By John C. O'Connell
Led by former mayor Dominick Minerva, the entire committee, as well as the many others who served on each event subcommittee, deserve this special recognition for the good they did for all citizens of Valley Stream.
The committee members are Joseph Bergen, Bradley Blakeman, Kathleen Bogle, Mary Ann Cahill, Noreen Carro, Stephanie Darcy, Barbara DeGrace, Bert Keller, Jerome Leonardi, John McDonough, Carol McKenna, Eleanor Sciglibaglio, Richard Sullivan, Katherine Wallace and Craig Weeden.
Formed by then-Mayor James Darcy, the committee first met on April 9, 1998, to begin planning the 2000 celebration of the anniversary of the 1925 incorporation of the village. Dozens of meetings and hundreds of hours of work later, the year-long schedule of events and activities became a tribute to the neighborly spirit of the whole Valley Stream community.
"This has been a marvelous experience for all of us to have been involved in this historic occasion," committee chairman Minerva said as the year was coming to a close. "It's just been wonderful to participate in all of this. It's been a labor of love, really, the opportunity for which comes along only once - or maybe twice - in a lifetime," said Mr. Minerva, who was mayor during the 50th Anniversary celebrations in 1975.
The record of that first meeting more than two-and-a-half years ago tells the tale of how visions can be turned into reality with dedication and effort. The committee spoke of having a series of events and programs throughout the year 2000, such as a family picnic, parade, grand ball, golf outing, library events, Chamber of Commerce fireworks, Historical Society involvement, schools participation and souvenir sales. And it all came to be.
Beyond the committee itself, many volunteers helped to make it all happen. Members of the Chamber, the Valley Stream Historical Society, scouting organizations, the Valley Stream Religious Council, village government, including the parks and recreation department, the American Legion Andrew Fatscher Post and VFW, service organizations, and dozens of individuals whose affiliation was simply that they were Valley Stream residents and cared.
"It has really been an honor for me and my wife, Mary Ann, to have been in office at this time," Mayor Cahill said. "Jim [Darcy] set it all in motion, and then the planning by the committee was so strategic that we had a great year.
"It was an important year as well as a festive one," the Mayor said. "Not only were all these events and activities intended to be enjoyable for those who've been here a long time, but it was such an important year of communication to all our newer residents about all that we have to offer here in the village. It was a good way for new people to learn first hand what kind of village we are, and I do think the planners were very successful in that regard. I think this was truly an inspiring year for us all."
The year of historic celebration began and ended with an interfaith service performed by the Valley Stream Religious Council. Marie O'Connell organized the religious services.
Eighty-eight golfers paid $225 a head for the anniversary golf outing on Aug. 8. "It was really a wonderful event," Chairman Minerva said. The outing at Lido Country Club was organized by Joe Zabatta, Craig Weeden, Kip Usher, Joe Bergen and Dominick Minerva.
The Diamond Ball on Nov. 17 was organized by Jack McDonough and Barbara DeGrace with the assistance of Rosalie Bello, James Buckley, Reina Buckhout, Mary Ann Cahill, Ida D'Angelo, Stephanie Darcy, Ted Libath, Lucille McDonough, Marie O'Connell, Tom Roberts, Alison Walsh and Craig Weeden.
"It's been my privilege to work with so many fine people in the community who made the anniversary celebration a success," Jack McDonough said. "The whole 75th Anniversary year is now part of village history, and I take pleasure in knowing that in some small way I am part of that history."
Richard Sullivan planned and organized the parade on Oct. 14. Thousands of Valley Stream-area folks came out for the glorious day. Helping Richie were George Baker, Diana Callaghan, Nick Camarano, Joe Carbonette, Richard D'Angelis, Mike DeNicolo, Barbara Diglio, Valerie Esposito, Carl Riccibono, Tom Roberts, Ron Sabo, Marcella (Cookie) Schaefer, Sal Spinicchia, Phil Tondi and Central High's alumni mascot, Vinnie DeMartino.
"It was so wonderful to be part of this tradition. ... I watched the 50th Anniversary parade from the sidelines, and it was so great to participate in this year's picnic and parade events," Valerie Esposito said.
In addition to helping organize the parade, Valerie's "Central HS tower" was one of the many floats in it. "Everything was so much fun, but of course was a lot of work, too," she said. "The float, which survived the big day, required the labor of Jack and Carrie Mahoney and Joe Bergen also, and we were so happy it didn't fall over even once during the long parade."
The Brick Drive for the Walk of Honor was successfully done by Eleanor Sciglibaglio, who also organized school contests. The drive is ongoing.
Richard Sullivan and Barbara DeGrace coordinated all the work involved in making the family picnic on June 10 a big success.
Noreen Carro and Bradley Blakeman did the silent auction.
Mary Ann Cahill and Kathy Wallace handled the t-shirt selling for the anniversary. "The response to the sales was just tremendous," Kathy said. "We had people calling up from all over the country for them. We were sending them to former Valley Stream people now in Oregon, Virginia, Florida, California, Tennessee and so many other places."
Mary Ann and Kathy had help, too. "We have to also thank Ida D'Angelo, Rosalie Bello, Rosemarie Roberts, Justine Antonetti and Gloria Fasano for all their assistance," Mary Ann said.
Waldinger Library director Marshall Botwinick and Mamie Eng held a special 75th Anniversary event at the library, showcasing the art work of Valley Stream residents.
The Historical Society went all out in its participation. Hosting the opening interfaith service at the Pagan-Fletcher Restoration, and then being deeply involved in every other event and activity throughout the year, the Society showed its dedication and interest not only in the conservation of the community's history but also its commitment to the life and spirit of Valley Stream today.
"Another important fact about this year is that taxpayer funds did not have to be expended to any substantive degree," Chairman Minerva said. "We were virtually self-funded."
Honorary Chairmen of the 75th Anniversary Committee are the Hon. Edward W. Cahill and the Hon. James Darcy. Honorary members of the 75th Anniversary Committee are Valley Stream Herald publisher Clifford Richner and Record publisher Howard Swengler. Trustee Richard Coffman has been the Village Board liaison to the committee. P. Michael McKenna lent his legal expertise to the committee.
And the work of this special year continues on a few projects. Due to popular demand, bricks for the Walk of Honor - coordinated by Eleanor Sciglibaglio - are still available for purchase at village hall through the end of February, and the 75th Anniversary Journal - coordinated by village historian Carol McKenna - will soon be available, also at village hall.
Also available is the delightful and professionally done 18-minute Valley Stream video premiered at the gala ball. Copies may be obtained for $15 from village hall. The video was made under the supervision of Jack McDonough and Barbara DeGrace.
"Working on the video was especially gratifying to me," Barbara said. "Not being a native of the village, I learned so much by talking with many of the people who have stories to tell and memories to share. Thanks to Henry Kohlmann, a lifelong resident, we were able to use 60-year-old 8mm footage of Valley Stream in its early heyday as a stunning backdrop to the present day segments, weaving old and new together throughout. That footage, a result of a very chance conversation with Henry early into the project, gave the video the exact tone we had originally envisioned. In fact, Henry even had a "cameo" appearance as one of the three "Currier & Ives" boys sleigh riding at the park, circa 1930's Valley Stream.
"This project could not have run more smoothly and every single person we contacted and interviewed gave personality to that piece," Ms. DeGrace said. "The result is a lasting story of the village, then and now, and I hope people will continue to enjoy it for a very long time."
Committee member Kathy Wallace thought it was just like Valley Stream to do the good job it did with the celebrations. "I was really impressed with how hard and diligent the people on the committee and all the other volunteers worked this year - even way before this year - to get things done. And the attention to the smallest detail was really remarkable. Like on the morning of the parade, there was a nice breakfast put on by the Central High School culinary classes, and someone thought to get the parade officials corsages. They made each of the events so interesting for such a wide variety of different people.
"I think those were very exciting days, and I think this has been a very exciting year," she said. "What a great place Valley Stream is to live in."
PUCTURED IN PHOTO: From left, Jerome Leonardi, Carol McKenna, Bert Keller, Barbara DeGrace, Noreen Carro, Chairman Dominick Minerva and his wife, Linda, Joseph Bergen, Mary Ann Cahill, Mayor Edward Cahill, Stephanie Darcy, Assemblyman Jim Darcy, Trustee Richard Coffman, Kathy Bogle, Jack McDonough, P. Michael McKenna, Craig Weeden and Jules Rabin.
