March 28: Malvernites Turn to Facebook Again, Crunch Time for Cancer, School Board and Merchants Meet & More

It's shaping up to be a busy week in Malverne and West Hempstead -  and it's only Monday. Residents have turned to Facebook again to tackle another local issue, several meetings are scheduled and engaged citizens are fighting wars on several fronts to save lives, improve education and fight cancer.

To learn more, check out the top five things to know for March 28:

1. Another Facebook Campaign: For the second time so far this year, Malverne residents have used social networking to rally the community to take action on the local level. Earlier this year, one Malvernite created a Facebook group to unite residents to pressure Long Island American Water to improve the quality of the brown H20 it was supplying to them. Now, another group has emerged over the past 24 hours - "I Love Malverne, But Want Better Schools" - with a membership of 78 already and growing. Find out more about this group and what they hope to accomplish later today.
2. Special School Board Meeting: The Malverne Board of Education meets tonight at 7 p.m. to discuss special business in the central office building (next to Howard T. Herber Middle School.). It's not clear how much of this meeting will be open to the public as any discussion about personnel are required to take place behind closed doors in executive session, but some sources say the board may be taking action on the current superintendents contract. More details available today on Patch. (West Hempstead's Board of Education will meet tomorrow night at 7:30 p.m.)
3. West Hempstead Crunches for a Cure: gym in West Hempstead was packed Saturday morning with residents working their abs while also raising money for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. Patch was there to capture the crunchers and learn more about their efforts to help cure cancer in kids. Click here for the video report.
4. Remembering Lives Lost at Animal Shelter: Hope for Hempstead Shelter, the group that has been to put pressure on the Town of Hempstead to make changes at its animal shelter in Wantagh, brought concerned citizens out again Friday night. This time the mood was more somber. Instead of shouting in protest, the group, including two former volunteers that are now banned, held a candlelight vigil to remember the animals that have been euthanized at the shelter. for the full report.
5. Merchants Meet: Tonight the Malverne Merchants and Professionals Association will hold a general meeting at 5:30 p.m. inside the Several upcoming events will be discussed including the annual Easter egg hunt, a children's play in the park, an art auction and the fall fair. All members are invited to attend or send a representative on behalf of their business.

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