Letter: Concerned Commuter

Anton Community Newspapers • 132 East 2nd Street • Mineola, NY 11501 • Phone: 516-747-8282 • FAX: 516-742-5867

Letter: Concerned Commuter

Friday, 21 December 2012 00:00

While the new parking garage has certainly made it easier to park at the Hicksville LIRR train station, it has presented a potentially dangerous situation that must see resolution before unnecessary harm is done.

Adjacent to the parking garage is Duffy Avenue, a busy 30 miles per hour two-lane road that intersects with Newbridge Road. In the morning, the road backs up with cars making a left turn into the oft-congested side entrance of the garage.

Across from the garage is a passageway that leads to Hicksville Train Station platforms. While it is not the main path that leads to the Hicksville train station, it is a popular route for commuters. It should come to no surprise that many individuals who park in the garage cross the busy road to get to this passageway (next to NY Sports Club).

Why is this dangerous? There is no crosswalk. Not one. There is not even an advisory for drivers to watch for pedestrians. Cross the street if you dare!

This heightens in danger when you add in the element of rush hour traffic, when several individuals make their way across the street. The left turning lane leading into the garage becomes backed up with cars, so after crossing the first lane, commuters must squeeze their way in between rushing cars, and then blindly walk into the second lane before making it to the sidewalk. It is an early-morning game of Frogger. Just the other day, I witnessed an individual almost get stuck by a car; this close call prompted my message.

The danger is enhanced at night. In throngs, commuters make their way down the passageway and onto Duffy Avenue. It is dark, sometimes slippery, and traffic proceeds. What if a car did not see an individual crossing the street to get to the parking garage? There is neither a sign nor a crosswalk to notate that the driver should take caution.

The solution does not seem particularly difficult. Not only would a crosswalk be advisable from the passageway to the sidewalk next to the parking garage, but also there are guards stationed at the opening of the side entrance of the garage. They are positioned inside a security building. Could they not control traffic on the road during set rush hours to avoid potential tragedies?

This is a clear safety issue, and action should be taken to avoid an inevitable accident. It would be a true shame if we must wait until someone is seriously injured before something is done.

Thank you.

Matthew Coleman, Jericho Resident

News

Hicksville Native Wins FIT Award

Thursday, 23 May 2013 00:00

Hicksville native Jae Lee recently rose to the top of his senior class at New York Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT), winning the Critic Award for sportswear. But fashion wasn’t the path that Lee originally chose.

In high school, Lee excelled in art classes and thought that he wanted to go to college and major in fine arts. However, he said, it was while watching an episode of “Project Runway” that he had a revelation. “All of a sudden I was thinking that it was something I could/should do and that’s what kind of led to it,” he said. He made up his mind that he was going to apply to fashion school and enlisted the help of one of his art teachers in school to help him. “We really scrambled and put together this presentation in about two weeks, where other people, I’m sure, worked on theirs for months,” he said. Lee said that when he went to present his portfolio, he didn’t think the meeting went well at all. “Everyone was really well prepared,” he said. But, he admitted, it must have gone better than he thought, because he was accepted to FIT.

WWII Armor Museum Opens

Thursday, 23 May 2013 00:00

In the face of cancelled air shows and the downgrading of NYC’s Fleet Week, Nassau County Executive Edward Mangano announced on May 9, that American soldiers will be forever honored on Long Island through the creation of the Museum of American Armor to be built at Old Bethpage Village Restoration thanks, in part, to a million dollar gift from Lawrence Kadish.

“We are watching powerful tributes to our American military reduced or eliminated across the nation and its just plain wrong,” stated County Executive Mangano. “Fortunately, the Memorial Day weekend air show at Jones Beach will be held regardless of the loss of the Thunderbirds, but Fleet Week in New York City will be greatly diminished and across the country air shows are being cancelled weekly. Nassau County is moving in another direction. An armor museum that honors every American soldier will be created on county property this year which will not only pay tribute to those who have defended our nation but will also strengthen the county’s tourism and destination industry and provide a new source of revenue.”

Sports

For The Love Of Tennis

Thursday, 23 May 2013 00:00

Hicksville residents honored by tennis association

The U.S. Tennis Association Long Island Region has recognized several Hicksville residents for their tennis playing or volunteering achievements. The group was honored at the USTA Long Island Region’s 23rd Annual Awards Dinner, which recognizes superior efforts both on and off the tennis court.

Terry Fontana received the Vitas Gerulaitis for the Love of Tennis award. She has been a longtime fixture in the Hicksville tennis community and is the driving force behind the Hicksville Community Tennis Association (CTA), which, since 1995, has been promoting the development of tennis as a means of healthy recreation and physical fitness and to create a community resource for physical activity throughout the area.

Lady Comets Honor Departing Seniors

Thursday, 23 May 2013 00:00

It was a cold season for softball this year, colder than usual. Anyone who knows the sport recognizes that the weather can be changeable, but this softball season was fraught with snow, pouring rain, cancelled games, frigid temperatures, and blowing winds that would cause any team to crave the warmth of indoors.

That wasn’t the case with the Hicksville High School Lady Comets Varsity Softball team. They played through it all like champions, and endured the rough weather like superstars.