Friday, August 2, 2024
Vol. 84, No. 31
$1
SERVING BETHPAGE, OLD BETHPAGE, AND PLAINVIEW
Swimming Relay Carnival
Historic Hicksville restaurant closes doors BY GARY SIMEONE
On July 13, New York State Senator Steve Rhoads joined Assemblyman John Mikulin in attending the Levittown Swimming Association’s Relay Carnival. Senator Rhoads relished the opportunity to witness firsthand the dedication, teamwork, and camaraderie displayed by the youth swimmers who participated in various team races. Their enthusiasm was palpable, with each relay bringing an impressive showcase of talent and sportsmanship.
Peppercorn’s Restaurant, a longstanding icon in the Hicksville community, will close its doors for good on August 1. The popular eatery is shutting its doors after four decades of serving local patrons and Long Islanders as a whole. James Madden, co-owner of Peppercorn’s, said the closing of the restaurant is bittersweet after serving the Hicksville community for so many years. “It’s definitely the end of an era here in Hicksville,” said Madden, who took over the business in 2017 with partner Sean Costello. “We both felt it was time for a change, particularly after what Covid did to small businesses here on Long Island.”
Madden and Costello took over the business in 2017 after purchasing it from the former owner. The pair helped to revive the local eatery before the COVID pandemic hit in 2020. “During and after COVID, our customer-base fell off and the New York State mandates became stricter which taxed our budget,” said Madden. “Running a small business in New York is not easy, especially when you lose that consistent customer.” He said that normally the restaurant brought in customers from the adjacent LIRR lot, but since COVID the lot has gone empty. Peppercorn’s first opened its doors in 1983 after being purchased by busiSee page 8
Water treatment plant goes back on line
After three years of planning, construction and testing, the Hicksville Water District (HWD) is proud to announce that its Plant 8 treatment facility, which represents a more than $14.1 million investment into the community's
drinking water treatment infrastructure, has received a full endorsement by the Nassau County Department of Health to return online. The plant, which was taken offline in October of 2021, now includes See page 8
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
James Madden and Sean Costello
Students get inventive at camp PAGE 6 National Night Out August 6th PAGE 3