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Vol. 90 No. 31
JUlY 31 - AUGUST 6, 2025
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Whale-watching tours at the Mile thrill and excite By MASHIAT AZMI Intern
Courtesy Dana Trojca
In the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, those who boarded Captain Lou Fleet’s boat, the Atlantic Pearl, enjoyed spotting humpback whales.
Freeport’s Nautical Mile, often referred to as the fishing and boating capital of the village, offers whalewatching tours with Captain Lou Fleet and American Princess Cruises, thanks to its ideal geographical location. Captain Lou Fleet’s boat, the Atlantic Pearl, also offers whale and seal-watching tours, operating from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., from May until November, with 111 Woodcleft Ave. as its starting point and 31 Woodcleft Ave. as their office. The four-hour tour costs $65 per person and $50 for kids, extends from as far east as Robert Moses State Park in Fire Island, to as far west as Sandy Hook, New Jersey, with a 90 to 95 percent possibility that cetaceans, such as whales, dolphins and porpoises, would be sighted during the trip. Michael Danon, operator of Captain Lou Fleet, said COntInued On PAge 10
State investment to help underserved communities By MoHAMMAD RAFIQ mrafiq@liherald.com
State funding totaling $30 million may go to help nonprofit organizations across the state, including those in Freep o r t , Ro o s eve l t , B a l dw i n , Hempstead, Lakeview, Uniondale, and West Hempstead. Distribution of these funds is expected to begin sometime next year. The funding was discussed at what was described as a listening session attended by residents, nonprofit leaders and elected officials at the Roosevelt Library on July 24. The meeting was part of a statewide tour
aimed at ensuring that the voices and needs of local communities guide how this civic investment will be allocated. The money that will be distributed by five entities — Elm Core, LISC New York, the National Urban League, United Way of New York State, and the Federation of Protestant Welfare Agencies — is intended to support community-based organizations in underserved area across the state. The organizat i o n s w i l l wo rk w i t h t h e Department of State to allocate the funding to groups that apply. Over 400 organizations a c r o s s N e w Yo r k h a v e e x p re s s e d i n t e re s t i n t h e
money. The initiative was spearheaded by the New York State Black Legislative Task Force, which is chaired by Assemblywoman Chantel Jackson of the Bronx. The task force, which seeks to advance legislation and secure funding for Black communities, was formed in 2022, and was officially recognized by the Assembly this year. “The Asian task force have been advocating for money for (the) last five years or so, and started out getting $10 million and moved up to $30 million, like, last year,” Jackson said, refer ring to the New York
Assembly Asian Pacific American Task Force. “So we, as a task force, thought it would be a good idea for us, also, to start advocating for that funding, and it’s just a matter of us collectively talking to our leadership about the needs of socially disadvantaged groups and talking to the governor as well.” “The Black task force
received ($30 million), the Puerto Rican task force received ($30 million) and the Asian task force received ($30 million),” Jackson added. “So $90 million in total.” Other key members of the Black Legislative Task Force include State Senators Kevin Parker, Lea Webb and Leroy COntInued On PAge 5