Trio honored by Friends of Bridge

For decades, Friends of Bridge has been providing substance abuse treatment to residents of Valley Stream and the surrounding area, and leaders of the organization know this work would not be possible without the help of volunteers and various partners in the community.

The organization recognized three people at its annual brunch, held on April 26 at the VFW hall. The honorees were past Board of Directors President Ida D’Angelo, District 24 Curriculum Director Dr. Lisa Conte and Auxiliary Police Commander Richard Vela.

D’Angelo was presented with the Lifetime Achievement Award. She spent three years as president of the board, the culmination of decades of service to Friends of Bridge.

She started out as a volunteer, doing some filing in the office on Pflug Place. About 20 years ago, she joined the Board of Directors and hasn’t looked back. She said she has stayed there for so long because she believes in the work that Friends of Bridge does for the community, and is convinced its presence has saved lives. “There’s children who need help and some parents can’t do it,” she said.

D’Angelo said being recognized by the organization, with many family members and friends present, was gratifying. In addition to her work with Friends of Bridge, D’Angelo is a trustee on the board of the Henry Waldinger Memorial Library, and was active with the Wheeler Avenue School PTA when her children were in school.

Vela has been commander of Auxiliary Police Post No. 108 for the past four years. When her first joined the volunteer organization in 1983, Vela would often be assigned to an overnight shift to watch the Friends of Bridge building. He received the Community Service Award.

Although he is not paid for his role with the Auxiliary Police, he regularly devotes 30 to 40 hours a week to the job, in addition to his full-time role as the village’s information technology specialist.

Vela said that although he was the award recipient on April 26, the recognition belongs to his entire department. “I’m only as good as my unit,” he said, adding that he was humbled by the standing ovation he received.

Conte received the Bridge Builder Award, although she was unable to attend the ceremony. District 24 Board of Education President Paul DePace and District Clerk Johanna Owen accepted it on her behalf.

District 24 and Friends of Bridge have had a long-standing partnership, with Conte serving as a liaison between the two. Every year, Friends of Bridge sponsors an essay contest in District 24, in which sixth-graders are asked to write about the importance of choosing healthy lifestyles. The organization awards a scholarship to a winner at each of the three schools.

“She’s very deserving of the award,” Superintendent Dr. Edward Fale said of Conte. “She’s an outstanding person. She really is a true altruist.”

Fale added that Conte is someone who cares about the community and the well-being of students. Conte has worked to further District 24’s long-standing character education program.

At the brunch, Friends of Bridge also recognized Ashley Villanueva, a junior from South High School who placed second in the county’s public service announcement competition on the dangers of substance abuse.