Well, another Hicksville summer is gone. The kids are back in school and many of us are trying to figure out where the summer went. I, for one, am looking forward to the fall, my favorite time of year as the nights get longer, the weather gets cooler and we can finally open the windows and turn off the AC. I encourage everyone to make the most of this wonderful time of year to get out of the house and get some exercise. Enlist a friend or loved one to join you as you rediscover the community we all call home. Take advantage of the cool evenings and extended daylight hours to walk around your immediate community, to talk to your old friends and neighbors and introduce yourself to new ones. Daylight saving time is being extended to Nov. 4.

Each and every one of us is responsible for the quality of our local government. It is our responsibility as citizens to show those individuals running for elected office that we, the community of Hicksville, are all on the same team and that we fully understand our responsibility to elect officials who will represent us fairly and provide us with the level of government we are entitled to. Let's show those running for office that we understand that it is our responsibility to ensure that the government we elect is a government by and for the people. Come down and participate as we continue to improve the quality of life in the community we all call home.

The Hicksville Community Council and the Hicksville civics will be hosting this year's candidates a little bit differently than in the past. To allow our community to get a better understanding of those individuals who wish to represent us in the Town of Oyster Bay, Nassau County Legislature and Judicial Systems, we have come up with the following program.

On Oct. 11, the Hicksville Gardens Civic Association will host incumbents Joseph D. Muscarella, Anthony D. Macagnone and Rose Marie Walker as they face off with their opponents Carol A. Gordon, Jay S. Cherlin and Keith A. Scalia as candidates for Oyster Bay Town Council. The forum will be held at the Hicksville Public Library Kenneth Barnes Community Room at 7:30 p.m. and will be hosted by me and the Hicksville Gardens Civic Association.

On Tuesday, Oct. 16 at 7:30 p.m. incumbent Edward P. Mangano and his opponent Nicholas M. Guariglia will face off as candidates for Nassau County Legislature at the Hicksville Community Center. This forum will be hosted by Tom Pfifer and the Midland Civic Association. And, on Monday, Oct. 22 at 7:30 p.m. incumbents Steven L. Labriola and James J. Stefanich will face off with opponents Matthew T. Meng and Marie F. McCormack as candidates for Oyster Bay Town Clerk and Receiver of Taxes, respectively, at the new Hicksville Public Library Resource Center. This forum will be hosted by John Keyer and the Duffy Park Civic Association.

I encourage everyone to attend and participate in these forums. Get involved, voice your opinion and become part of the solution.

Henry A. Goessmann

President, Hicksville Gardens Civic Association

Board of Directors, Hicksville Community Council