________________ LONG BEACH _______________
HERALD Also serving Point Lookout & East Atlantic Beach
Vol. 35 No. 52
Hanukkah joy fills temple
Spreading hope with legos
Page 3
Page 9
DECEMBER 19 - 25, 2024
$1.00
Chabad renews lawsuit against Atlantic Beach Park St., which the Chabad purchased three years ago. “We realized that there was The Chabad of the Beaches, a need to service the people of Long Beach, has rejected a that liked the Chabad way of education and outsettlement offered reach,” Goodman by the Village of said at the time. Atlantic Beach that “And that we needwould have ended a ed to have a place legal dispute over over here that the the Chabad’s 2021 people of Atlantic purchase of propBeach could call erty in the village, home.” a n d t h e Je w i s h G o o d m a n organization has worked with archifiled an amended t e c t s, e n g i n e e r s lawsuit in federal and the village court. planning de partThe announcement for a year, but ment of the new was ultimately legal complication denied all but once was made at a vilzoning variance by lage board meeting the Atlantic Beach on Dec. 9 that Board of Zoning erupted in chaos, JEREMy DyS Appeals on Oct. 10. with residents Senior counsel, “The biggest shouting at Mayor First Liberty Institute permit they denied George Pappas and was the variance to one another about use the property for the village’s accruing more legal debt and the ongoing religious use,” Jeremy Dys, senior counsel at First Liberty Chabad litigation. At a hearing in Atlantic Institute, a Law Firm that is Beach in August, the Chabad’s representing the Chabad, said director, Rabbi Eli Goodman, on Dec. 12. “Even if they were presented plans for a religious able to enter the building right community center with an now, they can’t use it for reliaccessory café at 2025 and 2035 Continued on page 5
By MElISSA BERMAN
mberman@liherald.com
Tim Baker/Herald
Bringing holiday cheer, and a Coke Santa Claus brought holiday spirit — and soft drinks — to Long Beach during the 11th annual Electric Light Parade last Saturday. Story, more photos, Page 4.
City Council OKs county grant for Fire Department equipment By ANGElINA ZINGARIEllo azingariello@liherald.com
The Long Beach City Council approved a $600,000 grant from Nassau County during its Tuesday meeting, designated for the city’s Fire Department. The grant, financed by leftover pandemicrelated American Rescue Plan Act funds, requires no local match and is structured to release half of the money upfront, with the other half contingent on meeting specific
requirements. “I’m thankful for everyone that applied for these grants, and this is a wonderful grant, where it’s not a match,” Councilman Mike Reinhart said. “We actually get half the money upfront, and whenever we can supply our Fire Department with new equipment to keep our community safe, I think it’s a wonderful thing, especially through a grant.” City Comptroller Inna Reznik explained that to comply with the terms of the grant, the city Continued on page 11
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illage leadership has been driven by blatant, openly expressed religious animus against their Jewish neighbors.