County Executive: Tackapausha Museum Not Closing

Nearly two months after Nassau County Executive Edward Mangano said that the to help close a more than $300 million budget gap, the lawmaker is now saying that the Seaford facility will not be shuttered completely.

Mangano’s office said Monday that instead of Tackapausha closing, the museum on 2225 Washington Ave. will operate on a reduced schedule starting Jan. 1. The museum will be open on Wednesday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., said Mangano spokeswoman Mary Studdert. The Tackapausha Preserve, located behind the museum along the Seaford-Massapequa border, will remain open full-time, said Studdert.

County officials said it is still uncertain if the museum’s reduced hours will lead to layoffs. Tackapausha currently has one full-time employee, Wendy Albin, who serves as the museum’s director. Albin also has four part-time workers on payroll.

“We’re still unsure about my situation because we sill don’t have all the information,” said Albin.

Tackapausha Museum, which recently , is set to celebrate its 65th anniversary next year. The museum has been closed to the public since Aug. 16, 2010.

In an effort to save the Seaford museum from closing, a Friends of Tackapausha Committee was formed. The group is registering to become a 501(c charity and is hoping to help keep the museum open for as many hours as possible.

“The idea is to help the county keep Tackapausha open because it is such a viable institution,” said Friends of Tackapausha Committee founder Lorraine Bondi-Goldsmith.

A Save Tackapausha Museum & Preserve Facebook page has also been formed, which has 111 recommends.

The Friends of Tackapausha Committee is planning to have its next meeting on Nov. 15 at 7 p.m. inside the museum.