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Friday, July 25, 2025
Vol. 84, No. 30
SERVING BETHPAGE, OLD BETHPAGE, AND PLAINVIEW
Drive collects over 800 lbs of food for pantry
$10K grant to boost Bethpage Fire Dept. training facilities BY GARY SIMEONEX There will be future upgrades made to the Bethpage Fire Department’s training facility after the fire district was awarded $10,000 in grant money through a national contest. The Fire Department was selected as one of twelve winners nationally in the ‘Proper No. Twelve One For All’ project. The grant money will be allocated to upgrade and support critical needs within the training facility’s three locations. Chief Francis Debobes of the Bethpage Fire Department said that the department applied to the contest earlier last month and was awarded one out of twelve winners across the country.
New York State Senator Steve Rhoads collected over 800 pounds of food to benefit the Food Pantry at Our Lady of Mercy in Hicksville. Ahead of Independence Day, Senator Steve Rhoads brought the community together for his 3rd Annual Freedom Food Drive, collecting over 800 pounds of food to benefit the Food Pantry at
Our Lady of Mercy in Hicksville. The event was held on Saturday, June 28, outside the ShopRite on Hempstead Turnpike and drew dozens of volunteers, including local Scout troops, civic groups, and gen-
erous residents. “This event is about more than just food—it’s about freedom, community, and compassion,” said Senator Steve Rhoads. “As we celebrate our See page 6
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
“The contest was based on community participation within the fire district, and our community came out strong to support our efforts,” said Debobes. “We will use this newly awarded grant money to upgrade our training facility including equipment, personal-safety harness systems and our required mask-wear devices.” Proper No. Twelve is an Irish whiskey company that puts together its ‘One For All’ contest to help fire districts across the country upgrade their training facilities and equipment. The Bethpage Fire Department was chosen from hundreds of applications nationwide as part See page 6
2 die in Bethpage crash; DWI suspected Two people were killed in a car crash on Tuesday, July 15, following a head-on collision on Seamans Neck Road in Bethpage. According to Nassau County Police, Cindy Saborio, 40, of Wantagh, was operating a 2008 Honda Accord was traveling southbound on Seamans Neck Road when she was in a head on collision with a
2013 Honda Pilot, operated by a 54-year-old male traveling northbound. Saborio was pronounced dead at scene by a police medic. According to police, the driver of the Honda Pilot, Joseph Curto, 54, of Seaford, was intoxicated at the time of the accident. Following the crash he was transported to a local hospital where he later died.
Fortune teller arrested in scam PAGE 3 Poet laureate to read at library PAGE 4