Living in Franklin Square

Look what’s Happening

OctOber

Christina Daly/Herald Brooklyn Viola, 3, decorated a pumpkin at the Morton Civic Association’s inaugural Trunk or Treat celebration on Oct. 20, 2019.

AprIL

Courtesy Christine Gangone Christine Gangone, the unicorn, and Michele Hall, the hippo, joined the Easter Bunny at Rath Park in April 2020 for a drive-by Easter celebration.

MAy

Christina Daly/Herald Carey High School Principal Christopher Fiore distributed lemonade to seniors and local residents in May.

Christina Daly/Herald The dance floor was packed behind Helen Squilsante and Lodge 2245 President Vincent Giordano at the America Lodge’s annual Dinner Dance in September 2019, as everyone did the YMCA.

LIVING IN Franklin Square

What is now Franklin Square was originally used as grazing land and farmland by settlers near the center of the Hempstead Plains.

By the 1950s, homes started to encroach on farmland. Franklin Square was a major beneficiary of the migration of people from New York City.

The Franklin Square Union Free School District is consists of the Polk Street, John Street and Washington Street elementary schools. The nearby Willow Road Elementary School is in Valley Stream District 13. The high schools in the area are Valley Stream North and H. Frank Carey.

Franklin Square has a volunteer fire department and is served by the Nassau County Police Department’s 5th Precinct. Its most notable park is Rath Park, which includes a pool, basketball, handball, tennis, football and baseball fields and a playground.

Local organizations include the Franklin Square Chamber of Commerce, currently led by President Bruno M. Caracciolo; a historical society; youth football and soccer programs; and Franklin Square Little League. One of Franklin Square’s oldest and most notable restaurants is Plattdeutsche, which hosts many community events.

Franklin Square has about 29,320 residents living in about 9,600 housing units, according to the 2010 census.

Notable natives of Franklin Square include the artist and author Barbara Rosenthal, who wrote for the Franklin Square Bulletin in 1959 at age 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.