Groups of teens vandalize East Rockaway homes

Dozens of concerned homeowners, parents, teachers and residents from East Rockaway, Lynbrook and Hewlett crowded Monday night’s village board meeting in East Rockaway to address a troubling situation: groups of teenagers — sometimes as many as 50, by some accounts — who are drinking and vandalizing homes near Waverly Avenue and Durland Road in the southwestern corner of the village.

Most of the teens, according to 4th Precinct Sgt. Jacqueline Lewis, who addressed the crowd, attend Lynbrook schools but live in East Rockaway.

“My fences have been broken,” said Christine Daly, who lives on Waverly Avenue and has three teenage children. “They are in groups of 20, 30 or 40, mostly boys ... I pick up broken beer bottles, I catch the boys and girls in the bushes and urinating in my neighbors’ driveways. These are not the older kids, they’re the upcoming freshmen, sophomores and juniors.”

Daly said that she is becoming afraid to go outside. “I’ve seen the parents drop the kids off and pick them up later,” she said. Trustee Bruno Romano asked her if she had called 911 to summon the police, and Daly said that she had. “They come, they patrol down the street, rarely get out of the car ...,” she said. “When they’re gone, the kids come back.”

A Hewlett resident who identified himself only as Larry A. pointed out that many of the older teenagers are buying alcohol for the younger kids. “We never hear that the older kids are getting arrested,” he said. “... Maybe someone should see who’s buying liquor for those children.”

Allison Glickman Rogers of Murdock Road said that her 7-year-old has seen teens drinking and throwing up. “This is the example they set for the younger children,” she said. “The police officers have told us that there’s nothing they can do, but if there were consequences, the word would get out.”

Myra Sherr, who lives on Willard Drive and sent a flier out to her neighbors, encouraging them to attend the meeting, asked the board if the village has a noise ordinance. “I can’t have a party after 11 p.m., correct?” Sherr asked. “Why aren’t the [teenagers’] parents held responsible for their children’s behavior? What are you going to do?”