________ Franklin square/elmont _______
HERALD Sewanhaka girls put in the work
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Vol. 26 No. 4
JANUARY 18 - 24, 2024
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LI coalition aims to stop oppression of the Elmont Cultural Center. One of the main goals of the new coalition is to change the There’s a new coalition look- narrative on Long Island. Local ing to change the narrative on leaders believe the old narraLong Island while providing tive is based on the culture of the Hamptons and access to resources, M o n t a u k , wh e re training and grant people think everymoney for member organizations. one on Long Island #WeAreLongIsis well off. But in land is a coalition re a l i t y, m o s t o f of 17 organizations Long Island faces with more joining various hardships daily that will use and oppression. its online organiz“They automatiing hub to get cally assume that re s o u rc e s wh e re people on Long they are needed and I s l a n d h ave i t to connect people in made,” said Jeffrey dif ferent activist Pe g r a m , a organizations. The renowned performfunding it will proer of Native Amerivide is based on can music who was participatory sitting at the Padogrants, where the quohan Medicine coalition decides, Lodge table. “This MIMI PIERREwith help of comis an area that is munity members, JoHNSoN much in need like where the money Founder of the Elmont many other places.” goes. Local hardships Cultural Center “ I f we ’ r e n o t include lack of talking to each access to healthother, if we’re not acknowledg- care, to affordable housing and ing that there’s been har m to legal representation. Addidone to certain sections of our tional hardships outlined were community, we’re lying,” said sexual abuse, job insecurity Mimi Pierre-Johnson, founder
By REI WolFSoHN
Correspondent
I
Nicole Wagner/Herald
Elmont rallies for community center Fenol C. LaRock, an executive director of Elmont-based nonprofit Universal Interactions, Assemblywoman Michaelle Solages, and community members call for New York Arena Partners to fulfill its promise to build a community center in Elmont during a rally outside UBS Arena on Hempstead Turnpike last Sunday. Additional photos, story on Page 3.
Chamber of Commerce president, board members are swown in By NIColE WAGNER nwagner@liherald.com
Franklin Square businesses gathered at the Chamber of Commerce’s first meeting of 2024 on Jan. 10 to see the organization’s new president and board sworn in. Local elected officials and members of the chamber celebrated the new year and new opportunities for local businesses at Filomena’s in Franklin Square. New board members, vice presidents and the new president, Santino Sarrica, were sworn in by Assemblyman Ed Ra, County Legislator John Giuffrè and Hempstead Town Councilman Thomas Muscarella. Vice Presidents Joseph Romeo, Jaime Parra,
Frank Cutolo and Eric Wortmann, were given their oaths by Giuffrè. The board of directors — Joseph Aridito, Bruno Caracciolo, Donna Giaccone, Stephen Grazzano, Anthony Grosso, Joseph Petrosino, Jody Prashant, Riyaz Remtulia and William Sonner — were sworn in by Ra. “This is an evening where we acknowledge new and existing board members who continue to serve and welcome new ones,” said Romeo. “As Steve Jobs said, ‘Great things in business are never done by one person — they’re done by a team of people.’” Sarrica, president of the Sarrica Insurance Group, in Franklin Square, since 2018, said he Continued on page 5
f we’re not talking to each other, if we’re not acknowledging that there’s been harm done to certain sections of our community, we’re lying
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