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HERALD
your HEALTH body / mind / fitness
and NOVEMBER 30, 2023
with a focus on:
healthy holidays
Vol. 88 No. 49
local leaders unite for holiday
Schools offer some thanks
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NoVEMBER 30 - DECEMBER 6, 2023
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Veterans receive vital support in Freeport By MoHAMED FARGHAlY mfarghaly@liherald.com
Courtesy Freeport Public Schools
The 39th annual ‘Stand Down’ initiative, held at the Freeport Armory just before Thanksgiving, addressed the unmet needs of veterans within the community.
Soldiers often fight not out of hatred for what’s in front of them, but because of the love for what they left behind. Upon their return from warzones, veterans may find that their needs for happiness and survival aren’t always met. In response to this, “Stand Down,” a long-standing initiative, recently celebrated its 39th occurrence just before Thanksgiving at the Freeport Armory. At the annual event this year on Nov. 21, hundreds of veterans were provided with essential items such as food, shoes, clothes, and personal care items. ConTinueD on pAge 6
Building friendships through the Jones Beach Club By CHARlES SHAW cshaw@liherald.com
For some, it’s just a place to relax for the day, but for thousands of Long Islanders, Jones Beach State Park holds a special place in their hearts. The Jones Beach Club, a Facebook group that has grown to more than 25,000 members strong, has been bringing people together since its creation f ive ye a r s a g o. M e m b e r s include people from all over the island, with many residing in Wantagh, Seaford, Bellmore, Merrick and Freeport. Freeport resident Philip Jimenez, a moderator of the
group, said people from all over the country join to share their memories of the beach. “The group keeps on growing,” Jimenez said. “It hasn’t staggered. Every year, there’s new people, and it’s good seeing that because we keep hearing new stories.” The club is a social group where members interact by sharing memories of the famed Long Island destination. Jimenez said many members no longer live in the community but will reminisce about growing up near Jones Beach. Throughout the thousands of posts on the page, members will discuss the history of the
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eople love coming here, and they love getting together. PHiliP JiMENEz Jones Beach Club member beach and share old photos and memorabilia, such as a decades-old match cover with the beach logo on it. For Jimenez, sharing these stories has helped build connections with the community. “We get to know each other through talking, friendships and smiles,” Jimenez said of
the club’s members. “It gets us away from daily life.” In addition to posting, members would meet up at Jones Beach to watch the sunset. According to Jimenez, an average of 10 members each day could be found by the Field 10 bait and tackle shop conversing with other members and waiting for the sun to go down.
Jimenez and his wife, Carolyn, both 74, have helped grow the club to where it is now. State Sen. Steve Rhoads honored the couple with a citation on Oct. 8, thanking them for spreading happiness and fostering a community at Jones Beach. Both said they were happy with the recognition but ConTinueD on pAge 4