Local Lifesaver

Hicksville native and firefighter Doug Chiz knows what it takes to save a life – only in this case, he wasn’t battling a raging inferno.

Chiz was coming to the aid of teenager Angela Rugh, who was battling cancer.

In 2007, Chiz, a 2001 Hicksville High School grad, added his name to the National Bone Marrow Registry as he was finishing his training at the FDNY Probationary Firefighter Academy. All 236 of Chiz’s fellow firefighters added their names to the list, which required only a simple cheek swab, and Chiz was told the odds of being a possible match were slim.

Taxi Turmoil

Hicksville-based Sunset Taxi owner Phil Fortuna is suing the MTA and the Town of Oyster Bay, stating that parking spaces reserved for taxis have been illegally changed.

A 30-year veteran in the taxi industry and president of the Long Island Taxi Transportation Owners, Fortuna said that the MTA (which owns the land) and the town (which formerly controlled use of the space) violated the terms of a lease signed in 1965.

Broadway Birds

Hicksville resident Jim McCrann recently noticed two feathered friends hanging out in Hicksville, though the pair stood out more than Hicksville’s standard pigeons.

“For the past several months, there have been a pair of red-tailed hawks perching along the upper edges of Macy’s here in the Broadway Mall in Hicksville,” said McCrann, who normally spots the hawks on his daily morning walk.

Night At The Opera

Hicksville native Kimberly Feltkamp recalls the start of her music career, playing a quarter-size cello at the age of 5. More recently, she’s a mezzo-soprano opera singer whose performance earned a favorable review from The New York Times.

In her first semester at Hofstra University, Feltkamp discovered her passion for opera at a performance of Mozart’s “Le Nozze di Figaro.” Feltkamp’s budding interest in opera also took her to Salzburg, Austria in 2009, where she studied with soprano Edda Moser at the Mozarteum International Summer Academy.

Extra Support

Every year in Nassau County, more than 200 women – mothers, daughters, wives and friends – die from breast cancer. According to the New York Cancer Registry, an average of 1,265 cases of breast cancer are reported annually within Nassau County.

Hicksville residents Samantha Bowen and Fran Mulholland recently created artistic bras with a personal touch – one way in which many Nassau County residents are providing physical and moral support for those suffering from breast cancer. “One important part of the celebration is the self-esteem that each breast cancer survivor gets back as a result of breast reconstruction. As the scars slowly fade away, so does the physical reminder of what she’s been through. She can reclaim her life and celebrate each new day,” said Mulholland, noting the inspiration for her design, “Celebrating Another Birthday.”

Ronnie ‘Good News’ Cameron

The Hicksville community is familiar with football star Ronnie Cameron, who attended Holy Trinity High School and is now a member of the Philadelphia Eagles.

What residents may not know is that between practices, meetings and training, Cameron – an imposing physical specimen at 6 feet, 2 inches and nearly 300 pounds – recently founded Bonfire Impact, a social awareness website that highlights the good deeds of professional athletes and other prominent figures in the public spotlight.  

According to bonfireimpact.com, the website aims to “deliver news and media that promotes charitable organizations, nonprofits, social awareness, human rights, social issues, education advocacy, health and under-covered stories.”

Taking The Reins

Trinity Lutheran welcomes
Lisa Cacchioli as new school’s principal

Spend a few minutes with Principal Lisa Cacchioli and three words come to life. “A Caring Place,” which is etched on the red awning over the Nicholai Street entrance to Trinity Lutheran School, is transformed from a gentle greeting into a warm embrace of every student inside.

Add a dedicated staff and you have a center of learning combining cutting edge technology, educational basics and deep moral values.

“I firmly believe in respect for everyone at all times,” Cacchioli said.

Forever Friends

Emanuel Lagatta carefully sliced bagels and prepared coffee for his friends in the Bethpage Senior/ Community Center while his wife of 53 years, Louise, gushed about how the key to a good marriage is putting friendship first.

“You need to be friends before you can be lovers,” she advised. And being a good friend comes easy to this amiable couple, who enjoys preparing breakfast for their companions.

Emanuel (Manny) diligently continued his morning ritual, as Louise explained how their relationship began in Hicksville.

Michele Dodenhoff, Top Teacher

KJOY commends Hicksville educator as best on Long Island

For all the hard work teachers do, finding a shiny apple on your desk sometimes just isn’t enough.

Michele Dodenhoff, a member of the Hicksville Congress of Teachers and a first-grade teacher at Dutch Lane School, was nominated as a candidate for KJOY radio’s “Teacher of the Month.”

Then And Now

Hicksville Gregory Museum celebrates 50th anniversary

On the anniversary of the ribbon cutting at One Heitz Place, Hicksville’s Gregory Museum paused to celebrate.

Memories were shared, friendships renewed and fellowship prevailed as an overflow crowd gathered in the second floor community room, festively decorated for the occasion, for a special program from Museum President Richard Althaus, entitled “50 Years of Service of The Gregory Museum.”