GUS LAFKAS
LICENSED ASSOCIATE REAL ESTATE BROKER
OVER 25 YEARS OF EXP ERIENCE
Student council is recognized Page 3
A Lasting Tribute to Freedom
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VOL. 29 NO. 27
JULY 2 - 8, 2026
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Federal judge blocks Nassau County law for free speech. “My thanks to the outstanding NYCLU le gal team for A federal judge has blocked defending my First Amendment enforcement of Nassau Coun- rights against Bruce Blakeman ty’s Religious Safety Act, ruling and the Nassau County Legislathat key provisions of the law ture,” Borecky said in a statelikely violate First Amendment ment following the decision. “It protections and issuing a pre- was peaceful assembly. It was liminary injunction against the protected speech. The law made it a crime. But with measure while a legal the NYCLU’s powerful challenge proceeds. case and a judge’s In a 63-page decicareful decision, jussion issued June 18, tice prevailed.” U.S. District Judge The Religious SafeSanket J. Bulsara ty Act, approved unanfound that the counimously by the County ty’s law, enacted in Legislature and signed J a n u a r y, l i k e l y into law by County infringes on constituExec ut ive B r uc e tionally protected Blakeman in January, speech by restricting created two restricexpressive activity CLAUDIA tions affecting houses near houses of wor- BORECkY of worship. The first ship. established a 35-foot The lawsuit was buffer zone around brought by Nassau entrances and driveCounty residents Claudia Borecky and Mariatere- ways where demonstrations, sa Thiery, who argued that the protests, literature distribution, law prevented them from peace- oral advocacy and other expresfully distributing literature and sive conduct were prohibited. speaking with churchgoers The second created a 100-foot about immigration issues and zone around entrances in which individuals could not approach their Catholic faith. Borecky, president of the within 10 feet of another person Bellmore-Merrick American for those same activities withDemocratic Club and the South out consent. Violations carried potential Shore Women’s Alliance, said ContinUeD on page 5 the ruling represents a victory
By HERNESTO GALDAMEZ
hgaldamez@liherald.com
Courtesy Bellmore-Merrick Central High School District
With support from Dan Jantzen, assistant principal at John F. Kennedy High School, and the help of fellow students and friends, junior Suhayla Uddin organized a fundraiser for autism awareness, which drew strong community participation and collected more than $3,500.
Kennedy High School junior leads team for autism awareness fundraiser By HERNESTO GALDAMEZ hgaldamez@liherald.com
A personal family experience inspired a junior at John F. Kennedy High School in Bellmore to turn awareness into action, raising more than $3,500 for the Nassau/Suffolk Autism Society Chapter through a student-led fundraiser that brought together classmates, local businesses and the community. Suhayla Uddin organized the autism awareness fundraiser after growing up alongside her younger brother, who has autism. She said her family’s experiences motivated her to increase understanding of autism while supporting programs that ben-
efit individuals with autism and their families. “Growing up with a sibling with autism has shaped much of my life,” Uddin said. “This journey for our family, and many others like us, has always been filled with ups and downs. I wanted to do something to bring awareness because autism is often misunderstood, judged, or overlooked.” Kennedy High School is part of the Bellmore-Merrick Central High School District. With support from the school’s assistant principal, Dan Jantzen, fellow students and friends, Uddin organized the event, which featured food and refreshments from local vendors, including Tasty Taxi Food Truck ContinUeD on page 8
PROUDLY DISPLAY THE STARS & STRIPES!
Look for your Independence Day Flag inside
Courtesy of the Herald Community Newspapers
T
his law was unnecessary and too restrictive.