INCORPORATING THE WEST HEMPSTEAD BEACON VOL. 75 No. 33
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August 14 - 20, 2025
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Park official halts boxing program
Suspension of club raises questions from community members, local athletes Rolando Ramoz, of Hempstead, said. “Some people, like myself, are just fans of the sport. I thought it was one of the The Hempstead Boxing Club — a hub more fruitful programs this town had to for young athletes and aspiring boxers in offer.” Ramoz, a former track athlete at the the village — has been suspended for over a month, leaving families, coaches University of Scranton and the winner of the Hempstead’s annual Tyree Curry and boxers in limbo. Held at Kennedy Memorial Park, the 5K in 2024 turned to the club after a stress fracture in his leg program offered more than ended his running career. just a place to train. It was a The gym became a new outsafe space where kids could stay active, build confilet — mentally and physidence and find mentorcally — where he trained ships. Its sudden suspenfor more than a year. sion, on June 2, by park He credits the gym’s noSuperintendent Yolanda nonsense, military-style Hurcherson, has sparked discipline — instilled by frustration and confusion Covington, an Air Force in the boxing community — veteran — for helping him and no one seems to know prepare for the challenges when, or if, the club will of basic training and being return. a commissioning officer in Hurcherson was contactthe U.S. Marine Corps ed for comment, however which Ramoz will join in there was no response on the coming year. her decision of the closure. “Kids need a third house “The district attorney, … you have school, then Denis Dillon, started the home, but sometimes you program to keep the youth RolANDo RAmoz need that third to really off the street — it’s a youth Hempstead Boxing Club develop,” he said. “A lot of program,” Coach Laurence kids don’t have that. There Covington, who has been with the pro- is an absence of community, and we gram for about a decade, said, referring need something like (boxing) in a place to the former Nassau County D.A., who like Hempstead.” died in 2010. For 12-year-old Joshua Gittens, of Founded in 1998, the club has long Freeport, the boxing club became a secserved as a training ground for amateur ond home. Home-schooled and soft-spofighters from across Long Island. It has ken, Joshua began boxing at age 5, and hosted regional tournaments, mentored has trained with the club for seven years. youth, and helped prepare some athletes “Josh is there six days a week, so you for Olympic trials and professional might as well say he lives there,” Jackie careers. Gitten’s, Joshua’s grandmother said. “Not everybody that goes to the gym “Not a lot of parents stay in the gym, but wants to fight in matches,” 23-year-old
By STACY DRIKS
sdriks@liherald.com
Courtesy Reine Bethany
Youngsters flocked to Hempstead Village police officers, who were handing out prizes for participating in children’s games, during national night Out, aug. 5 on historic denton green.
National Night Out unites Hempstead residents, police There was food, games and Shetland ponies sively applying for grants that helped to keep us from burdening our residents while still keeping them safe.” At the park gate, young and old The Hempstead Police Department interpreted its Aug. 5 National Night received free “Hempstead National Out as an opportunity to treat the Hemp- Night Out 2025” t-shirts with the names of sponsors emblastead Village communizoned on the back. ty like royalty. Just to one side of About 800 attendees the gate, children clamflocked to Denton bered in and out of the Green, the central park Nassau Library System in the heart of HempTechmobile, which stead Village, under a gives classes at librarbalmy evening sky. Suries and schools rounding the park throughout Nassau entrance on James A. County. Garner Way were shinInside the park ing rows of police vehigates, the park pathcles, including motorcy- RICHARD HollAND ways were lined with cles and bicycles, and Hempstead Village Police Chief tables for the Hempproud fire trucks. “This year,” said Hempstead Mayor stead Public Library, the New Greater Waylyn Hobbs, Jr., “we wanted to high- Hempstead Chamber of Commerce, the light the new emergency equipment we Hempstead NAACP, and social services were able to acquire, thanks to aggresCOntinued On Page 3
By REINE BETHANY
Special to the Herald
N
ational Night Out is really about our department being out where the community can see us in a positive, friendly way.
N
ot everybody that goes to the gym wants to fight in matches. Some people, like myself, are just fans of the sport. I thought it was one of the more fruitful programs this town had to offer.
COntinued On Page 4