Merrick Road gets clean sweep for spring

Matthew Phillips may only be 4 years old, but he’s already helping beautify Bellmore. With tools in his red wagon and his father, Jason, by his side, Matthew was one of several residents who worked to spruce up Merrick Road at the South Bellmore Civic Association’s first spring cleanup last weekend.

Organizers from the civic group, which formed more than a year ago, announced details of the inaugural cleanup in their spring newsletter and online before the May 3 event. President Alison Frankel said the streets and sidewalks suffered during the harsh winter’s heavy snowfalls, so organization members wanted to do all that they could to improve them.

Folks met with Beatification Chair Joann Bo and the board at Payless Shoe Source on Saturday morning with brooms, gloves and lightweight gardening equipment in hand. The board –– Frankel, Bo, Jason Phillips, Chad Milman and Scott Horowitz –– said in an email that the participants made a huge impact, sweeping, picking up litter, weeding and mulching.

Some of the volunteers, like Eileen Casazza of the Bellmore Preservation Group, belong to other community organizations and wanted to support the civic association’s efforts. Others joined when they saw the cleanup under way; the board noted that one resident, Michael Schoenberg, was driving on Merrick Road when he pulled over to help.

Board members said that they have asked Merrick Road business owners to clean up their properties, adding that most have responded well to the request. Participants also took notes as they made their way along the thoroughfare, jotting down areas that they think could use more trashcans or repairs.

For more about the civic's past and future projects, click here.