Saturday, November 14, 2026
On a bright, sunny day, Franklin Square Civic Association hosted its 7th annual community yard sale at the Town of Hempstead Rath Park pool parking lot, across from 861 Naple Avenue, on Saturday, Nov. 7, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The event was open to all.
The event featured more than 50 local sellers in one convenient location, with food available on site.
Frank Culmon, treasurer at Franklin Square Civic Association, said the community sale draws strong attendance and helps fund neighborhood improvement efforts. He said the event has been held since around 2019, before COVID, and has drawn attention since it began.
The event brought neighborhood sellers together in one place. Culmon said all proceeds from the yard sale support joint community efforts, including decorative bunting, hometown hero banners, and beautification.
The money that we get for it; we do things like all the bunting with other organizations…” Culmon said. “We do the banners for Hometown Heroes there, and at the VFW, we make some beautification efforts. So, it gives us money to do things for the community.”
Pat and Tom Murchie of Franklin Square said this was their first time attending the event, even though they live nearby. They said they learned about the event through social media and found many interesting things.
However, Pat suggested clearer vendor advertising, as they did not know where vendors would be located.
The event drew attention not only from Franklin Square but also from other areas.
John Merna of Glen Cove heard about this event from a newspaper advertisement. Merna said they had attended the event once before and enjoyed browsing and shopping. He added that they found items for their grandchildren and noted that the event offered a range of appealing purchases.
Kristin Ponterio, a first-time seller, participated in this community yard sale. Ponterio brought clothes, shoes, Bath and Body products, and other household items to sell. She said she learned about the event through a Facebook community garage sale page.
“Honestly, I have a lot of things I've been looking to sell, and you know the online platforms aren't really what I've imagined,” Ponterio said. “So, I wanted to come out and sell to the community today.”
Culmon encouraged residents to join the civic association and local businesses to join the chamber of commerce and invest in the community.
