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Roger Whitaker
Hi. My name is James Wittenborg, a proud alumnus of Hicksville High School’s class of 74. Although it’s been a long journey to where I am now, Hicksville and the friendships I made over fifty years ago still play a part in my life today. In fact, I’ve made it a point to mention names of classmates and Hicksville landmarks in every novel I’ve written! So how did a student in the 70’s with no interest at all in reading books wind up writing novels? It was something that just came about recently in my journey. After a couple of years in college, followed by a couple of years in the military, I found myself working as a technician at a remote satellite tracking station in Thule, Greenland. This was my introduction to space stuff. After a few years there, I was back in the US, and on a random drive around the country, I stopped in Houston and visited the Johnson Space Center. I knew right away that this was where I wanted to be. After a few phone calls, I secured an interview on a Thursday, was hired on Friday, found a furnished apartment on Saturday, and showed up on Monday for my first day of work. After sitting on console supporting the second Space Shuttle flight in November 1981, I was hooked. After the Challenger accident, I left Houston and relocated to Huntsville, Alabama, to work at the Marshall Space Flight Center. Seven years later, amid a contract change, I packed up and accepted a job at the Canadian Space Agency outside Montreal, Canada. A wife, three kids, three dogs, and three moves later, I found myself back in Huntsville, Alabama! And today, I still work as a Senior Systems Engineer supporting the Space Launch System for the Artemis Program.
Ok, so how and when did the writing start? It started innocently enough after a conversation I had with a colleague about the assassination of JFK. We both had our opinions of who we thought was responsible, and afterward, I thought, what if I had the ability to be back there at Dealey Plaza on November 22, 1963, at one o’clock, knowing it was about to happen? I could see with my own eyes what really happened. We already have books and movies about time machines and time travel, but what if, through our dreams, we could visit the past? This became the premise of my first three novels: the Dream Traveler trilogy. This is not science fiction, but rather delves into the vast unknown of what our minds may be capable of.
The fourth and most recent novel is called The Five. It’s a standalone book about five men from Long Island in their late forties who have known each other their entire lives. Almost every year, they get together for a guy’s getaway trip, but on their latest trip to upstate New York, sinister secrets of a small town threaten not only the friendship among them, but also their freedom to get home. In addition to this book being published this past November, it was also released as an audiobook in March of 2026. You can read more about my story and the books, and make any purchases on my website: www.jameswittenborg.com.
Click on each title to read about my novels:
Wendy Elkis Class of 1977
From the beginning, New York was a popular port city. The harbor was used as a main port dating back to the 1600s. At that time, trade was centered around bartering for furs. Around 1625, the Dutch West India Company established themselves at the harbor in what was then known as New Amsterdam. It was such a popular port that by the 1650s, you could find people from around the
New York Harbor 1600s world, and you could hear approximately 18 different languages. Commerce kept growing year after year, regardless of who was in control of the area.
New York's Beginning
Crown v Zenger trial illustration New York was a cosmopolitan city and a strategic trading post. The city was known for its freedom of worship, and due to the libel trial of Peter Zenger, it was the cornerstone of the principle of freedom of the press. New York was even the base of operations during the French and Indian War.
After the French and Indian War, there was privateering and the slave trade vessels operating out of the harbor. The British imposed taxes on the colonists. Those taxes imposed by Parliament led to the rise of the Sons of Liberty. By 1775, the Sons of Liberty were harassing the Loyalists and planning to raid the Turtle Bay Depot. On July 20th, the Sons of Liberty conducted their raid, which gained them much-needed weaponry and supplies for taking action against the British. 
The British are Coming
Before Lexington and Concord, the population of New York was approximately 25,000 people. Once word of Lexington and Concord reached New York, people started to fear that what happened to Boston would now happen to New York. This led to a major exodus from New York. One-third of New York's population had left by September of 1775. By July 1776, the population had dropped to approximately 5,000. Those who stayed faced dangerous conditions.
By that summer, New York was preparing for a British attack. George Washington was training his army and trying to whip them into shape, and by April of 1776, he arrived in New York from Cambridge, Massachusetts, and started preparing to defend the city against British forces, especially those that would
arrive by sea. The New York campaign began with the arrival of General Howe and the British troops in late June/Early July. By August, the Battle of Long Island began, and by September, George Washington had retreated.
Next Month- The first discussions of Independence at the Second Continental Congress
Resources
https://www.newyorkalmanack.com/2025/04/new-york-harbor-maritime-history/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_New_York_City_
https://history.nycourts.gov/case/crown-v-zenger/
https://wams.nyhistory.org/primary-source/fear-and-danger-in-ny/
https://avalon.law.yale.edu/18th_century/assoc_sons_ny_1773.asp
https://www.mountvernon.org/library/digitalhistory/digital-encyclopedia/article/new-york-campaign
Illustrations
Zenger Trial https://history.nycourts.gov/case/crown-v-zenger/
Turtle Bay Depot - https://revolutionarywarjournal.com/capture-of-turtle-bay-depot-by-sons-of-liberty/#:
New York Harbor 1600s- https://share.google/yayeM3iTU1fIaXBg8
New York Campaign - blob:chrome-untrusted://media-app/98ddef69-17a7-4521-afb4-28429f8f7263
Etcetera for April 2026
This is a reprint of an article in the Hicksville High School Alumni Foundation, Inc. Facebook page, posted by Ted Urban.
To the Hicksville Comet Community: I want to personally thank you for coming out to support this year's 'Sponsor an Apple' Program! We are absolutely blown away by your support – the community sponsored over 70 of the 90 apples presented last night! This special program honors our graduating seniors who fall within the top 20% of their class academically, and your generosity made it possible to celebrate their hard work in a meaningful way. Last evening, our academic scholars were proudly presented with their brass apples- a moment made possible because of your incredible investment in our students. Thank you for showing us exactly what makes our community so special.
WE ARE #HICKSVILLEPROUD! GO COMETS!
Note from Peggy Gill..."Great tradition that was first started for the Class of 1989 & that dinner was held at the Elks Lodge on Barclays Street".
Hicksville Fire Department, like other fire districts across New York, needs volunteer firefighters. See the story here. Change the language to English and you can X off the login button.
Hicksville Public Schools is now accepting nominations for the Hall of Fame! Hoor a distinguished graduate who has made an impact in their profession or community. Submissions are due by May 15, 2026 to Mr. Michael Marando, Assistant Principal, Hicksville High School, 180 Division Avenue, Hicksville, NY 11801-4800
If you are on Facebook, you may have seen this short video about Hicksville from the Long Island Sign Guy. Click here.
