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IN THIS ISSUE: •17 Village HoarA..«...page 23 trUipOi tbaldvviMleihtl<?i f iTCr W _: £LJ!i 09th Year, No, 89 Report, Tin- CoitiiiiiiiiUv Ne l^y, JiiiH- 24, 2004 FREEPORT HIGH SCHOOL recently announced the Top 10 students of the graduating class of 2004. In rank order are from left: seated, Valedictorian Michael Drapala, Salutatprian Jessica Seifert, Michelle Fitzgerald, Samantha Geraci-Yee, Jennifer Abreu; standing, Jennifer Wiener, Melissa Bernardez, Vanessa Smith-Torres, Robert Notheis, and' Bryn Donovan. These gifted, hardworking stu- dents have .distinguished themselves in every aspect of school and community life, including the National Honor Society, Science Honor Society, Interact, Key Club, Peer Leaders, Human Relations Club, Captains and Leaders Club, Masque and Wig, varsity sports and music. (See more about gradu- ates on pages 11-17.) Remembering the Casino Pool by Fred Hager As told by Rhoda 'Rand, Victor Cohen, Ed Martin, A.J. Cacciatore, Regina Feeney,Doris Riley and Isabelle L>mch It was the early thirties...nobody had much money except the rich...little did we dream that by the end of the decade we would be on the threshold of WWII! For fifteen cents residents and non- residents alike could enter the Casino as early as 9 a.m, swim and play all morn- ing, get a pass to go home for lunch, return to purchase a five-cent Baby Ruth, enjoy the • facility to mid- evening...all for the same fifteen cents. And what a facility the Casino was! With only two close-by public pools operating at the time, Casino and Jones Beach, one either had to bum a ride or hitchhike to the newly opened Central Bath House or be content, with the Casino with its local flavor. Young swimmers either walked or bicycled, securely locking the bikes to the chain-link fence surrounding the property. Bordered by West Side Avenue on the west, Casino Street on the north, Roosevelt Avenue on the east and Randall Canal on the south, the Little Theatre was atop the pump and bath- house buildings. It was the site of live dramatic productions, while the pool area presented aquatic carnivals and contests (according to a reprint from The New York Times, circa 1937). How- ever, the appeal of the Casino was the amply clorinated salt rater pool itself. The pool-level springboard was the favorite of most kids...the second level, about ten feet, was favored by folks a bit more skilled in the swan dive or \can- 60 Foot Diving Tower Sixty feet by one hundred fifty feet, the pool was three feet at one end and graduated to nine feet, which was the site of the famous diving board tower. nonball\ (as perfected by Victor Cohen). The 65 foot was strictly for the experi- enced! The famous slide The slide on the Casino Street side was a great favorite for all. About 40 feet in height, it was lined with sheet metal with a flow of fresh water flowing from the top platform. The sheet metal had a not-too-tight joint in the middle, a source of ripped bathing suits...Victor Cohen estimated that he tore the seat out of three bathing suits in one season. Absolutely NO DIVING signs were posted top and bottom on the slide. Despite the warning, adventurers insist- ed on diving into the shallow four feet of water. New Owner -1945 On July 4, 1945 the pool property was purchased by Murray Schwartz, father of Rhoda, her sister and broth- er. Murray quickly upgraded the rather run-down facilities. Renovating the pool, lockers, and cementing the sand beach and, in general, ° supporting his new theme...\The cheapest babysitter on the island, 250...\ he attracted Island- wide visitors for family outings. He put his three, kids on the payroll as food handlers and lifeguards along with some local youths to enforce the NO DIVING and NO RUNNING restrictions. Murray ran a clean ship. (continued on page 3)