December 2008 : Volume 9 - Issue 3 - Casale's Corner

Casale's Corner

HICKSVILLE TIDBITS DECEMBER 2008

Community Mourns Death of George Dillman

Many Hicksville residents and friends gathered together in Whitestone to mourn the death of 26 year old George Dillman. George was a splicer for Con Edison and died in a manhole explosion on October 9th. Con Edison had employed George for about three years. George joined the Hicksville Fire Department in April. Recently, he completed his New York State Firefighter 1 training at the Nassau County Fire Service Academy.

George is survived by his parents, Anne and Raymond Dillman and seven siblings. In addition, George leaves his fiancé, Alyssa Block, whom he was to marry in October of 2009.

Hicksville Water District Has New Budget

The anticipated rate increase for 2009 from the water district will not happen. Local control of the water district remains in force. Many officials felt intervention of big government control would be instrumental in improving service and cutting costs. Not so says Commissioner Karl Schweitzer. There was fear, too, that projects to improve efficiency and maintain high water quality standards would be jeopardize. Residents should rest assured knowing the same standards used in the past will continue. Schweitzer said, "It is our fiscal responsibility to work within our budgets. As public servants and residents of Hicksville, it is our duty to protect our fellow taxpayers and deliver the safest and best water possible."

Tax Dollars and Hicksville Schools

Many summer renovations were completed prior to the start of the school year while other projects will continue until completed. The most extensive and costly is the second floor extension at Woodland Elementary School. The project, supervised by School Construction Consultants, features two new classrooms, a small instructional classroom and a storage area to accommodate increases in enrollment. At the high school, maintenance concentrated on new flooring, lighting and ceilings. The art room received a facelift with resurfaced cabinets and a new sink. A new scoreboard with wireless capabilities was installed at the high school football field.

Hicksville Middle School concentrated on grounds maintenance. In addition to normal activity, new plants and additional irrigation piping was added. Middle School and High School lockers were repainted, all district gymnasium floors were refinished and painting took place district wide as is standard practice. There were many other projects that were completed but most notably was the excavation and replacement of four completely new basketball courts featuring new fencing, poles, backstops and nets at Dutch Lane Elementary School.

New Firehouse Finally Gets Approval

It has been a long time since it was determined that a new firehouse should be constructed at the site on Briggs Street between Woodbury Road and Ronald Avenue, the home of Engine Company 2. Six years to be exact. Dozens of public hearings have been the order of the "years." There probably were as many architectural drawings submitted over the same period of time. Site sheathing began the week of October 27 with demolition starting early in November.

Mulligan, Gallo To Wed

Mr. and Mrs. Dennis Mulligan of Hicksville are happy to announce the engagement of their daughter, Jennifer, to Michael Gallo, son of Mr. and Mrs. John Gallo of Lindenhurst. The very happy couple plan a March 2009 wedding.

George Howard Way (9/11 Hero)

This month's humor from anonymous contributor

Four women were driving across the country. Each one was from a different state: Idaho, Nebraska, Florida and New York. Shortly after the trip began, the woman from Idaho started pulling potatoes from her bag and throwing them out the window.

"What the heck are you doing?" demanded the Nebraskan. "We have so many of these darn things in Idaho, I'm just sick of looking at them!"

A moment later, the gal from Nebraska began pulling ears of corn from her bag and tossing them from the window. "What are you doing that for?" asked the gal from Florida. "We have so many of these things in Nebraska, I'm just sick of looking atthem!"

Inspired, the gal from Florida opened the car door and pushed the New Yorker out.

ROCK & ROLL HISTORY TRIVIA

Below are several questions relating to rock and roll history. Read the questions and answer as best you can. The answers are at the end but don't peek until you've answered all questions.

1. In the Beatles "She's Leaving Home," what day did "she" leave?
2. What band recorded the 1980 LP entitled Hi-Fidelity, which sold over 6 million copies?
3. Lonely Weekends was a 1960 #22 hit for which "Silver Fox"?
4. "I'm So Excited" and "Dance Electric" were hits from the "Break Out" LP by what trio?
5. Which female vocalist had a #22 hit in 1966 with a song entitled "Trains And Boats And Planes"?
6. In what year did Steppenwolf have top 5 hits with "Born To Be Wild" and "Magic Carpet Ride"?
7. From the mid seventies until 1984, Tommy Shaw played guitar and wrote songs for what group?
8. In what Paul McCartney song do you hear the chorus, "hands across the water, hands across the sea"?
9. "With This Ring", a 1967 hit was the last chart hit for what group of the 50's and 60's?
10. "Pretty Paper", a song written by Willie Nelson, was a late 1963, early 1964 top 15 hit by whom?