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HERALD International Yoga Day
Village gains new finance interns
Movie at Cow Meadow Park
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Vol. 88 No. 33
AUGUST 10 - 16, 2023
$1.00
Annual National Night Out returns By MoHAMED FARGHAlY mfarghaly@liherald.com
Mohamed Farghaly/Herald
Freeport residents got to know police officers and other first responders during National Night Out at Bishop Frank O. White Park on Aug. 1, an event that fostered community spirit and promoted crime prevention and awareness through neighborhood partnerships with law enforcement and government officials. Mayor Robert Kennedy and other officials spoke.
A crowd of Freeport residents gathered in Bishop Frank O. White Park on Aug. 1 to get to know law enforcement of ficers and first responders at the much-anticipated return of National Night Out. More than 11,000 municipalities across the country take part in the four-decade-old event each summer. It was created to raise public awareness of the issues of crime and gang activity, which loom over countless neighborhoods, and how residents, police and other first responders can cooperate to mitigate them. National Night Out CONtiNued ON PAge 19
Freeport PAL Boxing Gym marks 30 years of empowerment By MoHAMED FARGHAlY
T
mfarghaly@liherald.com
he Police Activity League boxing gym in Freeport is gearing up to celebrate its 30th anniversary later this month. Founded by the late police officer and original Freeport PAL Executive Director Jack Lundergan in 1992, the gym has become a pillar of the community, producing numerous champions and instilling discipline and values in its members. “The first thing you have to recognize is that police officer Jack Lundergan was the police officer that came up with the
idea of starting the Freeport PAL,” Coach Joe Higgins said. “He was the one, of course, that recruited me to come in as the boxing director and the president. So, first and foremost, we have to mention Jack Lundergan. If not for him, there is no Freeport PAL.” Higgins played a pivotal role in the gym’s evolution. Born in Brooklyn in 1961, Higgins had a lifelong passion for boxing that persisted through his amateur fighting days and his time as a New York City firefighter. Later, he discovered his true calling, joining a boxing gym in Freeport that could positively impact the lives of young people.
Over the past three decades, Higgins and his team have produced more than 100 amateur champions, including five national champions. However, the Freeport gym is more than just a place to train — it’s a beacon of hope for kids in troubled areas. Higgins’ mission is simple: help kids become successful in life, not just in the ring. The gym’s focus is not just on boxing. It is also an afterschool and after-work program that helps young people become productive members of society. “With the amount of kids that have gone through this program over that period, they become very responsible and
productive adults,” Higgins said. The gym provides a positive outlet for kids and helps them stay away from negative activities. Higgins and his team of coaches are tough on their students, but they always finish on a positive note. Every kid who walks through the door feels supported and encouraged, regardless of their physical fit-
ness level. “I love to say this, but when you walk in that door, you’re all equally useless,” Higgins said. “I don’t care who you are, and what background you come from. But I can assure you this. If you stay in that room, within a few months, your whole freakin’ mindset is going to change. We’re going to teach you how to CONtiNued ON PAge 10