Community News

Wantagh garden is blooming again

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A community effort to improve a garden on the Wantagh-Bellmore border came to fruition last week, when a dedication ceremony was held with elected officials, Chamber of Commerce representatives and residents.

The Garden of Hope was created more than 20 years ago along Sunrise Highway to honor residents who have either survived or lost their battles with breast cancer. Among the people the garden pays tribute to are Marie Quinn, a former guidance counselor at Wantagh High School who died from the disease, and Mary Ellen Farrell, who used to teach at the high school.

Quinn is one of the founders of 1-in-9: the Long Island Breast Cancer Action Coalition. Both Quinn and Farrell have trees planted at the garden in their honor.

In the beginning, there was some debate about where to create the garden, with the high school considered as a possible location. The spot along Sunrise Highway was ultimately chosen to offer a residents a place to go to meditate and reflect.

Miguel Hernandez, of Numa’s Florist on Wantagh Avenue, is one of the community members responsible for the garden’s rebirth. He has hired a company, Garden Craft Landscaping, to maintain the grounds. He said in the first year, the landscaper, owned by James and Mark Ruescher, planted 2,000 tulips at its own cost.

Hernandez said he has also spent time at the garden doing work, and has purchased flowers for it. He noted that he also decorates it for Christmas. In the future, he would like to add sprinklers.

“It’s something that I can give back by doing this,” he said. “I’m thankful to be in this great community.”

Cathy Powell noted the origins of the garden under the Wantagh Beautification Committee, a division of the Long Island Planning Council. Over the years, the garden fell into disrepair, and was riddled with poison ivy, invasive plants and litter. Finding volunteers to keep up the property was difficult, she explained.

Powell cited several “angels” who have worked to bring the garden back to life including Hernandez, his landscaper, and John and Margaret Neverka, formerly of Wantagh, who now live in Bellmore.

“They, too, do it out of the goodness of their hearts,” Powell said of the Neverkas, “and won’t let me buy them as much as a garbage bag.”

John Neverka, who estimates that he has been taking care of the garden for 12 to 15 years, said he has the time to give, so he wants to help out his community. “Like so many other things in life,” he said, “it needed to get done.”

He added that he and his wife have spent much time cleaning up garbage, removing weeds and even taking down hazardous trees.

Powell said the efforts of the whole group have made a big difference. “It’s been looking good,” she said of the garden. “It’s what it should be.”