January
Snow storm hits hard
"In like a lion, out with a lamb," is an apt axiom to characterize the weather of 2001. Though we've enjoyed warmer than usual temperatures for the last many weeks of the year, it didn't start out that way.
On Dec. 30, 2000, Valley Stream was blanketed with 10-14 inches of white wonder, causing danger and inconvenience to many all around the village.
"We had our full fleet of snow vehicles out for this one," said Nick Camerano, general supervisor of the public works department. "We had 10 plows, seven sanders and four payloaders."
Parked cars and residents shoveling snow into the streets hampered cleanup. However, not everyone thought the storm was awful. Mom Maureen Egar and Linda Emmert had fun in the snow with their kids, Elizabeth Emmert and Ryan Egar.
Almost 40 percent of the village's $150,000 snow budget was depleted during the January storm, when $59,000 was spent clearing streets over the three-day period, according to Village Clerk Vincent Ang. Since inflated costs for cleanup were blamed on residents and businesses that shoveled snow into the streets, the village began evoking a seldom-enforced 1937 law to penalize them.
"No person, firm or corporation shall deposit or leave any materials...upon any street, highway or public place within the village of Valley Stream," the code states.
Violators were subject to a $25 fine and the Village Board of Trustees considered raising the fine to $250 for businesses.
Christmas party shoot-out
An unidentified 41-year-old man was shot in the head on Christmas morning while he had been a guest at a holiday party in a Clearstream Avenue home. He was taken to Mercy Medical Center in critical condition. The homeowner, Jose Estrada, 41, was arrested and charged with attempted murder. According to police, the victim and alleged shooter had been friends for about six years.
Police said an apparent argument had ensued after a night of drinking, which resulted in the shooting.
Burglary spree hits VS
A string of five daytime burglaries in Valley Stream near the community's border with Queens was thought to have been a part of a larger crime spree that saw as many as 16 burglaries in the six weeks in the same area, police said.
The burglaries followed a similar pattern where a rear door or window was used to get into the homes and the burglars then took items that could be carried out. The 16 burglaries occurred between Dec. 1 and Jan. 5.
Duck Man dies at bus stop
George Miller, 56, Valley Stream's local "Duck Man," suffered a heart attack on Dec. 29 as he waited for a bus to take him to his Springfield Gardens, Queens, home. Miller, who resembled Santa Claus, worked cleaning the debris in the park and took great interest in the environment. He could often be seen feeding ducks in Hendrickson Park.
VS Historical Society granted charter
Almost 27 years after it was granted its first provisional charter, the Valley Stream Historical Society and its Pagan Fletcher Restoration museum earned an "absolute charter" from the State of New York, giving the society's work the permanent recognition that its members believe it has long deserved.
VS student wins Intel honor
Shanikki Ferguson, a senior at Valley Stream's South High School, was named as the district's only semifinalist in the Intel contest.
In achieving the honor, she became Valley Stream's first African-American semifinalist, the district's first female winner and the youngest out of 66 winners on Long Island.
The Intel program was formerly known as the Westinghouse competition.
New principals welcomed in District 13
The James A. Dever school and the Howell Road school welcomed Dr. Kathleen Bannon and Barbara Ashby as new principals. For the third time in her career Ashby became the first African American principal in the history of a school district.
February
A work in progress
The Village would soon have a new look, thanks to federal and state funding for five projects totaling almost $4 million that were scheduled to begin in the spring. The work marked the beginning of an upgrading, which even Mayor Cahill said he thought was overdue. Rockaway Avenue was scheduled to be one of the first places to see improvement followed by Fireman's Field and an 82-car parking lot next to the Village's hockey rink.
Village's Duck Man still not buried
A friend of Valley Stream, George Miller, who died Jan. 2 waiting for a bus outside Hendrickson Park, had to wait still longer for his final destination. His body was unclaimed one month after he was pronounced dead at Nassau County Medical Center. Apparently, Miller's closest relatives lived out of state and did not feel obligated to participate in his burial.
Blaze battled in icy cold
Over 90 Valley Stream firefighters and more than 100 from other departments responded to a suspicious fire at a vacant warehouse near the northeast corner of North Central Avenue and Merrick Road on Feb. 23.
No one was inside the 10,000 square foot Hendrickson Bros. building off East Avenue when firefighters reached the scene at about 10 p.m. Heavy smoke was pouring out of the one-story cement block building, fully involved in fires with flames shooting 15 feet above the roof, witnesses said.
Valley Stream foursome earn all-county honors
Valley Stream wrestling teams sent a total of 11 qualifiers to Nassau County championships at Nassau Community College and four of them came away with top six finishes.
Joe Grassa, a 112-pound senior from South HS, was runner-up to defending champion Derek Fontaine of Long Beach. South junior Michael Luckert (sixth at 135 pounds), Central senior Isaac Nyarko (sixth at 189) and North senior Joe Sampson (fifth at 275) each earned all county honors as well.
Burglary spree reaches 32
A series of house burglaries in the northwestern section of Valley Stream continued without an arrest and reached 32 crimes from December through February.
The spree almost ended last week when a member of the Valley Stream Civilian Patrol spotted a man who may be the perpetrator of the rash of break-ins and burglaries.
The suspect was described as a dark man, in his forties or fifties, stocky and about 5'11" tall.
Poodle killed by bullmastiff
A neighborhood was on guard and a Valley Stream family was in mourning after their pet dog was killed by a bull mastiff that had escaped from a Rosedale backyard, witnesses to the incident said.
Oscar, the Zachman's 4-year-old red miniature poodle, was with Gerald Zachman standing outside the family's Southgate Road home when Butch, the Queens' dog, "came out of nowhere" and attacked the smaller dog, grabbing it in its jaws, severing Oscar's leash and running down the street with Oscar hanging out of its mouth, a witness said.
Duck Man laid to rest
His body was lost in the bureaucracy, but the people of the Village remembered his spirit. More than one month after George Miller, a friend of Valley Stream wildlife, collapsed and died while waiting for a bus outside Hendrickson Park, a funeral service was held for him at the Moore Funeral Home on West Jamaica Avenue.
Donna Moore donated her funeral home's services, she said, simply because the agonizing bureaucratic delay in burying Miller had gone on too long. Miller was buried in Rockville Cemetery in Lynbrook.
Local employment remains steady in VS
Employment on Long Island and in Valley Stream remained strong despite shocking layoffs nationwide. January's cut of 26,000 jobs at a car manufacturer and the loss of 5,000 jobs at a cable television network are not expected to have a detrimental effect here, according to a labor market analyst.
Unemployment in Nassau County was 2.3 percent compared to 4.2 percent nationally and even less than Suffolk County's 2.6 percent according to Department of Labor figures. Long Island would only feel an effect if Wall Street were hit, experts said. Construction still remained a top industry in Nassau, the department said.
Friends of Bridge gather
Friends of Bridge, a non-profit community-based drug prevention and counseling program located in Valley Stream that serves the entire county, held a brunch on Sunday, Feb. 4 to mark their 30th anniversary. Close to 100 people came to applaud the work they've done.
March
Burglaries climb to 35
With 35 homes burglarized in northwestern Valley Stream in three months, a pattern of the burglar's routine developed, according to the Valley Stream Civilian Patrol, now helping police put an end to the crime spree.
The burglaries that started in September hit a ten-block area. The burglar stakes out the neighborhood looking for signs of houses that are easy marks, said Jim Albert, a nine-year member of the patrol. "He's looking for things like garbage pails left at the curb, lack of cars around the house, mail boxes not emptied and circulars left on the lawn," he said.
Woman carjacked at gun point
Detectives are searching for clues to the gunpoint robbery of a 60-year-old woman who was pushed to the ground by carjackers before they drove away in her vehicle, authorities said.
The carjacking occurred near Jennifer Convertibles on Green Acres Road in Valley Stream at 7:20 p.m. on Feb. 20, police said.
Four hours later the car, a 2000 Acura equipped with Lo-jack, was recovered undamaged in Rosedale, Queens.
Much anticipated storm hits
Though it wasn't the doomsday disaster forecast, predictions at press time Tuesday, March 6, still called for the final arrival of about six inches of wind-blown snow in Valley Stream. The weekend's worrisome forecasts and dangerous conditions Monday night into Tuesday closed schools both days and made driving and walking hazardous.
Several stores were closed on Rockaway Avenue in anticipation of rough weather on Monday, and closed again on Tuesday.
VS resident leads Franklin Hospital
Valley Stream resident William Kowalewski went from teaching math at a Brooklyn high school for two years to a career in health care. The career change was a good move, for now, after 23 years, he supervises more than a thousand employees at Franklin Hospital Medical Center.
Kowalewski succeeded Albert Dicker to become the community institution's president a year and a half ago.
Murder arrest made
A Keller Street man and his father were arrested and charged in March in connection with the disappearance and drug-related murder of a Mineola man in November.
Police said Mark Petronio, 36, killed Jeffrey Walter on or about Nov. 3, after a fight in the basement of Petronio's home over payment for drugs. Petronio's father, Michael, 53, helped the son dispose of the body, investigators said.
Mark Petronio was charged with second degree murder, insurance fraud and tampering with evidence in the murder of Walter, 23, of Marcellus Road, Mineola. Petronio Sr. was charged with drug possession, hindering the prosecution, insurance fraud and tampering with evidence.
Fire hits William Street house
Valley Stream firefighters' beepers blared at 2:09 a.m., March 8, for a reported house fire at 152 Williams St.
The firefighters found flames coming out of the basement window of the single-family, two-story home. The fire appeared to be on the verge of spreading to the first floor, said Walter Weltner, a fire department official at the scene.
Firefighters were able to control the fire and clean up by 5:09 a.m. A preliminary investigation indicated that the boiler was the source of the problem.
Zones collide in VS neighborhood
Rizzo Associates, a dirt and construction site waste transfer facility located on commercially zoned property surrounded by residential homes, asked the Board of Zoning and Appeals to allow them to operate a resource recovery facility.
Their request ignited local opposition. Residents worry about the environmental impact of allowing the variance, while the Board has to mull over the question of what exactly a resource recovery facility is.
As of the end of the year 2001, the Board has yet to make a ruling in the Rizzo case.
Home-grown Oscar winner
Valley Streamer Deborah Oppenheimer grew up in Valley Stream, graduated from South High School and went on to win an Academy Award for Best Documentary in 2001.
Her documentary, entitled "Into the arms of strangers: Stories of Kindertransport," tells the story of Britain's extraordinary rescue mission just before the start of WW II that saved over 10,000 endangered children, 90 percent of whom were Jewish and had lived in Germany, Austria or Czechoslovakia.
Deborah's mom, Silva, was one of those children.
Her dad, Eric, her husband and brother were with her at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles as actor Samuel L. Jackson presented her with the award. The documentary took her three years to make and was a tribute to her mom, who died in 1993.
Parents learn sex offender here
Parents in Elementary School District 24 were told there was a registered sex offender living in Valley Stream, and some of those parents were angry that the district told them nothing more than that.
District Superintendent Edward Fale told parents about the level-two sex offender in a letter earlier in the month of March and cautioned parents to review safety procedures with their children.
The only information allowed to be revealed about level-two sex offenders, which is a "moderate risk" offender, that is available to the public according to Megan's Law is that they are in a neighborhood, but not their street address.
The school district said they did everything right. District 24 took all appropriate actions it could last month in informing parents about a released sex offender, school officials said in response to charges made by several parents that they should have done more.
The district followed its written policy, school officials said, sending out letters to all parents and guardians of public school children to provide them with all the district knew about the parole of an unidentified sex offender now living in Valley Stream. District parents called for a change in 1995's Megan's Law.
Town names Pathfinder woman
Valley Stream's own Carol McKenna was the proud recipient of the Town of Hempstead's prestigious Pathfinder Award, presented by Supervisor Richard Guardino.
McKenna, who volunteers as the official historian of the Village of Valley Stream, and a member of Village's Records Advisory Committee under the New York State Archives, won the award in the category of community affairs.
Wheeler library gets modernization
District 13 budgeted approximately $150,000 for the renovation of the Wheeler Avenue School library. Librarian Teresa Bolz said she was "thrilled" with the library, known as the learning center, at its dedication on March 21.
April
Break in burglary spree
Computer equipment found in a car driven by two men arrested early in March for an Elmont burglary was stolen in Valley Stream during a four-month burglary spree, police told members of the Valley Stream Civilian Patrol.
Police said that Gary Patterson, 38 and Michael Patterson, 40, were arrested March 2 and charged with a burglary in Elmont. They have not been charged with the Valley Stream burglaries, Det. Sgt. James Tilton of the Fifth Precinct said, "The crime for which the Pattersons were arrested was the same pattern for which we are investigating." Also, the instance of house burglaries in Valley Stream has decreased since the Pattersons' arrests. Further investigation was pending.
Two VS women rescue lonesome stray
A Queens Village three-year-old, jet black, mixed lab chow disappeared from his home in November and was recently found in Valley Stream looking hungry and worn.
The dog somehow managed to survive a grueling winter on his own before finding his way into the loving arms of Joanne Eggolt and Bobbie Gunderson.
After some work, the duo found out the dog's name, which was Fluffy, and contacted the owner, who said he did not want the dog. Currently, Fluffy is in need of a home.
Herald newspapers take 12 awards
The Herald community newspaper group won 12 awards at the New York Press Association 2000 Better Newspaper Contest for journalism excellence.
Among the awards were six first-place honors for community leadership, crime coverage, in depth reporting, obituary writing, environmental coverage and advertising.
Herald buys the Record
Richner Communications, Inc. publishers of the Herald Community Newspapers, announced that they had signed an agreement to purchase the Nassau Community Newspaper Group, publishers of the Record Newspapers in Southwest Nassau County, from News Communications Inc.
Arrest made in beauty burglary
A man living on Virginia Street in East Valley Stream was charged with burglarizing Discount Beauty Supply in Lynbrook. The Lynbrook store was entered by breaking a front door cylinder lock, the same technique used in a recent series of store burglaries in Valley Stream, police said.
Phillip Reynen, 49, was the prime suspect in as many as seven cylinder-lock burglaries in Valley Stream since January, police said. He was convicted of a similar crime in 1994.
Reynen was detained by two plain-clothes police officers on April 4 after he was acting suspiciously. Further investigation is pending as to whether or not Reynen is involved.
Famous novelist comes back to Valley Stream
Returning from Massachusetts to her roots in Franklin Square and her alma mater, Valley Stream North High School, to receive its Distinguished Alumni Award on Friday, April 20, was noted novelist Alice Hoffman from the Class of 1969.
Her first novel, "Property Of," was published in 1977. She is now the author of 14 novels.
Not over yet
A conflict between the Department of Environmental Conservation, the Incorporated Village of Valley Stream and Rizzo Associates concerning a Rizzo variance request now before the Board of Zoning and Appeals continues without resolution.
The agencies are being asked to agree on how Rizzo Associates of East Hawthorne Avenue describes the nature of their business. They have referred to themselves as a "resource Recovery Center," a term recognized by the State, but not the Village.
Residents had come to Village Hall last month hoping to hear a decision as to whether the variance will be granted, but no such decision was made. Residents expressed concern as to the environmental impact of running such a business.
Drama on E. Euclid Street
As many as 40 heavily-armed police officers, some in flak jackets, helmets and armored shields, occupied a Valley Stream neighborhood for 12 hours on April 16 in an ultimately successful attempt to convince a man to go to the hospital.
Having been told there might be guns in the house on East Euclid Street, around noon police from the Fifth Precinct and members of the Emergency Services Unit and the Bureau of Special Operations set up a command post outside the home until the crisis subsided over 12 hours later.
The man was brought to Nassau Community Medical Center after police knocked down his front door. No guns were found.
Court approves King Kullen, again
A developer's plan to tear down the King Kullen supermarket on Merrick Road and build a new, larger one, with a new shopping center around, received yet another nod of approval, this time from the Appellate Division of the State Supreme Court.
In the ruling, a unanimous decision by four Appellate Division judges affirmed the Valley Stream Zoning Board's May 1999 approval of a site plan to build the new King Kullen shopping center.
New officers take command
The Valley Stream Fire Department held its annual elections on April 5, naming William Croak, a member of Engine Co. 2, as its new Chief of Department. Croak takes over for Chief James Murphy.
Second Assistant Chief Robert Petry, of Hook & Ladder Co. 2, was elected as First Assistant Chief, and former Captain Joseph Garofalo, of Rescue Co. 1 was elected as the new Second Assistant Chief. Gary Shaw, of Hook & Ladder Co. 1 was reelected to a three-year term as delegate to the Third Battalion.
May
Taxes to grow
Salaries, health insurance premiums, fuel costs, new programs and higher enrollment throughout the four Valley Stream school districts will account for sizable increases in spending next year, and that means tax hikes.
School Boards asked for upwards of $112 million to educate students in Valley Stream's 14 public schools in four districts last year. This year, the budgets of all four districts combined total more than $120.5 million to educate 9,000 Valley Stream students.
School superintendents and board members said that the budgets represent their best estimate of the money needed to meet the needs of the students.
Plane dedicated
Hank Anholzer is a very busy man. Hank logged between 6,000-7,000 volunteer hours supervising the crew putting together the Cradle of Aviation Museum, now scheduled to open in the spring at Mitchel Field. Anholzer, 79, of Valley Stream was honored by Nassau County with the Volunteer Service Award.
Time to choose
Though few residents attended candidates' night in two elementary school districts, the competitors for school board seats, themselves had plenty to say about what they'll do if they get elected on May 15.
The District 24 candidates were Anthony Iadevaio, Frank Nuara, Michael Belfiore, Lawrence Trogel and Ronald Uzenski. In District 13, three candidates vied for two seats. They were Karl Lunan, Bonnie Gorham and James Tsaveras.
All School budgets pass
Valley Stream voters came out on May 15 to say yes to the proposed school budgets in all districts.
District 13's budget passed by 1,135 votes to 645, or 64 percent. District 24's budget passed 735 to 347, or by 68 percent. District 30's budget passed with 675 yes votes to 235 votes no, or by 74 percent.
Incumbent candidates in District 24, Anthony Iadevaio and Frank Nuara, as well as new candidate Lawrence Trogel, won seats on the school board. In District 13, incumbent Karl Lunan won unopposed. Meanwhile, Bonnie Gorham won big against opponent James Tsaveras with 1,234 votes to his 440 votes. In District 30, Richard Eisenberg won unopposed.
Seven for highest honor
Though Valley Stream has seen a number of its young men achieve the rank of Eagle Scout, this may well be the first time that so many had it happen all at once. Seven young men were elevated to Eagle Scout, the highest rank in the Boy Scouts of America Organization.
Michael R. Becker, Ryan Chiachiere, Matthew B. Lowery, Joseph Charles Rossetti, Garrett Russo, Nicholas J. Santino and Terrance Thorgramson celebrated earning the Eagle Scout rank at ceremonies May 20 at St. Joseph's Church in Hewlett.
Each of the young men belongs to Valley Stream Troop 116. The seven bring the total number of Troop 116 Eagle Scouts to 31.
Village Bond rating goes up
Village taxpayers stand to save thousands of dollars over the next several years, thanks to the second upgrade of Valley Stream's bond rating in two years.
Moody's Investment Service, an organization that rates private and public corporations, conducted a bond assessment review of the Incorporated Village of Valley Stream and issued an A2 rating, Two years ago the village went from a B2A1 rating to an A3 rating.
What the rating improvement means for residents is that borrowing costs get lower. When bond ratings go up, the cost of borrowing money - interest rates -- go down. Village bonds become more attractive to investors because the higher ratings mean low risk, solid management and security, all factors lenders like to see.
Celebrating 100 years
The firehouse on Corona Avenue, home to Valley Stream Fire Department Hook & Ladder #1, celebrated its 100th year this month. The company itself began three years earlier as the Nassau Hook & Ladder.
SAVE our schools
With increasing national focus on violence in schools, New York State Governor George Pataki last year commissioned a task force of police, civic and school officials to look into what preventative measures could be instituted to make school environments safer and more conducive to learning.
The result of the committee, the Governor's Task Force on School Violence, was a series of recommendations the goal of which was to curb the effects of criminal activities in schools.
In keeping with state requirement that the finished product be announced to the public one month prior to adaptation, the Valley Stream Board of Education unveiled both a code of conduct and an emergency preparedness plan at May 8 business meeting
Falcons get hot, soar to first
A red-hot Valley Stream South baseball team ran its winning streak to seven games and officially wrapped up a playoff berth with a 14-2 victory at Jericho.
June
Heroes remembered
With a mix of thoughtful pride and warm enthusiasm, hundreds of Valley Stream residents lined the sidewalks from Wheeler Avenue to the Village Green to celebrate Memorial Day with a parade and solemn ceremonies.
Sixty-seven units marched in six divisions along the parade route beneath sunny skies in spite of a dim weekend forecast. With veterans' organizations and their auxiliaries in the forefront, scouts, religious organizations, school districts, marching bands, service clubs, little leagues, the civilian patrol and police auxiliary, the chamber of commerce, elected officials, the fire department, the historical society, and other local groups joined to show the community's commitment to the nation's dead war veterans.
Lady Falcons play role of Cinderella
The Nassau Class B girls softball tournament was turned upside down when the top four seeds all met defeat, opening the door for a Cinderella team to walk right in. That team could very well be Valley Stream South.
The 10th-seeded Lady Falcons continued their unlikely march through the playoffs with a 2-0 win over North Shore in a semi-final game at Mitchel Athletic Complex.
South high track teams go to state
For most of the South High School track team, the state qualifier meet on May 31 was the last meet of the season, but there were eight athletes who will have the chance to run at the State Championships June 8 and 9 at Mitchel Field in Uniondale. They are Nick Kroll, Andy Yun, Mike Apap, Chris Mammone, Marjan Safary-Goudarzy, Patty Izquierdo, Nicole Eastzer and Kristin Riveiro.
Great run ends for Lady Falcons
The Valley Stream South girls softball team came up a bit short in its bid for the Nassau Class B championships.
The 10th-seeded Lady Falcons made an incredible run to the best-of-three championship series and forced Friday's decisive Game 3 by beating Long Island Trees the previous afternoon behind eighth-grade pitcher Diana DiPiano's no-hitter, 2-1.
But while both pitchers and defenses dominated the first two games, the fifth-seeded Lady Bulldogs were able to break that trend and came away with a hard fought 4-2 victory that gives them the title.
South varsity team completes perfect season
The Valley Stream South High School tennis team completed its season with a 14-0 record and entered the conference playoffs as the No. 1 seed.
"This is the finest tennis squad to be assembled at South for quite some time now," said Coach Kristi Hinkelman.
After a first place finish in Conference IVB last year, South was placed into the more competitive IVA Conference for this season.
"We didn't know what to expect, but we were ready for the challenge," Brian Magh, a co-captain, said of the team's move up to a higher conference. The team went from a 0-14 record in 1997 to the 14-0 record in 2001.
Cecil Zabatta dies
After so many years of suffering with the agonies of arthritis, she rests now in painless peace.
As many as 150 people attended the funeral service for Cecil Zabatta, 62, as her many friends mourned the passing of her gentle and giving soul. The wife of Village Trustee Joseph Zabatta died on Saturday, June 9.
A musical gift of life
Mortality took on a different meaning for Claudia Grammatico when her son, Paul, 26, was killed in car crash in Atlantic Beach on May 16, 1999. His untimely death meant extending the lives of several people.
When Grammatico was pronounced brain dead, Valley Stream residents Claudia and her husband, Paul, decided to allow their son's organs, tissues and bones to be donated so that others might have a better chance at life.
Saying "yes" changed Claudia's life. She quit her day job and became a full-time crusader for organ donation. Together with her father, Phillip Bontempo, they created a musical composition, "Gifts of Life," that is expected to become the theme song for the Donor Network Association.
New attraction coming to Hendrickson Park
Hendrickson Park will soon be getting an added attraction. Village trustees approved an 18-hole miniature golf course and clubhouse for Hendrickson Park.
The estimated cost of construction for the state-of-the-art miniature golf course will be paid by the builder. The tentative fee for use of the facility is $7 for adults, $6 for seniors and juniors under the age of 12.
While the board is in favor of the new 1,344 square foot course and adjacent clubhouse, not everyone is so enthusiastic.
Resident Bill Freda objected to any plan to build on what he called a "flood zone." Freda cited the village's past plan to build a hockey rink in that location, which was subsequently shot down. The village responded that the hockey rink was a much heavier structure. Other residents feared non-residents would be attracted to the golf course. They were assured that the course would only be for residents, their guests and local organizations.
After unanimous approval in July, it was announced that golf balls will be rolling along manicured greens in Hendrickson Park, now that village officials had given the nod to Keith Miller Golf, Inc. to build the recreational facility.
After public comments that split about evenly against and for the plan, the board of trustees voted unanimously to contract with the professional miniature golf company to construct and manage an 18-hole course on what is now an asphalt slab behind the village pool.
Only VS residents and Central High School District residents and up to three guests and established VS organizations may use the golf course or its accessory building. The total cost was estimated at $350,000.
Sixty years of priesthood
After a Mass of Anniversary thanksgiving at Holy Name of Mary Church in Valley Stream on June 11, 74 friends of Fr. Thomas F. Kelly gathered at the Rockaway Cafe to rejoice in his 60 years of being a Roman Catholic priest.
Although he now serves at Our Lady of Angels in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, Fr. Kelly began his career at Holy Name of Mary in 1941 and served at the Valley Stream Church until 1954.
Bravery in action
When his instinct and courage were called upon in the dark, early hours of a March morning last year, New York City Fire Lieutenant William R. Croak came through, saving the life of a woman trapped in a cellar fire in Uptown Manhattan.
Known here as the Valley Stream Fire Department's Chief, Lt. Croak of Brooklyn's Ladder Company 170 was honored on June 6 with the Thomas F. Dougherty medal, a prestigious award given for extraordinary service in Fire Rescue.
South soccer girls honored
As the seasons started to change so did the history of South High's varsity girls soccer. The team made school history this fall by seizing the school's first Nassau County and Long Island Class B championships in a girls sport.
The legend started when they defeated Garden City, 2-0, on Nov. 7 in double overtime, winning the Nassau County title. With that win under their belt, the girls moved on to defeat Islip on Nov. 12, 3-1, for the Long Island Championship.
To honor the girls for their hard work and dedication, the Central High School District Board bought each coach and team member a jacket with "VS South Girls Soccer, Long Island Champs" written boldly on the back.
July
Crash on Sunrise
Westbound traffic on Sunrise Highway coming into Valley Stream came to an abrupt halt on July 1 when a vehicle blew a tire and spun out of control, striking a tree and a light pole.
The accident froze westbound motorists in their tracks and slowed eastbound traffic to a crawl. According to police, an Infiniti Q 45 driven by Bryan Clarke of Rosedale and carrying three passengers experienced failure in the front right tire at approximately 2:44 p.m. The blowout caused Clarke to lose control of the vehicle. He immediately spun towards the right side of the road, careening first into a large tree and then a lamppost.
Two of Clarke's passengers, Lesly Alexandre and Clifford Pierce, were taken to Mercy Medical Center, treated and released. A third passenger, a juvenile, was taken to Franklin Hospital, treated and released. Clarke was pinned inside the vehicle, but once free he was taken to South Nassau Communities Hospital where he was treated for multi-trauma injuries and released the next day.
Fun-filled Fourth of July
Fireman's Field was the scene of a celebration of our nation's independence and Valley Stream's sense of community at the Eleventh Annual Old-Fashioned Fourth of July fireworks spectacular sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce and the Incorporated Village of Valley Stream.
Nearly 5,000 people came together to see the beautiful fireworks that lit up the dark, rainy, night sky and to bond with friends and family.
New addition to fire department
If you were at the Fourth of July celebration at Firemen's Field and you noticed that bright, red, shiny fire truck hosing down the maintenance building, then you got one of the first glimpses of the Valley Stream Fire Department's newest addition, the pump truck.
The $380,000 vehicle arrived late in the afternoon on July 2, but was highly anticipated by members of Engine Company 2 on Brooklyn Avenue, the new truck's home.
You've come a long way, Helen
In 1901, William McKinley was just starting his second term as president, his first with Teddy Roosevelt as his vice-president. Rudyard Kipling had just published his classic novel, "Kim," and baseball's American League was first organized. In that year, a little girl named Helen was born in Brooklyn, entering a world where the life expectancy for women was merely 52 years old. Last week she nearly doubled that expectancy.
Helen Stanco has lived a long, full 100 years and celebrated her July 17 birthday with friends, family and many dignitaries at a special party for her at the Orzac Geriatric Division of Franklin Hospital Medical Center.
All for a good cause
To memorialize a son, brother and friend, the family of Wayne McLoughlin held its 8th Annual Wayne McLoughlin Memorial Softball Tournament featuring 21 teams on the weekend of July 14th and 15th at Firemen's Field.
The tournament raised $8,700, $5,000 of which will be donated to North Shore LIJ Health Systems foundation in memory of Wayne and the remainder will go towards putting together next year's tournament.
Wayne was killed in 1994 at the age of 24 in a car fire.
August
Operation downtown
Two years in the waiting, the beautification of Rockaway Avenue has finally begun. The downtown shopping district started to get its $365,000 facelift last week.
The streetscape project, a public enhancements program to make the streets of Valley Stream more attractive, consists of redoing the image of Rockaway Avenue. The sidewalks will have more attractive partial concrete brickwork along the curbs and in a circular pattern around tree bases. For more character, carriage lamps, benches and trash receptacles will replace already existing aesthetic features to give the avenue an old-fashioned feel.
Year of the Volunteers
Three Valley Stream residents were recognized for their unselfish efforts contributed over the years to not only the Chamber of Commerce, but to the Valley Stream community.
The recipients of the 2001 Valley Stream Chamber of Commerce Community Volunteer Awards were Keith Barry, Louis Palermo and Fay Harrison. The honors night was held on June 20 at the Concord Diner on Sunrise Highway.
$8.5 million bond planned
Children in west Valley Stream's School District 30 will enjoy smaller class sizes and technological improvements if an $8.5 million bond, tentatively scheduled for an Oct. 15 referendum, is approved by voters. The school board will make a final decision to proceed with the vote on Aug. 27.
The district's board held a public meeting Aug. 6 at the Shaw Avenue Elementary School as part of a bond consideration process and made environmental impact determinations regarding its plans. Improvements will not harm the environment.
The bond was approved by voters in the scheduled referendum.
Locals get the gold
Valley Stream hockey players John and Dominic Reda and Joseph Hayden helped their Labeda Bulldog teammates win first place in the Junior Olympics in Chesapeake, Virginia.
John and Dominic were selected to have their names put into the Olympic Hall of Fame, a part of the Junior Olympic Book and were invited to try out for the Olympic Junior World team next year in Lake Placid, New York.
Central grad signs with Ducks
No one could have imagined when he caught his first baseball at age 5 that Tommy Caputo would be playing professional baseball two decades later.
When he went for a tryout for the Long Island Ducks on Aug 7 owner Buddy Harrelson told the 1994 Central High School grad to don a uniform and play third base that very night. Caputo scored a run his first night on the Central Islip field.
Hot time in the Village
Record breaking temperatures that reached 104 Thursday had folks looking for shady places and cool things to do.
"The weather is making everyone cranky," said Pat Gallo at the Valley Stream Pool last week, "but my children wanted to cool off so that's why we are here at the pool."
VS swim team finishes season proudly
The Valley Stream Swim Team came in a proud second in the Nassau County Swim Conference against such competitors as first place Village of Hempstead, Long Beach , Echo Park, the Town of Oyster Bay and Bethpage Park.
The 92 registered swimmers earned an historic accomplishment according to Coach George Amitrano. Valley Stream's second place win was the first time a team other than Long Beach, Hempstead or Garden City came in that spot in the past 20 years.
Valley winners
Sideout Valley won its sixth Jones Beach volleyball tournament. Together for 12 years, the Valley Stream team has grown into a strong and intimidating contender. The tournament was held on July 29.
Village sued to stop mini-golf
People unhappy with the village's July 16 decision to approve the construction of a miniature golf course in Hendrickson Park filed suit to block the project.
The "concerned citizens of Valley Stream" and residents Bill Freda and Mary Salg are the named plaintiffs in the Article 78 suit against the village. Freda told the Herald that residents Tom O'Neil, Genevieve MacLean and Gabe Parish support the litigation. The Garden City law firm of Perry and Campanelli represent the plaintiffs. An article 78 procedural challenge asks the court to review the legality of an action taken by a municipality.
Shooting head first for the stars
Representing Valley Stream and Long Island Athletes were three Valley Stream boys whose talent took them to the Empire State Games last month.
Nick Kroll, Peter Classi and Patrick Bradley were among 4,000 or so athletes who competed in their respective sports after opening ceremonies in upstate Utica on July 25.
September
VS Mets make history
The Valley Stream Mets are the 2001 Nassau All-County Babe Ruth Champions. This is the first time a Valley Stream team has won a Babe Ruth Championship in the varsity division.
Valley Stream defeated Baldwin twice by scores of 10-3 and 6-4, and in the final round defeated Levittown 12-6 and 5-0 to capture the championship.
Grade-schoolers head back
As the halls of Valley Stream's elementary schools filled with smiling and eager students on Sept. 5, the children were greeted with many improvements and will soon see more students as enrollment in the three districts has increased.
October
District 30 seeks $8.5 M bond
Valley Stream 30 Board of Education voted unanimously to adopt a building plan for the district's schools, and on Monday, Oct. 15 residents approved the $8.5 million bond necessary to carry out the plan.
Richard Eisenberg, president of the board, said although the building improvement plan calls for $10 million, the board is only asking for $8.5 since it already has a reserve of $1.5 million.
The bond is for additions to the three district schools including a library and media center at Shaw Avenue and Forest Road.
Stars and stripes for Halloween
This Halloween the usual assortment of witches, ghosts, pumpkins and princesses will travel from door to door in search of tricks and treats in Valley Stream. They will be joined by a growing number of policemen, firemen, Uncle Sam's and Lady Liberty's.
Party Lane Novelty in Valley Stream sold more patriotic costumes than ever before and owners, Hosy and Dinoo Bharucha attributed the increase to the events of Sept. 11.
VS business seeks approval
Rizzo Associates Inc. appeared before the Board of Zoning and Appeals for the third public hearing in almost two years to seek approval to operate as a transfer station from their E. Hawthorne Avenue facility.
The board has yet to make a decision and will probably not make one before January 2002. In the meantime, residents worry if Rizzo's business will cause unwanted noise, air and water pollution in their area while Rizzo claimed the variance was necessary for them to remain in business.
High schools cancel international trips
The Valley Stream Central High School District voted to cancel all international trips at their October board meeting and handle national and day trips according to the temper of the times.
The decision was made due to the uncertainty in the world following the Sept. 11 attacks. More than 60 high school students had planned to venture abroad to either Italy or Spain, but school officials acted quickly to cancel trips to ensure that minimal amounts of money were lost.
November
A 'perfect lady' passes away
Services were held last week for long-time Valley Stream resident Anne Darcy, 76, who died suddenly at home in her sleep. Darcy was the mother of seven children, including Town Councilman James Darcy, who is a former Valley Stream Mayor and state assemblyman.
Darcy had not been ill, and had had company at home for breakfast on Oct. 30. Her daughter, Maureen, with whom she lived, came home from work that evening to find her mother had died peacefully in her bed of natural causes.
Her funeral was held at Holy Name of Mary Church, where she had prayed almost every day.
Veterans reflect on their day
If he was a little younger than his 81 years, Irwin Purisch would re-enlist in the Air Force to aid America in its war against terrorism just as he had aided her during World War II.
Joe Marando, a veteran of the Korean War, echoed Purisch's sentiments and said after seeing the WTC attacked, "I know the feeling of combat and I felt it all over again...I would have put my uniform back on if I could still fit in it."
Marando, who is a member of Valley Stream's Veterans of Foreign Wars Post No. 1790, and Purisch, who is Post Commander of Valley Stream's Jewish War Veterans organization, are just two examples of why 2001's Veterans Day, like every other Veterans Day before it, is so significant.
He bilked the district
A former Valley Stream School official was arrested and charged with stealing more than $300,000 from District 30, revealed the Nassau County District Attorney.
David Kutcher, 58, worked for Valley Stream's School District 30 as the assistant superintendent for business from 1985 until his retirement a few years ago and as district treasurer from 1992 until Aug. 2000.
Kutcher was arrested at his Great Neck home and charged with second-degree grand larceny, which carries up to 15 years in prison if he is found guilty.
VS scores on par with state
Valley Stream fourth-graders can pat themselves on the back for a job well-done. More than 90 percent of fourth-graders in Valley Stream's three elementary school districts have met or exceeded state math standards in 2001 according to statewide figures recently released. This figure is on par with 89 percent of public school students in Nassau who met or exceeded State standards and significantly higher than the 69.1 percent of students statewide.
When compared to eighth grade scores also released, however, the percentage of Valley Stream students who met or exceeded State standards in math is only 54.3. While that is above the State figure of 39.4 it is below Nassau's score of 56 percent.
Helping the needy in VS
Local pantries including the Cornucopia pantry on Brookville Boulevard and parish outreach of both Holy Name of Mary Church and Blessed Sacrament Church are making sure that there's enough food to go around this Thanksgiving and all year through.
While they admittedly worried that they would face a shortage of food since many have already given to so many charities as a result of Sept. 11, Cornucopia was still able to satisfy the 500 locals who came for food the weekend before Thanksgiving. Outreach services for Holy Name of Mary had 80 pre-made baskets for needy Valley Streamers and Blessed Sacrament had 64 baskets.
South boys, Central girls lose title games
Both the Valley Stream South boys soccer team and the Valley Stream Central girls soccer team made spirited runs to reach Nassau Class B and Class A championship games, respectively.
Unfortunately, both the Falcons and Lady Eagles came up on the short end of the one-goal affairs.
Dakota gets special treatment
An heroic 5 1/2-year-old golden retriever raced back into her burning Belle Harbor home in an attempt to rescue her "best friend" following the crash of American Airline's flight 587.
Dakota's master, Franco Pomponio, died and the dog was taken to Central Veterinary Associates in Valley Stream to be treated for burns and minor bruises.
Fatal fire on Carroll Avenue
A man died on the second floor of a house fire in west Valley Stream on Nov. 16.
More than 70 Valley Stream firefighters responded to 30 Carroll Avenue at 9:21 p.m. and found the rear of the house fully engulfed in flames.
Jorge Hernandez was found unconscious in a second floor bedroom and rushed to Franklin Hospital where he was pronounced dead at 10:17 p.m. His family was made homeless.
Cell phone antennas to rise over Sunrise
Verizon wireless announced plans to install 12 cell phone antennas on top of the highest building in Valley Stream at a Nov. 13 Zoning Board meeting much to the dismay of School Board 24.
School board 24's Brooklyn Avenue School is located just behind the Serota Building located at 70 East Sunrise Highway, the site of the proposed antennas. William L. Buck School is just blocks away. Board president Paul DePace worried about the dangers to students if the antennas were approved.
At its Nov. 27 meeting, the Zoning Board unanimously approved Verizon's plans to build the antennas, saying that Federal law gave them no choice.
VS grieves 2 legends
Wendell Wold was Fred Astaire to his wife Joan's Ginger Rogers. Wold spent every day of his 77 years sharing his talent for entertaining others. Wold died on Nov. 8.
Wold, a retired English and drama teacher at Memorial Junior High School, died at North Shore Extended Care Facility in Manhasset where he had lived for ten years following a stroke.
Bill Puca, a long time Valley Stream resident, and well-known gadfly at Village Board meetings, died Nov. 24 in Troy, New York. He had celebrated his 81st birthday on Nov. 7 in the upstate city where he and his wife, Mary, had moved to live near their son, three and a half years ago. Cause of death was a massive stroke.
Old glory flies close to home
On Thanksgiving Day, Lance Corporal James Thurman Brower called his mother, Elaine, to say good-bye. His 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit was among the units that seized an important airstrip near Kandahar.
"Right now I believe they are combing the desert. I heard on the news they are actually in combat," Ms. Brower said.
Twenty-year-old James and the other Marines wanted to know what they're fighting for. "He did see the news, but he really couldn't comprehend the magnitude of the disaster on the news. Most of the men in his troop had never been to New York," Ms. Brower said.
For six weeks, the men had been sending e-mails to Brower in Staten Island from the assault ship Peleliu in the Arabian Sea asking, "Where's the flag?"
The troops wanted a symbol. An American Flag signed by police officers, firefighters and victims' family members would do just fine. Since James was the only Marine in his troop from New York, only his family could fill their request.
On Saturday, Ms. Brower and her husband, John, told their story to the couple hundred gathered at Temple Hillel in Valley Stream for Sabbath services.
The new kid at school
When Anael Alston graduated from Hofstra University in 1994 he planned to go to work for his uncle, who owned a construction business. Instead, Alston was asked to teach English and life skills at the Dr. White Community Center in the Farragut Houses in Brooklyn. It was a summer job that changed his career track.
"I told my uncle I'd work for him part time, but as long as I had the degree, I'll pursue it," said Alston from his office in Memorial Junior High School.
On Nov. 13, Alston officially replaced Don Gately as Memorial's assistant principal.
December
VS library showcases local's art
Director Ed Burns went to Hollywood. So did actor Steve Buscemi. Now Angela Schultz wants to go to.
The first two names are probably familiar, but the third might leave you scratching your head. Still, all three have much in common. They all hail from Valley Stream and they all have the desire to be a success in Hollywood.
Of the two, Schultz, a writer, producer, director and artist is best compared to Burns, who broke into the business with a movie he filmed in his parents' Valley Stream home "The Brothers McMullen."
Schultz's artwork was on display at Valley Stream's Henry Waldinger Memorial Library throughout the month of December.
Meet VS Chamber's new prez
Rosemarie DelGrosso has never lived in Valley Stream, yet she has spent most of her waking hours here. She grew up in Rosedale, Queens, a stone's throw from the Village. The last house on her block was technically located in Valley Stream. Since she lived near the County line, DelGrosso often found herself shopping in Valley Stream and interacting with Valley Streamers.
"Valley Stream is home to me," stated DelGrosso, the new Valley Stream Chamber of Commerce President.
DelGrosso officially replaced former president Carol Gallo-Turschmann at her inauguration ceremony on Oct. 18. DelGrosso was supposed to be inaugurated on Sept. 16, but the ceremony was postponed out of respect for the Sept. 11's tragic events.
Instrumental to District 13's music education
When a school's budget gets tight, the first programs to be cut are usually art and music despite the fact that most educators usually agree that art and music are essential to a student's well-rounded education.
Margaret Daugherty, superintendent of District 13 schools, believes that educating the "whole" child is paramount, according to Ed Chiarello, the district's music coordinator.
"Right now it's a tough time for music [programs] in general. Peg [Daugherty] has made sure this music program has gotten what it needs," he said.
Daugherty was recognized for her support of music education with the "Administrator of the Year" award, presented by the Nassau County Music Educators Association, which was founded 66 years ago.
Teen is torchbearer for winter Olympics
Jason Black of Valley Stream appeared to be a normal and healthy pre-teen who immensely enjoyed sports and starred on his soccer team, the Valley Stream Bulldogs.
But life changed for him and his parents about a year ago when he was diagnosed with a brain tumor. After an operation to remove the tumor and several chemotherapy sessions -- with four weeks of chemo left -- his parents are hopeful and confident that Jason, now 13 and a student at Woodmere Middle School, has beaten the illness.
When he was in the hospital at Beth Israel North in Manhattan, a doctor contacted the Make-A-Wish Foundation, which grants the wishes of children with life-threatening illnesses and told the organization about Jason's inspirational story.
The foundation asked Jason what his wish would be and the teenager said he longed for his whole family to go to the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City. The foundation granted that desire and the Blacks -- father Andy, mother Christine, brother Keith, 15, and sister Kim, 9, will join him for about a week at the Olympics in an all-expenses paid trip.
But the foundation went it one step better. His story was so inspirational that he was chosen by Chevrolet as one of its 23 Make-A-Wish children and volunteers who will have the honor of participating in the torch relay. So at 2:54 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 23, Jason will be handed the torch on 4th Avenue, from 9th to 5th streets, in Brooklyn and will carry the flame for about .2 miles, where he will hand it off to another torchbearer.
