________ Franklin square/elmont _______
HERALD
For 30+ Years!
Girls soccer wins conference
Halloween spirit is in the air
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Vol. 26 No. 44
oCToBER 24 - 30, 2024
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Welcome to your Herald
Nicole Wagner/Herald
Franklin Square historian Paul van Wie educated neighbors about the historical significance of the hamlet’s downtown area during a revitalization meeting at the Plattduetsche Park Restaurant on Oct. 17.
Franklin Square’s ambitions to revitalize downtown By NIColE WAGNER nwagner@liherald.com
Roughly 200 Franklin Square community members, including leaders of civic associations, places of worship and the school district, attended a revitalization meeting for the hamlet on Oct. 17. There, neighbors and community leaders advocated for the preservation of the downtown area. The meeting, organized by the Franklin Square Historical Society, brought neighbors together to come up with ideas to help the community thrive. Paul van Wie, Franklin Square’s histori-
an, and several other residents advocated for investing in the hamlet’s downtown area. Van Wie said that the downtown has an “oldschool, friendly feel” to it that people of all generations have loved. Many of the buildings there were erected in the 1920s, he added. “Those buildings are really, really significant, and they have value — not only because of their age, but because of their architecture,” van Wie said. Plattduetsche Park, Krauss Funeral Home, St. Catherine of Sienna Church and Hoffman Street are just a few of the archiCOntinued On Page 8
Welcome to the Franklin Square/Elmont Herald. These communities consistently advocate for each other by lending a hand to those in need and speaking up for those without a voice. Whether you’re new in town or your family has called Franklin Square and Elmont home for generations, neighbors always greet each other with kindness here. Folks can hear a number of languages spoken in this diverse community. Businesses can look for support from the Elmont and Franklin Square Chambers of Commerce. The school districts work hard, to educate and support families. Visit the Franklin Square Historical Museum and learn stories of past residents you won’t find anywhere else. Get your game face on, and grab a seat at UBS Arena and hear the roar of the crowd. Thanks to local and state support, residents will see a reinvented historic Belmont Park in 2026 when the Belmont Stakes returns. The local economy looks to see a boost in activity from this renovation and the recent introduction of The Park at UBS Arena and the Belmont Retail Village.
This week’s Franklin/Square Elmont Herald is being mailed to every home, and includes a copy of our popular annual magazine, Living In Franklin Square and Elmont. It’s filled with helpful information you can use throughout the year and it features the hidden gems that make Franklin Square and Elmont such a special place to live. If you’re not a Franklin Square/ Elmont Herald subscriber, we hope a look at this week’s paper will persuade you that you should be. We will continue to give voice to the stories that matter most to the community. We are committed to serving Franklin Square and Elmont, telling the stories you won’t find anywhere else. Email nwagner@liherald.com. To those who share your stories, we thank you. To those who already subscribe to the Herald and help us keep you informed, we thank you. Our local news coverage is only possible with your help. If you like what you see, we encourage you to check out our subscription offer on Page 9, visit LIHerald.com/subscribe or call (516) 569-4000, ext. 7. Nicole Wagner, Editor