__________________ SEAFORD _________________
HERALD $1.00
UPK discussed at board meeting
Police: Man texted teen lewd images
MSSN releases poll results
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Vol. 70 No. 5
JANUARY 27 - FEBRUARY 2, 2022
Con man caught red-handed: cops Seaford grandmother turns the tables on alleged phone scammer By KATE NAlEPINSKI knalepinski@liherald.com
Courtesy Jean Ebbert
JEAN EBBERT, oF Seaford, a retired 911 dispatcher, lured an alleged phone scammer to his arrest on her front lawn. She shared this photo with a Seaford-based social media group.
A Seaford woman made national headlines after she lured an alleged phone scammer to his own arrest — and got it all on camera. Jan. 20 started out as a typical day for Jean Ebbert, 73. The resident of Waverly Avenue was working on crossword puzzles and texting with her son, Rusty Ebbert, which she does every day. Just before noon, she received a call on her house phone, and heard a man sob-
bing. At first she thought it was her son-in-law, Emmanuel, who, she said, is “a big jokester.” “But then he says, ‘Grandma, I need help, I’ve been in a car accident,’” Ebbert explained. The man on the phone told her that he had been charged with driving under the influence, and needed cash for his bail. But both of her grandchildren, who are in elementary and middle school, are too young to drive, so Ebbert immediately knew the call was Continued on page 10
Graffiti cleared from Seaford, other LIRR train stations By MARIA CESTERo mcestero@liherald.com
Following a number of complaints from community members, Hempstead Town Councilman Chris Carini, members of a local task force and Long Island Rail Road officials recently cleaned off graffiti at the Seaford and Wantagh Long Island Rail Road stations. Carini said he heard from multiple Seaford residents on Jan. 19 about graffiti at the Seaford station, between Sunrise Highway and Brooklyn Avenue. The graffiti was removed on Saturday. “It shows a breakdown of the
community,” he said. “It’s terrible to look at and it’s an eyesore. . . . It’s a problem throughout our communities.” There has been vandalism at the neighboring Bellmore and Baldwin stations as well, which led to a mass cleanup effort over the weekend, run in conjunction with LIRR staff. According to county crime rates from the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services, Nassau County had 10,411 reported property crimes in 2020 — a decrease from the total of 11,741 reported in 2019. Property crimes include burglary, larceny, theft, arson, shoplifting and vandalism.
I
t’s a problem throughout our communities. ChRIS CARINI Town councilman
Carini said he has seen graffiti at LIRR stations for roughly the past eight years. Last year he helped assemble a volunteer graffiti task force. One of its members is South Merrick Community Civic Association President Joe Baker, 72. Described as the “eyes and ears” of the com-
munity by both Carini and Baker, the task force is focused on preventing the spread of graffiti, and removing it as soon as possible. Residents are encouraged to report graffiti and/or send photos of it to Carini’s office. A lifelong resident of Merrick who lives in his childhood home, Baker said he was eager to get
involved, because he loves his community. “My personal resolve has always been, ‘look good, feel good,’” he said. “If the community doesn’t look good, people aren’t going to feel good about it.” Baker, who is also a member of the Merrick Chamber of Commerce, explained that graffiContinued on page 10