Friday, May 10, 2024
Vol. 84, No. 19
$1
SERVING BETHPAGE, OLD BETHPAGE, AND PLAINVIEW
EARTH DAY CLEANUP
Housing, economic growth focus of Chamber meeting BY RIKKI MASSAND
Volunteers from the Levittown Community Council helped to clean up areas of Levittown on Saturday, April 20. Students from Levittown Schools under the leadership of district social worker Joann Medina, volunteers from VFW Post #9592, and Levittown
Community Council members came together on Saturday, April 20 to clean up some of the areas in Levittown that needed some spring sprucing.
Morning rain limited the number of volunteers but more than 35 came out to help and the results were an See page 13
Woman arrested in elder scam
Nassau County Police arrested a Farmingdale woman on May 2 at 2:37 p.m. in Hicksville in connection with an “Elder Scam” incident. According to detectives from the Second Squad, members of the Nassau County Fraud and Forgery Unit, in collaboration with the United States Post Office
Investigations Unit, conducted a joint investigation leading to the apprehension of defendant Michelle Mcintosh, 40. According to police, Mcintosh had contacted a 72-year-old male victim residing in Texas, informing him that he had won the lottery. The victim was then instructed to mail a fee of $9,000
in cash to claim his supposed winnings. Police say that subsequently, when Mcintosh arrived at the Hicksville Post Office to retrieve the package, law enforcement took her into custody. Mcintosh faces charges of Grand Larceny 3rd Degree and Criminal Possession of Stolen Property.
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On April 16, the Hicksville Chamber of Commerce convened for its monthly luncheon at Peppercorn’s Restaurant. The meeting featured James McCaffrey, the Town of Oyster Bay Deputy Commissioner for Economic Development, as the keynote speaker. Deputy Commissioner McCaffrey outlined significant developments in Hicksville and surrounding areas. He highlighted the construction of approximately 500 residential units downtown, emphasizing a transit-oriented approach around the LIRR to stimulate economic growth. “Taking it slow” is essential to evaluate the impact of new residents on the area’s revitalization, McCaffrey explained. McCaffrey provided updates on Alpine Residential at 99 Newbridge Road, which will feature 189 mixed-income units, 7,700 square feet of retail space, and substantial underground parking. The development is expected to include ground-floor retail along Nelson Avenue and additional retail spaces on the northwest corner, aiming for completion in 2026. “We envision the Nelson Avenue corridor having up to four different retail plans with a restaurant being outfitted, and
we might see an ice cream or Italian ice shop open there too. The same thing would happen at Bank of America’s building with all retail establishments designed to be directly across Alpine’s constructed retail level – this would effectively create a new downtown section,” he said. He also addressed the involvement of local businesses in these new retail spaces, noting that while the town encourages diversity in tenancy, it cannot mandate it through zoning codes. Furthermore, McCaffrey mentioned a new development at the Bank of America financial center on Jerusalem Avenue, potentially adding 100 to 120 rental units. Near the Alpine development, the Town recently acquired the Mike’s Hubcaps Inc. property through eminent domain. This site will be redeveloped into additional parking to support downtown revitalization, with a focus on cleaning up the area and limiting automotive uses. “The Town has acquired the property and it will be demolished and this will bring in additional parking for the area, to help the DRI project and replace any parking areas lost as part of Hicksville’s downtown revitalization. The change will also See page 13
Rotary to host food drive, seeks helpers PAGE 2 Spring into action to help local veterans PAGE 9