🌱 Patch AM: How Hicksville firefighters helped contain a dangerous Plainview house fire

Hey hey Hicksville! Your one-stop source for local news is here. Continue reading for all the updates. ☀️

In today's newsletter:

• How Hicksville firefighters helped contain a dangerous Plainview house fire
• Will Hicksville’s Yankee Candle survive the 2026 retail shakeup?
• Why did Hicksville land among New York’s best places to live?

Also on today's calendar: Exciting 2026 virtual and in-person programs with Hospital for Special Surgery! and 6 more events.

Today's riddle: I think I’ll wear only one boot today. 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

• Wednesday: Variably cloudy and breezy, with a high of 34 and low of 27 degrees.
• Thursday: Cold with clouds and sun, temps: high: 31, low: 18. ⛄️ Brr!
• Friday: Cold with periods of sun, with a high of 32 and low of 23 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

1. 2 Elderly Displaced After Early Christmas Eve Fire: FD (patch.com) — Hicksville firefighters were among several neighboring departments who rushed to help Plainview crews battle a Christmas Eve house fire that displaced two elderly residents. The blaze, which started in a bedroom on Central Park Road, was controlled in about 40 minutes, and investigators from Nassau County and the NCPD Arson/Bomb Squad are now examining the cause.
   

2. Multiple NY Retailers Planning 2026 Closures: See List (patch.com) — Hicksville shoppers should know Yankee Candle’s local store is one of just two Long Island locations as the chain prepares to close 20 U.S. shops starting in 2026. The story also details possible closures or downsizing at other major retailers like Macy’s, Dick’s, and Walgreens that could affect where you shop across Long Island and New York.
   

3. Here's where Elmira ranks among best places to live in New York (stargazette.com) — Hicksville earns a spot near the top in a new U.S. News & World Report ranking of the best places to live in New York, coming in just behind Massapequa Park and Greece. The list weighs affordability, education, crime, commute times, and job market, with Elmira highlighted in detail and Hicksville recognized as one of the state’s most desirable communities.
   

4. Afghan Americans Live with Fear and Scrutiny After D.C. Shooting (documentedny.com) — Afghan families connected to a Hicksville-based support group are grappling with heightened fear and scrutiny after a deadly shooting near the White House led to paused asylum decisions and tougher enforcement. Local advocates on Long Island describe Afghans limiting travel, worrying about canceled immigration appointments, and bracing for backlash, while legal experts warn of broader, long-term impacts on refugee stability and safety nationwide.
   

📸 Around Hicksville

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🗓 Upcoming Events in Hicksville

Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!

★ Featured events ★

Monday January 5

• Exciting 2026 virtual and in-person programs with Hospital for Special Surgery!
  9:00 am

Want to see your event featured? Click here!

Other local events

Thursday January 1

• SNAP Application Help English
  Nassau County, NY Calendar
• SNAP Application Help Spanish
  Nassau County, NY Calendar

Tuesday January 6

• SNAP Application Help English
  Nassau County, NY Calendar

Wednesday January 7

• Safety Committee Meeting (Open to the Public)
  Hicksville UFSD , 200 Division Ave , Hicksville
  2:45 pm

Thursday January 8

• Hot Cocoa Cups
  Westbury Memorial Public Library Children's Programs at the Meeting Room , 445 Jefferson Street , Westbury
  5:00 pm

Saturday January 10

• Playful Pals
  Westbury Memorial Public Library Children's Programs , 445 Jefferson Street , Westbury
  10:30 am

Tuesday January 13

• SNAP Application Help Spanish
  Nassau County, NY Calendar
• SNAP Application Help English
  Nassau County, NY Calendar

📣 Hicksville Shout Outs!

Want to say something great about someone in town? Click here to submit your Shout Out to Patch AM! It's free!

🗓 Events Nearby

Wednesday December 31

• Pilates Exercise Classes â via Zoom
  Plainview-Old Bethpage Public Library US
  10:00 am
• New Year's Eve & Day In The Shed Plainview
  The Shed Restaurant - Plainview NY , 1511 Old Country Rd , Plainview
  11:00 am
• Chair Yoga - via Zoom
  Plainview-Old Bethpage Public Library US
  1:00 pm
• FILM- Instant Family - 117min., (PG-13), 2018
  Plainview-Old Bethpage Public Library 999 Old Country Rd., Plainview, NY, 11803, US
  2:00 pm

Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.

Thank you 👏👏👏 to the local businesses for making Hicksville PatchAM possible:

• Mindsee.it — (646) 663-8317
  Teach your kids they can achieve the impossible!
• Long Island Swim School — (516) 378-8467
  Learn the Skills, Love the Sport, Swim for Life!

Click here to show your appreciation! 💚

Want to see your business here? Click here to connect with local customers.

💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

• A dryer is blamed for a house fire in Valley Stream that firefighters quickly extinguished.
  5:21AM on Dec 29: A dryer is blamed for a fire at a Valley Stream home on Paige Road, which occurred around 9:30 p.m. according to fire officials. (Nextdoor )

Ok Hicksville! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: I heard there’s only a 50 percent chance of snow.
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!

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