Farmingdale Commuters Deal With LIRR Station Ticket Window Closure

On Aug. 19, the manned ticket window of the Long Island Rail Road’s Farmingdale branch was officially closed, forcing residents to use the two ticket kiosks outside of the waiting area. The Farmingdale location was among 20 closed across Long Island, including nearby Bethpage. The LIRR said it had to close the ticket offices - the least used of the system’s 50 open offices - to cut costs and save more than $2 million by the end of the year.

Community Pushes for Safer Area Between Bike Path and Wantagh Parkway

Hempstead Town Supervisor Kate Murray and Councilman Gary Hudes recently criticized a NYS Department of Transportation (DOT) plan to extend the Wantagh Parkway Bike Path, also known as the Ellen Ferrant Bicycle Path, while unsafe conditions along the area remain unresolved.

The extension of the existing bicycle path would proceed north from Cedar Creek Park, along the Wantagh Parkway and continuing along Salisbury Park Drive in Westbury, eventually leading to Eisenhower Park. The plans for extending the project contemplates having bicyclists walk across Sunrise Highway and Merrick Road at their intersection with Wantagh Parkway.

Farmingdale High School Implements New Traffic Patterns

With the safety of the students and community in mind, Farmingdale High School has implemented a new traffic pattern for the main parking lot, increasing student safety both inside and outside the school building. With the help of the Farmingdale Board of Education, Assistant Superintendent for Business Paul Defendini, Principal Glen Zakian and Administrative Intern Thomas DePaola, the high school will begin the school year on a safer note.

Legislation Seeks to Reduce Jet Noise At Republic Airport

FAA Looking into Lowering Height Requirements for Aircraft

While a local assemblyman’s proposed legislation to reduce jet noise at Republic Airport in Farmingdale is moving through the New York State legislature, the Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) is studying new airplane routes for the region that could possibly lower the height requirements for jet aircraft and possibly produce more jet noise in Republic’s surrounding neighborhoods including Farmingdale.

Daler’s Product, My Cow Moo Aims to Help Children Creatively

It’s only appropriate that the creator of an educational children’s product called My Cow Moo lives in FARMingdale.

Kimberly Arezzi said she created My Cow Moo a few years ago in an effort to “help teach children how to express their voices through media by focusing on imaginative play, make-believe and co-creation.”

“Something as simple as taking a photo shows the world your perspective of a moment,” Arezzi explained, in cow lingo. “By cowbining those photos, Moo hopes to inspire your child to become a silly story teller too.”

Through their website, www.mycowmoo.com, users will be also share their own moomeries and create their own stories with their cow pals.

According to Arezzi, My Cow Moo and its website “train the brain for cognitive thinking and storytelling, help develop language art skills and oral communications and teach children how to engage in imaginary play and disbelief.”

“Moo’s goal is to remind us all that it is fun to be silly and laugh … and that it is easy to be a good person,” she added.

Formed in 2007, Moo started to take life in early 2005. Arezzi was a journalist who accidentally fell into manufacturing and retail after 9/11. Eventually landing a job in the toy industry and “realized that there weren’t a lot of toys that represented my view of today’s child and the participatory world he/she lives in.”

“I just wanted to inspire a different type of play that didn’t focus solely on computers but more on imaginative play and cognitive thinking skills - some of the play that we have lost with the rapid evolution of media,” she added. “As time went on, Moo evolved into a character with character. Moo’s stories morphed into a brand, My Cow Moo.”

A Farmingdale Hero’s Welcome Home

Thousands Pay Respect as Lance Cpl. James Argentine Is Laid to Rest

When Farmingdale residents heard Lance Cpl. James D. Argentine’s body was being escorted home, hundreds flocked to Main Street to show their respect and appreciation for his sacrifice.

Argentine, 22, of Farmingdale was among three other Marines killed Aug. 6 by a roadside bomb in the Farah province of Afghanistan, according to the U.S. Department of Defense.

His body was transported home by military and police escort on Aug. 12. Village officials closed down a portion of Main Street as over 300 people lined the sidewalks to pay tribute to Argentine. Residents waited for hours in the rain as the Farmingdale and South Farmingdale Fire Departments created an arch with the American flag. The Farmingdale Fire Department opened its doors for the Argentine family and military personnel to use as a meeting room.

Farmingdale Teen Charged With Assault

Fight Later Posted on Internet

The Eighth Squad recently reported the arrest of a Farmingdale teenager for assault on Aug. 6 at 10:55 p.m., in connection with an incident that occurred in North Massapequa.

Farmingdale Marine James Argentine Killed in Afghanistan

When you hear of military casualties in the War in Afghanistan, most often the victims hail from far away from Farmingdale. Unfortunately, recent news of a fallen Marine brings the loss to Dalers’ front doors.

According to the U.S. Department of Defense, Lance Cpl. James D. Argentine, 22, of Farmingdale was killed Aug. 6 by a roadside bomb. Argentine was among three other Marines fatally wounded supporting involved in combat operations in the Farah province of Afghanistan. He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force, based out of the Marine Corps Base in Hawaii, Kaneohe Bay.

Local Group for Disabled Introduces Unique Acting Troupe

When the Long Island Center for Independent Living in Levittown opened their Living Library last year, staff members read scenes from plays as part of the celebration.

“This was so well received that it was suggested that LICIL start a theater group,” LICIL Human Resources Manager Diane Puchta said.

Farmingdale Village Board Approves Bids, Denies Additional Taxi Licenses

The Aug. 3 Farmingdale Village Board meeting went until midnight, with a vote about taxi licenses taking up most of the time.

LI Checker Cab had applied for six taxi licenses with the Village of Farmingdale, however the Village Board voted unanimously, 4-0 against the application. Mayor Butch Starkie did not vote, as is standard practice in the village.