Seaford Teen Beautifies East Broadway Elementary School

Seaford resident James Pustorino helped organize a volunteer effort last week to beautify .

Thursday's volunteer effort on that included students from Kellenberg High School and MacArthur High School, involved plantings and building picnic tables. Pustorino, a senior at Kellenberg High School in Uniondale, facilitated the beautification of East Broadway as part of his Eagle Scout project. Pustorino is a graduate of East Broadway and decided he wanted to give back to his former elementary school, which is located on 751 Seamans Neck Road in Seaford and is part of the Levittown School District.

Pustorino approached East Broadway Principal Jeanmarie Wink to get ideas on the best ways to beautify the property. Wink asked the fifth graders what they wanted at their school and an interest in having picnic tables outside to eat lunch and play board games was expressed. She also suggested that Pustorino refurbish all of the gardens around the school.

Pustorino received a donation of four picnic tables from Nassau County Legis. Dennis Dunne, R-Levittown, and he also built four from scratch. Pustorino fundraised for his project by selling candy bar and asking for friends, relatives local businesses to donate. Some businesses who made donations included in Seaford, Chapey Funeral Home in Bethpage, Fra Amichi in Bethpage and Sequa Deli in Massapequa. Family Lumber of Bethpage generously provided the lumber and materials at a discounted rate. 

Hempstead Town Supervisor Kate Murray presented Pustorino with a citation Thursday as he and the other volunteers were working. Hempstead Town Councilman Gary Hudes, R-Levittown, also visited the volunteers. 

“Even though the work was hard labor it was working towards a good cause,” said Adam Santiago from Bellmore, who is currently a senior at Kellenberg.