Friday, July 21, 2023
Vol. 83, No. 29
$1
SERVING BETHPAGE, OLD BETHPAGE, AND PLAINVIEW
Cruise-through Toy Drive benefits children in need
Senator Rhoads was joined by Supervisor Saladino, Councilman Labriola, Legislator Walker, United States Marines, Nassau County Chairman of Toys for Tots Major Chuck Kilbride, Joe LaPadula, Jon Holzer, King Singh (the founder of King Fights Cancer Foundation), Seth Breland (representing Assemblyman Blumencranz), as well as Boy Scout Troop 291 from Hicksville. On Saturday, July 15, New York State Senator Steve Rhoads hosted his Inaugural CruiseThrough Christmas in July Toy Drive at the Hicksville Train Station to benefit local children in need. New York State Senator Steve Rhoads teamed up with Oyster Bay Town Supervisor Joseph Saladino, the Oyster Bay Town Board, Legislator Rose Walker, and Assemblyman Jake Blumencranz in hopes of spreading holiday cheer all
throughout the year by collecting toys for the USMC Toys for Tots and King Fights Cancer. Toys for Tots is an organization that specializes in providing less fortunate children with books and toys, and King Fights Cancer is a volunteer based non-profit organization that specializes in supporting families that have a child diagnosed with a life-threatening illness. Community members were able to give back to those in need in a
simple and easy way by driving up, dropping off their toy donations, and driving away. Martino Auto Concepts from Glen Gove brought a colorful Ferrari for the community to enjoy and Boy Scout Troop 291 from Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church as well as United States Marines were on hand to help collect the toys. Hundreds of toys were collected and will be donated to children at Cohen’s Children See page 11
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Hix veteran receives achievement award BY GARY SIMEONE East Meadow resident Vincent Morreale received a very special achievement this past Monday from Nassau County and Town of Oyster Bay officials. Morreale, who served in the Air Force from 1964-1968, and saw action in the Vietnam War, is a longtime member of the Hicksville VFW 3211 Post. The 77 year-old received the prestigious honor of the Town of Oyster Bay’s 2023 Veterans Lifetime Achievement Award. Morreale said he is not one to seek awards but was very proud of the honor that was given to him at the ceremony. “It was a very nice ceremony and I appreciate the recognition from the County and the Town of
Oyster Bay,” said Morreale. “In all my years being a member of the VFW in Hicksville, the Town has always been good to the veterans and (Nassau County) Legislator, Rose Walker, has been a stalwart at all of our events to help us.” Morreale, who saw action in the Vietnam War, said that as a disabled veteran returning home from war, it was hard to assimilate back into society. “There were so many disabled vets coming back and for a long time many of us had to relearn and navigate the system. Many were dealing with the effects of Agent Orange and many had PTSD, so that made things even more problematic.” See page 23
Cancer survivor releases documentary BY GARY SIMEONE When Bethpage resident, Christina Mathieson-Segura was diagnosed withStage two breast cancer in November 2020, it was the most scared she’d ever been in her life. In order to get through a very dark time, Mathieson-Segura began doing selfie videos documenting her experiences. “When I was first diagnosed I
was riddled with absolute anxiety and was as scared as I’ve ever been,” said Mathieson-Segura. “My first instinct was to go on Google and reach out to other women who had been diagnosed, and hear the details of their treatment, from the radiation to chemotherapy and surgery. I just wanted to hear that they were all okay.” She said that from when she See page 11
New principal at Bethpage HS PAGE 2 Tobay Beach named best on LI PAGE 3