A new H.S. leader
Dr. Marc Bernstein was appointed to succeed Dr. Ronald D. Valenti as superintendent of schools for the Central High School District. Valenti resigned Aug. 31, 2003 after three years. Bernstein, who was acting as an interim superintendent, was offered the top job in winter 2003. He accepted. The board voted to appoint him Jan. 13.
Engine 343 celebrates 75 years
Members of Engine Company 343 kicked-off their firehouse's 75th anniversary celebration with a champagne toast. Firefighters hung a sign on their firehouse, located on Cochran Place, to mark the occasion.
Engine 343 was formed in July of 1929 when 50 local residents volunteered to become firefighters, completed their training and moved into their new home away from home. The land to build the firehouse was donated to the Village of Valley Stream by the Gibson Corp., the builder responsible for most of the homes in the area. During its 75 years of existence, hundreds of Valley Stream residents have been, at one time, a member of the Engine 343.
During 2004 a number of events were held to celebrate the occasion with the most significant being a dinner and dance July 24 at the Coral House in Baldwin.
V.S. adult store cited
The Village of Valley Stream began serving the adult store, located on Sunrise Highway, a summons a week for operating in violation of a local law that prohibits such a business from being too close to schools, churches and homes.
Hempstead Video has operated at that location, which is at the intersection of Rockaway Avenue, since 1994. It sells lingerie, sex toys and hard core pornographic videos. Because the local law was enacted after the store opened, it was allowed to operate with stipulations, including that it could not have enclosed rooms or flashing lights and its windows must be covered. However, Mike McKenna, attorney for the village, said Hemsptead Video was no longer protected by that agreement when it installed six enclosed viewing booths. U.S. Magistrate E. Thomas Boyle agreed.
On Jan. 5, Boyle ruled that the village could envoke its local law against the adult store. Code enforcement issued a $2,000 summons to the store that week and more followed. Each additional summons could cost the store an additional $3,000. The village and the owners of the store are still battling it out in court.
Anne Malekian mourned
The wife of a longtime member of the Zoning Board of Appeals died Jan. 12.
Anne Malekian, 74, whose husband, George, serves on the zoning board, was involved in a car accident just down the block from her Melrose Street home. Malekian received medical attention at the scene and was rushed to Franklin Hospital Medical Center, where she was pronounced dead.
Charged with rape
A child-care worker, assigned to the Salvation Army Wayside Home School for girls, was arrested for allegedly having sex with a 14-year-old resident of the home Oct. 7, 2002, a police report said.
Scott Frazier, 32, of Jamaica, was arrested Jan. 8 after police learned of the incident through the girl's friends. The girl confirmed the incident, police said. He was charged with second-degree rape, police said.
Wayside, located on Dutch Broadway in North Valley Stream, closed in December 2003 after almost 70 years of service.
Footprints in the snow
The six inches of snow that fell on Long Island Jan. 14 and early the following morning created a host of problems for morning commuters and prompted school closings throughout Nassau County. But it wasn't all bad, according to police.
As Joseph Sciara, 36, of Valley Stream walked from house to house along Hungry Harbor Road, allegedly checking for unlocked doors in order to commit burglary, he left behind a trail of footprints that led police straight to him, according to Sgt. Jeanne Gans of the Fifth Squad. Police say Sciara had an alleged accomplice, Diana Plessner, 32, of Staten Island.
Making his debut
A Memorial Junior High School seventh-grade student made his debut on the Metropolitan Opera House stage Jan. 26.
Thomas Riley was selected to perform as part of the children's chorus, singing in Puccini's Tosca, from Jan. 26 through March 13. World renowned tenor, Luciano Pavarotti, was expected to lend his vocal talents to the production in a limited number of the opera's performances. Riley then performed, also as part of the children's chorus, in Tchaikovsky's Queen of Spades, from Feb. 7 through March 3. Leading the cast in Queen of Spades was another world renowned tenor, Placido Domingo.
Regents snowed out
In an unprecedented decision, the State Education Department said that seniors who missed Regents exams Jan. 28 because of the snow storm would be allowed to use their final course grade in place of their Regents scores in order to meet graduation requirements.
Since schools were closed in Valley Stream and across Long Island due to approximately 10 inches of snow, Regents exams scheduled for that day had to be cancelled. Five Regents - chemistry, physics, global history, geography and U.S. history and government - and two RCTs - writing and reading, were supposed to be administered in Valley Stream that day. The state's decision mostly affected seniors who were set to take the global history and U.S. history and government exams. Approximately 200 Valley Stream seniors were affected.
February
A 'Rush' to states
Picking up where she left off in cross-country when she placed 15th in Nassau County and qualified for states, Valley Stream North sophomore Theresa Rush won both the 1,000 and 1,500 meter races at the indoor track and field individual championships/state qualifier in February at Suffolk Community College.
She captured the 1,000 by a wide margin, finishing in 3:03.2, then beat out South Side's Molly Dreska in the 1,500 with a winning time of 5:04.2.
"Winning the 1,000 gave me confidence, and I felt really strong at the end of the 1,500," said Rush, who ran both the 1,000 and 1,500 at the state meet March 6 at the Carrier Dome in Syracuse.
32 tires slashed
Sometime between late Feb. 21 and early the next morning, an unknown person or group roamed Valley Stream with an unidentified sharp object, slashing a total of 32 tires belonging to 16 different cars at 10 locations, police said. In addition, an Ashley Drive resident called police 8 a.m. Sunday after finding their 1998 Lincoln covered in shaving cream. And, a Carolyn Avenue resident reported that the driver's side door of their 2003 Acura had been dented between midnight and 9:30 a.m.
All but one of the 10 locations where tires were found slashed were within a four or five block radius, according to police officer Stan Slevinski, crime analyst for the precinct. The 10th attack took place approximately 10 or 11 blocks northeast of the others.
V.S. church marks 60 years
Holy Trinity celebrated its 60th anniversary Feb. 15. In 1920 six families met in a firehouse on Corona Avenue before acquiring property on Brooklyn Avenue to form a mission parish so Valley Stream residents wouldn't have to travel to Hewlett. In 1944, the small chapel became Holy Trinity Church, an independent parish, with Reverend George Benson Cox as its inaugural rector. On March 13, 1960, a ground-breaking ceremony was held for the new school building, which opened on September 11, 1960. Nine pastors have served the church beginning with Cox. Since 1998, Mother Brenda Overfield holds the rector position.
To commemorate its anniversary, Holy Trinity held several events throughout the year. In September 2004, a dinner dance was held in conjunction with the Welcome Home breakfast, an annual event marking the return to Sunday school. Former pastors and church members attended. There was also a fair during the first weekend of November.
SD 30 referendum date changed
The District 30 Board of Education voted to reschedule a referendum, originally set for March 1, to May 18.
The referendum, which did pass in May, allowed the district to go through with plans to purchase approximately one half of 175 N. Central Ave., the building the district's administration offices occupies. The administration offices moved to North Central Avenue from Washington Avenue in September 2002. The office building on Washington Avenue has since been converted to the Clear Stream Avenue School Annex, also known as the district's kindergarten learning center.
Larry McGoldrick, superintendent of schools, said the board decided to reschedule the referendum after the district discovered a discrepancy in the purchase agreement. The original agreement said the district occupies 46 percent of the building, but the district actually occupies 44 percent. The difference will lower the purchase price by $25,000. The new purchase price will be approximately $550,000.
Massapequa tops Central
The fourth time wasn't a charm for Valley Stream Central as the Lady Eagles lost 84-54 to Massapequa Feb. 20 in the quarterfinal round of the Nassau Class AA girls basketball tournament.
It marked the fourth consecutive season that Central lost a playoff game to Massapequa. The teams battled for the championship in the 2001-02 campaign and met in the quarterfinals the previous season and the semis a year ago.
Slow start costs South
Like Central, No. 14 seed Valley Stream South dug itself a huge hole in the first half and couldn't overcome it in a 46-38 loss at third-seeded Floral Park in the first round of the Class A playoff tournament.
The youthful Lady Falcons, who qualified for the post-season with a win over rival Valley Stream North in the Conference V finale, found themselves down 17-3 after the first quarter, 22-3 early in the second and 28-11 at intermission. They rallied in the second half behind eighth-grader Kaitlyn Gillespie (12 points, seven steals) and sophomore Katie Hicks (10 points), but Floral Park sealed the outcome with a pair of Carolyn Sheehan free throws with 1:32 left.
North wrestlers second in county
Coach Tom Maddock has a lot to be proud of after Valley Stream North High finished runner-up to Seaford and crowned two individual champs at the Nassau County Division II wrestling tournament held Feb. 21 and 22 at Nassau Community College.
Senior Jon Solis (275 pounds) and sophomore Dan Giuliante (171) were nothing short of spectacular in winning their respective weight classes. The duo went on to represent the Spartans and Section VIII at the New York State Championships at the University of Buffalo. Solis, who has competed since seventh-grade, earned All-State honors by finishing fifth with a 3-2 record.
Giuliante went up against more experienced wrestlers both in the county and state tournaments. He was pinned by both of his opponents at the states.
All told, the Spartans had six wrestlers earn All-County honors. A top four finish was needed to achieve such status.
March
Election elation
Two candidates ran unopposed in their bid to be elected trustees of the Village of Valley Stream. Richard A. Coffman won reelection to a third term with 498 votes, and Edwin A. Fare won election with 518 votes to replace two-term Trustee Joseph Zabatta, who announced his retirement, effective March 31. The election was held March 18.
Once again, Coffman ran on the United Party ticket just as Mayor Edward Cahill, Deputy Mayor Guido Cirenza, Trustee Joann Antun and Judge Robert Bogle did when they were all reelected last year.Fare, a first-time candidate for trustee, also ran on the United Community Party ticket.
House fire on Terrace Place
A family was displaced, its pets were lost and a lifetime of personal treasures were gone forever.
An early-morning fire started by an electric heater too close to home furnishings did serious damage to a home on North Terrace Place March 19. The fire was reported to Nassau County's Fire Command at 5:55 a.m. and was immediately transmitted to the Valley Stream Fire Department. There were no injuries reported to firefighters or the home's occupants, but two family cats perished in the fire.
Fatal house fire
An elderly woman died March 25 in a fire in a two-family house on North Central Avenue.
The alarm was telephoned to the Fire Communications Bureau at 4:05 A.M. by a Village of Valley Stream code enforcement officer, who, wile on routine patrol, was alerted to the blaze by a passerby. Valley Stream firefighters responded in minutes and while conducting a search of the home located the victim's body on the first floor. Efforts to revive the victim failed and she was pronounced dead at Franklin Hospital Medical Center at approximately 5 a.m. The victim was identified as Alice Toal.
Firefighters extinguished the fire, which started on the first floor of the two-story house, within 45 minutes. No other injuries were reported.
April
Village tax hike
The Village of Valley Stream Board of Trustees approved a budget-to-budget increase of $2.9 million or almost 12 percent. According to the village clerk, the increase was driven by $1.9 million in tax certiari settlements, including $1.3 million that must be returned to Green Acres Mall, and a more than $1 million increase in state mandated contributions to employees' retirement benefits.
The mayor and board of trustees presented the 2004-2005 budget during a public hearing April 12 at 7:30 p.m. in the Village Hall courtroom. Following the public hearing, the board voted to adopt the budget.
The new budget comes in just under $27.77 million compared to the $24.85 million budget adopted for the 2003-2004 fiscal year. The 2003-2004 budget included a 4.4 percent or $1.72 million increase over the previous year's budget of almost $23.13 million.
Of mice and rats
A Valley Stream homeowner awoke April 10 to make a startling discovery. Approximately 20 crosses made out of palm were strewn across the front lawn of a house on Benson Place, police said. Upon further inspection, the homeowner and police noticed that dead rodents had been attached to the crosses.
According to police, sometime between 8 p.m. April 9 and 8:20 a.m. the next day, an unknown person or persons left the palm crosses and more than 10 dead mice and rats on the unidentified homeowner's property. A live rat was also found on an outside basement windowsill. An Emergency Service Unit was called to remove the rodents.
Alcohol series begins
The Herald kicked off its year-long series on teenage drinking with a story on a new machine that scans the bar codes on various forms of identification to show that they're valid and the person is the age he or she claims to be.
The prevailing belief among local bar owners and managers is that the new devices keep underage kids out and protect business owners from having their liquor licenses revoked.
Fire chiefs elected
The Valley Stream Fire Department held its elections April 8 to decide its leaders for the 2004-2005 firematic year.
After serving terms as second assistant and first assistant Chief, Joseph Garofalo, a member of Rescue Company #1, was elected to the position of Chief of Department. Chief Garofalo took over the helm from Chief Robert Petry.
Second Assistant Chief Brian Howley, a member of Hook & Ladder Company #1, was elected to the position of First Assistant Chief and former Captain Antonio Nuzzi, a member of Engine Company #4, was elected as the new second assistant chief. Gary Shaw, a member of Hook & Ladder Company #1 was reelected to a three-year term as delegate to the Third Battalion.
So hard to say goodbye
He got the call the Wednesday before Palm Sunday, April 4. "Gregory, I'd like you to do a favor for me," said the voice on the line. "I would appreciate it if you would accept the pastorate at St. Frances D. Chantel in Wantagh." Fr. Gregory Cappuccino, pastor of Blessed Sacrament Church in Valley Stream, figures he's gotten a similar phone call from Bishop William Murphy at least four times during the past three years. Every time, up until the most recent call, Cappuccino said no. This time he said yes. As of June 30, after more than 15 years in the community, Cappuccino stepped down as pastor of Blessed Sacrament.
Second arrest for home invasion
About two years ago, a Valley Stream mother of two, then 32, had just returned home after dropping off her children at school when she was confronted in her garage by two men who bound her and ransacked her home.
Last April, police arrested a Brooklyn man in connection with the home invasion. Roger Lebron, 39, was charged with second-degree robbery, second-degree burglary and third-degree grand larceny.
A second suspect, Roberto Ortiz, 31, of 686 Fairview Ave., Ridgewood, was arrested June 25, 2002 by the Fifth Squad and the Bureau of Special Operations, who were acting on a tip provided by an unidentified informant. He was also charged with second-degree robbery, second-degree burglary and third-degree grand larceny. Ortiz pled guilty to the three charges, according to the Nassau County District Attorney's Office. He was sentenced to five years in prison on Feb. 3.
Honored for heroics
Two members of Engine Co. 3 of the Valley Stream Fire Department received Nassau County recognition for the heroics they showed during the daring rescue of disabled man who was trapped in burning house during the blackout that darkened much of the northeast Aug. 14, 2003.
On April 21, the Nassau County Fire Commission presented meritorious awards to former Captain Steven Weltner and firefighter Michael Velte. Weltner and Velte were honored for risking their lives to save the disabled man, who was trapped inside his home on Wood Lane.
