Letter: Support for Single

On Dec. 8, the residents of Hicksville will once again be asked to go to the polls and elect a candidate for the position of fire commissioner for the Hicksville Fire District to serve a term of five years. As fellow commissioners, we are proud to announce our support for Harry J. Single, Jr.

Residents in suburbs across the country look for leaders who can best serve their communities. Harry J. Single Jr. has proven himself to be that person as he serves the Hicksville community in numerous ways: owner of Uncle Harry’s Trophies & Plaques, trustee of the Hicksville Library Board, trustee for the Hicksville Baseball Association, president of the Hicksville Boys & Girls Club, trustee of the Hicksville Football Association, vice president of the Hicksville Community Council, board member and past president of the Midland Civic Association, a member of the Oyster Bay Town Youth Advisory Board and the Knights of Columbus. That’s leadership.

While Hicksville residents pay some of the highest property taxes in the country, a bright spot for Hicksville is that their top-notch fire and EMS protection averages only 66 cents a day per household. For the past five years, Harry, along with the other board members, understood the necessity to do more with less in tough economic times while still maintaining the highest standard of fire protection for all our brave members and residents within the Hicksville Fire District and Department.

As commissioner, Harry Single, helped to maintain the same tax rate for the Fire District and reduced this year’s budget by 1.59 percent. The budget reduction was accomplished while the district rebuilt their Station 2 firehouse, which opened last weekend. The renovation of the firehouse was done under budget, without a tax increase and addressed the concerns of the community in the vicinity of the firehouse.

Harry Single always endeavored to ensure that the firefighters who so valiantly volunteer their time to the department have the safest, most up-to-date firefighting equipment. Under Harry’s tenure as commissioner, the district purchased state-of-the-art portable radios for every riding position. The radios provide accountability, identification and a safety notification system in the event the firefighter is in a life-threatening situation. The district also purchased new state-of-the-art breathing apparatus for the membership and the department received delivery of a new ALS ambulance and is awaiting the delivery of a new ladder truck. Harry’s first concern is that the residents and department members are properly served utilizing the best equipment available to get the job done.

For these reasons, we ask that you join us and support Harry J. Single, Jr. for Fire District Commissioner. Please remember to vote on Tuesday, Dec. 8 between 3 and 9 p.m. at either Station #1 (headquarters at 20 East Marie Street) or Station #4 (located on Levittown Parkway).