14
Living In Franklin Square and Elmont
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Look what’s
Happened
JaNuary
Melissa Koenig/Herald
Nearly 30 Elmont community members marched two miles around town on Jan. 18, 2021, for Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
Maureen Lennon/Herald
Atira Hall and Selene Ferdinand drew messages of hope at Elmont Road Park in July 2020 during Elmont Strong’s “Chalk the Walk” event.
LIVING IN
Elmont
E aprIL
Melissa Koenig/Herald
Natasha Warburton presented Elmont Memorial High School Principal Kevin Dougherty with a gift basket on behalf of Cub Scout Pack 294 for his efforts to help feed local families in April.
May
Courtesy Hamza Akram
Elmont resident Hamza Akram helped organize an exotic car show and toy give-away event called “Toys 4 Eid,” in celebration of the holiday Eid on May 16.
lmont was first settled in the mid-1600s by Dutch settlers. The community remained primarily a loose collection of farms until the late 19th century. In 1898, the community’s borders were finally settled on. The Belmont Racetrack, a centerpiece of the hamlet, opened in 1905, and it has attracted visitors from near and far ever since. Its most prestigious race is the Belmont Stakes, an internationally acclaimed horse-racing competition. Like so many Long Island communities, Elmont underwent a housing boom in the post-World War II era. The Elmont School District includes six elementary schools: Dutch Broadway, Clara H. Carlson, Gotham Avenue, Covert Avenue, Alden Terrace and Stewart Manor. Nearly 2,000 students attend Elmont Memorial High School and Sewanhaka High School, part of the Sewanhaka Central High School District. Elmont also has a volunteer fire department and is served by the Nassau County Police Department’s 5th Precinct. Paul Sapienza leads the Elmont Chamber of Commerce. There are a number of civic associations, such as the Parkhurst Civic Association, that are dedicated to helping residents express their views. Elmont has about 33,200 residents living in about 10,300 housing units. One of the most prominent features of the community is the Elmont Memorial Library. A beautiful building and venue for a variety of events and entertainment series, the library boasts an auditorium and large space for meetings. Thousands visit the library every month for a truly interactive media experience. Notable natives of Elmont include WNBA President Donna Orender, author Nelson DeMille, former NFL player Vinny Testaverde, comedian Andy Kaufman, magician Christopher Sarantakos of “Criss Angel: Mind Freak,” and trainer Cara Castronuova, who has appeared on “The Biggest Loser” television show.
