Starbucks on Sunrise Hwy.

Just west of Wendy's on Sunrise Highway, Seaford, a construction fence has enclosed two properties available for development. At 3870 Sunrise Highway is a frame house built in 1933 as a residence; this property includes a second, smaller house of the same era, behind the first. They were converted to business use, most recently as Ray the Plumber.  If Sunrise Highway was constructed from Wantagh about 1928, these two may be the oldest structures on the short Seaford portion of Sunrise Highway.
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Also enclosed by the fence is what was Kelley Flooring, a warehouse and sales office, built in 1956 at 3860 Sunrise Highway, listed on the Nassau County property site as a 6,171 sq. ft. building.
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Each of the properties has 80-foot frontage on the highway.
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In late November, 2017, a sign declared that Starbucks was seeking to built on these lots. Clicking on any photo will enlarge it.

Veterans' Day, 2017

Freezing temperature and a stiff wind caused the 2017 Veterans' Day ceremony at Seaford's American Legion Post to be moved indoors. As usual, the morning ceremony was solemn, respectful, and free of political blather. Charles Wroblewski, post chaplain, offered both the invocation and benediction. The words of Post Commander William Harms and the other speakers were measured, respectful, thankful.

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September 11, 2017

We had good weather this year for the ceremony, and that may have increased the large number in attendance. The NCPD honor guard arrived, flags hoisted, pipers puffing, about 7 p.m. With admirable organization, the ceremony ended at 7:50 p.m. Folding chairs were provided, the high school band played, and students helped much with the distribution and collection of candles. I had to discard my photos taken after sundown. Photos from better photographers will appear elsewhere.

The above view looks north on Seaman's Neck Road. The high school is on the right.

Five alumni lost their lives during the attack on the World Trade Center.

Each photo may be enlarged by clicking on it.

Many excellent photos can be found on the Seaford 9.11 Memorial Facebook page. Was the photographer the young man wearing his cap peak backwards?

For photos and commentary from previous years, please click below on the label 9-11 memorial.

Graduation numbers

Apparently 182 students graduated from Seaford High School in June, 2017.
Source: Herald.

Memorial Day 2017

In both 2016 and 2017 the Seaford Memorial Day parade was cancelled because of rain.

The Sussex Express

The Sussex Express (of Sussex, England) ran an excellent article dated May 18, 2017,  on Seaford, New York. Titled "A Sussex migrant founded Seaford on Long Island, USA," the link is HERE.
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John Seaman came from Sussex.

Seaford school budget passes 1,248 to 347.

All three propositions on yesterday's vote passed.
The school budget for 2017-2018 passed, 1,248 to 347.
The transportation changes passed, 1,114 to 467. The high school and middle school students will now get bus transportation when they live more than 0.8 mile from the school.
A proposal to sell a small piece of property passed, 1,199, to 299.
The only two candidates won unopposed.

Seaford, N.Y., Library budget passes

On April 5, 2017, the Seaford Library budget passed, 86-12. Last year saw the same number of voters, with 84-14. Patricia Coughlin was re-elected unchallenged.

Public Safety Forum 3.21.2017

Meeting on public safety, as sponsored by County Legislator Steve Rhoads, 3.21.2017, at Tackapausha Preserve auditorium.

Present: Steve Rhoads; Commanding Officer of the 7th Precinct, Thomas Corona; Police Officer William Taylor, Problem Oriented Policing, 7th Precinct; an assistant from Rhoads’ office; and six members of the public, including Lisa and Richard Schary. Some of my notes here may be erroneous jottings; they can be corrected.

One purpose of the meeting was to listen to views of citizens discussing where local problems lay. No single topic overwhelmed the discussion.

With the coming of warmer weather, supervision in two preserves, Massapequa and Tackapausha, was discussed. Rowdy youth gatherings and illegal drinking tend to happen off the path that police vehicles can patrol, but the patrols will continue. The police helicopter staff may use new infrared cameras to locate such gatherings in the woods.

There was a discussion of solicitors canvassing neighborhoods, with the possibility that some may cover for acts of burglary. The police will respond promptly to 911 calls regarding such observations of questionable cars or activities. You may ask that the officer not call at your house. The P.O.P. officers work at solving repeated problem situations; for immediate coverage, please use 911. One attendee remarked how Facebook chatter will continue on a long thread about something going on at that time, but too seldom does the poster phone 911 to get an immediate observation by police. Because a 911 call is assigned an incident number, it also leads to a deposition, a statement of the result generated by the call.

There was a discussion of drivers speeding in their effort to catch a morning train, the speed adding danger to the streets and lots near Jackson Avenue.

There was a discussion of NCPD marine patrols, with one boat for the north shore and one for the south, covering from Rockaway to Amityville. Other agencies, such as bay constables and the Coast Guard help, but the Coast Guard coverage may suffer cutbacks.
Several of those present discussed automobile safety issues at Morris Gate. When people park illegally in the striped area on Sunrise Highway west of Morris Gate, drivers exiting the Gate find their vision of fast-moving traffic obstructed. Likewise, at various times, the Gate is crowded with cars awaiting service. The precinct commander reported that ticketing cured some problems on Locust Avenue and that the manager of the dealership has been cooperative with trying to keep Morris Gate and Sunrise Highway clear. (I presume the cooperative dealer was Merrick Dodge. Massapequa Nissan does generate some problems, but not as severely.)
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There was a discussion of dioxins in water supplies. On this topic and other topics, Mr. Rhoads displayed an admirable grasp of the science and research.

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Two more Public Safety Community Forums are listed on Mr. Rhoads’ website linked HERE, in Wantagh April 4th and in Merrick April 27th. I urge attendance. Our opinions were respected, and our questions were answered directly, without dodging. Many thanks to the policemen and Mr. Rhoads!

Rectangular parking stickers

This morning I picked up a Resident Commuter Parking Permit from the town clerk staff in Bellmore. The stickers are blue rectangles with punch holes for the last three numbers on the license plate or the word Van for Vanity plate.  Apparently that may be intended to discourage resale of these permits. As usual, the sticker goes on the right side of the rear bumper.
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The stickers will be sold at the Wantagh station in the early morning of March 21 and 22. Bring the vehicle registration to prove residency. The stickers are valid at four stations from Merrick to Seaford.

Merrick Road n19 bus will have reduced service

As of April 9, 2017, the n19 bus route on Merrick Road will suffer service reductions. The new schedule is linked HERE. There will be no service during five mid-day hours. Thirteen "rush hour" trips will run.
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I believe the Merrick Road route was first provided before 1950 by Utility Bus Lines, from Freeport to Patchogue.  I rode it several times through Seaford in July of 1960 or 1961. At that time, a zoned fare was in place, with the operator using a ticket dispenser after the rider stated his destination.
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The loss of this service is a result of Supervisor Ed Magano's budget.

Online newspaper archives

Recently, in trying to learn about the parish of St. William the Abbot, I have increased my searches for the older history of Seaford and its residents, generally in the years 1928 to 1950. However, I am delighted to report that the staff of the Massapequa Library has made available a helpful resource of more recent times. With funding secured by a legislator, they have made available digital images and a search engine of the Massapequa Post from the year 1952 to 1986. Its link is below.
http://massapequa.advantage-preservation.com/
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Yes, Seaford news is sometimes covered by the Massapequa Post. One does not have to register to use this website.
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Likewise, a very useful site, Fulton History, covers many of the lesser newspapers in New York State. Because so many newspapers are included, one has to introduce something geographical or otherwise specific to the search terms. The link is below.
fultonhistory.com
Click on the large Enter. The small search blank will appear in the top left corner. When clicking on a link to an article, right-click to open in a new tab.  Otherwise, you will be stuck in an unwieldy frame. Most of the Seaford news that I have discovered on fultonhistory.com has been from Freeport or Hempstead daily newspapers.
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The Brooklyn Public Library has also provided a useful tool that includes news of Seaford, the famous Brooklyn Daily Eagle, years 1841 to 1955, when the Eagle suddenly quit.
Link:
https://bklyn.newspapers.com/
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Subscribers to the New York Times can search since 1851 at nytimes.com
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Newsday's search engine seems woefully inadequate.
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The Seaford Public Library has several newspaper search engines.  Please visit 
http://www.seafordlibrary.org/databases.html

Sunrise Highway construction, 1928

I have been puzzled about the date of the construction of Sunrise Highway through Seaford. This 1914 map in the collection of the New York Public Library shows Rail Road Avenue running east from Seaman's Neck Road (not west) on what appears to be the current alignment of Sunrise Highway.
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I have now chanced upon a brief news story in the Brooklyn Daily Eagle of May 13, 1928, "To Start Seaford Section of Sunrise Boulevard." The announcement was made by August Weber, jr., the realtor developing Seaford Manor north of the tracks.  Laying the foundation for the highway had already begun, and streets in the Seaford Manor development had been started.
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That news story may imply the Sunrise Boulevard connection from Wantagh, but it does not prove it.
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The aerial photo below was taken before the rectory of St. William's parish was built in 1940. Note a narrower Sunrise Highway in the upper left. The photo may be enlarged by clicking on it, but the quality of this snapshot of a glossy on display at St. William's (2.12.2016) is poor. The view is east. Jackson Avenue crosses the foreground. Washington Avenue can be seen crossing Sunrise Highway.

Seasons at Seaford

The above view is southeast. Each photo may be enlarged by clicking on it.

The above view is east from Seaford Avenue.

The above view is northeast from Seaford Avenue.

Earlier photos are linked HERE.