_________________ FREEPORT _________________
CoMMuNItY uPDAtE Infections as of April 25
5,959
Infections as of April 18 5,893
$1.00
HERALD
Dodd mathletes earn silver
New fire chiefs take reins
library spreads love of gardening
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Vol. 86 No. 18
APRIl 29 - MAY 5, 2021
Ben Jackson is new president of chamber chamber forward,” added outgoing President Jenny Jorge. Jackson, a lifelong Freeporter The past year has presented and a Freeport High School unprecedented challenges, and alumnus, has been in business in among those who stepped up to the village for about 40 years. He help was the Freeport Chamber joined the chamber 20 years ago, of Commerce, which and previously worked around the served as 1st vice clock to promote president. local businesses and Jackson credited connected them the chamber’s work with resources that with helping him helped them stay connect with local afloat amid the ecobusinesses and nomic turmoil understanding the caused by the coroimportance of netnavirus pandemic. working. The orgaNow, more than a nization also made year after the crisis him aware of the shut down the local BEN JACkSoN joys of philanthropeconomy, the chamChamber President ic work through its ber is looking to charity fundraisers, move forward and he said. grow. At its annual installation After Hurricane Sandy devasluncheon on April 22, it named tated Freeport in 2012, Jackson its new president, Ben Jackson, volunteered with the Friends of as well as a new board of direc- Freeport nonprofit to use his tors and opened its new offices at contracting skills and connec11 Richmond St. tions to help repair houses and “I plan to do what I can to schools damaged in the storm. help our business community Greg Ingino, the chamber’s succeed through the pandemic,” 2nd vice president and the direcsaid Jackson, of Ben’s General tor of the Woodward Children’s Contracting Corporation. Center, said he was excited about “ B e n h a s a lw ay s b e e n working with someone as dediinvolved in the community, and cated to Freeport as Jackson. he’s got great ideas to push the Continued on page 2
By RoNNY REYES rreyes@liherald.com
F
Courtesy Maria Jordan-Awalom
FREEPoRt HIgH SCHool student Julian Jordan-Awalom received his first dose of the Covid-19 vaccine on April 24.
Mt. Sinai delivers vaccines
More than 700 FHS students receive first dose By RoNNY REYES rreyes@liherald.com
As Covid-19 vaccines became available to educators and school staff, the Freeport School District worked with local hospitals to set up appointments for those working at all seven of the district’s schools. But when Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced earlier this month that those 16 and older now qualified for the vaccines, it was Mt. Sinai
South Nassau that stepped up, partnering with the district to distribute more than 700 vaccines to Freeport High School students through two vaccination events, last Saturday and again on Wednesday. “We are grateful to Mt. Sinai for responding quickly to our needs and protecting our students,” Superintendent Kishore Kuncham said. “This initiative is part of Mount Sinai South Nassau’s commitment to help getting students and teachers vacci-
nated,” added Dr. Adhi Sharma, MSSN’s chief medical officer. “We are trying to make it as easy as possible for people to get the vaccine.” Maria Jordan-Awalom, who serves on the district’s Board of Education, said her family was excited to hear about the partnership. Her son, Julian, 16, along with 432 other students, signed up for the vaccination event on Saturday, at MSSN’s vaccination Continued on page 4
reeport is a diverse community, and we’re stronger when we work together.