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Vol. 91 No. 29
July 16 - 22, 2026
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Village Hall hosts reading of Declaration police and fire departments, the Freeport Memorial Library staff and leaders from the FreeResidents, elected officials port-Roosevelt NAACP. and community leaders gathThe ceremony was held on ered outside Village Hall in the steps of Village Hall, a fitFreeport on July 8 for a public ting location, according to reading of the Declaration of Ellen Kelly, president of the Independence, commemorating Freeport Historical Society. the nation’s 250th anniversary. “When this building was Re a d e r s t o o k designed and turns quoting the opened almost 100 nation’s founding years ago, in 1928, it document in a cerewas modeled after mony that celebratIndependence ed not only AmeriHall,” Kelly said. can history but also “It was meant to be the Village of Freenot an exact repliport in front of dozca, but as close as ens of residents. possible to the one Hosted by the EllEN KElly that exists today in Freeport Historical President, Philadelphia.” Society, the event Freeport Historical Kelly said the marked the exact Society historical society date in 1776 when wanted the event to the Declaration of be more than a hisIndependence was first read tory lesson. By inviting reprepublicly in Philadelphia, Penn- sentatives from across the comsylvania. munity to participate, Kelly Last week, in Free por t, hoped the reading would reflect about 30 participants took the people who make up Freeturns reading parts of the his- port today. toric document, including Nas“What we were seeking to sau County Legislator Debra do, as a society, was to bring the Mulé, Freeport Mayor Robert whole community together,” Kennedy, Deputy Mayor Jorge she explained. “That meant Martinez and other members young and old, men and women of the Village Board of Trust- and elected officials and leadees, members of the Freeport Continued on page 3
By JuSTIN HABERMAN
Intern
W
Tim Baker/Herald
gregory ingino, Woodward’s executive director, with dwight gooden and Claudia Swansey, Woodward’s board president, after the program.
Mets’ Doc Gooden comes to Woodward Children’s Center By ANDREW FRANCIS afrancis@liherald.com
Woodward Children’s Center welcomed retired Major League All-Star pitcher Dwight “Doc” Gooden last week for a special visit with the Freeport special needs school’s students and community members. Gooden, who had his best years with the Mets, and also played for the Yankees late in his career, answered questions about baseball, mental health, his personal life and his path to overcoming years of drug abuse. Gooden, who recently moved to Long Beach, was greeted by a crowd on July 7 that included community leaders such as Nassau County Legislator Debra Mulé and Freeport
village Trustee Evette Sanchez. He spoke glowingly of Long Island’s South Shore and credited the fans of both New York baseball teams for helping to propel him to success. “You guys inspired me more than I inspired you guys,” Gooden said of the Woodward community and metropolitan area baseball fans. “What I mean by that is, I struggled with mental health, I struggled with addiction. And when I come here and see the smiles on you guys’ faces, I see how you go about your day, all the counselors and teachers and everybody that’s playing a part in these kids’ lives. That’s what it’s all about — giving back.” During a question-and-answer session, Continued on page 10
e just wanted it to represent all of Freeport.