In this issue, the Hicksville Illustrated News presents a brief look back at some key issues and events that either occurred or affected the community during 2004. Unfortunately, not all articles or submissions from last year's issue could be included due to space limitations. Have a happy and healthy New Year.

V.A.C.

The Town of Oyster Bay held an induction ceremony on Jan. 5 to swear in the newly elected and incumbent members of the board. Sworn in were incumbents Supervisor John Venditto, Councilman Joseph Muscarella, Councilman Anthony Macagnone and Receiver of Taxes James Stefanich. Also sworn in were newcomers to the Town of Oyster Bay board Councilwoman Rose Marie Walker and Town Clerk Steven Labriola. Over 300 people attended the ceremony, including elected officials, family members, honored guests and residents.

On Jan. 6, Charles Hearon was sworn in as Hicksville Fire Commissioner by Fire District Attorney Joe Frank. Present for Hearon's swearing-in were his proud wife, Cathie; children, Charles, Michael and Mary as well as other family members, friends and fellow firefighters.

Newly elected fire chiefs of the Hicksville Volunteer Fire Department were sworn in on Jan. 1 during a brief ceremony held at fire headquarters on East Marie Street. As family and department members looked on, Hicksville Fire Commissioner Robert Dwyer administered the oath of office to Chief of Department Steven Douchette and his three assistant chiefs, Bob Chiz, 1st assistant chief; Bobby Lang, 2nd assistant chief; and Edward Korona, 3rd assistant chief. Hicksville fire chiefs serve one-year terms.

On Jan. 24, more than 320 people attended the Cystinosis Research Network's 1st Annual Dinner Dance at the Milleridge Cottage in Jericho. Dubbed "Miracles at Milleridge" by its organizer Marybeth Krummenacker of Hicksville, the dinner dance raised $15,000 and benefited the Cystinosis Research Network (CRN) and its ongoing efforts toward finding a cure for this rare metabolic disease.

Cystinosis is a disease caused by two parents who both carry one defective gene and one normal gene. The recessive gene may lie dormant for many generations until the two people with the defective gene have children and pass the defective gene on to their child. Parents are unaware they are carriers of the defective gene until they pass it on and their child starts to demonstrate symptoms around 18 months to two years old.

The Hicksville High School was recognized by the New York State Department of Education as a "NOVEL-Ready Electronic Doorway Library" (EDL). NOVEL designates a New York Online Virtual Electronic Library. The recognition was bestowed because the high school library met the full technological needs of its patrons by using technology - such as the Internet - to give access to electronic collections that include numerous magazines, newspapers and journals. Through a statewide library network, information retrieval and resource sharing are enhanced.

Hicksville Fire Commissioners Robert Dwyer and Charles Hearon met with the Hicksville Illustrated News to discuss a revised proposal of Station #2. During the meeting a tour of Station 2 was conducted in an effort to provide the Illustrated with a chance to see the plans and the conditions of the firehouse and inform the public of the changes to the proposal.

The Hicksville Board of Fire Commissioners, during a nearly three-hour public meeting Feb. 18 regarding a proposal to expand Station 2, announced that the fire district would look into obtaining part of the Ronald Avenue sump from the Town of Oyster Bay in order to construct a new stationhouse.

During the meeting, some 150 residents reviewed a presentation by H2M Group - the architectural and engineering firm with environmental expertise retained by the district, describing the tight, unsafe conditions at the firehouse and the reasons why an expansion was necessary. H2M also presented the results of a study conducted to evaluate the feasibility of building a new firehouse on alternative sites within the community, including on several brownfield sites. According to H2M, all alternative sites were either not available or unfeasible for use by the fire district.

The board's decision to look into the sump came in the wake of a public comment period in which many residents opposed a revised proposal calling for the demolition of the current building in order to erect a new two-story building measuring 33 feet high with a full basement, first and second floor and two bays.

On Feb. 22, Rev. Gary Mills performed the final service at Redeemer Evangelical Lutheran Church. After 45 years, the Hicksville house of worship, located at 17 New South Road in Hicksville, closed its doors due to a significant decline in congregation membership.

The decision to close the church was not an easy one. Over the course of a two-year period, a new pastor was brought in and several committees were formed in the hopes of coming up with an alternative solution. In the end, however, the congregation was left with no other choice but to close the church.

While more than 200 Lutherans from Hicksville and the surrounding communities once attended services at Redeemer, membership had declined dramatically over the years. At the time a decision was made as to whether or not to close the church, approximately 65 people were listed as members of the church with attendance at Sunday services down by more than half that amount.

Marianne Litzman, Hicksville's assistant superintendent for secondary instruction, was honored on Feb. 26 duirng the Hicksville School District's PTA Founder's Day. September 2004 marked Litzman's 20th anniversary of service to Hicksville students, schools and the community. During the past two decades, she worked in several different capacities and at several of the district's schools.

During a ceremony on March 22, the Nassau County Legislature celebrated Women's History Month by honoring 19 extraordinary women as "Trailblazers." At this time, local women who have distinguished themselves in both business and their community were honored, including Hicksville resident Judith Lombardi, who was named a "Trailblazer" by Legislator Edward Mangano (17th L.D.)

The Hicksville Chamber of Commerce sponsored its 18th Annual Business Expo at the Broadway Mall on March 27. The event brought community retail, service, public officials and important groups before the public to inform them of services available to them throughout the community. The Expo also featured music and dancing as well as free face painting, balloon art, games and giveaways for children.

The Long Island Housing Partnership (LIHP) was hired by the Town of Oyster Bay to help draft the town's First-Time Homebuyers Plan. The plan called for establishing a Resident Starter Housing (RSH) zone, which will allow for a higher density of development than general residential zoning restrictions, with regulated pricing of units. The plan follows the same premise as the town's highly successful Golden Age senior citizen housing program, which, by allowing higher density development, has provided more than 1,200 units of high quality, affordable housing for senior citizens.

Throughout Hicksville, flags were flown at half-staff in honor of local hero Cpl. Kevin T. Kolm, a member of the United States Marine Corps who was killed on April 13 while fighting in Iraq on behalf of his country. At the time of his death, Cpl. Kolm, 23, was serving in the 3rd Assault Amphibian Battalion, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force.

Cpl. Kolm arrived in Iraq on March 20, 2004 as part of the Marine contingent that replaced the Army's 101st Airborne Division in the Fallujah area. He served as a crew chief for an amphibious assault vehicle, a lightly armored troop carrier capable of landing on a beach and then driving on shore. Cpl. Kolm was killed while part of an effort to rescue a group of Marines pinned down in Fallujah, just west of Baghdad, when his own vehicle came under attack.

Cpl. Kolm was the third generation of Kolm men to serve in the Marines. His father, Thomas, served as a corporal in Vietnam and his grandfather, Ralph, served as a corporal in Japan during World War II.

Hicksville Fire Commissioners William McKee and Joseph Giardina met with the Hicksville Illustrated News to discuss plans to move forward with the expansion of Station #2. A motion to authorize the improvement project at the existing 48-year-old firehouse, located at the intersection of Woodbury Road and Briggs Street, was approved 3-1 by the five-member board during a March meeting. By moving forward with plans to renovate Station #2 at its current site, the fire district also nixed plans to form a community planning committee to develop a project that would meet everyone's needs and concerns.

In an effort to educate herself and her kids, Hicksville resident Lisa Zeankowski, who suffers from multiple sclerosis (MS), decided to obtain as much information about MS as possible and set out to increase awareness about the disease and the fight against it. In doing so, she established an online support group (http://groups.msn.com/leeleesmssupportgroup) to help others.

In addition, Zeankowski also formed a team for the Long Island Chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society's annual MS Walk, which took place on April 18 at Jones Beach State Park. All proceeds from the walk went toward helping to end the devastating effects of multiple sclerosis. Zeankowski's 11-year-old son, Zachary and his friend, Eric, also set out to raise money and awareness by going door-to-door collecting money for multiple sclerosis.

On April 17, the Hicksville American Soccer Club Boys U9 developmental squad the "Extreme" won the championship game of the Metrostars Coliseum Cup Tournament, 2-0. The tournament, which drew teams from New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and Pennsylvania, played its final championship match at Giants Stadium, before the Metrostars' home opener.

The Hicksville Football Association's (HFA) held its First Annual Golf Outing. The turnout was a prominent display of support from Hicksville residents who had become increasingly embroiled with the program. The outing came at a good time for a league that was beginning to find its stride among other sports programs in town.

On April 23, over 100 residents from Hicksville and the surrounding communities gathered at the William M. Gouse VFW Hall on South Broadway to support the Sarah Grace Foundation for Children With Cancer, Inc. Dubbed "A Night of Laughter" for its line-up of comedians and entertainers, the event was actually aimed at a much more serious and emotional cause - to raise money for the non-profit organization which was established by Hicksville residents Marissa and Matt Weippert in memory of their daughter, Sarah, who lost her battle with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) at the age of 12.

Those who attended the fundraiser enjoyed a buffet dinner and nearly three hours of non-stop laughter while raising money for the Sarah Grace Foundation. Working with the Children's Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders at Schneider Children's Hospital at North Shore Manhasset - where Sarah was treated, the foundation provides financial aid, moral support and other assistance to not just the children receiving treatment, but to their parents and siblings as well. The foundation's mission is to let everyone see life through Sarah's eyes and make one's journey through such a menacing disease more bearable.

On May 8, Hicksville's lacrosse family and the community came out to celebrate the life of 22-year-old Kevin Kolm, a Hicksville High School graduate and US Marine, who was killed in Iraq on April 13, 2004. The day featured a series of lacrosse games played by Hicksville school and PAL teams, as well as lacrosse clinics conducted by the Long Island Lizards and past and present Hicksville High School players. There were raffles, auctions, a barbecue and a bake sale, all designed to raise money for a Kevin Kolm Memorial Scholarship. By the time the last whistle blew, approximately $11,000 had been raised.

On May 18, Hicksville residents voted 1,665 to 1,263 in favor of the school district's 2004-2005 spending plan of $84,648,982. In addition, 1,551 residents voted in favor of Proposition #2, which called for allowing the district to establish a capital reserve fund to take $1,150,000 in unexpended funds from the 2003-2004 budget for construction/expansion at the Woodland School. A total of 1,228 residents voted against. Proposition #3, as in previous years, pertained to allocation of $50,000 to the Hicksville Gregory Museum for educational services associated with its programs. A total of 1,575 people voted in favor of Proposition #3 while 1,081 voted against it.

Hicksville residents took to the polls on May 18 to cast their vote for board of education trustee. Incumbent Alesia Sommers, who ran unopposed for her seat, received 1,579 votes. In a contested race, Susan Powell received 1,384 votes to unseat incumbent Richard Pfaender. Pfaender, who served on the board since 1991, received 1,125 votes.

The Oyster Bay Town Board held a public hearing to review a "Vision Plan" for Hicksville. The plan is intended as a guide to set goals, objectives and recommendations for the future of Hicksville and reflects the interests of all segments of the community. The "Vision Plan" focuses on the future growth and development within Hicksville's hamlet. The Hicksville "Vision Plan" will be implemented into a Comprehensive Vision Plan, referred to as Vision 2020, for the entire Town of Oyster Bay.

The "Vision Plan," which was prepared by the steering committee comprised of representatives from throughout the residential and business community and the town's planning consultants Frederick P. Clark Associates, focuses on several key components, including community appearance; downtown and other business areas; residential; parks and recreation; community services and facilities; and transportation.

On May 26, the Hicksville Water District held its first community forum to explain and discuss the district's chlorination efforts. At the meeting, which was held at the Hicksville Public Library, Nicholas Brigandi, water district chairman, Commissioners Richard Humann and Karl Schweitzer, Doreen Brunning, account clerk, and John Molloy, president of H2M - the district's engineering and consulting firm, were on hand to inform the community and answer questions.

MetLife Financial Services of Nassau-Suffolk presented the Hicksville Gregory Museum with a $7,000 donation for being a winner of its Good Business Practice Award. The award recognized the museum for its "outstanding ethics and compliance in the community."

The Gregory Museum competed with such large-named organizations as St. Francis Hospital's Cancer Research Center, for the award. The money went to fund the museum's elementary coloring books, which will feature fossils, dinosaurs, seashells, butterflies and minerals.

After completing its reviews of cancer incidence in the Jericho Gardens area of Westbury, the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH), in cooperation with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC), held a public meeting to share the findings with the community on July 14.

The study, which was requested due to concerns about the former Sylvania Electric Products Facility - located adjacent to this community in Hicksville, examined patterns in newly diagnosed cases of cancer among community residents from 1980 to 1999. A total of 71 cancers were identified over this 20-year period, including 34 in males and 37 in females. Cancers of the prostate, lung and colon and rectum are the most frequently diagnosed types of cancer among males in all of New York State while cancers of the breast, lung and colon and rectum are the most frequently diagnosed types of cancer among females.

In the Jericho Gardens area, the findings were similar, however, the review provided no evidence of any unusual patterns of cancer among people living in this community.

For the fourth consecutive year, high school youth and adult leaders from the Hicksville United Methodist Church traveled to an economically distressed community to take part in a home repair project through the Group Workcamp program. 2004's contingent of 15 youth and four adult leaders stayed in Jamestown, NY from July 17 through July 24 to carry out such assignments as building a wheelchair ramp, repairing broken windows, mending a leaky roof, applying a fresh coat of paint and putting up drywall. The participants held various fundraising events and raised over $9,000 to finance their travel expenses and purchase the building materials necessary to complete their projects.

Ebay, the world's largest online marketplace where people can buy or sell just about anything, opened their first and largest Ebay Drop-Off Retail Store, QuikDROP, in Hicksville on July 19. QuikDROP brings EBay to a retail level where anyone can bring just about anything (with a minimum of a $50 value) into the store to be sold on EBay. QuikDROP professionals will handle all aspects of holding an auction from the photography, listing of item, holding the auction - including answering e-mails and questions, storage, packaging, shipping, etc.

The 2nd Annual Marc Khan Memorial Volleyball Tournament took place on Aug. 7 in the Hicksville High School gym. All proceeds were donated to the Hicksville Youth Council's Boys & Girls Club for program development in Marc's name. Marc Khan was the captain of the Bethpage High School Varsity Volleyball team and played center on the BHS Varsity Basketball team. He lost his life on March 9, 2003 as a passenger in a car accident that also claimed the life of the two other boys, another passenger and the driver. For further information, please call Nancy Khan at 731-1985 or the Hicksville Youth Council's Boys & Girls Club at 822-KIDS.

Sister Margaret "Peg" Casey, director of guidance at Holy Trinity Diocesan High School, was recently named 2004 Counselor of the Year by the Nassau Counselors' Association. For the past 35 years, Sister Peg has been a competent, dedicated, innovative, compassionate, resourceful and vigilant educator.

The annual Hicksville Summer Street Fair hosted by the Hicksville Chamber of Commerce took place on Aug. 29. The event-filled day included fun, shopping and live entertainment. Proceeds from the event went to support the chamber's efforts to help local businesses and the community. Through the generosity of various sponsors, all rides and amusements for children were free, including face painting, moon bounce, Velcro wall, giant slide, petting zoo, mini-carousel and more.

Hicksville resident Elke Blasi wrote, directed and produced her first feature film, *69. A resident of Hicksville for most of her life, Blasi decided to keep the film as local as possible. As a result, it was filmed mainly in Nassau County, with a few scenes shot in Pennsylvania. Also, many of the cast and crew are Long Island residents from Hicksville, Westbury and Carle Place. Visit www.star69movie.com for more information on *69.

The Hicksville Public Library, at a special meeting, approved revised plans pertaining to the demolition of two Sterling Place homes in an effort to expand upon its current parking situation. Demolition of the homes, which are located in the middle of a residentially-zoned street, took place in late August.

Many who live in the immediate vicinity of the library breathed a sigh of relief regarding the proposed plans since, unlike the original plans - which called for the construction of a one-way parking lot with its entrance on Jerusalem and exit solely onto Sterling, the new plans called for the construction of a two-way lot with a roundabout that would be closed off at Sterling, thereby enabling cars to exit and enter solely from Jerusalem Avenue. As a result, there will be no curb cuts on Sterling Place, which runs north to south between Old Country Road and 2nd Street.

Sixteen teams comprised of local teens and community members, Bethpage School District faculty and staff, and friends and family of Marc Khan, gathered at Hicksville High School on Aug. 7 to raise money for the Hicksville Youth Council Boys and Girls Club in Marc's name. In addition to the Marc Khan Memorial Volleyball Tournament, a basketball tournament is held each year in Marc's name. Proceeds raised are donated to local organizations in Marc Khan's name.

Due to changing circumstances, the Hicksville Fire Department was unable to host the 2004 Labor Day Parade and Drill. Fire officials would not comment further as to why the parade and drill were cancelled.

After being rabies-free for decades, it was announced that a raccoon killed by a pet dog on Aug. 6 tested positive for raccoon rabies. On Aug. 24, the NYSDOH confirmed that two additional raccoons captured in Nassau County tested positive for rabies, bringing the total to three rabid raccoon and in September a fourth rabid raccoon was reported.

As a result, the New York State Department of Health and the United States Department of Agriculture, Wildlife Services (USDA) distributed raccoon rabies vaccine by hand and helicopter in an effort to protect residents from rabies. Veterinarians and wildlife biologists from the New York State Department of Health Zoonoses Program conducted the vaccination program in cooperation with the USDA.

The Hicksville Chamber of Commerce's "Citizen of the Year" award for 2004 was presented to Rosemary Barrow for her work and dedication to the community.

Residents came out on Sept. 26 in an effort to raise money and awareness for the Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) Association for the Walk to D'Feet ALS. On a local level, the Hicksville team of Ken's Kids/Joanne's Friends walked for the fourth consecutive year in honor of three members of the high school community diagnosed with ALS. Ken's Kids/Joanne's Friends was established to benefit Kevin Drummond, a 1978 Hicksville High School graduate; Joanne Brendel, a retired Hicksville High School guidance secretary; and Ken McGinniss, a former Hicksville High School social studies chairperson.

Harvey Levinson, chairman of the Nassau County Board of Assessors, held a press conference to announce that five additional properties, including two in the Westbury/New Cassel area, would be reassessed as well as to present his newest proposals in his ongoing effort to combat Nassau County's illegal housing issue. Levinson's initiatives were the result of weeks of intense investigation into the increasing numbers of illegal boarding and rooming houses operating out of single-family homes within the county.

At the press conference, Levinson presented the media with four initiatives he hopes will be put forth to combat illegal housing throughout the county. Levinson's proposals include changing the sworn affidavits landlords must sign when taking a tenant to court for either eviction or back rent purposes; preventing landlords from collecting back rent from tenants unless they produce proof the residence is a rental property; asking the New York State Department of State to discipline real estate brokers who advertise illegal apartments; and the chance of either losing their fire insurance or paying extremely high rates.

A group of residents living near the Hicksville Fire District's Station No. 2, located at the intersection of Woodbury Road and Briggs Street, formed a neighborhood committee in an effort to prevent the relocation of the firehouse and show support for the district's plans to renovate the building.

The Hicksville Residents to Save Your Neighborhood Firehouse community group came to be after the residents learned of a survey distributed by the Town of Oyster Bay to those living in the area of a town-owned sump property located at Ronald Avenue and Miller Road. It asked those homeowners whether or not they are in favor of relocating the Station No. 2 firehouse to the sump property. Additionally, statements made by members of the Briggs Neighborhood Committee published in the media over the past year expressing their desire to have the firehouse moved to another location caused concern among those living nearby.

Some 150 residents gathered at the Hicksville Public Library on Sept. 30 for a meeting regarding the renovation and expansion of the fire district's Station 2, which is located on Briggs Street between Woodbury Road and Ronald Avenue. While some who attended were clearly opposed to the project, which calls for the demolition and construction of a new firehouse, others wholly supported the fire district and said they understand the need for additional space.

The Sept. 30 meeting, sponsored by the Hicksville Gardens Civic Association, provided the Briggs Neighborhood Committee - which is opposed to the project - and Hicksville Board of Fire Commissioners - who are spearheading the project - the chance to present the community with both sides of this controversial issue.

On Oct. 1, the Westbury community experienced a great loss with the death of Alfred "Fred" Hicks. A lifelong resident of Westbury, Mr. Hicks died of complications from a rare blood disorder. He was 64 years old.

Mr. Hicks was the president of Hicks Nurseries Inc. of Westbury, the fifth generation of his family to run the business, which was founded in 1853 by his great-great-grandfather, Isaac Hicks. The roots of Fred Hicks' family in America go back to the arrival of Englishman Robert Hicks in 1622. During the 1640s, Robert's son John was among the first to settle the Hempstead Plains. In 2003, the Westbury garden nursery celebrated its 150th anniversary, making it the oldest nursery and garden center on Long Island. In addition, Hicks Nurseries is also the 71st oldest family-owned company in the United States and the oldest family-owned business on the Island, currently in its sixth generation of family ownership with Mr. Hicks' three children.

During a press conference on Oct. 4, Harvey Levinson, chairman of the Nassau County Board of Assessors, announced a proposal to eliminate the school property tax altogether and replace it with a modest income tax. In addition, the assessor announced that he would also like to see a set commercial property school tax rate created throughout the county.

Levinson proposed eliminating completely the school property tax and replacing it with a modest income tax that would be paid for by both owners and renters. By eliminating the school property tax, Levinson said Nassau County would also be able to eliminate the STAR program since there would be no need for STAR because there are no taxes. He also said that the money the government appropriates to STAR could then be added to state aid to offset districts that may need additional support as a result of collecting lower income taxes.

In addition, Levinson announced he was looking to establish a set commercial property school tax rate throughout the county for all school districts. Through this set rate, the assessor said tax monies collected can be redistributed to all school districts under a revenue sharing formula.

Levinson's ideas were drawn up in a proposal to be sent to Albany and reviewed by Governor George Pataki.

Seven-year-old Michael Recchia of Hicksville appeared on the Oct. 8 episode of the America's Most Talented Kids television show. Michael and his family went to California where he performed Frank Sinatra's classic Fly Me to the Moon.

On Oct. 11, some 100 residents demonstrated outside Station #2 in support of the Hicksville Fire District's plans to renovate the 48-year-old firehouse. Sponsored by the Hicksville Residents to Save Your Neighborhood Firehouse community group, the event served as a "Help Save the Firehouse" petition kick-off.

In addition to demonstrating outside of the firehouse while toting signs and chanting "Save Our Firehouse," supporters also signed a petition stating that they do not want the firehouse moved. Those who signed the petition believe "the Hicksville Fire District should go forward with their plans to renovate Station #2 at its present location," which is on Briggs Street between Ronald Avenue and Woodbury Road. Signing the petition also meant that residents feel "the board should proceed with their resolution to renovate the house for the welfare of the community and the overall safety of the membership."

The Long Island-based band Gone to Earth opened for the group Incubus on Oct. 28. Comprised of five members, including Syosset residents Josh Rieger and Jon Maisel, along with Voley Martin of Hicksville, Matt Litwin of Jericho and Marcus Klavan of Maryland, the group has a new demo out and plans to release their first full-length album by the summer of 2005.

The Hicksville Gardens Civic Association's Oct. 28 meeting was standing room only as residents attended to voice their opposition to a proposal to construct a "lodging" place at 594 South Broadway at Gerald Avenue - the site of the former T.J. Courtney's restaurant. Some 440 residents attended the meeting while more than 100 were turned away due to limited capacity in the library's community room.

The meeting followed an Oct. 14 meeting in which members of the civic association's executive board and block captains from the area met with property owner Darshan S. Bagga, his architect from DiGiovanni Associates in Sea Cliff and planning consultant Gary Pappas, as well as Town of Oyster Bay representative Tim Zike. It was after this meeting that civic representatives were under the impression that Bagga was looking to construct a facility for use as "transitional" housing for immigrant families.

The application has since been withdrawn.

On Nov. 2, the Hicksville Board of Fire Commissioners passed a motion to keep the voting hours during commissioner elections at 6 to 9 p.m., despite a signed petition submitted late last month by the Briggs Neighborhood Committee requesting that voting hours be extended. The over 500 residents who signed the petition were in favor of extending voting hours to 1 to 9 p.m.

During the meeting, Commissioner Joe Giardina made a motion, which was seconded by Commissioner William McKee, approving the voting hours from 6 to 9 p.m. along with a resolution designating tellers for the election. Both motions were initially passed 2 to 1, with Commissioner Charley Hearon voting against and Commissioner Anthony Wigdzinski absent. Commissioner Robert Dwyer, the board's chairman, arrived late to the meeting and in voting to keep the hours the same, became the deciding vote needed for a board majority.

On Nov. 9, officials from the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA), the New York State Department of Environmental Conversation (DEC) and Nassau County police descended on Hicksville's LI Reptile Museum in a effort to save its animals from freezing to death.

As temperatures were dropping to dangerously low levels, the International Fauna Society was called in by officials to supervise the rescue and relocation of animals that were at risk of freezing in the unheated building. The temperature inside the museum, which is located at 70 Broadway, was as low as 50 degrees, well below the 100-plus degree temperatures necessary for the reptiles to survive.

The Town of Oyster Bay had recently cited the museum, which was operated by Steven Kates, with numerous building code violations including exposed wires and other hazards. As a result, the museum was closed to the public in October, but the reptiles remained on site. Both LIPA and KeySpan had cut off service to the museum due to nonpayment. The museum has not reopened.

The Middle States Commission on Elementary Schools announced that St. Ignatius Loyola School in Hicksville was awarded accreditation by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools. MSCES accreditation signifies the educational community of St. Ignatius Loyola School has engaged in a rigorous process of developing self-knowledge, has hosted an evaluation team of independently-appointed educators, and has created an ongoing strategic plan to move school improvement forward.

The three-year process was governed by a steering committee and involved many elements of the St. Ignatius Loyola community, including faculty, parents and students. Accreditation also signifies that St. Ignatius Loyola School met the MSCES standards for a quality school. These standards reflect current research and best practices from throughout the education profession. During the term of accreditation the school community will engage in a commission-directed series of reports and/or site visits to maintain the vigor of the accreditation process.

The Town of Oyster Bay held its first ever Holiday Lighting on Dec. 11 at Marjorie R. Post Community Park in Massapequa. The event featured figure skating performances Emily Hughs, 2005 Eastern Senior Ladies Silver Medalist; Chloe Katz and Joseph Lynch, 2005 Eastern Junior Pairs Champions, and Michael Quadrino, 2004 Junior National Competitor as well as Lloyd Tin and Jeanelle Tschoke.

Harry Single was elected commissioner of the Hicksville Fire District during a public vote on Dec. 14. Single, who received 876 votes, defeated Mike Krummenacker, who received 828 votes, for the seat being being vacated by Commissioner Joseph Giardina. Fire commissioner terms are five years.