By KAREN RICE
The avenue, several residents said, causes a great deal of confusion with Cedarhurst Avenue in Cedarhurst because after Broadway, where Lawrence Village begins, the house numbers start all over again at one, causing the numbers to repeat. Residents said workers, delivery people, mail carriers, visitors and even police, firefighters and EMTs get confused on Cedarhurst Avenue in Cedarhurst when they cannot find the right house number and then go to the wrong address.
Several residents signed a petition in 1999 requesting that the village change the avenue's name to rectify the situation. The village then installed two signs on Broadway and three on Cedarhurst Avenue to help clear up the confusion.
In 1999 we received a petition from residents and we responded by putting up about five signs along Cedarhurst Ave and Broadway to help clear up confusion, said Dr. Jack Levenbrown, Lawrence Village mayor. Also, I got in contact with 911 communications to make sure all the addresses were accurately programmed.
However, despite the village's efforts, many residents said they are still having difficulties with the avenue, which was known as Ocean Point Road in the 1800s, according to the village.
I have had problems, said Elizabeth Mayer, who has lived on Cedarhurst Avenue in Lawrence for 13 years. I have five kids and every year the school buses could not find us. With every new bus I had the problem again. [The bus] would wind up being late. And deliveries forget it. Unless a store knows you already, they will probably get lost.
Dr. Sheldon Small, a dentist who runs his practice out of his home on Cedarhurst Avenue, agreed that the situation is tricky for people who are not familiar with the avenues.
There's a lot of confusion when I have new patients, he said. They come from Peninsula Boulevard and go southbound. I usually get a frantic cell phone call after they pass where they felt the office should be. It's a bit of an inconvenience for me and it's an inconvenience for the patients. I have to tell them to make sure they cross Broadway.
Fran Sicklick, who has lived on Cedarhurst Avenue in Lawrence for about 10 years, felt that the situation was a danger to residents because emergency workers and response teams have trouble finding the houses in emergencies.
Emergency workers are unable to find our homes, she said. Someone's [home security] alarm went off and [the police] could not find the home. When they arrived we asked them why they were late and they said they could not find the house. It's a danger because new people come to the police force all the time and unless you tell them in advance, they will most likely get lost.
Sicklick added that it would make sense to change the avenue's name to Briarwood Crossing because the house numbers, which start at one after Broadway, continue consecutively all the way down through Briarwood Crossing, which follows after Cedarhurst Avenue in Lawrence. Logically changing the name to Briarwood Crossing makes the most sense, she said. It would solve the problem.
Resident Geri Gindea agreed that it would make sense to change the avenue's name to Briarwood Crossing before a tragedy occurs.
There's definitely a confusion with deliveries, she said. It's been a difficulty and we should try to correct it. The number sequence makes sense with Briarwood Crossing. The numbers continue straight through which makes it a good choice. I recognize there are administrative difficulties but I think weighing an administrative burden on one hand and a more frightening loss you can't compare. Don't wait until it is too late.
Levenbrown said that he thoroughly checked out every incident where an emergency worker may have been delayed because of confusion with the avenue. He said all the delays, which averaged about three minutes, were caused by other problems such as traffic or an error made by a operator at police headquarters.
Village Administrator Peter Overs sympathized with residents and said the village will send out a letter to 34 Lawrence households on the avenue soliciting their views on whether they want a name change.
Levenbrown said he is waiting to see what residents say in response to the letters.
