By John C. O'Connell
Village gathers for 75th Anniversary Parade
The Valley Stream community was out in full force Saturday to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the village's incorporation. From the leading United States Merchant Marine Academy Color Guard to the proud and brave Valley Stream Fire Department, the line of march included 84 marching units, all to mark the village's historic occasion.
Mayor Edward Cahill, the grand marshal of the parade, led the long line down Rockaway Parkway from the Wheeler Avenue School, down Rockaway Avenue to the village green for a home town fair.
The 75th Anniversary Committee that has planned so many of the events this year to commemorate the village's anniversary were suitably prominent in the line of march. Chairman Dominick Minerva, Joseph Bergen, Bradley Blakeman, Kathleen Bogle, Mary Ann Cahill, Noreen Carro, Stephanie Darcy, Barbara DeGrace, Robert Hawkey, Bert Keller, Jerome Leonardi, John McDonough, Carol McKenna, P. Michael McKenna, Marie O'Connor, Eleanor Sciglibaglio, Richard R. Sullivan, the parade chairman, Katherine Wallace, Craig Weeden.
The parade committee included most of these individuals, as well as George Baker, Diana Callaghan, Nick Camarano, Joseph Carbonette, Richard DeAngelis, Mike DeNicolo, Barbara Diglio, Valerie Esposito, Carl Riccibono, Tom Roberts, Ronald Sabo, Marcella (Cookie) Schaefer, Sal Spinicchia and Phil Tondi.
Honorary Grand Marshals were Anniversary Committee Chairman Dominick Minerva and Assemblyman James Darcy. Marshals were Deputy Mayor Guido Cirenza, Trustees Richard Coffman, Joseph Zabatta, Joanne Antun, and Village Justice Robert Bogle.
Seventy-five year residents who paraded were Marjorie McDermott Chvatal, Florence && Joseph Gunther, Joseph & Muriel Bennett Murphy, Dotty Massa, Chris VanBuskirk, James Buckley, Bertha Ballou, Lillian Weaver, Genevieve MacLean, Eileen O'Mara Carlson, Walter Harrod and Bert Keller.
Winners of the float contest were: First Place: Henry Waldinger Library; Second Place: Memorial Junior High School and District 24; Third Place: the Unites States Marine Corps League Western Long Island Detachment, and Cub Scout Pack 368; Fourth Place: the Valley Stream Historical Society; and Fifth Place: Gibson Youth Activities; the Green Hornets; Bethlehem Assembly of God, the Association of Valley Stream Girl Scouts.
