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Third party vies to lead the village and we need to reflect that if we really want to improve our village for everyone.” After Freeport Mayor Robert Lambert Watkins has worked Kennedy and village Trustee for the New York City Housing C a r m e n P i ñ e y ro re c e n t ly Authority for 28 years. As a manannounced their candidacies for ager, she oversees a community mayor, lifelong Freeporter Thel- in the city of over 4,500 resima Lambert Watdents, maintaining kins decided to a staff of more throw her hat in than 70 employees the ring, saying she and a budget of hopes to steer the about $4 million. community in a “From my more family-oriencareer to my work tated direction. in the community, Leading the We I’m used to leading The People Party, others,” she said. Lambert Watkins “Now I want to lead is joined by nurse a grander scale. ThElMA lAMBERT on Juana Prado and What better place educator Tiffany WATkiNS than my own P e n d o l a , b o t h Mayoral candidate hometown?” vying for trustee Lambert Watpositions, and kins, the child of Jamaican attorney Michele Baptiste, who immigrants, grew up in Freeport is running for village justice. and, she said, her Freeport High Lambert Watkins said the allSchool Red Devil pride never female team is a first for village went away after she graduated in politics, and if elected, the We 1988. She has stayed in close conThe People Party candidates tact with the schools through her would bring greater inclusion to son, 29, and daughter, 16, and her Village Hall and the wider cominvolvement with the Parent munity. Teacher Association. Lambert “My team is what the village Watkins has served in leaderneeds,” Lambert Watkins said. ship roles in the PTA for about a “Freeport is made up of people from all different backgrounds, Continued on page 15
By RoNNY REYES rreyes@liherald.com
i
Courtesy Village of Freeport
The snow was no match for the pros Freeport’s Department of Public Works employees worked fast to keep roads and public buildings clear during and after Monday’s nor’easter. Story, Page 3.
‘We’re off to a great start’
District student athletes back on the field of play By ToNY BElliSSiMo and RoNNY REYES tbellisimo@liherald.com, rreyes@liherald.com
Freeport athletes were back on the field less than a week after high-risk high school sports were given the OK to proceed by Gov. Andrew Cuomo. “All our coaches and players were well prepared,” said Jonathan Bloom, the Freeport School District’s athletic director. “I’m excited for our students, and
we’re doing our best to make sure they’re safe.” At a Jan. 27 news conference at Bay Park, in East Rockaway, Nassau County Executive Laura Curran announced the high-risk sports guidelines that cleared the way for public and parochial schools to begin practicing for basketball, wrestling and cheer on Monday, and holding games and matches as soon as Feb. 8. “I’m excited to get our kids back on the fields, courts and the
rinks they love so much and to bring a little normal back into their lives,” Curran said. “Luckily, we’ve already been following these guidelines since we began our pre-season workout program in the fall,” Dr. Kishore Kuncham, Freeport’s schools superintendent, said at a Jan. 27 Board of Education meeting. The guidelines includes wearContinued on page 8
want to lead on a grander scale. What better place than my own hometown?