________ Franklin square/elmont _______
HERALD Jewish center lights menorah
Students sing the holiday hits
Residents prep for disasters
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Vol. 25 No. 51
DECEMBER 14 - 20, 2023
$1.00
Reactions to Belmont Stakes move in 2024 of the Elmont Chamber of Commerce, said that the move should not have any effect on G o v. K a t h y H o c h u l businesses in the area. The announced on Dec. 6 that the annual prerace Paul Sapienza 2024 Belmont Stakes will be Parade will still be held on held at Saratoga Race Course Hempstead Turnpike in Elmont on June 8, to allow next year. for the uninterrupt“NYRA is suped reconstruction porting us in our of Belmont Park. endeavor to keep The Belmont the presence of the Stakes Racing FestiStakes on Hempval will begin June stead Tur npike,” 6 and conclude June Marchesella said, 9, with 23 stakes re f e r r i n g t o t h e races in total. This New York Racing will be the 156th Association. edition of the race, The parade comwhich first came to mittee is still in disBelmont Park in cussions about the 1905. logistics of the “As part of the event. Its starting exciting moderniza- JulIE and ending locat i o n o f B e l m o n t MARChESEllA tions, as well as the Park, Saratoga now President, Elmont date, have yet to be adds to its storied decided. Chamber of history by hosting “Last year was Commerce the 3rd leg of the one of our largest Triple Crown,” tur nouts for the Hochul said in a news release. parade,” Marchesella said, “and “It’s a win for horse racing and we certainly don’t want to lose for the Capital Region to have momentum,” she said. the excitement and the ability There has been some pushto host the four-day Festival in back on the move, because it June at America’s most historic will likely mean a loss of revetrack.” nue for businesses in Elmont Julie Marchesella, president
By NIColE WAGNER
nwagner@liherald.com
l
ast year was one of our largest turnouts for the parade, and we certainly don’t want to lose momentum.
Courtesy Rich D’Orsa
The Franklin Square youth football team celebrates the end of the 2023 season and their time as Warriors on the MetLife Stadium turf.
Warriors take the field at MetLife By NIColE WAGNER nwagner@liherald.com
MetLife Stadium, the home of the New York Jets and Giants, became the home of the undefeated Franklin Square Warriors for one last game. For the young players of the Franklin Square Warriors youth football team, Dec. 3 is a special day. It is the day they ran through the tunnel onto the field at MetLife Stadium one last time as a squad. The team of 12-year-olds ended their careers as Franklin Square Warriors with an exhibition game against the North Burlington Greyhounds on the same turf where NFL dreams come true. Warriors’ Head
Coach Rich D’Orsa and his assistants Tom Wakely and Wil Medica all agree that the experience was the cherry on top of the 2023 season for the boys. “It was more fun than anything, because the last three seasons, four seasons have been very intense and hard-fought,” said D’Orsa. The game was a special moment for the boys and the coaches alike, since it’s not every day the chance to play in an NFL stadium presents itself. Team Mom Liz Greaney, who has helped the team off the field over the years, helped bring the MetLife experience to life. The game was a ton of fun for the playConTinued on page 4
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