spangled Banner.

A dedication ceremony followed and included the reading of the names of those community members who were lost. A bell was tapped in their honor and family members received a rose in their loved one's memory. Following the dedication, a student expressed her interpretation of events through a poetry reading.

The memorial includes a new marble flagpole base with a dedication on each side. Three sides are inscribed with the quotation "Unless we remember, we can not understand" by Edward M. Forster while the fourth side has an engraved drawing, by senior Amanda Du, resembling the artistic representation of the events of September 11, 2002.

Bethpage Community Park, the 18-acre Town of Oyster Bay owned park, was partially reopened after being closed for six months when elevated levels of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) were found in soils at the park.

In May, Town Supervisor John Venditto ordered the park closed until additional tests were completed and the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) and Department of Health (DOH) had an opportunity to present results of additional samplings to the community. While DEC officials announced that there were PCBs, in addition to chromium, found at the park, they deemed that the park was ready to be reopened. Residents and Venditto did not agree.

Since there remains a concern regarding uncovered areas of the park, Venditto and the town board, after receiving assurance from the DEC and DOH, decided to only open covered areas of the park.

On Dec. 11, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) held a public meeting to present its proposal for soil remediation at the former Sylvania Electric Products Incorporated Facility located on Cantiague Road in Hicksville.

At the meeting, the DEC and State Department of Health staff reviewed the history of the site and describe the results of soil investigations completed to date and the proposed remediation work plan. Meeting participants were also given the opportunity to ask questions and provide comments on the proposed plan.

Hicksville resident Shannon Fries, 26, had a once in a lifetime opportunity to appear on ABC television series The Bachelor. Selected from thousands of contestants, Fries was one of 25 single women given the opportunity to vie for one eligible man's hand in marriage.

In August, Fries was flown to a secret location in Malibu, California. Over the course of the seven-week series, the bachelor, 28-year-old Aaron Buerge of Springfield, Missouri, went on dates with Fries and the other women, either alone or in groups, to find the one he was most attracted to and compatible with. Each week, women were eliminated so that by the finale, which aired earlier this month, the bachelor had to choose between two remaining women.

Fries made it past the first and second cuts and was eliminated after week three when the bachelor had to select just six of the remaining 10 women. At this point, Fries was more than ready to come home.

US Senator Charles Schumer took time from his busy schedule to visit Anton Newspapers on Dec. 6 to share with editors his latest proposals, which his Congressional counterparts are now reviewing, as well as get an update on the latest issues affecting Long Island's local communities.

Schumer, the first senator to have an office on Long Island, discussed the struggles of the middle class, the financial effects of 9/11 on New York and explained the hazards associated with identity theft, particularly when someone steals your personal information to use or start a credit card account on your behalf. He believes that Long Island is a "key to the whole state" and spends much time out here.

More than 120 school superintendents, guidance counselors, business and community representatives and Nassau BOCES faculty, administrators and board members attended the formal dedication of the newly renovated Joseph M. Barry Career and Technical Education Center on Dec. 10. Located in Westbury, the facility, which was previously called the Nassau Technological Center, was renamed to honor Joseph M. Barry.

Barry, a longtime Nassau BOCES Board member who championed technical education for students, died in January 2002. During his life, Barry served as vice district clerk of the Nassau BOCES Board and district clerk until his retirement in 2001. Barry earlier served as a member of the boards of education of Valley Stream District #30 and the Valley Stream Central High School District. He was the recipient of the Distinguished Service Award from the Nassau-Suffolk School Boards Association, the Presidential Award and the Everett R. Dyer Award for Distinguished School Board Service from the New York State School Boards Association.

The Westbury building, nicknamed "Barry Tech," is a 213,000 square-foot facility featuring a spacious atrium, skylights that illuminate previously dim corridors, energy-efficient classrooms and new state-of-the-art equipment.