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HERALD Also serving Roosevelt
Vol. 89 No. 49
Cleaning up the beach
PTo group holds feast
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NoVEMBER 28 - DECEMBER 4, 2024
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Al Grover reflects on his legendary voyage across sea By MoHAMMAD RAFIQ mrafiq@liherald.com
Jeanine Schroder/Herald
Al Grover’s sons, Dante Grover and Al Jr., pose in front of the record-breaking outboard boat that crossed the Atlantic in 1985, now on display in Freeport.
Freeport legend Al Grover captivated an audience at the Sparkle on Stage Cultural Arts Center on Nov. 24, chronicling his incredible story of a life spent on the water, which culminated in a Guinness World Record for the first outboard-powered boat to cross the Atlantic in 1985. At 97 years old, his memories and wisdom offer a vivid snapshot of Freeport’s maritime history and his contributions to the nautical world. The event was truly a full circle moment for Grover, because the building that is now Sparkle on Stage, at 195 Woodcleft Ave., was previously owned by the Grover family and was where they once ran their boat repair shop. Born in Flushing Grover moved to Freeport from Long Beach at age 7, which is when he fell in love with the water. “We started by clamming and fishing,” he told the Herald. “I went to Freeport schools —Archer Street School and Freeport High School. I worked on the boats down on the ContinueD on pAGe 4
Stand Down at armory gives support to local heroes By MoHAMMAD RAFIQ mrafiq@liherald.com
The Freeport Armory was a hive of activity on Tuesday, as hundreds of veterans stopped by the annual Veterans Stand Down. Hosted by Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman and Ralph Esposito, director of the Nassau County Veterans Service Agency, the event offered veterans in need essential items and services. This year’s Stand Down, which drew roughly 600 former members of the nation’s armed services, demonstrated the power of community partner-
ships and dedication to those who have served. Since 1998, the semi-annual event has been a vital resource for Nassau County’s community of veterans. The drive-through event offered an array of resources, including brand new clothing, winter boots, food, toiletries and housing assistance. Esposito emphasized the high quality of the handouts. “Everything is brand new,” he said. “Underwear, socks, jackets, shoes — I should say boots — and then food and cosmetics. Everything top-shelf. I don’t go with crap. We get it donated. We go shake people down,” he added wryly.
L o n g I s l a n d C a re s a n d Island Harvest contributed food, including turkeys and hams, ensuring that the vetera n s wo u l d h ave a p ro p e r Thanksgiving meal. General Needs, another key partner, provided winter boots and heavy jackets, while schools like Gotham Avenue and Covert Avenue, in Elmont, donated cases of food. The event also received support from Reworld, a leader in sustainable waste solutions, which donated essential items like underwear and socks. “Our veterans deserve to be supported in every way possible, and participating in this
event allows us to give back to those who have given so much to our country,” Maureen Early, lead community relations specialist at Reworld, stated in a news release. “Providing these essential items is just one way we can show our appreciation and contribute to the well-being of our local veteran community.”
Morris Miller, a Vietnam veteran and a longtime volunteer, reflected on his decades of involvement in the Stand Down. “I’ve been involved in the Stand Down since the very first one, about 25 to 26 years ago,” Miller said. “People come in one way, they open up their ContinueD on pAGe 10