Friday, January 3, 2025
Vol. 84, No. 1
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SERVING BETHPAGE, OLD BETHPAGE, AND PLAINVIEW
Levittown schools unveil new fitness room
National Merit Commended Students
A freshly renovated multipurpose room in the Levittown Memorial Education Center in the Levittown School District which will serve as a new space for cheerleading teams to practice was unveiled on Dec. 4. Cheer teams from Division Avenue and General Douglas MacArthur High Schools were ecstatic to cut the ribbon on the room where they will practice their high-flying routines. Both cheer teams have been highly successful in recent years. Division’s varsity cheer team won the Nassau County Championship and competed in the UCA
Hicksville High School student Alyssa Garger, school counselor Patricia Lozoya, student Aashritha Kilambi, school counselor Kevin DeBeneditto, student Om Doshi, student Evan Chun and Assistant Principal Patrick Harris. Photo courtesy of Hicksville Public Schools Hicksville High School students Evan Chun, Om Doshi, Alyssa Garger and Aashritha Kilambi were named Commended Students as part of the 2025 National Merit Scholarship Program. Commended Students are identified based on their Prelim-
inary SAT scores. They placed among the top 50,000 of more than 1.5 million students who entered the 2025 competition by taking the exam, which serves as the National Merit Scholarship qualifying test. The three Hicksville seniors are part of a select group being recognized nationally for
this exceptional academic accomplishment. In addition to exhibiting academic excellence, the three seniors also participate in a range of programs, organizations and activities both in and outside of school.
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National High School Cheerleading Championship, while MacArthur’s three separate cheerleading teams earned a bid to the 2023 National High School Cheerleading Championship. The project, which was years in the making, was made possible by funding acquired by former New York State Sen. Kevin Thomas. The facility will also be used for other purposes, such as during physical activities in Levittown’s Adult Continuing Education Program which includes pickleball and Zumba. See page 7
Firefighter injured during house fire One firefighter was injured responding to a house fire on Round Swamp Road, Old Bethpage, on December 26. According to Nassau County Police, officers responded to a house fire on Round Swamp Road. The Plainview Fire Department
responded to extinguish the fire with the assistance of multiple other fire departments. The home sustained extensive damage. One firefighter was taken to an area hospital for treatment of smoke inhalation.
Science honor society inducts students PAGE 4 Robotics season kicks off with event PAGE 6