Here are some of the top stories which occurred in Levittown in 2001, as selected by the editor. They are not being run in order of importance.

Editor's Note: This is part two of a two-part series. Part one ran in last week's issue.

In late May, the Levittown community was hit with acts of vandalism, including a case of arson at Division Avenue High School and severe playground equipment damage at the Israel Community Center. It was suspected that teenagers were involved in causing the damage in both locations. The major incidence of vandalism that weekend took place at Division Avenue High School. As part of his pre-prom initiative, urging high school students to think before they drink and drive, use drugs or drive with excessive speed, Hempstead Town Councilman Gary Hudes and the Town of Hempstead, along with Coachman Autoworks of East Meadow who donates the vehicles, put crashed cars on the lawns of both MacArthur and Division Avenue High Schools. Very early one Sunday morning, a person or persons torched the four-door Chevy station wagon on the front lawn of Division, completely destroying it and burning the Town of Hempstead sign that hung above the car which read, "Don't let your night end like this!"

The family of Dr. Laurie Miller Spencer, who was murdered in March by her ex-boyfriend while she was sleeping, established a memorial scholarship fund in her honor over the summer. Spencer, a graduate of the Levittown School District, has many local family members and friends who wish to help others the way Spencer did throughout her life.

To help keep her memory alive, the family decided to award the annual scholarship to a female student at the New York College of Osteopathic Medicine (NYCOM), of which Spencer was an alumna, who is planning a career in emergency medicine and needs financial assistance to get through college. The scholarship was designed to help a student who wants to save other people's lives through a career in emergency medicine, as Spencer had in her life.

In the early morning hours of Tuesday, Sept. 11, two planes crashed into both of the Twin Towers at the World Trade Center causing thousands of casualties and injuries. Firefighters, police officers, EMS workers and others from all over New York and some from out of state rushed to the site, later coined "Ground Zero," to assist in the recovery efforts in any way possible.

Local residents came out in full force to help in the rescue and relief efforts. Students from every school in the district helped out by collecting supplies and raising money. Patriotism was clear all over the community with candlelight vigils and gatherings. In November, the Levittown School District took time out of a school board meeting to personally thank and recognize students from all schools for their efforts during the tragedy. In addition, the board recognized the teachers of the district, thanking them for their efforts during that week of Sept. 11, particularly their help in ensuring that school was a safe place for the children.

In the wake of the attacks, residents mourned the life of many dear to their hearts, including Lt. Kevin Donnelly of Ladder Company 3, FDNY, who was also a member of the Wantagh Fire Department and Levittown resident Robert Parro, who was also a New York City firefighter.

The events of Sept. 11 also resulted in the loss of Levittown Fire Department Chief Ron Kerwin, who lost his life heroically at the World Trade Center as a member of the New York City Fire Department's Squad 288.

Later in the year, Deputy Chief John Rottkamp was sworn in as the new chief of the department.

In late November, hundreds of local residents attended an illuminated walk on the streets of the community to honor and remember those who lost their lives on Sept. 11 and to recognize the heroic efforts of uniformed services and citizens. The event was coordinated by the Levittown Board of Education and the School District as a whole, who said that since the devastating events of Sept. 11, the Levittown community has exhibited an exemplary spirit of caring and that too many families have suffered overwhelming pain and they feel their deep sense of loss.