November 2024: Volume 25 - Issue 2

Newsletter for the Alumni and Friends of Hicksville High School - Hicksville, New York

Dear Readers,
We hope you enjoy our latest HixNews issue. Thankfully, we do not have any In Memoriams to report this month, nor have we received any emails,  so there is no Etcetera section. In case you try to access the Hicksville Public Library yearbooks site from our page, it is not working as of now. The library is aware. We plan to focus on memories of holidays in Hicksville next month and would love to hear from you! Article contributions, suggestions, and news are always welcome. Don't hesitate to get in touch with us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
- Your HixNews Team

by Karl Schweitzer, HHS Class of 1981

More than 60 years after Hicksville Volunteer Fire Department’s fire engine was decommissioned, the vintage truck has returned home. In August, the Hicksville Fire Department was made aware of the once in a lifetime opportunity to bring the antique apparatus back to Hicksville. This unit that once proudly served the Hicksville community was thought to be lost to the salvage yard, but it has now been resurrected.

The fire truck, a 1948 Seagrave Pumper, recently returned home thanks to Cross Island Towing, and the members of Emergency Company 5 are working on a plan to restore it. Company Historian and former Chief Karl Schweitzer was excited at the prospect that the department can restore this historical apparatus.

According to Schweitzer, this truck responded at a critical point in the growth of the Hicksville Community. In December of 1947, the Hicksville Fire Department approved the construction of a new Seagrave from their plant in Columbus, Ohio. According to the painter's log, the pumper started production on March 22, 1948, and was completed on October 28, 1948. This engine was a Seagrave Model 66 that had sealed beam warning lights on each corner of the windshield. It was capable of pumping 750 gallons of water per minute and was equipped with a set of wood extension ladders and 500 feet of cotton-jacketed hose. Following the Underwriter's test on November 16, 1948, the Hicksville Fire District accepted the delivery of the 1948 Seagrave.

In 1960, Hicksville's most disastrous fire caused more than $300,000 in damage, but not before more than 20 volunteer firefighters were overcome by smoke, about half of whom required hospital treatment. The fire started in the Kantor Brothers tire recapping plant and swept through the Joyce Charm School, Olga’s Specialty Shop, and the Blackman and Klein Plumbing Store. As a result of the fire, the Seagrave was pumped at very high pressure for an extended amount of time, and the truck was rendered unrepairable. The records at Seagrave and the Hicksville Fire District indicated that the rig was sold to Vergennes, Vermont, on October 23, 1962, and served the Salisbury Volunteer Fire Department in Vermont until the 1990s. A private collector has had possession of the unit since the 1990s.

Former Hicksville Fire Chief Patrick McGeough alerted Schweitzer of a posting on a historical apparatus website. Within just a few days, the Officers of Company 5 received a Facebook message from Andrew Rittner in Salisbury, Connecticut. Andrew asked if the department was “interested in a chance to bring the truck home to the Hicksville community.” The truck was sold to the Salisbury Volunteer Fire Department in 1980 and remained there until it was sold to a private collector, Robert Rittner, in the late 1980s. The truck was last run in 2004 and parked in the barn for restoration that was never begun. The current owner’s son sold his home and has no room for it at his new house.

The 1948 Seagrave is back in Hicksville, and now the work begins. The department has a dedicated group of members who will oversee the restoration of the apparatus, and it is lucky enough to have members with a great depth of mechanical experience and others who are just willing to get their hands dirty. A Restoration Committee has been set up under the direction of Captain Niemzcyk, including Schweitzer and ex-Chief Rich Diaz, ex-Captain Jeff Scelzi, and several others.

“We’re going to spend the next couple years raising money to get it refurbished. We’ve already started acquiring a few parts,” Diaz said. “What we’re hoping is that it will coincide with the 100^th anniversary of our Company in 2028, and then we’ll display it and use it for parades and historical events.”

“I think it is a great idea to preserve the history of the fire service,” said Lieutenant Bodnar. “To find a truck like that intact is not very common.  A lot of older fire trucks are sold off when they are retired, but many times, the upkeep is just too much, and they end up either being sold for scrap, sitting outside and rusting away, or becoming unrealized dreams of restoration, like this one was.  It is a great motivational tool for recruitment and retention when our members can come together to preserve this old truck and restore it as close to its original working order as possible.”

The truck is now in storage. As a truck that is over 60 years old, it needs some tender loving care. While there is limited rust, the truck needs a complete restoration, and the members are excited at the prospect of coming together to bring new life into a bygone era of fire apparatus. Schweitzer said he has received several calls from historians, restoration experts, and everyday people willing to lend their time and talent.

Schweitzer said the ultimate goal with the truck is to restore it to its former glory and use it in training exercises and parades, at car shows and at department fundraising events. It must be restored first, and Schweitzer said the department’s members are examining ways to raise the money to restore the vehicle.

The funds may be costly, well above a pancake breakfast or a raffle ticket or two. That’s why the department is asking for history buffs, collectors, and people who are interested in seeing this truck come back to life. Schweitzer said that the cost to fully restore this truck can be upwards of $30,000 or $40,000.

Schweitzer is not the only member of the department who is excited the truck is back home; other department members are just as thrilled. This truck will be the result of the blood, sweat, and tears of so many people. Schweitzer said that, depending on how quickly the department can secure the funding needed to restore the truck fully, the process could take between three and four years.

“It’s a labor of love,” Schweitzer said. “It’s going to take a long time and a lot of work and bring a new sense of togetherness that will certainly bring the various generations together and save a piece of timeless history.”

“We are looking at planning fundraisers and will accept donations,” Schweitzer said.  People can make checks out to Hicksville Volunteer Fire Department and write in the memo line that it is to help pay for the “Emergency Company 5, Seagrave Fire Truck’s Restoration.” Or they can go to our “GoFundMe” page, which has been set up, to make a donation to restore the pumper. To donate, go to www.gofundme.com/f/support-the-restoration-of-hicksvilles-1948-fire-truck?qid=2a49f079869a2bfef13fe7ec0c8306bf

Thank you to the Hicksville Fire Company (Emergency Co. #5) for the use of these historical photographs! 

1947 SeagraveLabor Day ParadeCirca 1952 with Arthur IsakanTo Be Restored

Submitted by Hope Cedar Dagan, Class of 1980

Hicksville has its share of celebrities, including the “Long Island Medium” Theresa Caputo! I have been watching her TV shows since they started in 2011, and I have become a fan. In fact, I may have done a little stalking of her house on my last trip back to Hicksville in 2018. 

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Naturally, when it was announced that she was going to be appearing at a local theatre here in Orlando, Florida, I jumped at the chance to see her live. My sister, Stefanie Cedar Shames, and I put on our Hicksville High School tee shirts and went to the show. 

In-person, Theresa is a lot smaller than she appears on TV, but the hair and LI accent are both there, with a lot more cursing thrown in. At one point, she was standing right next to me, and I was able to see her tiny feet stuffed into 5-inch stilettos and her many rings. Her hair was as high as ever, and her sparkly short dress was beautiful. She was so close I even saw the tattoos on her ankle. 
Unfortunately, despite her being next to me, she did not notice our tee shirts, and we did not get a reading, but we left happy and wondering… is it for real? Maybe not, but she has a gift, and we enjoyed every minute of her show.

Editor's Note: HixNews would love to speak with Theresa and hear about her memories of Hicksville High School. If you are connected to her in any way, please let her know. We can be reached at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

by Karl Schweitzer, HHS Class of 1981

I attended a meeting of the Town of Oyster Bay Landmarks Commission at Town Hall on Wednesday, October 24, 2024. The meeting was to support Ms. Julie Ugarte, petitioner to save the original firehouse, once known as “Peppercorns”.

The commission reviews all applications for designation of Town landmarks. They are the final arbiters on granting protections for reasons of historical, architectural or antiquarian significance.

After Ms. Ugarte presented the opening remarks and presented over 1,600 signatures, I then presented the history of the firehouse and the need to protect the structure as a historical landmark. 

The 25 East Marie Street owner and his new lessee attended the meeting.

The meeting was adjourned without action of approval or denial. The Landmarks Commission mentioned that since alterations/renovations have been made to the exterior of the building, it does not qualify for protection as a landmark. Although the building has a well-documented history, the committee advised petitioners that that only accounts for a fraction of the designation of a landmark. 

After discussion of what physically remains in place within the dropped ceilings, and structurally, it would need “physical evidence” photographs, etc., to document the existing structure is within the original 1906 and 1925 designs and renovations.  The petitioners were tasked with working on getting that information. Additionally, the Town Building Department will be contacted for all relevant construction and renovation information within their files.

The owner was on record stating that he had no intention of demolishing or significantly altering the structure. For the record, the petitioners thanked the owner for his commitment, however, that is not a guarantee for the future. 

When postponing the meeting, the Commission asked the owner and the petitioners to have a meeting to discuss the application, possible benefits of the structure being granted landmark benefits, etc. The petitioner and the owner exchanged contact information.

The meeting was a disappointment as it related to the position taken by the Landmarks Commission. The commission did not seem receptive to granting landmark status; it primarily focused on the building exterior and not its historical significance. One member of the committee had taken additional time to give the petitioners additional paths to help, with no “real” promise of changing minds. 

The petitioner needs to meet with the building owner regarding the role of gathering more proof of building materials, existing windows, exterior siding and wood clad, etc. Additionally, the petitioners need to work with the Town of Oyster Bay Building Department and meet with local Town, County, and State representatives on the next steps.

Other suggestions under consideration are two pathways to protect the building.

1. Request the Board of Fire Commissioners to enter discussions with the current building owner to see if there are other avenues.
2. A second option would be to ask the building owner to allow for a bronze plaque to be erected and affixed to denote the importance of the structure and its original purpose.

Motorized ApparatusStation 1 Circa 1910 Station 1 Circa 1925 with Apparatus

Uncle Alberts ExteriorWind Whistle PubPeppercorns

Here's the presentation that was used.

Save the Firehouse Presentation 2024 - 1.pdf

Editor's Note: Ted Urban posted this on the Hicksville High School page on Facebook and has granted us permission to repost it here.

The Hicksville High School graduating class is approaching 500 students. The PTA needs to pay for 100 apples, so every little bit helps! Please consider making a donation, and if your employer matches donations, be sure to leverage that as well. Go Comets.

***P R E S S  R E L E A S E***

Hicksville Water District Chairman Karl Schweitzer Seeks 2024 Reelection

Schweitzer Hopes to Bring Knowledge and 20-Plus Experience Into Another Term

Hicksville, NY (November 4, 2024) - Hicksville Water District (HWD) Chairman Karl Schweitzer is seeking reelection this year to maintain a spot on the HWD Board of Commissioners, where he has served his community since first being elected in 2003. With nearly two decades of experience under his belt, Schweitzer brings a wealth of passion and knowledge of what it takes to provide residents with top quality water service.

“Serving the Hicksville Water District has been one of the greatest honors of my life,” Chairman Schweitzer said. “While I am tremendously proud of everything we have accomplished during my tenure as Chairman, there are still many challenges that lie ahead. If elected to another term, I plan on taking those challenges head on and doing everything I can to help our neighbors continue to prosper. Our community will not be disappointed.”

Schweitzer has overseen the Hicksville Water District’s operations during one of the most difficult times of its 100-year history. The emergence of 1,4-dioxane PFOS/PFAS in the area’s water supply forced the Board to find treatment options never before used by the District, as these emerging contaminants could not be treated by traditional methods. Under Schweitzer’s leadership, the District swiftly brought in Advanced Oxidation Process (AOP) and Granular Activated Carbon (GAC) equipment in an effort to ensure Hicksville’s water remains as high quality as possible.

The contaminants have impacted 12 of the district’s 14 supply wells are a result of legacy industrial and commercial activities within the District. Over the past four years, under Schweitzer’s leadership, the district has aggressively pursued the installation of the most state-of-the-art water treatment technology available. His foresight to procure equipment upfront knowing that supply chain issues were occurring, allowed the district to be well ahead of the curve. The investment in this technology has paid off, as the district currently has 9 supply wells up and running, and 2 more are expected to be online later this year. Schweitzer’s determination and willingness to pursue all avenues to reduce costs even further, includes litigation against potential polluters.

As Commissioner and a resident of the District ourselves, he strives to deliver the highest-quality water possible in the most efficient and cost-effective manner; one that guards against overtaxing. Local control of your water district enables the District to keep costs lower than the national average and every dollar taken in by the District gets reinvested back into the cost of water.

Environmental health and safety is Schweitzer’s priority, and his record proves that it is always at the forefront of his service. A perennial public servant, Schweitzer is also a third-generation firefighter and has been a member of the Hicksville Fire Department for over 43 years. He has also served as a committee member of the Old Courthouse Centennial Celebration and as co-chairman of the 350^th anniversary celebration of the Robert Williams Purchase. He was also involved in the restoration of the Gregory Museum. For his dedication to his community, Schweitzer was named Citizen of the Year by the Hicksville Chamber of Commerce in 1998 and was honored by the Hicksville Community Council in 2006. He has been a member of the Nassau/Suffolk Water Commissioners Association (NSWCA) since 2003, serving as its president in 2007. In 2011, he would go onto to serve as Chairman of the Long Island Water Conference (LIWC) and he was a member of the Long Island Committee of Aquifer Protection (LICAP).

Voters will have the opportunity to cast their ballots on Tuesday, December 10 from 3 pm to 9 pm at Hicksville Fire Department Stations located on Levittown Parkway and East Marie Street. If residents choose to elect Schweitzer once again, he promises to take on the responsibility with the same commitment to his community he has shown for decades.

This is a "Save the Date" for the Class of 1975's 50th Reunion next year.  We have an active, private Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/67266179651 (Hicksville High School Alumni Class of 1975) that will have the most current information. The group needs approval to join and is currently at nearly 500 members.