_________________ FREEPORT _________________
HERALD Also serving Roosevelt
New Rotary Eco club in the works
Nassau residents watch for scams
Freeport kids play summer fest
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Vol. 89 No. 34
AUGUST 15 - 21, 2024
$1.00
Carrying on Carini’s legacy Chris Schneider of Seaford appointed Town of Hempstead councilman “I am proud to welcome Chris Schneider as the newest member of the town board,” Chris Schneider, a Seaford Supervisor Don Clavin stated in a news release. “Although the resident who dedicates much of his time to giving back to the Town of Hempstead suffered a community, is a newly appoint- great loss with the passing of Councilman Chris ed Hempstead town Carini, the town councilman. board and I truly S c h n e i d e r, a believe that Chris Re publican, was Schneider is the appointed to the perfect person to seat at an Aug. 6 carry on Carini’s Town Board meetlegacy.” ing. He was Schneider, 44, approved unanihas been active in mously with a vote the Wantagh and of 6-0, and was Seaford communisworn in to repreties for over two sent the 5th Coundecades. He has repcilmanic District, resented Seaford on which encompasses the Nassau County Lido Beach, Point Police CommissionLookout and parts e r ’s C o m m u n i t y of Freeport, BellCouncil since 2022, m o r e , M e r r i c k , CHRIS SCHNEIdER and has served on Wantagh, and Sea- Hempstead town the 5th District councilman ford. Graffiti Watch Task The appointment Force. comes after CounCarini, also a Seaford resicilman Chris Carini died unexpectedly on July 14, at age 49, dent, had long been involved while visiting family in Florida. with the Wantagh/Seaford HomCarini was serving his second eowners Association, which term after winning re-election often focused on quality-of-life last November. There will be a issues. Schneider has served on special election in November for the board of the association for a full term beginning next year. Continued on page 14
By CHARlES SHAW
cshaw@liherald.com
Courtesy FASNY
edward tase Jr., president of Firefighters association of the State of new York, awarded Lt. petros Mestheneas with a medal honoring the firefighter’s heroic actions in april of last year.
Freeport fireman awarded ‘Firefighter of the Year’ By MoHAMMAd RAFIQ mrafiq@liherald.com
Lt. Petros Mestheneas of the Freeport Fire Department received the esteemed “Firefighter of the Year” award from the Firefighters Association of the State of New York in a ceremony on Aug. 8. The honor, presented at the association’s 152nd annual convention held in Niagara Falls, recognized the lieutenant’s extraordinary bravery during a harrowing fire in April of 2023, when his quick actions saved the lives of two fellow firefighters. A 36-year veteran of fire service, Lt. Mestheneas is well known in the Freeport community for his dedication and leadership. On the mor ning of April 1, 2023, he answered the ultimate test during a fivealarm fire at the Emergency Ambulance Ser-
vice garage and offices, at 30 Commercial St. in Freeport. The fire, which engulfed the 30,000-square-foot building housing 38 ambulances, posed an extreme threat to all responders, officials said. The raging blaze produced explosions, which shook the building, and two firefighters who had entered to search for potential victims became disoriented, fire officials said. With conditions rapidly deteriorating and their air supplies dwindling, the two Freeport firefighters, Djaun Matthews and Matthew Lafleur, issued a mayday call. Lt. Mestheneas, acting on instinct and years training, rushed into the blaze without hesitation, knowing every second counted. “When I got there, it was a bad fire — a Continued on page 4
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think it’s really important that what you do for a living matters, and there’s no greater calling than helping people.