by Hubert M. Bianco, Superintendent of Electric Utilities

The Freeport community can look back with satisfaction and relief for its reduced use of energy during recent heat waves and seasonal periods of peak demand. Although Freeport residences and businesses, like those across Long Island and throughout the NY metro region used more electricity this summer than last, Freeport consumers conserved electricity during heat waves and traditional peak periods. During the summer months of June, July and August, peak use of electricity was lower than last year.

For the summer months of June through August, total electricity consumption grew from 73057 MW in 2000 to 77347 MW in 2001 to 80001 MW in 2002. This represents an approximate increase in energy usage of ten percent over this two-year period. Despite the generally growing demand for overall energy, with attention to consumption, Freeport customers lowered their highest daily peak demand from 59.1MW last summer to 58.2 MW this summer,

Reduced energy consumption in the community not only contributed to the smooth operations of the utility, but also preserved the comfort and economic well being of the community. The reduced peak demand periods ensured the reliability of the Village's electricity supply, prevented potential brownouts or blackouts. Achieving reductions in peak usage ensured that industrial and business activities were not interrupted, and that health impaired individuals, our elderly, and those with respiratory or other chronic illness, were able to utilize durable medical equipment or air conditioning without interruption,

Freeport Electric is well situated to meet the overall power needs of its residents, businesses and industries from a variety of sources including hydro-electric power supplied by NYPA, onsite generation at Power Plant 1 and the gas turbine at Power Plant 2, and purchase of electricity from the wholesale energy market, As always, the price of generation compared to the cost of purchasing electricity drives the selection of in-Village generation versus purchasing electricity from the market place.

This summer the new LIPA / Village agreement was initiated, under which the Village purchases energy from LIPA at a fixed cost regardless of market conditions. This agreement insured a reliable energy supply during the peak summer period and some price stability for our customers. This agreement not only provided the environmental assurances desired by Freeport and its neighbors during summer months when enjoyment of our shoreline and out-of-doors environment is paramount, but enabled the Village to manage the overall cost of electricity responsibly.

During peak use days in July and August, Freeport could have faced electricity costs as high as $900/MW, Utilizing the mix of hydroelectric energy from NYPA, generation at Village facilities and LIPA supplied power stabilized the cost of electricity far below market rates.

While the source and cost of electricity supplied is a significant concern of Freeport Electric for its customers, so is the electric distribution system or delivery system that carries electricity to each residential, commercial and industrial threshold. Diligence of utility personnel, before and throughout the summer paid off, and this summer we experienced minimal interruptions to our customers.

The Freeport Electric system reflects the spirit and the attributes of customer ownership. The success of Freeport Electric's customers in reducing peak demand, routine awareness of our customers' part in the Village's electric supply system, and efforts of our staff and crews paid off, as the success of this summer shows. We thank the crews and staff of Freeport Electric, and every customer within the Village for a great summer.

Woodmen Salute America’s Heroes

By Stewart S Lilker with additional information from Woodmen.com

Freeport resident, Ken Bagatelle, organized a special tribute to the victims and heroes of 9-11 at special ceremonies by Woodmen of the World/Omaha Woodmen Life Insurance Society. Mr. Bagatelle is the President of the 500 member Nassau County Chapter. More that 700 Woodmen "In Honor and Remembrance" ceremonies were held across the nation, at town halls, fire and police stations, schools, senior centers and other public places.

The ceremony, called "In Honor and Remembrance – Woodmen Salutes America’s Heroes," included the dedication of flagpoles, U.S. flags and commemorative plaques in memory of those who died as a result of the terrorist attacks on our nation.

Mr. Bagatelle (without hat) organized the September 11th Freeport ceremony in Freeport’s Randall Park. The Woodman donated an American Flag and a plaque in "Honor and Remembrance" of September 11, 2002. Present at the local ceremony were local dignitaries. The Hofstra University ROTC Honor Guard was present along with the Freeport School’s Dodd and Giblyn choruses.

"Woodmen ceremonies gave communities the chance to come together to honor and remember those who lost their lives on 9-11, and to salute those who risked their lives so that others might survive," said James Bridges Jr., Woodmen executive vice president, Fraternal. "The events were also an opportunity for citizens to say we ‘thank you’ to their hometown heroes, such as police officers, firefighters and members of the armed forces, who put their lives on the line each and every day."

During each Woodmen ceremony, a brief biography of an individual victim of the 9-11 attacks was read. This was in accordance with the Unity in the Spirit of America (USA) initiative, which was signed into law by President George W. Bush in January 2002.

The USA initiative urges Americans to conduct volunteer projects in their communities as "living memorials" to those whose lives were lost on September 11. The Points of Light Foundation and its network of nearly 500 Volunteer Centers coordinate the USA initiative, in partnership with the Corporation for National and Community Service. Partners in the initiative include DisneyHAND and the Ronald McDonald House Charities.

The History of the Woodmen Society

Woodmen was one of the first fraternal benefit societies in the United States. Founded in Omaha, Nebraska, on June 6, 1890, by Joseph Cullen Root, the Society had a humble beginning with very little capital and no office space.

The origin of the name "Woodmen" was never documented. However, it has been speculated that the name was chosen because Root grew up in Lyons, Iowa, where lumber was the principal industry.

It was also reported that Root's idea for "Woodmen" came from a speech he heard about woodsmen clearing away forests to provide shelter for their families. Others speculated that Root visualized himself as the root that would grow into a shelter, protecting members from financial disaster.

The first Woodmen certificates were issued from the home of John T. Yates, who was named Sovereign Clerk. The Society had no office until space was donated rent-free for six months by the owner of the Sheely Block at 15th & Howard Streets in Omaha.

The first certificate of membership was issued to William A. McCully, Camp 1, Independence, Kan., on December 29, 1890. About that same time, the Society's first publication, The Sovereign Visitor, was established.

Woodmen continued to grow throughout the Depression era.

In 1944, a National Service Committee, (now the National Fraternal Committee) of 12 members was formed to suggest ways of encouraging growth of lodges through activities.

A Fraternal Service Fund, approved early in 1946, was established for the "promotion of plans, objectives and purpose of the Society." The fund was described as "relief, health, recreation, wholesome entertainment, benevolent and cultural activities of its membership and beneficiaries and legitimate advertising."

Mergers with four other fraternal benefit societies played an important part of Woodmen's growth during the 1960s. The Society's first merger was in 1962 with the United Order of the Golden Cross in Knoxville, Tenn. Other mergers were with the Mutual Benefit Department of the Order of Railroad Telegraphers of St. Louis, Mo., in 1964; the Supreme Forest Woodmen Circle, founded in Omaha in 1892 as a ladies' auxiliary of Woodmen, in 1965; and the New England Order of Protection of Boston, Mass., in 1968.

Through the merger with the New England Order of Protection, which had earlier merged with lodges of the first fraternal benefit society started in 1868, Woodmen can trace its history to the beginning of fraternalism in America.

Today, Woodmen is one of the largest fraternal benefit societies.

Woodmen members and their families, who belong to 2,600 lodges throughout the United States, conduct fraternal projects of benefit to people and their communities. These projects include presenting American flags to civic and community organizations; donating equipment to police, fire and rescue units; providing assistance to senior citizens, the physically impaired and orphans; and assistance through our disaster relief partnership with the American Red Cross.

Photos courtesy of the Woodmen

On Monday night, September 9, 2002, Freeport’s Mayor, William F. Glacken and the rest of his Glackenite Board, once again tried to deceive the Freeport taxpayers. This time it was about the settlement of a claim against the village for $600,000.

Mob/Village Attorney Edwards, in an effort to sneak the $600,000 settlement past the taxpayers, disingenuously listed the item on the agenda as the, "payment of certain judgments and claims," while the Glackenites knew full well that the $600,000 was for the payment of injuries sustained by Keith Mose due to a smash up of a village vehicle into the back of his parked car.

On July 15, 2002, (go to excerpt of minutes) the Glackenites voted to settle the claim with Mr. Mose for an amount not to exceed $600,000 after NYS Supreme Ct. Judge Antonio Brandveem threw out the Village’s motion to dismiss the case.

Resident Gabe Razzano came to the lectern and inquired about the $600,000 item. When he tried to ask Glacken another question, Glacken repeatedly reminded him that "This is not the time to ask other questions."

Razzano asked Glacken, "Will you ever answer any of my other questions?"

Glacken ignored Razzano, looked down at the papers in front of him and said, "The next speaker is ..."

Resident John Renolds asked the Board, "What is being done to prevent this type of damage from occurring again?

Glacken responded that this was an unfortunate case and involved a village owned vehicle and a privately owned vehicle. Glacken said the exposure was more than the $600,000 settlement. Glacken said the village has been self-insured since the late seventies. Glacken never answered the question, nor did he explain the nature of the injuries or did he volunteer the cause of the accident.

Your reporter then asked the Mayor, "Can you tell me what kind of accident this was?"

Glacken said he believed a village vehicle rear-ended another vehicle, explaining he didn’t have the facts in front of him. Glacken claimed he couldn’t give the details of the settlement. He said, "We stipulated a settlement and that will be the end of it."

Your reporter asked, "And it [the settlement] is a secret?"

Glacken snapped, "Do you have another question?"

The village was defended by outside counsel. Your reporter asked, "Can you tell me how much were the attorney’s fees?"

Glacken answered, "No I can’t."

Your reporter asked, "You are bonding the $600,000 for twenty years. Can you tell me how much this settlement is really going to cost the taxpayers?"

Glacken answered, "I can’t compute it at the moment, but there is a formula."

Vilma Lancaster, the Village Treasurer, said the interest rate would be 3.4% for the bond.

Glacken explained that the board was bonding the $600,000 for twenty years.

Over the twenty year term of the bond, a term that Glacken defended as being "normal in these kinds of settlements," the village will be paying over a quarter of a million dollars in interest.

The Glackenites have a notorious and limited understanding of the residents ability to pay more and more taxes, as they bond them into oblivion.

The Glackenites could have paid off the settlement in one shot by adding the $600,000 to next year’s budget, saving the residents over $250,000 in interest. Based on this year’s budget, the impact on a homeowner assessed at $5700 dollars would have been a one time charge $26.00, a seemingly small price to pay to save a quarter million million dollars of Freeport resident’s money.
 

September 3, 2002

On August 16, 2002, FreeportNYNews ran a story with the opening line: "Freeport's Mayor, William F. Glacken, in his quest to fill the ever emptying village coffers, has chosen not to erect signs in the village's deteriorating municipal parking lots informing motorists of the hours of metered parking. While NYS Law requires the posting of official signs explaining the parking regulations in municipal parking lots, the Glackenites have chosen not to do this, preferring to ticket unsuspecting motorists instead."

Since we ran that story, motorists parking in municipal lot number 16, by the library, and municipal lot 10, on Ocean Avenue, if they look skyward, will now find signs with the hours for metered parking defined.