South Bellmore Civic, Preservation Group merge

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Leaders of the South Bellmore Civic Association and the Bellmore Preservation Group announced that the two organizations have merged to form the newly named Bellmore Civic Association.

“The goal of the Bellmore Civic Association is to improve the quality of life in the Bellmores, which includes efforts to ensure safety within the community and maintain its appearance,” said Eileen Casazza, who co-founded the Preservation Group.

“Since both groups work together weekly and side-by-side, it made sense to merge both groups for the greater good of the community,” added Alison Frankel, president of the formerly-named South Bellmore Civic Association.

The Bellmore Preservation Group, founded in 2009, reached a decade in age this year. The South Bellmore Civic Association was formed in 2011.

The formation of the Bellmore Civic Association follows years of Casazza and Frankel working in tandem. This summer, while armed with brooms, rakes, shovels and a leaf blower, the groups hosted a community cleanup of Merrick Road — an annual activity for the civics. Recently, both groups protested against the opening of a smoke and vape shop in Bellmore, leading the owner to agree to end the sale of vape products before a state-wide ban went into effect.

And on Oct. 23, they helped host Meet the Candidates night organized in conjunction with the North Bellmore Civic Council, the South Merrick Community Civic Association and the North Merrick Civic Association.

Through their work in the community, both organizations have cultivated active working relationships with Nassau County, Town of Hempstead and state officials, which Frankel and Casazza said would be maintained.

“We are not shy in challenging our local elected officials to gain proper services, better engineering and smart[er] growth,” Casazza said.

The civic has close ties with the Nassau County Police Department Commissioner Council, New York State Rising Community reconstruction and the Bellmore Elementary School Site-Based Committee, Casazza added. They also “boast a strong network with other South Shore sister civics.”