Observing Memorial Day
Edward W. Yeznach, VFW senior vice commander, waves to the crowd. The 71-year-old Korean War veteran served as grand marshal of the Memorial Day Parade
Soldier returns to family
"It's because of you that we put on this uniform," Army Specialist Christopher Barber told Clear Stream Avenue School students. "This way you don't have to worry about if you're going to be okay, if you're going to see your future."
Barber saluted the school on behalf of all coalition forces serving in Iraq during a welcome home ceremony one May morning. The entire student body honored Barber, the father of two Clear Stream students, with an assembly on the school's front lawn.
With American flags in hand, the students sang "God Bless America" and recited the Pledge of Allegiance for Barber. Barber, a member of the 442nd Military Police Unit, returned to New York on April 26 after serving for one year in Iraq. His unit is based out of Orangeburg in upstate New York. He is a reservist with the Army National Guard, and was called to active duty immediately following Sept. 11, 2001.
South sought three-peat
Valley Stream South and MacArthur High School were tied 1-1 in the best-of-three Nassau Class A girls softball championship series heading into the decisive Game 3, which was played May 27 and 28 at Mitchel Athletic Complex. The third-seeded Lady Falcons took the opener, 1-0 May 24 getting 14 strikeouts from junior pitcher Diana DiPiano. But top-seeded MacArthur stayed alive with a 2-0 victory the next day as pitcher Leah Bogsted allowed only one hit.
South's hopes were dashed in the 11th inning of game three. MacArthur won the game 2-1. South won the county championships in 2003 and 2002.
Baseball teams make playoffs
It was quite a season on the baseball diamond for the Valley Stream Central High School District as Central, South and North High Schools' baseball teams qualified for their respective Nassau playoff tournaments while recording double digits in victories.
Central reached the quarterfinal round of the Class AA bracket by defeating Baldwin and Calhoun, but Massapequa ended the Eagles' season there. South was able to eliminate Plainedge in Class A before meeting a similar fate against Island Trees. And North, which stumbled into the post-season, came up short in the first round at Great Neck South.
June
Senior prank is no joke
Several of the 20 Valley Stream North High School seniors involved in a May prank that caused $15,000 in damage to the school admitted their involvement in a written statement to school officials a month later.
According to police, at about 2 a.m., Thursday, May 27, the group of young men and women allegedly used squeegees to apply tar to at least 20 of the school's windows. In addition, the group was accused of breaking two security cameras, damaging the school's lawn sign and sealing several locked doors and hinges using foam, which, when it dries, harden similar to concrete. Additionally, chocolate sauce, Gummy Bears and feathers were found scattered at the scene.
The students were arrested and charged with second-degree criminal mischief and fifth-degree conspiracy.
Some of the students' parents paid $1,000 restitution for the damage. The students who signed statements also agreed to do community service, and they waived their right to take any kind of action against the district, according to two parents. In exchange, the students were not subject to suspension beyond five days, which allowed the accused seniors to take final exams and graduate with their class. The superintendent made a positive recommendation to the district attorney's office on the students behalf.
Herald fire!
On a mid-June afternoon suddenly people accustomed to covering the news, became front-page news themselves.
A quick-moving fire ravaged the Herald Community Newspapers building in Lawrence on Tuesday, June 15, forcing about 120 employees to safely evacuate to the street.
The blaze gutted much of the historic building, at 379 Central Avenue, which was home to Richner Communications, the publishers of 16 weekly newspapers and PrimeTime Guide. The buildings had been in continuous use as the newspapers' home since 1927. No serious injuries were reported
The Herald's offices are now located in West Hempstead.
Girl, 13, raped
An Elmont man was charged with the rape and sodomy of a 13-year-old Valley Stream girl, police said.
The alleged attacks began June 26 and took place at various locations in Valley Stream and West Hempstead over that weekend, according to Sgt. John Roden of the Fifth Precinct. The alleged attacks took place in the defendant's vehicle, in a gas station bathroom and at the Courtesy Hotel in West Hempstead, according to Rick Hinshaw, a spokesman for the Nassau Couny District Attorney's office.
Police arrested Timothy Melton, 41, who police said lived at 115-47 237th Street, near his home June 28. Police became aware of the alleged attacks when the teen's mother accompanied her daughter to the Fifth Precinct Station House in Elmont.
Three principals retire
He had thought about retiring last year, but he stayed. About two months ago, people started asking if this year would be his last, again he said no. He would stay one more year. Then he changed his mind. Bruce Alster, principal of the Brooklyn Avenue School for 16 years announced his plan to retire at the end of the school year during the June meeting of the District 24 Board of Education. The board reluctantly voted to accept his resignation for the purpose of retirement. Alster was succeeded by Ted Kusulas.
After 14 years as principal of the Clear Stream Avenue School, Principal Bob Cohen announced his retirement, which was effective June 30. He was succeed by Patricia Burns. Cohen said the "time was right" for retirement."
And Carol Kingsley, principal of the Forest Road School for six years also retired June 30. Kingsley cited wanting to spend more time with her new granddaughter as one factor that tipped the scale toward retirement. Kingsley was succeeded by Theresa Scrocco.
V.S. diver dies at sea
Tragedy occurred in the ocean off Atlantic Beach, June 30, when four scuba divers went out for a late-night dive only to have one of their group not come up alive. Anthony Lobue, 46, of Valley Stream, drowned, according to detectives at the Fourth Precinct.
Lobue and three others entered the waters at about 9:40 p.m. Lobue drowned when he lost his regulator and got tangled in his line shortly after 10 p.m., police said.
Lobue was a computer technician who immigrated to the U.S. from Italy in 1972. He is survived by a brother, Peter, 56, of Valley Stream, and an older sister, Maria Castronova.
Save on the soccer field
Anthony Gioia, 10, saved the life of Camilo Paez, 9, by using the heimlich maneuver, which he said he learned by watching cartoons. Gioia made the save following the last game of the season. The Valley Stream Rebels soccer team had been celebrating at the Kent Road soccer field by eating Munchkins that a teammate's father had bought that day, when Paez began to choke. Gioia was honored with an award at the Valley Stream Soccer awards presentation at Central High School June 29.
July
Firecrackers
High above the crowd, fireworks lit up the summer sky over Firemen's Field July 4. The Valley Stream Chamber of Commerce and Incorporated Village of Valley Stream sponsored the annual fireworks show.
Car-jacked at gunpoint
A North Babylon man was car-jacked at gunpoint within seconds of witnessing the robbery of a Jamaica woman in the parking lot of Sunrise Cinemas July 8, according to Fifth Precinct police.
The 23-year-old Suffolk County resident was driving through the rear of the movie theater parking lot at about 8 p.m. when he noticed a man exit a dark-colored car from the passenger side front door, police said. The Suffolk resident stopped his vehicle when he saw the unknown suspect point a handgun at a woman, 18, who was walking through the parking lot. The suspect demanded the woman's purse and ripped a gold chain from the woman's neck, police said.
The suspect walked toward the Suffolk resident, who was sitting in his car, pointed the gun at him and reportedly stated, "Get out of the car, brethren," police said. The suspect then got into the Suffolk resident's car and fled the scene followed by the other vehicle, which was being driven by a second unknown suspect.
Tragedy takes a life too soon
Steven and Michael Saccareccia had already started thinking about about what they were going to say when they toasted their brother, Brian, and his future bride, Annemarie Conigliaro, at their wedding reception next March. The brothers wanted the toast to be equal parts tribute and tease as only brothers would.
Instead of best man toast, Steven, 22, found himself sharing those same cherished memories and feelings with family and friends in a eulogy. Brian Saccareccia died, July 26, from injuries he had sustained in a motorcycle accident nearly three weeks before. He was just 23.
The motorcycle accident took place the afternoon of July 8 on Brookside Drive near Rockaway Avenue, just down the block from Saccareccia's home. The accident did not involve any other vehicles. He was airlifted to Nassau County Medical Center where he was treated for severe head trauma. Saccareccia's family kept a bedside vigil, though he never regained consciousness. He was surrounded by his family when he died.
August
Rifle team brings home golds
The Valley Stream Police Athletic League (PAL) Rifle Team continued its tradition of success at the 27th annual Empire State Games held July 29 to Aug. 1 in Binghamton.
Five Valley Stream players captured eight of the 12 slots available on the Long Island team at the games. During the games, the team won a combined 12 medals: three gold, four silver and five bronze, and set two new Empire State Games records.
Riflery events are divided into two categories, Scholastic (for athletes in high school or younger) and Open. Ray Pabelonia, a Central High School senior, Heather McCauley, a Garden City High School senior, and Stephen Zawislak, a South High School freshman, competed in the scholastic events. Central High School graduates Paul Kovalov (class of 2004) and Joseph Fitzgibbon (class of 1999) competed in the open events
Remembering 'a great man'
More than 2,000 signatures crowded a petition to rename Felton Avenue in memory of the late Richard Paul Spink, a lifelong Valley Stream resident and 40-year local businessman. His partner of 37 years, Stephen Rzewuski, also received hundreds of letters from people whose lives Spink had touched. In light of such overwhelming support and at the request of Rzewuski, a dedication ceremony was held at the corner of Felton and North Central avenues, Aug. 28. During the ceremony, a new street sign will be unveiled, officially renaming that corner "Richard P. Spink Way." Spink's business, Spink Roofing and Sheet Metal, is located at that corner. Rzewuski has been running the business since Spink's death May 11.
Rzewuski also created a memorial garden - Richard's Garden of Love and Hope - at that corner. Rzewuski's dedication to his partner's memory does not end there. In the three months since Spink, 61, lost his battle with lung cancer, more than $108,000 has been donated in has memory by friends, business associates and acquaintances. The donations have already been put to good use. Some of it paid for life-saving surgery to remove a tumor on the spine of a 4-month-old Long Island girl. Rzewuski hopes to continue to raise money for children suffering from cancer, and their families, through the Richard Paul Spink and Stephen Rzewuski Foundation.
Village clerk's mother mourned
Rita M. Ang tried horseback riding at 79. She tackled whitewater rafting in Alaska at a young 80. And, enjoyed a helicopter ride over the glaciers in Alaska at 82. If she had a motto, it would have been, "Never reveal your age and never act it."
The mother of Valley Stream's village clerk, Ang, a longtime Valley Stream resident, died Aug. 29 at Huntington Hospital surrounded by her family. She was 87.
"She loved life and she held onto it with both hands," said Ang's son, Vincent, the village clerk. "She got every minute she could get out of it and she enjoyed it."
