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Friday, June 26, 2026
Vol. 86, No. 26
SERVING BETHPAGE, OLD BETHPAGE, AND PLAINVIEW
KNICKS WATCH PARTY
Chamber presents scholarships to graduating seniors BY RIKKI MASSAND
Hempstead Town Supervisor John Ferretti (left), Councilman Dennis Dunne (2nd left), and Town Clerk Kate Murray (right) greeted the Kumar family of Levittown during the Town of Hempstead’s New York Knicks Game 5 Watch Party on June 13 at Bluegrass Lane Pool in Levittown.
Arrest for attempted assault Nassau County Police have reported that the arrest of a Deer Park man for an incident that occurred on Friday, June 19 at 7:10 pm in Woodbury. According to Detectives, a male victim, 51, observed a 2024 black Honda Civic parked outside his Woodbury residence for an extended period of time. The victim approached the vehicle to check on the driver’s well-being when a verbal argu-
ment ensued. The argument escalated and the subject exited his vehicle, went into his trunk, brandished a long silver knife, grabbed the victim and attempted to stab him. The victim in fear for his life shoved the subject causing him to drop the knife and flee the scene in his vehicle in an unknown direction. The victim immediately called 911. See page 8
Bryan Calderon
The Bethpage Newsgram is published every Friday by Litmor Publishing Corp. Periodical Postage paid at Hicksville, N.Y. 11801 Telephone 931-0012 - USPS 3467-68. Postmaster: Send Address Change to: The Bethpage Newsgram, 821 Franklin Ave., Suite 208, Garden City, N.Y. 11530 • Meg Norris Publisher
On Tuesday, June 16, the Hicksville Chamber of Commerce welcomed two local students from the Hicksville High School Class of 2026 and their families to its monthly meeting as members celebrated the recipients of this year’s Chamber scholarship awards. Inside Chamber member business Nemo Tile + Stone on Old Country Road, Chamber President Charlie Razenson, along with board members Charles Montana and Donna Greiner-Fisher, called the distinguished students to the front of the room and highlighted their many accomplishments and academic achievements. As Sruthi Nanugonda graduates from Hicksville High School this month, she is looking ahead to studying civil engineering at Virginia Tech. Montana introduced Sruthi and said she is a deserving local student who will contribute to society through a career in engineering. “Sruthi attended East Street Elementary School, Hicksville Middle School and Hicksville High School. She was active in Robotics, Mentor-Helpers and the Math Honor Society, and she’s a varsity tennis player. Her community service record includes the One Step Further nonprofit organization and vol-
unteering for the American Red Cross,” Montana said. Montana also read from a glowing letter of recommendation for Nanugonda written by her mathematics teacher at Hicksville High School. “Academically, Sruthi has excelled in every sense of the word. She has maintained a perfect 4.0 GPA throughout high school while pursuing an ambitious and accelerated S.T.E.M. curriculum. ... Outside of school, Sruthi continues to make a meaningful impact, as she participated in a competitive math research program and placed third in the room for her project on ‘Trisecting a Circle.’ She co-founded a nonprofit organization that teaches young children arts and crafts and also held sessions at the Hicksville Boys & Girls Club and Hicksville Public Library.” Another Class of 2026 graduate, Kavvya Bajaj, was introduced as Montana highlighted his accomplishments and strong interest in law enforcement and public service. Bajaj will attend SUNY Old Westbury, where he plans to study criminology. “Kavvya hopes to become a police officer. He participated in the Nassau County Police Department Explorers program, and he served as a securiSee page 8
Middle School celebrates moving up PAGE 6 Abbey Lane celebrates Field Day PAGE 9