Welcome to Merrick

As a train pulls into the Merrick Long Island Rail Road station, the rst thing passengers see, looking either north or south, is Merrick Avenue.

The roadway connects the northernmost parts of the hamlet to its southern half. Shops, restaurants, schools and libraries all call Merrick Avenue home.

Just north of the train station s platform, a square with a gazebo, plant life and benches welcome drivers and pedestrians to the avenue s main business district. That square, the gateway to the Merricks, will soon see some renovations by the Merrick Chamber of Commerce.

Joe Baker, who serves on the chamber s board, says he and fellow board member Randy Shotland dug up some of the old ower beds around the gazebo, and a Nassau County Police Department booth that is located in the corner of the square. New plantings were laid.

In addition to the chamber s work, an aspiring Eagle Scout, Cullen Matthews from Troop 225, also got involved, restoring more than a dozen wooden benches surrounding the gazebo by power washing, sanding and staining them to better match the gazebo s color.

The chamber also is starting a holiday lights program once the weather cools. A professional lighting company is expected to install lights and garland on the gazebo, the light poles around the gazebo, and the light poles up and down Merrick Avenue. I thought it would look nice as the entrance to Merrick, Baker said. Businesses or individuals will have the opportunity to Adopt a Pole. — something they can reach out to the chamber directly to get more information.

Merrick Avenue is home to many big events throughout the year. The American Legion hosts its annual Memorial Day parade in May. For October, it's the chamber's annual fall festival. And, come December, it's a holiday tree and menorah lighting.

Keeping downtown business areas in shape is important, Baker said. Recently, the chamber was noti ed overgrown trees were blocking

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Continued fro page business signage. Baker contacted County Legislator Steve Rhoads, and soon Nassau County's public works department was trimming the trees. Business areas on Merrick Road will also see similar improvements. The gazebo area — yes — we re focusing on that because it s the center of attention, Baker said. It s going to look really nice.

Tim Baker Herald photos op photo Merrick s ga ebo sitting next to the train station is the gateway to the avenue s activity

Andrew arcia Herald le Middle photo Various activities take place on Merrick Avenue including the Merrick Cha ber of Co erce s Fall Festival Cha ber president Ira Reiter second fro right was at the fair last ctober with his co pany he arking iscuit

otto photo Around Me orial Day and Flag Day the orth Merrick nion Free School District puts up a eld of ags on Merrick Avenue in front of arold D Fayette School

Tim Baker Herald photos op photo he intersection at roadcast Pla a and Merrick Avenue is undergoing renovations by both the cha ber and an aspiring Eagle Scout Cullen Matthews who will refurbish benches around the ga ebo otto photo Most of Merrick s o and pop businesses that see a lot of foot tra c on any given weekday or weekend are found along Merrick Avenue