Merrick Road & Jackson Ave.

A reader inquired whether I had a photo of Powell's Hotel. Yes, I took several street photos during our first years in Seaford, and about 2010 I scanned some. However, with too many of my scans, I did not record the date of the photo itself. The hotel above, on the northwest corner of Merrick Road and Seaford Avenue, was replaced by the Long Island Savings Bank, currently named Astoria Bank, and in 2017 to be purchased by Sterling National Bank of Rockland County.

When Merrick Road was widened after the above photo, the electric distribution lines were moved behind the buildings.  Also, please note the fire alarm call box on the pole.  I have been unable to learn the year when the Seaford Fire Department introduced these telegraph alarm boxes, nor have I been able to learn when they were removed.

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Wood replaces brick

The above view of Seasons at Seaford, looking southwest from Waverly and Locust Avenues, show the frame construction of the lower floor and the girders of what may be the Club House. Any photo may be enlarged by clicking on it.

Late autumn colors

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Veterans' Day, 2015

Veterans' Day, November 11, 2015, in Seaford, New York.

This year, the chairs, podiums, and wreaths were set up inside the American Legion post because of unpredictable weather.  Post Commander William Harms led the dignified and appropriate ceremony.
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Autumn in Seaford

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LIRR Forum 9.29.2015

On September 29, 2015, County Legislator Steven Rhoads hosted a public forum in the Wantagh High School auditorium, the topic being the Long Island Railroad and its service to the stations between Freeport and Seaford.  About twenty residents attended the meeting.  The panel consisted of Mr. Rhoads, Robert Brennan (spokesman for the LIRR), Town of Hempstead Councilwoman Erin King Sweeney, a MTA sergeant, the town head of traffic control, and another aide.  Thankfully, the meeting did not turn political, let's-blame-the-other-party.  Instead, most of the questions, the arguments, and the rudeness was directed at Mr. Brennan, who was too often interrupted as he tried to answer. I also interrupted him when I asked him to clarify in which month the renovation of the Wantagh platforms would begin.  The answer was next March or April, at the earliest.
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The meeting lasted from 7:15 p.m. until 8:45.  Each panel member stayed later for any further conversation. Councilwoman King Sweeney deserves praise for her willingness to look further into the questions raised about parking.  One resident complained that some parking spots east of Oakland Avenue seem to be permanently occupied or used by nearby commerce.  Only the parking directly under the trestle is administered by the LIRR.  The two spaces reserved for railroad personnel are needed by those conductors who are instructed to begin their run at Wantagh.
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The most time-consuming topic was pigeon dirt.  Mr. Brennan explained that the station is power-washed monthly.  The Federal Railroad Administration requires periodic inspections of girders and rivets and that the girders cannot be enclosed. Other topics discussed at length were the presence of homeless people, personal safety, aggressive begging, and at least one incident of physical threat. One resident demanded 24/7 presence of police at the station. The sergeant emphasized that charges are hindered when the victim refuses to give a statement. Both the MTA police and Nassau County police have jurisdiction at the station.  The county police can be reached directly at 911.  The MTA police can be reached through the menu at 511. I note that in previous forums, Dave Denenberg emphasized that a call to the 7th Precinct delays action because the call has to be forwarded to 911. Also, a call to 911 begins a record trail that will later show the results of follow-up action.
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A man presented Mr. Brennan with large photographs of duct tape used in repairs at the Merrick elevator.
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The renovation of the Wantagh station platforms in the budget includes also a new escalator and an elevator.  A business owner from Railroad Avenue expressed worry about loss to her business if Railroad Avenue is closed during the renovation.  I note that the high-tension lines are on the north side of the tracks, so the crane removing and replacing the canopies and platform slabs would probably have to work from the south side, as was done recently at Massapequa.
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The photo linked here looks west at Wantagh, showing the Beech Street crossing about 1967.  However, I have difficulty identifying the buildings.

A fence along Seaford Avenue

A temporary fence went up along Seaford Avenue during the week of September 21, 2015.

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"Everything Must Go"

On Friday morning, September 25, 2015, the Seaford Pathmark on Merrick Road has signs, "Everything Must Go," "Final Inventory, This Store Only," "All Items, Up to 30% Off."

September 11, 2015

Annually, the Seaford 9/11 Memorial Committee has organized and led a dignified, heartfelt commemoration on September 11th, remembering the five alumni of Seaford High School who lost their lives at the Twin Towers: Robert Sliwak, '77, Timothy Haskell,  '85, John Perry, '82, Michael Wittenstein, '85, and Thomas Haskell, '82.  Because the school district does not extend north of Jerusalem Avenue and because Massapequa, Wantagh, and Levittown residents also participate in the life of Seaford, more losses are remembered.  Also, some of those we lost may have attended a different high school.

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Please see this Facebook page for more photos.

Jones Beach, July 31, 2015

Seaford Pathmark may become Stop & Shop

On July 20, 2015, newsday.com reported that A. & P., owner of Pathmark, Waldbaum's, and other chains will sell many of the stores.  If the bankruptcy court approves, the Seaford Pathmark will be sold to Stop & Shop, which is itself owned by the Dutch firm Ahold, which may be merging with the Delhaize Group.

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From the Nassau County property website, it seems that Pathmark arrived in Seaford in 1968. What was on the property between Washington Avenue and Tackapausha Pond before Pathmark?  Was ShopRite there?  Many thanks for answers!

Is this the last payphone in Seaford?

A few years ago, noticing that the coin telephones disappeared from outside Pathmark and from inside the Seaford Library, I wondered which payphone would be the last in Seaford. Today, I discovered that neither Seaford nor Massapequa train stations have payphones, though half the waiting passengers were looking at hand-held screens.  Maybe this derelict, non-working phone near Burger King is the last relic.
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An article in the Irish Times the other day reminded me of this topic. The Republic has a million more subscriptions to mobile phones than its 4.6 million people! Each pay phone is used, on an average, once every two or two-and-a-half days.
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In 2011, Verizon sold its Eastcoast payphones to Pacific Telemanagement Services, which continues to provide payphones at some train stations.  

Memorial Day, 2015

In 2015, May 25th was Memorial Day.  In the above photo, the American Legion post leads the parade up Washington Avenue near William Street.  Any photo may be enlarged by clicking on it.

Three bagpipers provided music for the volunteer fire department.

Seaford school budget passes 1,396 to 431.

On Tuesday, May 19, 2015, the Seaford School Budget for 2015-2016 passed by a vote of 1,396 to 431.  The total number of votes cast was 1,827.  Unopposed, Patrick Rail was elected to the board.  The mileage for qualification for bus transportation of kindergarten students was set at 0.75 mile.

Seaford Library budget passes 127-18.

On April 15, 2015, voters passed the proposed Seaford Library budget, 127-18 (145 votes cast, 34 less than last year).  Mary Westermann won the seat on the library board of trustees, for a five-year term.

Scenes two days later

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Snowfall, January 26-27, 2015