A place to rest, and memorialize a great-grandfather

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People waiting for the N31 bus by Malverne’s Bank of America, or others who simply need a place to rest in the village’s downtown area, can now tip their hat to Boy Scout Eagle candidate, Thomas Callahan and his great-grandfather, Anthony Canzoneri.

Callahan recently renovated a small park/sitting area near the corner of Hempstead Ave. and Nottingham Rd., replacing worn park benches with two new ones, replacing the sidewalk with brick pavers, and adding three large flower planters to brighten the space.

What motivated him to take on the project? “The original benches were dedicated to my great-grandfather by the village,” said Callahan. “I felt a connection to the area.”

The area was originally dedicated to Anthony Canzoneri on November 14, 1964 because he had the longest running business — a shoe repair shop — in Malverne. “They had a ceremony at Village Hall and a small parade which went down Church Street, over the railroad tracks and ended at the site near the bank,” said Anthony Canzoneri’s son, past Malverne Mayor Joseph Canzoneri. Anthony had begun his business in 1927, and rented space in several village locations before purchasing the building now occupied by White House Home in 1943. He closed the shop in 1970.

Callahan started his project a little more than two months ago, having raised $5,800 to cover expenses. He also received material donations from merchants — the planters and soil were donated from Home Depot and the flowers were from Westminster Nursery.

“The entire area was in disrepair, “ said Callahan. “The concrete was breaking up and the benches were weathered down. I spoke to someone who said they used to get splinters every time they sat there.”

Callahan, who will graduate Chaminade High School on June 1, will continue his education at the College of William and Mary where he plans to study government.