Throughout this week's Town Focus series in Wyandanch, we are profiling people we meet, from community leaders to residents we bump into around town. 
 Pecolia Bostic Age: 68 Wyandanch Community Development Corp. member; raised seven children in the community 
 How long have you lived in the community? 53 years. 
 How did you end up here? My mom and stepfather moved us here from Plainview. I was about 14, 15. They were farm workers, there were lots of potato farms around then and they worked there in the summers. But they left there, and my stepfather worked in a cemetery here and my mother was a housewife. 
 What was it like for you? I loved it. I was originally born in South Carolina. My mom and my auntie came up here first and were working in Plainview and then a year later brought my brother Larry and myself. I was from the country, so moving to Long Island, I loved it. It was comfortable. First we lived on Round Swamp Road and I felt at home, there were lots of trees. But we didn’t like living on the farm so we were happy when we moved to Wyandanch. 
 Eventually, the homes came and the trees left. A lot more people came. I only left Wyandanch for two years. I moved to Bay Shore, but then I came back. 
 Why did you move back? My mom still lived here, the community was nice, you get to know everyone. Back then, you watched out for one another’s children. 
 How has the community changed? The growth, as far as both the number of people and the community. Back then it was a lot of Italians and Polish, at least 80 percent of the population. My first friends in Wyandanch and my family were the only two black families on our whole block. Through the years that has changed, but a lot of people from my generation have sold their homes and moved out. On my block -- and I’ve lived there for 38 years -- only two of us are still there. 
 What would you like to see change? Wyandanch Rising is a change and a big improvement. It’s bringing businesses back in the community, and we also need to bring back interest in the community. 
 Our parks are not utilized as they were. The pool at Geiger Park is not used. I myself have taken an interest in seeing that pool utilized again. The kids from the neighborhood go to other neighborhoods for things to do. My kids used to have lunch picnics at the pool and at the parks. I myself would spend Sunday at the pool. 
 I’d also say the village of Wyandanch needs to be improved. I remember every store that we used to have, they are all gone. But Wyandanch Rising is promising a new version of the village, new businesses coming in and that has improved it.

Throughout this week's Town Focus series in Wyandanch, we are profiling people we meet, from community leaders to residents we bump into around town. Pecolia Bostic Age: 68 Wyandanch Community Development Corp. member; raised seven children in the community How long have you lived in the community? 53 years. How did you end up here? My mom and stepfather moved us here from Plainview. I was about 14, 15. They were farm workers, there were lots of potato farms around then and they worked there in the summers. But they left there, and my stepfather worked in a cemetery here and my mother was a housewife. What was it like for you? I loved it. I was originally born in South Carolina. My mom and my auntie came up here first and were working in Plainview and then a year later brought my brother Larry and myself. I was from the country, so moving to Long Island, I loved it. It was comfortable. First we lived on Round Swamp Road and I felt at home, there were lots of trees. But we didn’t like living on the farm so we were happy when we moved to Wyandanch. Eventually, the homes came and the trees left. A lot more people came. I only left Wyandanch for two years. I moved to Bay Shore, but then I came back. Why did you move back? My mom still lived here, the community was nice, you get to know everyone. Back then, you watched out for one another’s children. How has the community changed? The growth, as far as both the number of people and the community. Back then it was a lot of Italians and Polish, at least 80 percent of the population. My first friends in Wyandanch and my family were the only two black families on our whole block. Through the years that has changed, but a lot of people from my generation have sold their homes and moved out. On my block -- and I’ve lived there for 38 years -- only two of us are still there. What would you like to see change? Wyandanch Rising is a change and a big improvement. It’s bringing businesses back in the community, and we also need to bring back interest in the community. Our parks are not utilized as they were. The pool at Geiger Park is not used. I myself have taken an interest in seeing that pool utilized again. The kids from the neighborhood go to other neighborhoods for things to do. My kids used to have lunch picnics at the pool and at the parks. I myself would spend Sunday at the pool. I’d also say the village of Wyandanch needs to be improved. I remember every store that we used to have, they are all gone. But Wyandanch Rising is promising a new version of the village, new businesses coming in and that has improved it.

News

Wyandanch people: Pecolia Bostic

Wyandanch

Newsday

HLWYAN13

Homepage Trending

What to know about cyclospora

Wallet Watch

FeedMe Magazine

Summer Fun Book

NEWSDAY TV SHORTS

Vertical videos

NewsdayTV's Doug Geed has a first look at something new to enjoy, an evergreen maze at Shamrock Christmas Tree Farm.

Out East: Shamrock Christmas Tree Farm's new evergreen maze

The nonprofit Whip Pediatric Cancer provides unicorn-themed dresses to kids receiving chemo treatment. The dresses have a zipper running down the chest allowing for access to a chemotherapy port.

Unicorn-themed dresses help girls who are undergoing chemo feel 'like a princess'

Newsday travel reporter Carissa Kellman bikes Ocean Parkway Coastal Greenway, stopping along the way at seasonal hot spots.

Beach hop with savory stops along LI's coastal bike path

NewsdayTV's Macy Egeland and Doug Geed take a look back at the case against Richard Angelo, who injected several patients with a paralyzing drug.

Picture This: That time an LI nurse killed several patients

Advocates say they are seeing signs that U.S. Customs and Immigration Enforcement agents are becoming more active on Long Island. NewsdayTV's Shari Einhorn reports.

ICE presence once again growing on LI

NewsdayTV's Ken Buffa works out the wrinkles and learns the meticulous process of car wrapping at LI Wrap Pros & Mechanic in Mineola.

LI Works: That's a wrap! Ken tries his hand at wrapping cars

Sunday's competition, the 12th annual held at Peter's Clam Bar, raised money to benefit the Lindsey Rose Parke Foundation.

Island Park restaurant holds annual clam-eating contest

John Scarola of Kings Park volunteers at the Sweetbriar Nature Center because environment and nature are things he is very passionate about.

 Volunteers of LI: Kings Park man does his part to preserve nature

Newsday food writer Melissa Azofeifa tried several dishes on from the social media menu at Island Lake Diner in Ronkonkoma.

Trying the social media menu at Island Lake Diner

The remains of Sgt. Henry "Harry" Younge, an airman from Long Island who was killed in a Japanese prison fire during World War II, were buried in Arlington National Cemetery on Monday.

WWII airman from LI laid to rest 8 decades after his death

<a href="https://www.newsday.com/video/newsdaytv-top-stories">Get more on these and other NewsdayTV stories</a>

Newsday TV

NewsdayTV Top Item

Construction worker killed in crash ... Capsized boat that killed mother, baby was overcrowded ... Trump to LI ... Coffee with international twist

Construction worker killed in crash ... Trump to LI ... Coffee with international twist

News - megaslot

Newsday has the most up-to-date stories on Long Island & NTC. Join us & stay current with news articles on sports, business, health, technology & more.

Stay logged in.