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Friday, July 29, 2022
Vol. 71, No. 30
N E W H Y D E PA R K
HEALTH, WELLNESS AND BEAUTY
HALLS OF CONGRESS TO HERRICKS HIGH
ROP OFFICIALS ON ANTISEMITIC FLYERS
PAGES 23-26
PAGE 2
PAGE 19
Freeport man pleads not guilty to crash charges
S AV I N G T H E D AY
3 women killed outside The Inn at New Hyde Park following Sweet 16 BY R OB E RT PE L A E Z A Freeport driver Monday pleaded not guilty to charges of manslaughter and DWI in a New Hyde Park car crash earlier this year that killed three women who were leaving a family member’s Sweet 16 party, according to officials. Dante Lennon, 22, showed up in a wheelchair at his Monday arraignment after he sustained injuries in the May 21 car crash on Jericho Turnpike, according to Newsday. Lennon faces charges of first and second-degree vehicular manslaughter, aggravated vehicular homicide, driving while intoxicated, reckless driving as well as second and third-degree assault, according to officials. Robert Gottlieb, Lennon’s attorney, told Acting State Supreme Court Judge Tammy S. Robbins that his client might ask for a bail adjustment down the line after his family had trouble posting the previously set $425,000 bond, Newsday reported. Efforts to reach Gottlieb for further comment were unavailing. Lennon was behind the wheel of a speeding 2012 Mercedes-Benz sedan that struck a 2010 Lincoln Town Car carrying six people outside of The Inn at New Hyde Park on the eastbound lane of Jericho Turnpike May 21, police said.
The three backseat passengers— Marlene Lu and Ho Hua, both of Queens, and Tu Nguyen from North Carolina—were pronounced dead at the scene. The driver and two other passengers in the Lincoln were taken to local hospitals and were in stable condition after the accident, officials said. Officials said the women were leaving a Sweet 16 celebration at the venue prior to the crash. Police said Lu was the mother of the host of the Sweet 16 party, while Hua was the host’s aunt and Nguyen the host’s cousin. The other individuals in the Lincoln were a 73-year-old man, a 67-year-old man and a 42-year-old man, officials said. The 67-year-old man’s clavicle was fractured, while the 42-year-old man suffered from broken ribs and both were hospitalized after the accident, police said. The 73-year-old man was discharged from the hospital two days after the incident, suffering from neck and back pain, according to officials. According to court documents, Lennon acknowledged he had consumed alcoholic beverages before driving. His preliminary blood alcohol content of .88% was higher than the legal limit of .08%, according to the documents. Continued on Page 38
PHOTO COURTESY OF THE MANHASSET-LAKEVILLE VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT
On Friday, July 22, the Manhasset-Lakeville Fire Department responded to vehicle fire involving a mobile shredding truck in Manhasset.
New Hyde Park unveils renovated Assembly Hall BY B R A N D ON D U FF Y
Mayor Christopher Devane said in an interview with Blank Slate Media. Residents will be able to see The new Assembly Hall in New Hyde Park is one of many renovations the modernized courtroom that the village has undertaken in 2022 embodies the charm and age of the and the first so far to be completed, village hall’s existing structure at the
village board meeting scheduled for Thursday, Devane said. “In embracing the age of the building, we’ve actually revealed the beautiful architecture that was here Continued on Page 39
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