_________________ FREEPORT _________________
HERALD Rooftop boxing extravaganza
Rotary Club’s new board
Final summer movie night
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Vol. 88 No. 35
AUGUST 24 - 30, 2023
$1.00
Woodward unveils its new sports complex By MoHAMED FARGHAlY mfarghaly@liherald.com
Tim Baker/Herald
The Woodward Children’s Center recently marked a significant milestone with the unveiling of its sprawling Outdoor Sports Complex on Aug. 4. This ambitious project, years in the making and meticulously planned, represents a substantial step forward for the institution renowned for its unwavering commitment to exceptional special education.
The Woodward Children’s Center, in Freeport, renowned for its dedication to exceptional special education, inaugurated its new Outdoor Sports Complex on Aug. 4. It was the culmination of a multiyear effort to create an environment aligned with the vision of the school’s executive board of directors for the betterment of Woodward’s students. The purpose of this ambitious project was to bolster physical education and offer students a dynamic outdoor facility. COnTinued On pAge 6
Freeport Memorial Library scores big to beat the heat By MoHAMED FARGHAlY mfarghaly@liherald.com
This summer has broken temperature records, and it’s no secret to those who ventured into the Freeport Memorial Library recently. Rather than finding a cool escape, patrons have been met with heat and stuffiness. Relief is on the horizon. In a significant boost for local library infrastructure, the Freeport Memorial Library is poised to benefit from over $300,000 in a state grant marked for the upgrade and replacement of the HVAC system in the West Building of the library.
Last year, the F ree por t Memorial Library located at 144 W. Merrick Rd. took proactive steps to secure New York State Construction Aid for a vital p ro j e c t : t h e u p g r a d e a n d replacement of the HVAC system in the west building. Just last week, the dedicated library staff received the exciting news that their grant application had been approved, granting them $302,015 towards this crucial project. The urgency of this upgrade is underscored by the current HVAC units in the west building, which are experiencing significant issues. Fortunately, work on the project is already underway, with the aim
of completion by the end of September. “The Library applied for New York State Construction Aid last year to upgrade and replace the HVAC system in our west building,” Library Director, Lee Ann Moltzen said. “We have just received notification that we were awarded $302,015 toward the cost of the project. “ The funding injection comes as part of the State Education Department’s statewide initiative, allocating $34 million to support construction and renovation projects in 197 public libraries across the state. T he announcement was made by Assemblyman of the
21st district, Brian Curran, who unveiled the allocation of state aid to aid construction undertakings at several local libraries. “ I a m ve r y p l e a s e d t o announce that five of our local libraries will be receiving much-needed funds to renovate,” Curran said in a press release. “Local libraries are
invaluable to our communities, as centers for not only reading but learning and exploration as well. Many happy memories are made in local libraries, and I cannot wait to see how they put these funds to great use to better our community.” The $34 million financial assistance is drawn from a capCOnTinued On pAge 10