What’s ahead for 2015 in Wantagh and Seaford?

The new year is upon us, schools are back in session and local organizations are beginning to meet again. There is much in store in Wantagh and Seaford for the coming year.

As 2014 drew to a close, residents of Seaford became concerned about a proposed large-scale gas station on Merrick Road. A QuickChek station would replace a Valero station, a car lot and woods. The Seaford Harbor Civic Association will host a meeting with representatives of the developer on Jan. 13 at 7 p.m. at the Seaford Firehouse on Southard Avenue. Concerned citizens will be able to ask questions about the proposal, which includes a 6,600-square-foot convenience store and eight gas pumps.

In Wantagh, residents are concerned about the traffic impact of a proposed Taco Bell on Wantagh Avenue, just south of Jerusalem Avenue. A decision by the Town of Hempstead Board of Appeals was put off until Feb. 25. The Wantagh-Seaford Homeowners Association is expected to hold a meeting later of residents and representatives of Taco Bell.

Also in January, new leaders of the Wantagh and Seaford Chambers of Commerce will be installed. Chris Brown will take over as president of the Wantagh Chamber at an installation dinner expected to be held at the end of the month, succeeding Denise Langweber. Brown is a past president of both the Chamber and the Wantagh Kiwanis Club.

The Seaford Chamber of Commerce will be led by attorney Mary Lucere, who will take over for Bill Arnold. The installation dinner will be scheduled for later this month.

Karen Chowske takes over as the new president of the Wantagh Preservation Society, which runs the local history museum on Wantagh Avenue.

Local school districts will soon begin preparations for the 2015-16 budgets in anticipation of the May 19 budget vote. The Wantagh School District has its first public budget forum set for Feb. 26, followed by three more in March. The Levittown School District’s first budget planning session is set for Feb. 11.

The Seaford School District will hold its annual Patrick Butler Wrestling Tournament this Saturday in the high school gymnasium. The event honors a former Seaford High School wrestler who died in a car crash when he was 15.