This year marks the 60th anniversary of when Levittown opened to the public. Over 300 residents, mostly World War II veterans, agreed to rent Levitt homes for $60 a month. Others, with their GI Bills in hand, put a $90 down payment on a $7,990 ranch.

Sixty years later the Levittown 60th Anniversary Committee, co-chaired by Louise Cassano, Legislator Dennis Dunne, Sr. and Kevin Regan, president of the Levittown Chamber of Commerce and the Levittown/Island Trees Youth Council, have planned a year chock full of events celebrating the community's rich history.

Founded in February 2006, Levittown Special Events, Inc. is an ongoing corporation formed to carry out the 60th anniversary celebration and, perhaps, other special events that may arise in the future.

"All events are priced to cover costs of the event and all monies raised through sponsorships go into subsidizing the costs of the events, advertising, printing, mailing and other administrative expenses," Cassano explained. "If there are any monies left over at the end of the year, most will go toward a community project to be selected by the committee."

Cassano, a lifelong Levittown resident, was educated in Levittown schools, raised a family in Levittown and opened a home-based business (LuCas Communications) in Levittown in 1994.

"I love the sense of community I experience almost every day of my life through my involvements with community organizations and friendships with neighbors, fellow parishioners, business owners and friends," she added.

Involved with several other organizations from Levittown's Yours Ours Mine Community Center to Levittown and Island Trees School-Business Advisory Boards, Cassano said it is important to celebrate the history of Levittown "so the culture and traditions are passed along to children and new residents in the community."

"We have a lot of history in this town that should not be forgotten," she added.

Levittown resident Bob Koenig said he has been involved with the committee since the beginning. Already involved with the Levittown Historical Society and Levittown Community Council, Koenig said he first started a calendar, but quickly found himself immersed in each event's planning. He also helped to create a musical CD about Levittown, Abbey Lane, which he calls "a perfect complement to the anniversary of Levittown."

When asked what his favorite aspect of Levittown was, Koenig responded, "there are so many."

"I love the fact that, even though a lot of the original owners and veterans have passed on or moved away, the town still has a sense of place, dedication for these fine people, and our origins," he continued. "I have never seen a community like Levittown - bearing so many flags, looking so Americana."

Levittown Historical Society President Polly Dwyer and her husband, Bill, became involved with the 60th anniversary celebration because they "want to see Levittown folk be aware of the historic aspects of being 60 years old."

"It is important to celebrate the town's history so that we can remember and honor Levittown as a very special affordable community for the returning WWII veterans," she added. "I know because I lived it and will now and always appreciate the gift of the American Dream."

The wife of a World War II veteran, Dwyer has lived in Levittown for 53 years, raising three sons in their original Levitt home.

"My favorite aspect of Levittown is its concentration of children's activities with sports, the swimming pools, ball fields and playgrounds and the excellent education," Dwyer added.

In addition to several upcoming anniversary events, the Levittown 60th Anniversary Committee has hosted a slew of other special days, including a Pancake Breakfast last October, a Vintage Fashion Show in March and an Antiques & Collectibles Appraisal Day in April. They also co-hosted a Lazy Days of Summer event in July.

"Attendance has been excellent at all of the events and the number of volunteers who have given their time to work at these events has been, also," Cassano said.

Sunday, Sept. 30 - Grand Parade - a grand parade will take place at 1 p.m. Anyone who would like to march in the parade is welcomed. Invitations have gone out to community groups. If you haven't received one, please contact Joel and Pat Bearman, who are chairing this event, at 731-1454 or by e-mail at jbear359@aol.com or pabear53@aol.com.

Original Levittown homeowners will be the Grand Marshals. Elected officials will be honorary grand marshals. The parade queues up at Island Trees Memorial Middle School at noon and begins at 1 p.m.

The parade route is west on Hempstead Turnpike, culminating at the Town of Hempstead Parking Lot behind Tri-County Flea Market and PC Richards.

If you can't participate, bring out your lawn chairs or blankets and be a spectator. This is a parade of celebration, so there will be music, floats and lots of festivities.

Sunday, Oct. 7 - Historic Bike Tour - will queue up at New York Chiropractic College on Division Avenue for a bicycle tour of Levittown and its historic sites. (Yes, Levittown is full of history and our ride includes 7 or 8 sites on each side of town!) Queue is at 12:30 p.m. and the ride will begin at 1 p.m. There are two tours to choose from - the south side of Levitown or the north side. Each route is less than three miles and they move at an easy pace, so children can also ride. The 8th Precinct has been notified and will control traffic. Volunteer docents will be at each spot explaining the historic significance of the spot. For those taking the south side ride, the last stop will be the Levittown History Museum, which will be opened for visitors that day.

Depending on the number of riders that show up, they may have several groups going out. If interested in riding, being a docent or for more information, call Frank McKenna at 731-2211 or email fjmckiii@aol.com.

Friday, Nov. 2 - A Special Evening at Hofstra University - Hofstra University will host a special evening. Seating is limited and registration is required. Call Theresa Haller at 463-6333, fax at 463-3907 or email Theresa.M.Haller@hofstra.edu. At 5:30 p.m. a dramatic reading of The Man Who Loved Levittown, adapted and performed by Robert Spiotto, artistic director of Community Arts Programs and executive producer, Hofstra University, in the Leo A. Guthart Cultural Center Theater, Joanand Donald E. Axinn Library, first floor. At 6 p.m., Suburbia: A Sense of Place on the Silver Screen - an address on motion pictures in the suburbs by Philip Dolce, director of the Center for Suburban Criminal Justice and chair of the Social Science Department at Bergen Community College in the Leo A. Guthart Cultural Center Theater, Joan and Donald E. Axinn Library, first floor. At 7:15 p.m., Photographing Suburbia: Weiner, Owens and Crewdson - Exhibition and Reception given by the Hofstra University Libraries, Hofstra University Museum and the Center for Suburban Studies in the Rochelle and Irwin A. Lowenfeld Conference and Exhibition Hall, Joan and Donald E. Axinn Library, 10th floor.

Saturday, Nov. 3 - Dance Back in Time - the official finale to the 60th Anniversary celebration is a dinner-dance from 8 p.m. to midnight at Domenico's Restaurant, 3270 Hempstead Tpke. (in the King Kullen Shopping Center), Levittown. Sit-down dinner, open bar music and dancing and tickets are $35 per person. Seating is limited to 130. Send checks and contact information, including names of all parties for whom you are paying, address, phone number and e-mail address, if applicable, to Lois Cornibert, who is chairing this event, at Astoria Federal Bank, 3105 Hempstead Turnpike, Levittown, NY 11756.

Sponsorships are still available. Levittown 60th Anniversary merchandise is also available. Hats, mugs, T-shirts and Abbey Lane CDs can be ordered via email at levittown60@yahoo.com or phone at 735-5901. Any group or organization that wishes to participate in the parade should contact Joel and Pat Bearman by Monday, Sept. 24 at 731-1454.