Connie Negron and Stephanie Regalbuto have been working since March of 1999 petitioning the New York State Department of Transportation; New York State Senator Michael Balboni; Assemblywoman Maureen O'Connell; Councilman Angelo Ferrara, of the Town of North Hempstead; Nassau County Legislator Richard Nicolello and the New Hyde Park/Garden City Park school board to install safety flashing lights at the Manor Oaks School crossing on the corner of Hillside Avenue and Manor Court South.

The two co-chairs of the Health and Safety Commission for the district also enlisted the help of all the Parent/Teacher organizations and the members of the Nassau County 3rd Precinct Police Department.

First they wanted to lower the speed limit at the school crossing, from its 40 miles per hour to at least 30 or 35 miles per hour, but that request was denied by the New York State DOT.

They then began a relentless campaign of petitions and letter writing to all of the public officials asking them to help them to at least raise awareness of the dangerous situation and at the very least install the flashing warning lights and to stripe the roadway.

As a result of the diligence and hard work of both Negron and Regalbuto this project has now been completed and the flashing lights are installed, complete with signs and the crossing has been clearly striped with wide white stripes and the word "school" alerting motorists to slow down since it is a school crossing.

In commenting on the completion of their long, hard fight they issued the following statement:

"By working and persevering together, we were able to accomplish what we set out to do and that was to make Hillside Avenue a safer area to walk across for both children and adults. The area is one of heavy foot and auto traffic used for both the school, the library and community affairs."

The statement continued, "We are most grateful for the grant from Assemblywoman Maureen O'Connell, the help from Senator Michael Balboni; the permits obtained by North Hempstead Town Councilman Angelo Ferrara; the guidance from New Hyde Park/Garden City Park School Board attorney Richard Nicolello who is also a Nassau County legislator; for the support from the PTA members; school superintendent Joseph Rudaitis; the school administrators, the Hillside Library Board, school staff members and last but not least, the community."

At a brief ceremony, held on Hillside Avenue the flashing signal was activated and the children crossing to and from the Manor Oaks School on Hillside Avenue are a whole lot safer.