________ Franklin square/elmont _______
HERALD D’Esposito gets settled in D.C.
Sewanhaka spelling bee
Clean energy lowers lIPA rates
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Vol. 25 No. 5
JANUARY 26 - FEBRUARY 1, 2023
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Committee falls short of drawing a map ence. “I think in both cases there is a common thread we are seeing, and that is the idea of keepAfter several rounds of blis- ing communities whole and tering public hearings and politi- making them more compact.” cally pressurized back-andThe move was met with a forths, the temporary redistrict- sharp uproar from the small ing commission’s efforts to crowd, dashing expectations for explore how new a final green light district lines for a map. should be drawn Mimi Pier refor the Town of Johnson, the Hempstead ended founder of the last Friday with its Elmont Cultural final recommendaCenter, said she felt tion. the commission After weighing had turned a corthe options, ner by for mally between the preacknowledging the liminary map faults of the Town p i t ch e d by t h e of Hempstead’s Town of Hemp- MIMI preliminary map, stead or alternathen did not PIERRE-JoHNSoN but tives by local civic deliver on a solid and law groups, Founder, recommendation. the three-member Elmont Cultural Center “Our hopes commission offi(were) snatched by cially urged Town the fact that they of Hempstead lawmakers to pro- refused to stand behind one of duce a final map that keeps com- the proposed alternative maps munities of interest intact. Still, and tweak it as needed,” Pierreit stopped short of putting for- Johnson said. “The resolution is ward an actual map for the town not enough to satisfy everything to consider. the public raised a concern to.” “We really sat, each one of us, Since day one of the redisand it truly was a hearing: we tricting process, the concerns listened,” commission Chair- raised by residents and stakeman Gary Hudes told the audiContinued on page 12
By ANA BoRRUTo & JUAN lASSo Of the Herald
T
Ana Borruto/Herald
FRANklIN SqUARE HISToRICAl Society members, from left, Bill and Nancy Youngfert, Patricia Realmuto and Paul van Wie have dedicated years of work, as volunteers, to establishing the Franklin Square Museum. Behind them is the donor tree on which they plan to display the names of museum supporters.
F.S. Museum to start monthly open houses in February By ANA BoRRUTo aborruto@liherald.com
T he F ranklin Square Museum is a portal to the past, with hundreds of artifacts that date back to the community’s beginnings. Since the museum opened last spring, the Franklin Square Historical Society has only offered private tours to local schools and society members, but starting next month, members of the public will be able to stop in to see
the hamlet’s rich history on full display. Starting Feb. 5, the museum will be open to the community on the first Sunday of every month from 2 to 4 p.m., said Bill Youngfert, treasurer of the historical society. “In the past, we took phone calls and appointments, and I would be here waiting for people,” Youngfert said. “It worked, but there were many times when I’d be sitting here waiting, and no one would show up — we’re all volun-
teers, so the board decided at our last board meeting that we should set up a time we’ll be open and anybody can come in.” The museum has been in the works for over two decades. When the historical society was founded in 1976, it began collecting hundreds of donations, which included everything from Ger man antiques to local veterans’ military uniforms to vintage classroom desks to family Continued on page 4
he resolution is not enough to satisfy everything the public raised a concern to.