The Hicksville Fire District issued a public referendum this past September to allow it to donate a 1999 Chevy Suburban on behalf of the entire Hicksville community to the Hurricane Katrina emergency relief effort. Soon after, officials were pleased to learn that its insurance company, VFIS representative Hubbinette-Cowell Associates, Inc., would pick up the cost of transporting the vehicle.

Paul A. Cowell, Jr., a resident of Hicksville and president of Hubbinette-Cowell Associates, Inc., recently joined with the Hicksville Board of Fire Commissioners in placing a commemorative plaque on the door of the vehicle before its departure. The inscription reads "Donated by the Hicksville Fire District Board of Fire Commissioners on behalf of the residents of Hicksville, NY."

Following guidelines set by the New York State Office of Emergency Management, the district recently shipped the vehicle to Fire District #7 in St. Tammany Parish in Louisiana.

"We have every confidence that this charitable effort will be a tremendous asset to this community in its efforts to rebuild," said Anthony Wigdzinski, chairman of the Hicksville Board of Fire Commissioners. "We are happy that the Hicksville community could help."