Town installs ‘No U-Turn’ sign in front of Sewanhaka

One day when she was dropping her children off at Sewanhaka High School, Judy Staiano watched as a student was hit by a truck while crossing Covert Avenue. He was fine, Staiano said, but it reminded her of Christina Napolitano, who was mowed down by a minivan just feet from the curb in December 2005. She was rushed to the hospital, but fortunately did not have any broken bones. 

“The whole street is a nightmare,” said Staiano, who serves as the Parent Teacher Student Association president. Parents often double park during drop-off and pick-up times, she noted, and will sometimes make U-turns to return to Hempstead Turnpike.

She and other PTSA members discussed these concerns with the school board and town officials, and on Feb. 24, they unveiled a new ‘No U-Turn’ sign on the east side of Covert Avenue. 

“The safety of our students and the educators entrusted with supporting them is of vital importance to myself and my colleagues on the Town Board,” said Supervisor Donald Clavin said in a statement.  “This new sign is a testament to the great working relationship between schools, community members and the Town of Hempstead.”

The sign would serve as a reminder to drivers that it is illegal to make U-Turns in school speed zones under New York State law, Clavin said, and is part of the town’s ongoing initiative to improve pedestrian safety.

“This sign will do much good in reminding drivers, who might not be as familiar with traffic law, that making a U-Turn in a school zone is not only illegal, but incredibly dangerous,” said Councilman Thomas Muscarella.  “I am thankful to have such engaged PTSA and school administration partners here at Sewanhaka and across the Town of Hempstead, and I look forward to continuing this worthwhile pedestrian safety initiative along with my fellow board members.”   

They have already received a request to study traffic signals near the high school, Staiano noted, and said she would also like the town to install a stop sign at the intersection of Eweler and Covert avenues. 

But, she said, she is “hopeful, because we came together to address this issue,” which is “really what our goal as the PTSA is.”