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FRANKLIN SQUARE/ELMONT GUIDE
www.liherald.com
Living in: FrankLin square
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hat is now Franklin Square was originally used as grazing land and farmland by white settlers near the center of the Hempstead Plains. By the 1950’s, farmland was rapidly being replaced by homes. Franklin Square was a major beneficiary of the emigration of people from New York City. Franklin Square School District refers to the town’s four elementary schools: Polk Street, Willow Road, John Street and Washington Street. There are three other schools based in Franklin Square but as parts of other school districts: St. Catherine of Sienna Elementary, Valley Stream North and H. Frank Carey High. The town has a volunteer fire department and is served by the Nassau County Police Department’s 4th Precinct. Its most notable park is Rath Park, which includes a pool, basketball, handball, tennis, football and baseball
Susan Grieco/Herald
Philip Allocco, front and James Fogarile race around the track at St. Catherine of Sienna's Family Fesitival on June 28th, 2013 fields and a playground. Town organizations include the Franklin Square Chamber of Commerce, led by Joseph Ardito, Esq., a historical society, youth football and soccer programs and Franklin Square Little League. One of the town’s oldest and most noteable restaurants is Plattdeutsche, which hosts many of community events. Franklin Square has about 30,000 residents living in about 10,300 units, according to the 2010 census. It is 83 percent white, 13 percent Hispanic, 7 percent Asian and 3 percent AfricanAmerican.
Notable residents of Franklin Square include Barbara Rosenthal, who wrote for the Franklin Square Bulletin in 1959 at the age of 11, novelist Alice Hoffman, radio personality Rich Davis, country singer Lisa Matassa, “Jersey Shore” reality television show star Jenni “JWoww” Farley, music journalist and award-winning author Jeff Tamarkin, radio and television host Sean Hannity, NASA astronaut Michael Massimino, professional football player Vinny Testaverde and Major League Baseball player Al Weis.
Donovan Berthoud/Herald
Residents of all ages participated in the Spartan 5k race in March at Valley Stream North High School in Franklin Square.