Bethpage-Tribune_1994-03-25

              YOUR OFFICIAL HOMETOWN NEWSPAPER
Serving Bethpage, Island Trees, Plainedge, Seaford, Old Bethpage & Plaimfiew
VOL. 27 NO. 12 MARCH 25-31, 1994 25 CENTS
Natural Gas Pipeline Reputure
at Bethpage Higji School
At 11:00 AM (March 24, 1994) the Bethpage Volunteer Fire
Department received multiple calls reporting a natural gas leak at the
Bethpage High School (Stewart Ave & Cherry Ave., Bethpage, NY)
The Bethpage F.D. responded responded with one Engine, One
Ladder truck, one heavy rescue truck, one ambulance and a Medic
car. Upon arrival of emergency personnel, it was determined that a
construction backhoe apparently severed a natural gas pipe line. This
pipe, approximately 2 inches in diameter, was the supply line to the:
high school
School officials quickly evacuated the approximately 700 students
and staff. Nassau County police officers and Bethpage firefighters
evacuated nearby residents. An emergency medical area was
extablished by fire and police ambulance medical technicians.
Prior to the: arrival of LILCO, the gas line was shut down by Ex-
Chief Brian Durr and Firefighter Dale Schuitz. Mutual aid was requested
- the Hicksville F.D. Hazardous Materials team responded to the scene
as well as an Engine from the Plainview F.D. Standing by were an
Engine from South Farmingdale F.D. and a Ladder truck from Levittown
F.D. Nassau County Police emergency service unit also responded.
The Incident Commander, Captain William Zura, was joined at the
Command Post by representatives of several agencies: Deputy
Inspector John Carlson (8th Precinct), Sgt. Joseph Walsh (8th Pet.),
Sgt. Vanderhyde (Highway Patrol/Emergency Service), Nassau County
Fire Commissioners Vincent Carey and Gerry O'Brian, Bethpage
School safety;officer George Gerson and LILCO service repersentative
Greg Semar.
Approximately 40 firefighters and 8 police officers responded. There
were no injuries. The disruption of this gas line prevented the serving
of hot lunches to the students and staff of Bethpage High School.
The construction crew operating the backhoe was from Pratt
Construction of Holbrook
A Final Tribute
We do not usually print "Letters to the Editor" on the front
page . . . This letter belonged no where else. It is so
appropriate!
Dear Linda,
When our son Raymond passed away this past September, the tribute
paid to him by the Bethpage Fire Department, Father Jerry of Saint
Martins, all his friends and neighbors of Bethpage and the write-up
in your paper was quite overwhelming. We thought perhaps it might
be news worthy to print his final tribute which was broadcast to millions
of people in the very last minutes of the 1994 Winter Olympics in
Lillehammer, Norway by CBS announcer Pat O'Brien just before going
off the air. We could not believe it when Mr. O'Brien said..."We had
fun here in Lillehammer. We laughed a lot, but behind the scenes,
a little less than in Albertville because our peerless editor and dear
friend, Ray Hickey, is no longer on this earth and it is just not as
much fun without him. So...we dedicate the 'whole deal' to the 'Hickster'.
We're going to miss this...good night"
Needless to say we are very proud of the mark Ray made in this
world for his short run. He was truly loved by so many. We will miss
him forever.
Yours truly
Mr. & Mrs. Raymond Hickey
BETHPAGE HONORED FOR
ONLYT.O.B. ST. PATRICKS
DAY PARADE
j^^^He£*#SL« -v — «- -*
Oyster Bay Town Councilman Leonard Kunzig (third from left) recently
participated in Bethpage's Annual St. Patrick's Day Parade and
presented a citation to this year's Grand Marshal, Jack McCaffery of
Bethpage. Also on hand (left to right) were Connie Doolan of Bethpage,
Nassau County Clerk Karen Murphy, Assemblyman Philip Healy,
Nassau County Comptroller and Assemblyman Marc Herbst.
DINER FIRE
Receives Quick Response from BFD
Quick action by the Bethpage
Fire Department stopped the spread
of fire in the Townhouse Diner. .
At 5:04pm on Thursday, March
17 the Bethpage Fire Department
received a report of a fire at the Be­thpage
Townhouse Diner located at
4011 Hempstead Turnpike. Upon
arrival firefighters were confronted
with a fire in the basement office of
the occupied diner.
Firefighters, under the com­mand
of 2nd Assistant Chief Peter
Bianco, had the fire under control
within ten minutes. The occupants
of the diner were removed by
firefighters, without injury.
The fire was caused by a ciga­rette
that was improperly discarded
into a garbage can in the basement
office.
See Expanded School News Page 12
I Remember When Page 10
Letter To The Editor Page *