Watchdog: Keeping watch over the Franklin Square clock
A clock on Dogwood Avenue in Franklin Square on April 14, 2014. The clock was installed as part of a Hempstead Town streetscape project. Credit: Newsday / Judy Cartwright
A beautiful clock was installed on Dogwood Avenue in Franklin Square about a year ago, but now it doesn't show the correct time. I've tried calling various offices, but each one tells me they don't know who's in charge of it. Meanwhile, the clock is there -- and it's just lovely. But it doesn't have the right time and nobody knows who's supposed to fix it.
-- Seena Edelman, Franklin Square
The clock, in front of shops anchored by a Best Yet market, showed not just one wrong time but two: Faces on each side have been showing different wrong times, neither close to the right time.
Who would be in charge of keeping the clock running? We started with the Franklin Square Chamber of Commerce but wound up speaking with Hempstead Town.
The clock was installed as part of a recent town streetscape project, town spokesman Michael Deery said. The project included new sidewalks lined with red brick, new streetlights and benches.
The clock had been keeping time until several weeks ago when it was struck by a brick, Deery said. The glass covering both faces was shattered.
Ten days ago the town took the clock down so the damage could be inspected, according to Michael Caputo, another town spokesman. Last week he called to report the clock was back in place. And, more important, keeping time.
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