Top 7 Town of Hempstead Stories

7. Hempstead Town remembered 9/11 victims in their usual fashion, with a sunrise seaside ceremony in Point Lookout. Again personalized for town residents, this year's guest speaker was the mother of a Lynbrook family man.

6. Keeping in step with the green movement, Hempstead Town announced their Green Team Campaign on Aug. 13. The campaign is a joint effort by the town and other agencies to help educate local residents on how to lower their energy costs and reduce their carbon footprint.

5. The Hempstead Town Board adopted legislation on Nov. 23 that prohibits all smoking at the town's 100 parks, except in designated areas.

4. After voting unanimously to scale down the Lighthouse Project on Feb. 9, the Hempstead Town Board reduced the zoning density of nearly 50 percent for the site.

3. Three banned volunteer rescue workers filed a lawsuit on Dec. 8 against the Hempstead Town Animal Shelter in hopes of being allowed back into the facility. They claim they were penalized by the town for speaking out about abuse at the shelter and allege that lies have been spread about them by Hempstead officials. Less than one month prior, Hempstead Town officials announced they were formulating a plan aimed at improving pet care at the town's Wantagh-based animal shelter.

2. After the New York State Public Service Commission approved a nearly 10 percent water rate hike for Aqua New York customers, Hempstead Town announced it would investigate the feasibility of a public takeover of the private water company. In early September, both Hemsptead and Oyster Bay Towns announced the appointment of five individuals to the reactivated Southeastern Nassau County Water Authority.

1. After Bellmore, Merrick and Wantagh residents fought alongside other Hemsptead Town residents for a moratorium on cell towers, the town board  unanimously signed off on legislation Sept. 21 that bans any new cell towers or antennas within 1,500 feet of homes or schools. The ordinance also states that no new cell towers or antennas can be placed within 1,500 feet of daycare centers or houses of worship.