POLICE BOYS' CLUB ACTIVITIES
A series of basketball games are being held by the Police Boys'
Club at Randall Park under the lights. Regular schedules of hardball, Softball,
and baseball are being run.
Every Friday, twenty boys from the Club are taken twelve miles
out for deep sea fishing, on the boats of the Viking Fleet, under the supervis-ion
of Frank Dorman and Capt. Carl Forsberg.
On August 27, the boys were scheduled for a visit to Ebbets Field,
when the Dodgers and the Chicago Cubs were playing.
LONG ISLAND RAILROAD TAXES
One effect of the Long Island Railroad's bankruptcy has been an
accumulation of unpaid taxes over a. period of five years. In so far as these
affect the Village of Freeport, the unpaid taxes with accrued penalties total
$50,569.44. The fact that the Railroad is in bankruptcy makes full collection
doubtful, though what its capacity to pay might eventually be is a matter of spec-ulation.
The most recent move by the Railroad has been to offer the Village
$18,830.28 in settlement of all of their tax and penalty arrears. This sum is
a proportionate amount of a sum of $1,689,523.79, by which the Road offers to
settle all tax and arrearage claims in Nassau County. The offer is computed
in the same manner as the tax settlement recently entered into with the City of
New York.
Inasmuch as the offers made by the Railroad are substantially less
than the sums actually due.tlie Freeport Board of Trustees -a year ago -asked
that a combined demand be made by all Nassau County villages to hold the Rail-road
to better terms than had been offered. The suggestion was that the Nas-sau
County Village Officials A ssociation undertake to make an issue of the mat-ter,
rather than accept a lesser sum-than might actually be collectible. Re-cently,
the Village Board renewed the suggestion, and the Village Officials As-sociation
has now designated a committee, in cooperation with the County, to
go thoroughly into all matters affecting relations with the Railroad,not only as
to the unpaid taxes, but including lower fares and better train service. Mayor
William F. Glacken has been designated as one of the members of this com-mittee.
"LITTER-ARY DEPARTMENT"
To the Editor :
I would like to call attention of my fellow residents in Freeport, to
a condition that I think perhaps your publication may do something to clear up.
That is, in connection with a habit of some of my neighbors of using my lawn
and sidewalk as a trash basket. Within the past week, I have picked up the fol-lowing
items: discarded cigarette packages, sections of newspapers, paper
handkerchiefs (used), an empty sherry bottle in a paper bag, portion of a con-fidential
letter (unfortunately, the name was torn off).
Since I live in Residence AA district, I wonder if something cannot
be done in the way of keeping properties up to the reputation that such classifi-cation
indicates. Or do I have to be a 'trash collector'for careless neighbors?
I would appreciate comment from some of your readers.
A Citizen
POLICEMEN'S UNIFORMS
Brigadier Ernest Newton of the Freeport Salvation Army gives ap-preciation
of the new uniform adopted for the Police Department, as follows:
"From many people I have heard most favorable comment on your allowing the
'Freeport "s Finest' towear their shirts open at the neck. The force is made up
of a group of fine men, and I am sure they appreciate the change in regulation.
Perhaps some day a lighter weight shirt & trousers will be used for the summer!1
FREEPORT
Your
Home Town
The
Friendly Village
Vol 2 - No. 9 September, 1953
TRIBUTE to GEORGE MAURER
The Village lost one of its best known and most active department heads
in the death of George V. Maurer, Superintendent of the Water Department, on
August 17th. Resolution of appreciation for the services he had rendered were
adopted by the Board of Trustees; and his associates in the Village, office attend-ed
the funeral services, in a body, on August 20th..
Mr. Maurer was born in 1895, at NewRochelle, New York, and was ed-ucated
in the public schools. He came to Freeport about 35 years ago, estab-lishing
himself here in the plumbing business. He served in World War I, and
upon his discharge became active in the-American Legion. In 1942 he entered
the services of the Village of Freeport, and became Superintendent of the Water
Department in 1948.
Though seriously ill, he attended a Village Board meeting to report on
the work of his department within a week of his final confinement to his home.
BUILDING CONSTRUCTION REPORT
The Village of Freeport, during the first five months of the official Vil-lage
year, shows a gain in building construction beyond that of any of the other
villages in Nassau County. The following table indicates reports from the five
large village s of the County:
BUILDING CONSTRUCTION - 1953
March
April
May
June
July
Total
Hempstead
$ 343, 126
431,022
280.210
290,387
295,033
$1,639,778
Rockville Centre Lynbrook
$383.158
220. 530
303,758
207,157
100,714
$1,215,317
$ 160,270
196,225
187,782
220,060
47.640
$811.977
Valley Stream
$480,048
221.866
589.010
518.273
117.181
$1.926,378
Freeport
$713,266
354, 820
379,470
828,016
744, 238
$3.019.810
NEW ORDINANCES and AMENDMENTS
New ordinances - and amendments to the existing ordinances -adopted
since our last publication - are as follows :
(1) Speed limit for motor vehicles within the Village was re-enacted and max-imum
of 30 miles an hour established (except in specially marked places and
except near schools where the limit is 20 miles.) This amendment was adopt-ed
to make possible 'the operation of a speed clock under control of the Police
Department.
(2) Minimum fees of $2.50 were set for the approval of plans and inspection of
plumbing fixtures, with a fee of $5.00 where fixtures numbered from three to
six, and an additional fee of $1. 00 for every fixture in the excess.
(3) Applicants for examination as licensed plumber are requiredto pay a fee of
$25.00, with $10.00 renewal fee annually.
(4) Emptying floor drains or basin sumps into sewage system is prohibited.
RAILROAD GATES DEMANDED
The Village Board presented to the Public Service Commission a de-mand
that crossing gates be installed at Brookside Avenue by the Long Island
Railroad. The demand was made at a hearing called by the Public Service Com-mission
upon the request of the Board of Trustees, on August 13th. Present
at the hearing were Mayor William F. Glacken; Village Engineer, Herbert M.
Wood; Police Chief, Peter Elar; Sup't. of Buildings, Wilbert F. DeMott; and
Associate Chairman of the Park Commission, Van Baar Brown, who presented
the case for the Village, under questioning by Village Counsel Martin Weyrauch.
Others who testified for the Village were Robert O. Goldschmidt, representing
the Chamber of Commerce, and George Fairberg, President of the Northwest
Civic Association. Representing the P. S. C. was E. L. Bloch, hear ing examiner.
The testimony developed the grade crossing danger s created bythe
increased traffic at Brookside Avenue during the past two or three years; the
fact that a traffic signal had been placed by the State Highway Department at
Brookside Avenue and Sunrise Highway; and the use of the crossing by children
who would attend the Northwest Park, which is about to be opened.
The Long Island Railroad was represented by its General Attorney,
Henry B. Staples, who asked for further opportunity to present the Railroad's
side of the case against the installation of gates. The hearing was setfor con-tinuance
on September 21st, 1953, for that purpose.
SPEED WATCH INSTALLED
TO: All residents of the Village of Freeport, And -
Those motorists traveling through the Village of Freeport.
The Village of Freeport, in the near future, and for the safety of the
public, will use SPEED-WATCH for the enforcement of the speed law. Cables
will be set across the roadway for a distance of 132 feet apart. These cables
will be connected to other cables leading to an electric SPEED-WATCH, which
will register the time you entered and left the zone, and the rate of speed at
which you went through the zone. At the SPEED-WATCH will be stationed a
policeman, who will stop you if you are in violation of the speed law. From then
on, the usual police procedure will take place.
Within a few days, signs reading "SPEED ELECTRICALLY TIMED1
will be posted at entrances to the Village of Freeport. When you observe these
signs you can expect a SPEED-WATCH in operation at any point in the Village.
We, of the Freeport Police Department, have no desire to hold you
for speeding. All we ask is that you observe the law, thereby making Freeport
a safer place in which to live. Our speed limit is 30 miles per hour throughout
'the Village, except on school streets. The speed limit on school streets is 20
miles per hour. Let us all abide by the laws of the land and enjoy the society of
men, women and children as we should.
At Your Service,
Peter Elar, Chief of Police.
DEDICATION OF FIREMEN'S FIELD
Mayor Wm. Glacken, on behalf of the Vil-lage
Board, dedicated the new Firemen's
Field on Sunrise Highway and Buffalo Av-enue,
on Sunday, August 9th, in the pres-ence
of the entire Freeport Fire Depart-ment,
and representative groups from the
neighboring communities. Mayor Glacken
said, in part:
" It has been my privilege to
talk with a great many people in this Vil-lage
on terms of intimate understanding.
And I can report to you that I know of no
one who has ever mentioned our Fire De-partment,
or the men and officers in it, ex-cept
in terms of great pride and admira-tion.
Everyone realizes the fine work you
are doing;that your splendid services have
not only protected precious lives and saved
Here you see Fire Chief Franklyn
Grempel, using the loudspeaker
on the tournament arch, announ-cing
the dedication of Firemen's
Field, on August 9th, 1953.
* * * *
valuable property,but have brought down the cost of our living to a marked de-gree.
That is,our insurance rates.are notably low,because your services have
been notably high.
Your fellow citizens have indicated their approval of your work in
another way. They have endorsed the desire of this Board of Trustees and of
its predecessors, to see that you have the best of adequate, modern apparatus
and equipment. This for the purpose of making your work less hazardous to
you while on the job, but also as a token of appreciation for your efforts. It
lets you know that we feel you are entitled to the best from us, because you give
us the best that is in you. We are now proud to make this additional token of a
Field dedicated to Firemen, and to 'Firemanics', as an additional mark of es-teem,
and to provide you additional opportunities for training and preparation,
as well as for recreation.
My wish, that of the Village administration, and that of every res-ident
of Freeport, is that you may find in this Field the same gratification we
have always felt for your services."
ZONING BOARD NEWS
At a meeting of the Zoning Board of Appeals on August 19th, the fol-lowing
cases were presented, with Vice-Chairman George Maislen presiding,
in the absence of Chairman Gordon Edwards :
(1) Appeal and application for variance filed by JohnH.Spanier, 449 Kings High
Way, Brooklyn, New York, to permit erection of dwelling with one setback 13
feet instead of the required 20 feet, which is in violation of Ordinance #10. 1,
Section 12-8. Property located on the northeast corner of Seaman Avenue and
Sagamore Street, Freeport,New York. Variance granted because of hardship.
(2) Appeal and application for variance filed by Mortimer G. Post, 186 East
Seaman Avenue, .Freeport, New York, to permit alteration of sunporch, which
would reduce one front setback to 16 feet instead of 20 feet, which is in viola-tion
of Ordinance #10. 1, Section 12.8. Variance granted to modernize house.
(3) Appeal and application for variance filed by David J.Pentecost, 31 Weber-field
Avenue, Freeport, New York, to permit erection of a one-car frame at-tached
garage, with side yard of 2 ft. 8 in., instead of the required 5 feet, which
is a violation of Ordinance #10. 1, Section 6-G-l. Variance granted.
Freeport Memorial Library-Village of Freeport Newsletters
