_________________ FREEPORT _________________
HERALD Also serving Roosevelt
Schools attend SCoPE awards
Town holds employment fair
Man convicted of 2021 murder
Page 2
Page 10
Page 16
Vol. 89 No. 14
MARCH 28 - APRIl 3, 2024
$1.00
Food pantry in Freeport seeks a new location
Eggstravaganza rocks the rec Freeport resident Harry Kritikos arranged an Easter celebration and market that was fun for the whole family, with over 70 unique vendors and a 12-yearold DJ at the Freeport Recreation Center on March 24. This was the second year of the event, and Kritikos estimated that around 1500 individuals attended. The celebration offered free photo opportunities with the Easter bunny as well as face painting for children. Local vendors showcased their wares, including handmade soaps, crafts, and delicious desserts. There were princess as well as a charitable aspect with Toys for Hope handing out gifts to the first 200 children at the event.
least 15 years, serving 1,500 families a month who deal with food insecurity. The pantry has not been able For months, the Long Island Council of Churches in Free- to renew its lease — due to the por t has been desperately space’s owner needing the building for some searching for a new of its programs — space to operate its and is temporarily food pantry, which ceasing operations provides for needy f o r Ap r i l wh i l e families in the comchar ting out its munity. next big move. The pantry will Closing the pancontinue its operatry temporarily tions at 230 Hanse couldn’t have come Ave., until the end at a worse time — of the month, when when food insecuriits lease expires. ty on Long Island is Founded in 1969, much higher than the LICC coordinormal, due to risn a t e s t h e wo rk ing food and gas done by churches prices, and at a across Nassau and time when donaSuffolk counties to tions have improve living con- REV. RoN GARNER decreased. ditions for Long treasurer and T he pantry is Island residents, board member, able to purchase and works with vol- LICC food through the unteers to assist charitable donathe needy. “We’re having a hard time tions of LICC-affiliated church finding a replacement space,” congregations. “Since Covid, we’ve had a said Deacon Anthony Achong, a Freeport resident and direc- real decrease in congregational tor of administration and oper- giving,” said the Rev. Ron Garner, of the Wantagh Memorial ations at the LICC. The food pantry has been Congregational Church, who is open five days a week for at Continued on page 7
By MoHAMMAD RAFIQ
mrafiq@liherald.com
W
Keith Rossein/Herald
Meet the Class of 2024’s valedictorian and salutatorian By MoHAMMAD RAFIQ mrafiq@liherald.com
The grade point averages have been tabulated, and Freeport High School has a new valedictorian and salutatorian for 2024. They are Jeremy Dominguez and Etienne Sasenarine, respectively, who spoke with the Herald about what it takes to achieve these distinctions, and what they each have planned for their future academic careers and beyond. Sasenarine’s family moved to the Freeport school district from Toronto when he was in fifth grade. The child of Guyanese immigrants, he was made aware of the importance of success
when he was young. “I think that something that’s really instilled in my family is hard work,” said Sasenarine, whose mother is an accountant and whose father works in construction. “And I try my best to accomplish that in everything that I do.” Sasenarine said his favorite subject is math. “I’ve always loved to participate in math-related clubs, like Mathletes,” he said. “I like the problem-solving nature of math, where you can use different formulas and different concepts that will help you solve a problem. I really enjoy that.” Dominguez, too, enjoys such challenges. His Continued on page 5
e’ve been running deficits, but we’re hoping if we find a new location, we can begin to get back to financial health.