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Maidenbaum is : LI Choice Award W#1 r for Three Consecutivinene Years! 2023
Two seniors earn top honors
Holocaust remembrance
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Vol. 29 No. 7
FEBRUARY 12 - 18, 2026
2024 2025
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Democratic clubs plan anti-ICE rally after the fatal shooting of Renée Nicole Good, a 37-yearold Minneapolis resident, by an Democratic clubs across ICE agent in January — a Nassau County are organizing s h o o t i n g t h at h a s s t i r re d a coordinated peaceful rally national outrage and widelater this month to protest spread protests. Good, a U.S. citImmig ration and Customs izen, was shot and killed during Enforcement actions, local lead- a federal immigration operaers said. tion in Minneapolis on Jan. 7, Claudia Borecky, president drawing solidarity rallies in cito f t h e B e l l m o re ies from Boston to Merrick American San Francisco and Democratic Club, congressional hearsaid the rally — ings on use of force scheduled for 11 by federal officers. a.m. Feb. 21 — will The heightened span from Valley attention comes not Stream to Mass long after the Jan. apequa along Sun24 fatal shooting of rise Highway, with Alex Pretti, a Minparticipating clubs ClAUDiA BoRECkY neapolis resident stationed at train President, Bellmore killed during federstations and other al immigration Merrick Democratic public points. The enforcement operaClub Bellmore Merrick tions, which has club will gather at also sparked nationthe Merrick Long Island Rail wide protests and calls for Road station. accountability. “This is bigger than anyBorecky said local rallies in thing we’ve done before,” Nassau County are meant to Borecky said. “It’s most of the “give a face to immigrant comclubs in the area — stepping up munities” and bring attention to show solidarity with immi- to how enforcement actions grant families who are living in affect families, businesses and fear.” public safety. The protest comes amid According to independent heightened scrutiny of ICE
By HERNESTo GAlDAMEZ
hgaldamez@liherald.com
T
Holden Leeds/Herald
Volunteers from Team Heart & Cure take part in the Blood Cancer United Student Visionaries of the Year campaign during the Feb. 7 community clothing drive.
JFK junior leads cancer fundraiser Madison Brand is turning her loss into action By HERNESTo GAlDAMEZ hgaldamez@liherald.com
Madison Brand, a junior at John F. Kennedy High School in Bellmore, is turning personal loss into community action by leading a fundraising campaign for Blood Cancer United, formerly the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Brand is serving as a student visionary, heading a team of more than 20 students working to raise $50,000 in seven weeks to support blood cancer research, patient services and advocacy. Her father, Michael, was diagnosed with leukemia in 2017 and underwent months of chemotherapy before he died on Feb. 18, 2018, at age 38.
“I just wanted to make a change so no one else has to go through what my dad went through,” Brand said. Blood Cancer United played a major role in supporting her family during his illness, inspiring her to give back through the organization’s Student Visionaries of the Year program, a nationwide, teen-led fundraising initiative, Brand said. Blood Cancer United funds medical research, provides free patient support services and leads advocacy efforts aimed at improving access to care and advancing early diagnosis. The organization recently changed its name to reflect its broader mission to combat all forms of blood cancer. Brand first became involved with the proConTinUed on page 5
his is bigger than anything we’ve done before.
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