The Hicksville Gardens Civic Association will be meeting again on April 27 and May 11 in the Hicksville Public Library at 7:30 p.m.

The April 27 meeting will be a community update roundtable at which time we encourage our membership to take notice of the issues that need attention and to bring the addresses of any commercial or residential code compliance violations with them. We will then assist our membership in submitting the proper code compliance forms and submit them to the town. The Community Council will be hosting a forum on illegal housing in the community center on June 1 and we would like to give the town ample time to investigate.

A representative from Nassau County Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) will give our membership a brief overview of the program and answer any question anyone may have. CERT is about readiness, people helping people, rescuer safety, and doing the greatest good for the greatest number. CERT is a positive and realistic approach to emergency and disaster situations where citizens will be initially on their own and their actions can make a difference. Through training, citizens can manage utilities and put out small fires; treat the three killers by opening airways, controlling bleeding, and treating for shock; provide basic medical aid; search for and rescue victims safely; and organize themselves and spontaneous volunteers to be effective.

I recently spoke with New York State Assemblyman Chuck Lavine. We discussed some local issues and I briefed him on our upcoming meetings. When I informed him that we were doing a CERT presentation he enthusiastically went on to praise the program and said he would like to stop by and answer any questions the community may have regarding this outstanding program.

A new class began April 20 and will continue every Thursday through May 18 in the Sunrise Detachment, Marine Corps League, 99 Iwo Jima Boulevard (New York Avenue) in Massapequa. Perhaps, if we could get enough interested volunteers, we could have them do a session next fall right here in Hicksville.

On May 11, New York State Assemblyman Rob Walker will meet with us to discuss the work being performed on South Broadway/Route 107 and other projects that we have been working on as a community. In the interim, let me brief everyone on what's going on in our little corner of Hicksville.

The association is asking all members and their families who are entertaining the thought of saving some money in next year's home oil heating costs to please refrain from renewing your current oil contract. The association is currently looking for 10 to 20 families to join together in a homeowners consortium that will approach local oil companies to try and get a capped one-year oil price with a free one-year service contract. Anyone interested should come see me at the next meeting.

If you haven't already heard, Waldbaum's in the old Farmers Market off Route 107 will be closing its doors on April 29. A town zoning board meeting was held April 20 to discuss an outdoor garden center that is being proposed. Many residents living in the area have voiced concern regarding the effect this new construction will have on traffic on Bloomingdale Road. Membership in the area handed out fliers to all residents in the area and I'll have a full report in my next update.

The Block and Board is scheduled to meet with the attorney and architect representing Taco Bell to discuss their proposal of relocating the current Taco Bell from the corner of Old Country Road and South Broadway/Route 107 to the center of the Delco Plaza Shopping Center. The new facility is being designed as a drive through. What's your opinion? We'd like to know.

I encourage everyone to make an attempt to attend one of our upcoming meetings and join our family of resident homeowners. If you live outside of our area and you're not represented by a civic start your own. Become part of the solution. Remember, you make a living by what you get; you make a life by what you give. Give something back to the community you've chosen to raise your family in and call home. Start a civic with a neighbor or friend, it'll be the best investment you every make.

Henry A Goessmann

President, Hicksville Gardens Civic