Letter: Port’s Past and Future

Anton Community Newspapers • 132 East 2nd Street • Mineola, NY 11501 • Phone: 516-747-8282 • FAX: 516-742-5867

Letter: Port’s Past and Future

Friday, 03 February 2012 00:00

While our name expresses our concern for the past, the Cow Neck Peninsula Historical Society wishes to make it known that we are also very much concerned with Port Washington’s future.

The coming of the railroad to Port Washington in June of 1898 transformed our then quiet hamlet into a vibrant transportation hub — conveniently connecting a new and desirable living environment with New York City. The location of the train station on Main Street, then called Flower Hill Avenue, quickly encouraged the expansion of Port’s business district on that street from its original waterfront location on Manhasset Bay eastward to Port Washington Blvd. and beyond. This bustling commercial development also enhanced our community, making it all the more attractive for people to come, live and work here. And now, just about 114 years after the trains arrived in Port, Main Street and its relationship to its adjacent residential areas and the greater community call for our attention. Parking and density issues, antiquated zoning laws and physical design issues have for many years undermined the many benefits of our downtown. These are major quality of life matters that are long overdue to be addressed.

We, as trustees of your local historical society, are encouraged that action on these problems is finally taking place. Residents For A More Beautiful Port Washington has put forward a Main Street focused “Model Blocks Project” that has been commented on by the Port Washington Voice organization, by letters to the Port News and by the community members who attended the Voice’s Jan. 14 meeting at the Haven Avenue firehouse. Momentum has started for the community and the Town of North Hempstead to create a rational plan for our commercial district and strategies for its implementation. To this end, the Cow Neck Peninsula Historical Society offers its support, and wishes to be part of the discussions. Our archives chronicle how Port Washington’s downtown has developed over the years – it would be sensible for all of us to know where we were, before deciding on where we want to go.

Fred Blumlein
Trustee and Past-President
on behalf of the trustees of the
Cow Neck Peninsula Historical Society

News

School District Budget And Bond Vote, Election Results

Thursday, 17 May 2012 00:00

The results of the Port Washington School District budget and roof bond vote and election:

School Budget (Proposition No. 1)

Yes – 2,547
No – 895

Roof Bond (Proposition No. 2)

Yes – 2,397
No – 761

School Board Trustees: three individual terms commencing July 1, 2012 and expiring June 30, 2015.

Lawrence Greenstein – 2,173
Nora Johnson – 2,354
Vernon McDermott – 2,265

For Sale Signs Go Up On Pequot Avenue

Friday, 18 May 2012 00:00

Fallout from cell tower construction not a surprise

“For Sale” signs have recently gone up in front of three houses on Pequot Avenue in Manhasset Isle. Each of the homes is in close proximity to the cell tower that was recently erected, in spite of community objection and attempts by Manorhaven Village to open a dialogue with the developer, AG Towers.

Often during recent village board meetings, local residents voiced concerns about the possible health risks posed by the cell tower, and the esthetic blight of living in the shadow of a 250-foot monopole, which looms over the modest one and two family homes adjacent to the tower site.

Sports

On The Bay: May 16, 2012

Friday, 18 May 2012 00:00

The boatyards are busy places this time of year. And if you happen to stroll along the waterfront on the beautiful walkway in Port Washington North, you will see boats of all kinds populating Manhasset Bay. Warm weather sailing and racing is upon us. Bay racing on the weekends has already started and Thirsty Thursday evening racing will begin tonight. So boat owners are happy, their boats are happy doing what they do best, and landlubbers have the increases waterscape of beautiful sail coming and going out to Long Island Sound. And don’t forget the kayakers who love to explore the nooks and crannies of the bay. This is just the beginning of yet another great season.