The Levittown Property Owners Association met on Sept. 9, with President Jim Morrow presiding. This was the final general meeting at the Levittown Memorial Education Center (LMEC) as the monthly meetings will be held hereafter at our former meeting place, the Community Room in the newly renovated lower level of the Levittown Public Library. The LPOA greatly appreciated the hospitality provided us at the LMEC in the use of their auditorium for the 2008 meetings.

The September meeting was a get-together to discuss problems that occurred over the summer in various community neighborhoods, some of brief or recent incidence, some of long-standing. These included home heating oil prices ("locked in caps,") service contracts, chimney cleanings, etc.), disparities in water district rates from different companies supplying the community, the Island Trees lead contamination controversy, infestation of rodents sighted, street lights knocked out and not replaced by LIPA or the Town of Hempstead, the Israel Center property and Progress House medical dispensing center, both located on Hempstead Turnpike and their possible sales, sprinklers at Division Avenue School, block parties, the North Village Green and St. Thomas Malankara Church site. As these various topics indicate, local issues and problems surface even when there are no major catastrophic events to mar a serene, peaceful summer in the Levittown community.

Our discussions brought possible solutions to some of the problems: 1) the LPOA will again be in contact with the MAC Heating Company (and possibly other companies) to find out their price cap "lock-in" prices and service contract rates for LPOA members. We were told by MAC these would be delayed until later in October as the market prices are still fluctuating daily and rates have as yet not been established; 2) as for water supply rates, these vary according to different area locations, and it was suggested that people contact their companies about the disparities, or the Town of Hempstead or Levittown Water District; 3) the Island Trees lead contamination investigation is still on-going and is covered frequently by Newsday; 4) the "rodent" or rat occurrence reported by a recent newcomer from the city to Levittown may simply be an invasion of what may turn out to be possums (known also as "opossum or polecat" which are noctural marsupials not related to rodents) which eat almost anything including garbage, mice, snakes, insects, etc. and climb trees, poles and wires. The new LPOA member sighted them on overhead wires as well as around the yard. Even though possums resemble large rats, rats do not climb such heights. Raccoons and rabbits are also seen in the suburbs. The Nassau County Department of Health could be contacted to look into the problem, rent traps and remove them; 5) street light repairs can be facilitated by contacting our Town Councilman Gary Hudes, who can also provide information on other issues such as regulations for block parties, the developments at the Israel Community Center, Progress House, and the North Village Green/St. Thomas Malankara Church plans. The LPOA has found Councilman Hudes responds quickly and capably when he is notified of problems in our neighborhoods.

The next meeting of the LPOA will be in the greatly improved Levittown Public Library Community Room on Tuesday, Oct. 14, at 7:30 p.m.