Got the Time? This Woodmere Clock Doesn't

The Woodmere clock is only right twice a day, and community representatives are unsure who is responsible for issuing the repairs.

Dr. John Santopolo, the former president of the Woodmere Merchants Association, sees the clock as a reminder of the frustrations of revitalizing the hamlet's business district.

“Hewlett and Woodmere have a problem with traffic, a problem with parking, making sure stores get rented, and there is no solution from the town or the county,” Santopolo said. “You look at the clock and all those problems pop up in your head as a constant reminder.”

The freestanding clock has been on the corner of Broadway and Irving Place since 1991, and has been frozen at 2 o’clock for the last couple of years. 

With no answers from the Town of Hempstead or Nassau County, the project was put on the back burner last October after the repair company Santopolo hired refused to do any work until they knew the owner.

“It means that our government is so inefficient that you don’t even know if you were given a gift or not,” he said. “We’re not a village, we don't have political representation and it seems like we get ignored.”

A representative from the Town of Hempstead told Patch that it was probably a Nassau County issue, and last they heard, the Hewlett-Woodmere Business Association was granted responsibility of the clock. 

Steve Anchin, president of the Hewlett-Woodmere Business Association, is currently unsure of the clock’s rightful owner, however, he is interested in getting it fixed.

“It certainly does add to [Woodmere],” he said.

Anchin said he recently discovered that it is broken due to an electrical issue, and it can be fixed once he finds out who is in charge of it.

“It won't be a week or two, I’m sure, but when we have the next board meeting I’ll put it on the list of things to do and see if we can make some progress,” Anchin said.

Since many people in Woodmere are either unaware of the clock or just not interested, time might not necessarily be running out, however some business owners see it as a reflection of the community.

Steve Giannousis, owner of , has operated his fur clothing repair shop directly across the street from the clock since it was installed, and never remembers it being fully operational.

“This clock never worked perfectly,” Giannousis said. “It’d be much better if it worked, or at least show the right time.”