TWF 331: On The Incredible News Of A Shooting In Freeport

 Hello, Freeporters,

I wish I could be joining you with better news on this day, but unfortunately I cannot.  Yesterday, as I first learned from the news agency Daily Voice Nassau, and later saw repeated on sites like NBC 4 New York, a drive-by shooting took place at a house party located on Babylon Turnpike.

Four children were shot.

I want to start by offering my best wishes to these wounded children, along with my wishes for anyone who was present at the tragedy.  I don't know their physical condition, as the NBC 4 article notes that their condition wasn't known at the time of publication, states that they were expected to survive.  That is good news.

I hope these are relatively minor injuries, and that they can and will make a full recovery.  As bad as that still is, things are not going to be so easy as simply healing from wounds. I know they - and all those who were present - are suffering psychological trauma.  There's no escaping that, but it's still horrific to consider.

The Positive Response

Overall, the community response has been one of horror and support.  I've seen many a Facebook post about how tragic this is, and how they wish for the victims to recover.  That lightens my heart.  Moreover, after reading what someone related to a victim said (I'm only mentioning this because it's a public forum), that one victim is doing okay.  Just knowing that is a huge relief, and we again wish him a full and speedy recovery.

Again, on the whole, most people have condemned the violence, cheered on the victims' recovery, offered updates about those they are close to, and called out for what little excuse there is standing in for justice in such a horrible crime.  True justice would be that this never happened, but that's impossible, so all we have left is pain and preventing this from happening again.

But not everyone has handled this gracefully, and I feel there's no getting around the need to point out that some people are saying insensitive (at best) 

The Less-Than-Positive

I can always rely on the majority of Freeport and its neighboring communities to get things right in times of crisis, and I take heart from that.

However, not everyone has handled this situation appropriately.

I will be pointing out two comments, both of which were unacceptable, and both of which shall remain nameless because their authors do not deserve credit, and because I am not interested in creating internet brigades.  One is, in my opinion, suggestive of racism.  One is suggestive of attempting to make an unacceptable political point in an election season off of of dishonestly representing the law.

It's also my understanding that both of these commenters are either from outside of the Freeport community (with no clear evidence they've ever spent time, here), or are no longer even so much as in geographical proximity of the community.  In other words, it's easy for them to talk when it's not at all related to them.

The first was as follows:

I'm just gonna be honest:  Best case is that this is a projection of insensitivity, or maybe some kind of crude attempt to be an edge-lord.  Worst case (which is where my mind happens to go, these days) is that this is deliberately racist.  There's no expression of contrition, there's no giving a damn about how the kids are.  "No crime in the Hood" right?  To my mind:  I'm sure that thought might be followed by, "And we all know who lives in the Hood."  Also implied is, "We don't care about the Hood, or the kids that were shot."

We should rise above this pettiness.

We must.

Another post I saw that was distressing was a deliberate attempt at politicizing these childrens' suffering by ranting about New York State's bail reform law under false pretenses.

This is a lie.

According to the Brennan Center, a non-partisan law and policy institute, they write:

Very clearly, at least according to this analysis done by legal-world professionals, violent felonies are still bail-worthy offenses.  Now, the fact is that if this person has the money and/or means to get it from a bondsman, they can just pay bail and get out just like it was before bail reform was initiated.  But a judge can absolutely order them detained on bail.

Hell, for four counts of attempted murder, I would not be surprised if they were remanded without bail as an option.

I also noticed that, since the man brought up politics, he didn't talk about New York's actual, real laudable attempts to take illegal guns off the streets.  Because New York has been trying to keep gun violence low, and overall has a fairly low incidence of gun violence to begin with compared to other states.  Now, I might imagine some other things this person might believe about firearms, but I won't get into those.

So In Conclusion...

If you're one of the two people I mentioned, or if you're just someone who liked one of their posts:  Be better than this, especially if you left the town a long time ago and never looked back, or if you never lived here to begin with.

The rest of Freeport is carrying on with solidarity and love for those who were hurt, and with an eye intent on preventing another tragedy like this from ever happening.

May such lofty hopes come true.

Thank you for reading.  Jesse Pohlman is the editor-in-chief of The Weekly Freeporter, and spent his first thirty years living in Freeport. He still visits the community regularly (imminently after publishing this, in fact), with the intent to live there once again when all affairs are settled.

TWF 329 - New York State Sues Freeport Over Cleveland Avenue Environmental Disclosures

Hello, friends!

I hope this post finds you all well.  Before we get into the news, I just want to note that the subject of our previous article, Hitler-cheerleading Carl Paladino, appears to have lost his primary.  I figured I'd start with that good news.

New York Attorney General Sues Freeport.

Well, we can start with a link to the court document (hat tip to Dawn de le Llera for posting the link on FB) which appears to have been filed yesterday by NYS Attorney General Letitia James.  I invite you to read it for yourself, but being as neither of us are lawyers (except those of us who might be reading this who might be lawyers?  In which case, hi!  Feel free to gently correct me where I'm wrong), I think both of us are going to labor in analyzing it.

Here's what I gathered from it:

Paragraph 22 sets out that the Village Board approved a "negative declaration," basically saying that there would be no negative environmental impact to what's apparently a 15-acre industrial development over previously green space.

According to Paragraph 24, the Village did not perform a required type of environmental impact study on their proposed sale of the park to developer PDC .  In fact, if I'm reading it right, Paragraph 24 lays out that Freeport did nothing whatsoever - no study, no research, nothing - to support its negative declaration.

First and foremost is that the sale simply doesn't pass the environmental sniff test.  Paragraphs 29-31 certainly lay this issue bare, but it also hits on another issue:  That the sale would have a negative impact primarily on lower-income residents of color.

Diving Into The Lawsuit Against Freeport

New York's lawsuit seems to have two main thrusts, then.  The first is about the environment, the second is social equity.  In many ways, these two are connected:  "What will the impacts be, and who will bear the brunt of them?"

One thing I found impressive about this briefing was found in Paragraphs 19-20, in that it has a familiarity with both Freeport's history (the Moxey Rigby's experience during Hurricane Sandy) as well as it's accurateness with regards to the hydrological cycle.

NY AG James seems to be asking Freeport, "Hey, have you studied how paving over a bunch of open space is going to impact the immediate neighborhood during a flood like, say, Hurricane Sandy's future reincarnation?"  And while Freeport's official answer is yet to be published (to my knowledge), the fact remains that so far, their answer appears to be "no."

I remember one of the earliest issues The Weekly Freeporter covered was Mayor Hardwick's proposal to build an incinerator in Freeport.  In the linked article, I paraphrased Trustee Robert Kennedy from a community meeting citizens had organized in neighboring Merrick.

At the time, Robert Kennedy understood that it was incumbent on a business making a developmental proposal to evaluate the environmental impacts the building would have.  NOT taxpayers.  In this case, it should fall upon PDC to perform a legitimate environmental impact study using independent experts and labor.

But, really...

All in all, this is an issue that should not exist.  Robert Kennedy from a decade ago recognized that this needed to be done.  Did Robert Kennedy of today forget?  Did the Board?  If so - how?!

Seems like this is just another fight that didn't need to happen, and you'd better believe that reading that brief has further moved me in the "no, I'd prefer we keep the open space" camp.  I've vacillated, mainly because the alleged tax savings would be a huge benefit to many families in Freeport (I'm certainly happy to pay less in taxes), but I also strongly doubt that apartments Village-wide are about to drop their rent by a commensurate percentage, and it's clear which parts of the community are going to make sacrifices and which other parts will be reaping the rewards.

It just seems rushed, and I don't like being rushed into deals.

TWF 327 - Freeport's Nautical Mile Festival Is Coming Up, June 4th!

Hey friends!

I hope you're all doing well.  This is just a short notice to remind all of you (who probably already know?) that the Freeport Nautical Mile Festival is coming up, this weekend.  So make sure you wear your sun-block (skin cancer sucks, trust me first-hand on that one), wear a hat that keeps the sun out of your face, bring some water with you, and have a good time!

Oh!  And stay out of trouble!

Jesse Pohlman is an author from Long Island, New York, born and raised in Freeport.  He writes sci-fi/fantasy novels you can check out at his website.

TWF 323: Big Winter Storm Approaching, Jan 28, 2022

 Hello, friends,

The below image is courtesy of the National Weather Service.

I mean, that says enough, doesn't it?  Well, Accuweather says this:

That's...Honestly twice as bad as the 6-12 we were predicted to get as of a couple days ago, which is why I decided it deserved an article.  That means it's time to review some of our usual winter weather tips!  If you've got one you'd like to share, leave it in the comments and I'll credit you and add it to the list.

(Yes, this list seems to repeat year to year for a reason, but it's been tweaked here and there)

- Try to stock up on anything you need before the snow gets heavy.  It goes without saying that if you can't drive safely, if you can't move well, then you are at risk of getting injured while walking around, or crashing your car if you risk driving.  I know it's kind of an old motif, but get your "bread and milk" now.

 - Keep your pets and beloved animals inside!!!  They won't be able to move through two feet of snow any better than you will, and if the temperature is cold out, they can get sick or even freeze to death.  Have some compassion.  If you can, put out a large styrofoam box/cooler/something, stuffed with straw, for local stray cats/animals to take shelter in; in these days, compassion is a must.  If you've got some spare pet food, put that out - staying warm burns calories.

 - Help your neighbors clear the snow from their sidewalks if you can.  If possible - and I mean unless you absolutely cannot - clear out a 3-feet circle around your nearby fire hydrants.  (via TJ Johnson.)  Make sure to dress warmly, wear sturdy and stable boots, and take your time shoveling!

 - If the power goes out, be careful with candles! Nobody needs a fire!

 - Keep a cell phone handy; a battery-powered radio is a good idea, too.  If you need to report a non-life-threatening emergency, call the Nassau County line at 1-888-684-4274.  For medical emergencies ONLY, use 911.  Charge it up as much as you can as early as you can.

 - Get your car off the road!  Park your cars in your driveway, if you can. (Via FFD member Robert Volpe).  Village lots are typically available for public parking if you can't.

 - Try to have cash available!  In the event that there is no electricity to run credit cards or operate ATMs, you'll want to have money around if you need to pay for anything.

 - Once the storm is over, call your friends and family and see if they're alright!

TWF 322 - Poetry Month & Contest At Long Island Arts Council.

 Hello, friends.

April is Poetry Month for Long Island Arts Council at Freeport.  I wish I had a direct link to a page specifically dedicated to the poetry contest they're running, but that's not available at present.  What is available is information and registration for the seventh annual high school-oriented poetry contest!

I would strongly encourage any and all interested youths to apply (with parental permission, of course).  Sharing poetry is often very personal, and while it might not seem like a huge stepping stone, but I promise you that if you're poetically inclined, earlier publication credits are a positive step for your portfolio down the path.

I know, lots of alliteration, there.  If you noticed, you oughta consider entering the contest!

As for me:  I'm presently kicking back in CoVID-Positive quarantine; I'm feeling about 97% healthy, a fact which I'm crediting to my vaccination.  If you haven't already gotten yours, please do.

Jesse Pohlman is an author from Long Island, New York; born and raised in Freeport.  Well, maybe not "born" in Freeport - Freeport Hospital wasn't doing delivery in 1984.

TWF 317 - Praise For The Freeport Memorial Library

Hello, friends.

Libraries around Nassau County are amazing places.  Not only do they have books, but they have digital books.  They provide access to computers for those who might not have working internet connections.  They host classes.  They also provide services for children's enrichment.

Growing up, I remember spending hours upon hours at the Freeport Memorial Library's computer desk.  I remember having to sign in and wait my turn to work on some tremendous CRT monitor and - well, let's be honest, I went there to play games.  My parents encouraged me, since it gave them some time off and it trained me to operate those machines-of-the-future.  You know, like the one I'm writing this on?

I can still see flashes of images in my head from that time.  They're very welcome.

Image courtesy of the Memorial Library webpage.

Yet all is not well as we approach January of 2022.  CoVID-19 has continued to be mainline threat to all of, yanno, Humanity (maybe worthy of a hyper-local update article?).  As a result, in-person community events are largely suspended.  Yet, thanks to the proliferation of technologies such as Zoom (far from the first, but arguably the most widespread), the Library has continued to provide events.  Here's the list for tomorrow, 12/22/2021, and Thursday 12/23/2021:

Click the link near the top of the article to check out the full library schedule!
 - Also, I believe the Chorale Holiday Caroling was cancelled.  Bummer.

There's really no greater purpose to this post than to praise the Library.  Libraries are one of the last great free services provided by our society to our society, and while we really do need more of those, we also need to praise the ones we've still got.  Times are tough.  I know first-hand that librarians at all levels, from the NYC system down to your local elementary school, work extremely hard.  I know CoVID has taken a toll on them.

So, for no particular reason, thank you for everything.

Jesse Pohlman is an author from Long Island, New York, who spent his formative years and many more in Freeport.  He's presently thinking of his parents and good memories because it's his first Solstice without his father, and that's rough.

TWF 315: Hurricane Henri Approaches Long Island!

 Hello, friends,

I hope you're all doing well.

Well, Freeporters and Long Islanders in general, it's that time of year, again!  We've got a hurricane coming our way.  It's name is Henri.  Say, "Hello, Henri!"  Anyway:  According to Accuweather, this is Hurricane Henri's most likely approach - and it's gonna broadside Long Island this weekend, predominantly on Sunday.

I feel like I used to have a handy-dandy list of hurricane tips, but to be honest you're all probably pretty well-acquainted with them - and, if not, you're certainly familiar with basic tenants of storm preparations.  If not, may I direct you to the CDC's website for hurricane and tropical storm planning?

I remember seeing the weather on TV and hearing that Henri was likely to head east of where it's now predicted.  I also remember, much more recently, seeing the phrase, "The 'Sandy' Hook" pop up on the internet as a reference to the devastation Hurricane Sandy caused and how it seemed to go out to see and then came back towards the island from the east.

This time, there doesn't seem to be a Nor'Easter colliding with the hurricane, though, so hopefully we'll be alright.

Jesse Pohlman is an author from Long Island, New York.  His website is at this link, where he hocks his sci-fi/fantasy novels that, hey, you can read during the storm!

TWF 302: County Executive Orders Schools Closed & More (CoVID Update #5)

Greetings, friends,

Opening note - these may be the strangest times since the end of 2012, huh?

Moving on.

Nassau Executive Curran Orders Nassau County Schools Closed

This is an expansion of Freeport's pre-existing announcement, recorded here, both beyond the 3/16-17 closure, and beyond the local scale.  This is a two-week closure, though staff is permitted to use the facilities for distance learning purposes and others, and it doesn't apply to certain schools for people with special needs.  As always, please check in with your district.

Notice that "Social Distancing" is called for; this is basically just staying in with friends and family; or, at least, not going out to crowded places.

Last, as we've been saying here:

First of all, please make sure you are washing your hands, covering your coughs, and generally obeying good personal hygiene in order to minimize both your risk and the risk of those around you.  If you feel sick (fever, chills, body ache, difficulty breathing), DO NOT go to work, and DO NOT just go to the doctor - call your healthcare provider and ask for instructions on what their procedure is.

Do not panic!  (That still includes buying up all of the damned toilet paper!  :/ )

TWF 290: Holiday/Christmas Tree Lighting, Saturday, December 1, 2018, 5:00 PM at the Sunrise Highway Triangle!

Hello, Freeport!

This is the first of (probably) many short, but helpful articles telling you what Holiday events are going on.  Because a lot of my life is a combination of, "I'll post it when I find out about it," and, "Sometimes I have stuff going on that keeps me from getting posts done, sometimes - like today - these posts will come out with short notice.  On the upside, if you don't know what to do with your kids this weekend, have no fear!

Just like the above image says, the Village of Freeport is hosting a Holiday/Christmas Tree Lighting at 5:00 PM on Saturday, December 1st, 2018, on Sunrise Highway at the Triangle between Church and Main Street.  While these directions are...Vague, let's say?  I still think I was able to locate it on Google Maps.  I might have the wrong location, though, so don't be afraid to double-check me!

For more information, call the Recreation Center at 516-377-2314

TWF 285: LI Cares Provides Veterans' Resources And More!

Greetings, Freeporters!

First off, I just want to thank the many of you who took it upon yourselves to share the last topic I covered, the potential bias-attack which happened in Freeport. The story got picked up by the Long Island Herald's Nadya Nataly, to boot, but we're still looking out for who was responsible.  (Oh, and Earlene Hooper lost her primary, too!  But we won't go into that...)

On a much more positive note, today I'm covering something simple, cut up and dry: Military Appreciation Tuesdays sponsored by (if I'm reading this document right) LI Cares! Except maybe it's not that cut and dry, so I'll talk about why!

I didn't want to make this article into more than it already was:  Promoting and signal-boosting a flier letting Veterans know that on Tuesdays, Veterans are being offered a five days' supply of food from LI Cares and the Harry Chapin Food Bank. Their location is at the Nassau Service Center, 21E Sunrise Highway, and that's what the flier says!

...Except that I went to LI Cares' website and was hit with the stunning realization that, honestly, there's a lot here that doesn't get talked about very much, at least not with regards to the digital walled gardens on the internet. It's more than just a place that offers food; it offers full-fledged nutritional advice, as well as opportunities for people to volunteer (Maybe you need a PIG Project, Freeport student?) and to help raise funds for. There's a lot one could pick up on as a way to help out, or receive help, as necessary. If you're doing well, consider donating!

Anyway, take care and best wishes!

Jesse Pohlman is an author from Freeport, New York and he occasionally likes to talk about positive things in his old home-town.  Do YOU have a charitable event you'd like to see promoted?  Are you putting on a public service type of activity?  Let us know!

TWF 284: A Call For Help w/a Bias Crime in Freeport!

Greetings, Freeporters,

I hope you had a refreshing holiday, but unfortunately I have to tell a terrible tale, today. Just before Labor Day Weekend, a very good family was the victim of a subtle vandalism that verges, in my humble opinion, into the "Bias" or “Hate Crime” territory – and it happened right here, in Freeport. The silver lining to this situation is that you – yes, you! - may be able to help fix the problem.

Celia and Patricia (last names redacted) who live on Miller Avenue (not too far from my old home, actually!), are fond of flying their rainbow flag next to their American one. For those who don't know, the rainbow flag is a symbol of the LGBTQ+ rights movement – shorthand for Lesbian/Gay/Bisexual/Transgender/Queer, and others. On August 29^th, early in the morning, a strange man who none of them knew walked up onto their porch and snatched their rainbow flag down and tossed it into the bushes.  The below still image was taken from a video re-posted at the bottom of this article:

Take a moment to think that even in 2018 there is clear and deliberate discrimination taking place in our own community. Freeport Police have already been contacted by the family as well as their neighbors, but if you're wondering what we can do to help, here it is – we can signal-boost the story and, hopefully, one of you dear readers will know who is responsible. For, you see, Celia shared a picture – and even some video- of the deed being done with me (and the rest of Facebook). I asked her if it would be alright for me to write an article to draw attention to the incident using her pictures, and she agreed.

The good news here, besides the fact that this family isn't backing down, is that if you can recognize who did it, it would be greatly appreciated for you to call the Freeport Police and inform them of your tip. The WORST case scenario, if you recognize the person, is that you mis-identify them; there would be no harm done in the long run, because they would be cleared. Afterwards, you can reach out and we can all meet up and talk about it, but the key thing is to help detectives at FPD make progress.

(Editorial Note:  I will include video once we can ensure the source file's security is appropriate for the victims)