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Farewell, Valley Stream

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Neil Sedaka once told us through song that “breaking up is hard to do.” While I surprised even myself by quoting Neil Sedaka, his song is perhaps most appropriate for this situation.

Yes, this feels like a breakup. This will be my last week as editor of the Valley Stream Herald, as I will be moving on to take over the Herald’s newest papers in Wantagh and Seaford. It was not an easy decision to make, but one that ultimately made sense for me.

July 30, 2007, was my first day covering Valley Stream, and all I knew about the community was that it was somewhere in western Nassau County and it had a bunch of school districts. Over the next seven years, I would get to know the ins and outs of Valley Stream, its rich history, and the many great people who live and work here. It’s been an amazing ride, and I will miss it.

In the beginning, I had to figure out which schools belonged to which districts. I had to learn the most efficient way to get from North High School to South High School (I still don’t think there is one). There were many faces and names to remember, and having an Ed Fare and an Ed Fale didn’t help. There was a lot to learn quickly, especially for someone who grew up in Hicksville and had spent much of the previous eight years upstate. I thank the numerous people who took the time to help me get to know Valley Stream.

I have seen seven classes graduate from Valley Stream’s high schools — and many of them are now college graduates! Those who were in kindergarten my first year are now headed to the Central High School District.

This is my 365th issue of the Valley Stream Herald. While I don’t know the exact number of stories I’ve written, it is upwards of 2,000. (I did count that I have written 32 about Eagle Scouts). There are several issues I have written extensively about, including the FEMA flood maps, the vacant Gibson buildings, state testing and the implementation of Common Core, redistricting, the creation of the dog park and plans to revive Rockaway Avenue.

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