South Bellmore Civic to hold first fundraiser

The South Bellmore Civic Association will hold its first-ever fundraiser on Nov. 20. All proceeds from the event –– a comedy show that board members are encouraging residents to attend –– will go towards projects to beautify Bellmore.

Civic group members are selling $15 tickets to the fundraiser, which will be held at the Brokerage Comedy Club, at 2797 Merrick Road. Money raised from ticket sales will be put to good use, civic group leaders said, as the board has more ideas about how to make the community look its best.

Alison Frankel, a Judith Drive resident, founded the SBCA nearly two years ago. Since its first meeting in February 2013, members have taken part in community cleanups, planting projects and beautification initiatives around the neighborhood.

Shortly after the group formed, Frankel reached out to town and county officials about signage and areas of Bellmore that SBCA members felt needed to be cleaned up. The outreach has led to repairs and the installation of dozens of signs, including a new one at Mill Pond Park, near Merrick Road.

Frankel and other board members, like Vice President Jason Phillips, remain in contact with local officials so that repairs continue to be made. They have also made connections in the business community, urging store owners to beautify their properties to attract shoppers.

SBCA members haven’t shied away from getting their hands dirty, either; they have planted in Mill Pond Park and near the Bellmore post office, in addition to sponsoring their first spring cleanup of Merrick Road last May.

Civic group members also spearheaded other initiatives, including establishing a Neighborhood Watch program in Bellmore, requesting that local streets be repaved and advocating for the area at New York Rising committee meetings. The group’s achievements are listed on its website (click here).

The comedy show will begin at 8 p.m. To buy tickets, email southbellmorecivic@gmail.com.