Man petitions for changes where nephew died

A petition started by the uncle of 12-year-old Zachary Ranftle to have a crossing guard stationed at the Valley Stream corner where his nephew died is more than halfway to its goal of 1,000 signatures.

Paul Ranftle, 36, of Glen Oaks, created a petition on Change.org calling for Nassau County to put a crossing guard at the corner of South Franklin Avenue and Merrick Road, as well as at any other busy corners in the area. He said that students who walk to and from Central High School and Memorial Junior High School who cut through Arthur J. Hendrickson Park routinely cross at the same corners near the park.

“I talked to a bunch of students at the candlelight vigil that said a lot of kids use that route,” Ranftle said. A vigil in Zachary’s honor was held at the site on Dec. 21.

The seventh-grader was killed when an SUV making a right turn onto West Merrick Road from South Franklin Avenue struck him on the morning of Dec. 11. Nassau County police said that two poles apparently obstructed the driver’s view, obscuring the boy before he stepped into the road.

Ranftle said he has been in contact with village Trustee John Tufarelli about his petition, which includes a request to rename South Franklin in honor of Zachary.

Tufarelli said he had spoken with Ranftle about the petition and advised him to discuss the village’s options with Village Clerk Bob Barra, but added that any direct action would have to come from the county.

“We’re here to help. We’ll sign the petition,” Tufarelli said. “The first step is to get in touch with the county legislator for that area, and that’s Fran Becker.”

Tufarelli said that Mayor Ed Fare and the village board of trustees would play a supportive role, making calls and following up with county officials.

Fare reiterated that the village is limited in what it can do because crossing guards are a county issue. “We could say it until we’re blue in the face,” he said. “We support [Ranftle’s] petition, but it’s something that’s out of our control.”

Members of village agencies like code enforcement, public safety and the auxiliary police routinely assist with pedestrian safety near schools, Fare said, but they don’t have the same authority that a county crossing guard would have.

The mayor described the village’s use of its employees as crossing guards as a double-edged sword, because it can send the message to the county that the need can be filled without the county’s help. He added that it is impossible to post a guard at every corner where students cross a street on the way to school, and that while added precautions would be welcome, they may be difficult to secure.

Ranftle’s petition had 590 signatures as of Tuesday.