Baker Honored, then Back to Business for South Merrick Civic

Before last night's South Merrick Community Civic Association (SMCCA) got into discussing town issues, president Joe Baker received kudos for recently being named the 2009 Person of the Year by the Merrick Herald.

"A little over a year ago he took me by the hand and helped me restart the North Merrick Community Association," Claudia Borecky said of Baker.  "I can't think of someone who deserves this more than him." 

A few minutes later, county legislator Dave Denenberg (D-Merrick) walked into the clubhouse of the Merrick Road Park Golf Course with a resolution from the legislature honoring Baker.

Baker, president of the association since it formed in 2006, took it all in stride and turned the praise onto Denenberg. 

"Without our elected officials getting involved, not much can get done," Baker said. "Dave has been at every meeting for the past four years. Every year we get more and more accomplished.  Dave has been right behind us and I can't say enough good things about him."

Borecky was also at the meeting, the first of the year for the SMCCA, to recruit people to serve on three committees she introduced at last week's North Merrick Civic meeting: 

• A Town of Hempstead Policy Committee to work with the town attorney's office to provide input into drafting policy regarding the future installation of cellular equipment in town. 

• A Federal Policy Committee to study and lobby elected federal officials to revise the Telecommunications Act of 1996.

• A Local Action Committee to explore actions Merrick residents can take to remove and/or relocate cellular antennas on utility poles. 

But with only about a dozen people at last night's meeting, those committees could have a tough time getting off the ground.

"If no one will join the committees, why should we beat out heads?" Baker asked. "It's nice to say you will have a committee, but without people getting involved, what good is it?" 

The issue of teenagers drinking alcohol on the grounds of Lakeside Elementary School was also discussed at the meeting.  One resident called it "a huge problem," with children finding beer bottles at Lakeside when they are out playing soccer and baseball.  

Baker suggested that the SMCCA be a liaison with the superintendent's office and make suggestions to the Merrick Board of Education.  The board discussed the issue of drug-use on school grounds at its meeting earlier this month.

Jody Stahl, the head of the South Merrick Neighborhood Watch program, said he hopes to eventually hold Neighborhood Watch meetings where police would come provide updates on crime in the area. 

"We need to communicate with each other as far as crime is concerned," Stahl said. 

Neighborhood Watch members need to do nothing more than sign-up and keep an eye on their communities, Stahl said, before adding that anyone who does see something suspicious should contact the police.

"Call 911," he said. "Don't act on it. No one here is a superhero."

The SMCCA next meets at 7:30 p.m. on February 23.