RSS 2.0 FeedOctober 28, 2010, Freeport-Baldwin Leader
A love letter to Freeport and Baldwin
An ode to a place once called home.
Freeport and Baldwin have long been two of my favorite terrific towns, years before I finally moved to Freeport in 1984.
Growing up in Rockville Centre, I remember walking to the then-movie theater on Merrick Road in Baldwin, and the still-surviving one on Grand Avenue, before I could drive to them.
Fondly I recall the feeling of freedom and some emerging independence and self-reliance from those journeys, and the teenage satisfaction of not having to depend on adults for rides there.
Thoughts of Nunley’s Carousel, a longtime Baldwin landmark on Sunrise Highway, now transferred to Garden City, bring back fond memories.
Freeport and Baldwin seem to me to embody in many ways, on a smaller, more intimate scale, some of my favorite features of the big city to the west:
They offer a variety of restaurants featuring delicious delights from far-away lands, free concerts and art shows reflecting that diversity presented by the Long Island Arts Council at Freeport, the Freeport Memorial Library and the Baldwin Public Library and town parks, along with sensational shopping.
The Arts Council, led by Executive Director Marnie Katzman, also presents the annual Taste of Freeport fundraiser featuring culinary delights from many Freeport dining destinations, and the annual Arty Party in November, this year honoring Freeport’s inspiring Superintendent of Schools Dr. Kishore Kuncham and longtime Freeporter Bernard Kalban.
The Freeport schools have presented many multi-ethnic music, dance and food festivals, Homecomings, art shows and concerts I have photographed for The Leader, also reflecting the village’s multi-cultural diversity.
The Freeport Community Chorale and the Freeport Community Concert Association continue to present many more magical musical moments, as they have for many years, some of which I have also had the pleasure to enjoy.
Growing up I watched Freeport’s legendary band leader Guy Lombardo leap off his yacht to conduct his Royal Canadians in playing “The Star Spangled Banner” at the Jones Beach Marine Theatre, now the Nikon at Jones Beach Theatre.
For years I have had the pleasure of passing puns and sharing silly jokes with Freeport Memorial Library Director David Opatow, before and after library concerts, and at the annual Freeport High School Awards Dinner. He also brought me to a luncheon of the Freeport Salvation Army advisory board.
For decades, too, I have been a faithful fan photographing for The Leader Freeport’s fabulous Nautical Mile and its annual summer festival. I particularly enjoy the fantastic fish markets, wonderful restaurants and the outdoor summer music they offer.
The pier added in the ‘90s was a great addition, offering a fine view of the Great South Bay and its islands, and of course, Jones Beach and its theater and famous water tower.
The Nautical Mile Esplanade, with its fountain, boat for kids to play on, and views of the canal, is another nice addition, along with brick pavers, benches, flower stands and antique-style lampposts along the Nautical Mile.
It continues to be the site of many free Arts Council summer concerts I have photographed for The Leader, along with the annual August visit of the Middies and their sailboats from the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis.
The Esplanade is across the street from another Freeport gem, the Seaport at Freeport nautical museum.
Baldwin Park provides beautiful bay views, along with Freeport’s Waterfront Park and the newer promenade park to the west of the Nautical Mile pier, which The Leader’s amazingly multi-talented graphic artist Judy Ammerman, a Freeport resident, has photographed for the newspaper, along with many other fine Freeport photos.
The Leader has been ably led for decades by my sister, multiple-award winning, community-minded publisher Linda Toscano.
This special anniversary issue and The Leader have been labors of love and devotion for national and Long Island award-winning Leader reporter Laura Schofer, a longtime Baldwin resident, Baldwin Council Against Drug Abuse (BCADA) board member, former Arts Council staffer, a history buff and a multi-talented true Rennaisance woman who also really cares about our communities.
The Leader also depends on the knowledge and decades of dedication of longtime office staffer Joyce MacMonigle, a Baldwin resident. Another Leader office staffer, Elaine Groder, lived in Freeport for many years.
The Leader’s longtime assistant editor and former advertising manager, Mark Treske, covers most Freeport school board meetings.
He pours his heart and soul into every issue of The Leader, and into his once and current position as president of the Freeport Rotary Club, a community service organization that provides much purpose to his life.
At a recent Rotary meeting, I heard two Freeport residents from Haiti thank him and his club for its support for rebuilding a school in their homeland.
Years later I have fond memories of a Freeport waterfront party I photographed and wrote about when the club hosted visiting college students from Switzerland.
When visitors from Freeport’s sister city, Walldorf, Germany, were welcomed by the Freeport Fire Department and village officials at a ceremony outside Village Hall, I photographed that for The Leader.
In contrast, I also photographed protests against a village power plant and a proposal to build a waste-to-energy plant.
Leader reporter Jim Golding has stayed up late many Monday evenings covering some dramatic, heated and exciting village board meetings.
The Leader benefitted for many years from the extensive community involvement, reporting and commentary of former Baldwin editor Joan Delaney, who now, if that’s possible, is even more devoted in retirement to her grandchildren.
One of the many organizations she covered and promoted, the Baldwin Chamber of Commerce, hosts an annual community fair I attended and other seasonal events.
The Freeport Chamber of Commerce hosts such annual events as the Nautical Mile holiday boat parade.
The Freeport Historical Society, led by village historian Cynthia Krieg, maintains a fine museum and sponsors garden parties, as well as old-house tours, which I have photographed.
The fantastic Freeport Recreation Center, in addition to its swimming pools, ice rink and gyms, has hosted many events I have had the pleasure of experiencing and photographing, such as gem shows, concerts, model train and aircraft exhibitions, holiday celebrations, parrot presentations and indoor circuses!
For decades the The Leader has announced, promoted, reported on and featured photographs of most of these events and developments, and looks forward to many more years promoting the best of our communities!
