Freeport
HERALD Leader
BlM protests death in Kenosha
Freeporter earns Eagle Scout rank
Arrest made in string of thefts
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Vol. 85 No. 36
SEPTEMBER 3 - 9, 2020
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FHS fall sports delayed Nassau superintendents to make final decision on Sept. 21 “While we empathize with our students and families, Section VIII is the governing body Freeport High School student- for all public school sports in athletes may have to wait until Nassau County and all school 2021 to compete in sports. districts must abide by the rules At an emergency meeting on they provide,” said Jonathan Aug. 26, Nassau school superin- Bloom, Freeport School Distendents voted to trict’s athletic direcpostpone Section tor. “As we enter the VIII high school reopening phase of sports until Jan. 4, our schools, the becoming the first of health and safety of the state’s 11 secour students and tions to move its fall staff must be our top season. The superinpriority. We look fortendents will reconward to resuming vene on Sept. 21 to sports when more make a final deciguidance for return sion. to play is issued and “I believe other Section VIII decides sections will follow it is safe for our athand pull the plug, letes and coaches to but I can’t speak for do so.” RuSS CEllAN anyone else,” said The decision to Section VIII Execu- FHS football coach delay fall spor ts tive Director of Athcame two days after letics Pat Pizzarelli. “We felt Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo issued strong enough to make this deci- guidance permitting lower-risk sion now. We took the cautious high school fall sports (soccer, route, but we believe it’s in tennis, swimming, field hockey everyone’s best interests. There and cross-country) to begin pracare too many unknowns. tice and play on Sept. 21, while “It’s just not time to allow noting football and volleyball kids to play sports,” he contin- could begin practice but not play. ued. “And my first and foremost The superintendents, howevconcern is the safety of our student-athletes.” Continued on page 4
By RoNNY REYES rreyes@liherald.com
A
Courtesy Deliah Roberts
Free testing continues Northwell Health staff Adriana Marinescu, left, Dinah Alvarez, Salvator Burgess, Simone Glover and Juliet Thorpe helped provide free Covid-19 testing in Freeport on Aug. 20 as part of a partnership with Nassau County. Story, Page 7.
‘I roll with the punches’
Freeport Ninja Academy overcomes hurdles By RoNNY REYES rreyes@liherald.com
As she drove around Freeport’s industrial area last year, Kathryn Gawrych, 27, of Massapequa, was searching for the perfect place to house her vision, a Ninja Warrior academy, where she would train people of all ages to complete the obstacle courses from the “American Ninja Warrior” TV series. Gawrych, a life-long athlete,
was having trouble finding a tallenough building or realtors who would take her seriously because of her youthful appearance, but when she spotted an available space at 272 Buffalo Ave., she thought she was destined to make Freeport the home of her first business. After converting the empty, nearly 10,000-square-foot building into the first Ninja Academy franchise outside of Connecticut, Gawrych officially opened
her Freeport Ninja Academy in January. Despite the challenges and pitfalls caused by the coronavirus pandemic, Gawrych said she hopes to overcome all obstacles and make the Freeport Ninja Academy an island-wide destination. “I never imagined that I would have to deal with a global pandemic just weeks after openContinued on page 10
thletics is a big part of any school and helps kids thrive. I don’t want anyone to miss out.