to
Update
is a village in Nassau County, New York in the United States. The population was 10,414 at the 2000 census.
is in the Town of Hempstead, at the base of the Rockaway Peninsula. The majority of the town is of Italian and Irish descent.
Originally named Near Rockaway, the village began as a shipping and trading center for the south shore of Long Island. The village's location was desirable for ships because of its deep channels inland. Eventually a grist mill was built on the Mill River by Joseph Haviland through a land grant in 1688. Later an oven was purchased to make bread for the surrounding population. The village prospered in shipping and milling over the years, even after several sales of the land. Back in the 1950s A student from East Rockaway High School, named Donald Scaglione, attempted to steal the school's bell from the bell tower. Unknowingly the bell weighed to much to carry, even for Don, who was one of the football team's star offensive lineman. The bell was dropped . The Scaglione family was responsible for fixing the bell. Both the bell and the receipt of repair now displayed in the towns gristmill.
The village's name was changed in 1869 to East Rockaway. The village was incorporated in 1900, Floyd Johnson was president. At the time of incorporation the town had a population of 969.