Objections raised
Citing safety concerns, more than 100 parents, staff members and students turned out for the Sept. 1 Board of Education meeting to offer empassioned pleas in protest of the high school district's decision to transfer South High's longtime and well-respected administrative associate to Memorial Junior High in mid-August.
Michael Kaplan, South's administrative associate in charge of discipline, attendance and daily building operations since 1988, replaced Memorial's Ellen Edwards, who retired in June. Kaplan now serves as Memorial's administrative associate in charge of pupil services.
Voters check in with V.S.
The 9,800 residents of the year-old North Valley Stream library district will continue to be part of the Henry Waldinger Memorial Library family through at least 2006.
With voter turnout slightly higher than last year, voters picked Valley Stream over Elmont's library by an almost 3-to-2 margin Sept. 9. Waldinger received 296 votes compared to Elmont's 208 and Malverne's three. Four residents voted against all contracts. The North Valley Stream district includes residents of Elmont and Franklin Square.
In a separate vote, also held Sept. 9, residents of the year-old East Franklin Square library district, which includes parts of Malverne and Valley Stream, voted to contract with the Elmont Public Library for two years by a 2-to-1 margin.
Elmont received 145 votes to Waldinger's 70. Malverne received 18 votes, while 15 residents voted against having a contract at all.
Clavin Sr. mourned
Though he was known for his toughness on the bench during the 10 years he served as a Nassau County District Court judge, Donald X. Clavin Sr. was an "absolute teddy bear" at home, according to his son. Clavin died Sept. 5 at home in Valley Stream surrounded by his family. He was 78.
Besides his son and daughter, Clavin is survived by his wife, Rosanna, and three daughters, Mary Hilliard, of Richfield, Conn., Deidre Boyle, of Merrick, and Donna Clavin, of Valley Stream. His eight grandchildren are Elizabeth, Katie and Matthew Hilliard, Kevin, Conner and Deidre Higgins, and Patrick and Erin Boyle.
Fraud sweep
The Nassau County district attorney's office undertook a massive sweep of people allegedly participating in fraudulent unemployment claims, which resulted in more than 20 charges and arrests in September.
Twenty-five people were charged with fraud by the county's Criminal Frauds Bureau, including two Valley Stream residents, Freddy Enderica, 25, who was named in Dillon's report for taking $5,717.25 and Sally Benhar, who is said to have collected $4,455.
Dillon said that defendants stole a total of $160,663.50 in state funds designed to assist people who are out of work.
All of the suspects were charged with third-degree grand larceny, a class D felony punishable by up to seven years in prison, and first-degree offering a false instrument for filing, a class E felony punishable by up to four years in prison.
October
Taxi fares to increase
Citing rising insurance costs, Valley Stream Taxi's fares increased by fifty cents as of Oct. 1. This fare increase is the first since 1998. The change was approved by the Board of Trustees of the Village of Valley Stream at its Sept. 20 meeting.
Sting nets arrests
Just ten minutes before they allegedly tried to sell a stolen handgun and marijuana in front of the Clear Stream Avenue School as undercover police officers watched, police say the four suspects were involved in an attempted murder less then a mile away on Mill Road and Jedwood Place.
It began as a sting operation. According to detectives, a confidential informant told police that drugs and a stolen gun were going to be sold Sept. 30 in front of the school at 7 p.m. The gun was believed to be one of three that had been stolen in July from the home of a retired New York City cop.
As undercover officers and members of the Bureau of Special Operations waited at the school for the suspects to pull up in a white Chevrolet Cavalier, they heard a radio call for shots fired on Mill Road. The vehicle that left the scene of the shooting was described as a white Chevrolet Cavalier, police said. As scheduled, four suspects pulled up to the school at 7 p.m. in a white Chevrolet Cavalier, police said.
Officers arrested the four individuals: Wallace Cain, 20, of 62 Fieldmere Street, Elmont; Shawn Smith, 18, of 79 Warwick Road, Elmont; Randolph Brown, 19, of 27 Birchwood Drive, Valley Stream; and Mario Bellevue, 18, of 15 Birchwood Drive, Valley Stream. Police recovered a 9-mm weapon and three-fourths of a pound of marijuana at the scene.
Upon further investigation, police believe that the weapon recovered at the school was the same weapon used in the shooting earlier that evening. According to police, the four suspects had allegedly stolen marijuana from Matt Hofmann, 20, of 1765 Carroll Ave., Merrick, and shot him once in the stomach and once in the leg before fleeing the scene.
Hofmann was transported to Winthrop University Hospital. His injuries are non-life threatening, police said. Hofmann was charged with criminal sale of a controlled
Drug stash and dash
A North Valley Stream man was sought by law enforcement on both sides of the Queens-Nassau County border after 69 kilos of cocaine were found in the car he crashed and then fled from while police were in hot pursuit.
According to police, officers from Nassau County's Bureau of Special Operations and the New York City Police Department's Queens Gang Unit were conducting surveillance Oct. 17 outside a Carole Court home where they believed drugs were being stored. Police were waiting for a search warrant to come through so they could effectuate a raid of the home, police said. While police were waiting outside the house, a man emerged, reportedly carrying two bags.
The suspect jumped in a car and sped away with police officers in pursuit. He crashed the car into nearby parked cars before crashing into a pole just two blocks away on Leonard Way, a dead end, police said. The suspect, who police identified as Thomas L. Sanders, 35, exited the vehicle he was driving and escaped through a nearby backyard.
Police found the cocaine, which was reported to have a street value of as much as $5 million, in the car. Police searched the surrounding area, including the woods adjacent to the Southern State Parkway and Valley Stream State Park, using helicopters and police dogs.
Meanwhile, officers executed the search warrant at the Carole Court home and recovered a defaced Baretta handgun in the master bedroom. Police arrested Marisol Serrano, 33, of 1377 Carole Court. Serrano was charged with third-degree criminal possession of a weapon.
SD 13 elects Mastrocinque
Three candidates turned in the necessary petitions to get their names on the ballot for School District 13's special election, Nov. 16, to elect a new trustee to the Board of Education. The seven-member board was left one trustee shy when Anthony Lombardo had to resign due to a move out of the district.
Michael Mastrocinque, of Valley Stream, Peter M. Mayo, of Franklin Square, and Thomas A. Speranza, of Valley Stream, are the three candidates vying for the single seat. The winner of the special election will join trustees Frank Chiachiere, Ph.D., Marie Connelly, Ph.D., Bonnie Gorham, Jeanne Greco Jacobs, William Stris and Cathy Subbiondo.
Mastrocinque, 26, a recent law school graduate won the election.
November
Incumbents win big
Voters elected U.S. Rep. Carolyn McCarthy to a fifth term in Congress on Tuesday, as the Democratic incumbent scored a resounding victory over her Republican opponent, James Garner. State Sen. Dean Skelos and Assemblymen Bob Barra, Tom Alfano and Harvey Weisenberg all successfully fended off challenges from their opponents as well.
U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer, a Democrat, easily won a second six-year term by trouncing Republican Howard Mills, the deputy minority leader of the state Assembly, who represents the Hudson Valley's Orange County, and Conservative Party candidate Dr. Marilyn O'Grady, an ophthalmologist from Garden City.
Nassau County's proposed open-space referendum, which was written by county Legislator David Denenberg, a Democrat from Merrick, passed with 76.6 percent of the vote as of 1 a.m. Wednesday. It will provide the county with $50 million in bond money to buy and preserve open space.
Bert Keller mourned
H. Bertram Keller, graduate of Central High School, and beloved former teacher and assistant principal at the school, died Nov. 14 from complications from a stroke he suffered in May. He was 89.
Good catches, great saves
A Valley Stream resident was one of 15 recipients of the Nassau County Police Department's Commissioner's Award Nov. 1, but there was some confusion as to which of his heroic acts actually earned him the award. Was he being awarded for rescuing six children from the Great South Bay whose sailboats had been capsized by heavy winds in July 2003 or was it for providing police with a license plate number that led to the arrest of two robbery suspects last May?
While Blanchflower assumed he was being honored for the save at sea (he was correct), the Herald learned of his additional act of heroism from the police department's Fifth Precinct and his village code enforcement supervisor, Nick Cassano. Blanchflower also received recognition from the village for helping cops nab the robbery suspects.
James Escher/Herald
A nice run
A tremendous playoff run for Valley Stream South's boys' soccer team ended with a 5-2 loss to Jericho in the Nassau Class A championship game Nov. 10 at Hofstra. South's Rb Rotkowitz, right, pulls ahead of Jericho's Ian Greenberg during the game. The Falcons, who eliminated Sewanhaka, Westbury and Island Trees to reach the final, got goals from Sean Gillespie and Alex Cortes in the losing effort. Coached by Rich Boyd, South finished 11-6-2 overall.
Carbonaro's golden year
The Robert W. Carbonaro School celebrated its 50th anniversary with an assembly recalling the Fabulous Fifties. Students in each grade participated in the afternoon event Oct. 26. Henrietta Carbonaro, longtime District 24 Board of Education trustee, was the honored guest. The school, originally called the Hungry Harbor Road School, was renamed in 1970 for Carbonaro's late husband. Robert W. Carbonaro, who died in 1969, was the district's first superintendent of schools, a position that was formerly called district principal.
Alleged murder plot
A 79-year-old Valley Stream man and his son were arrested Nov. 19 for allegedly conspiring to murder a former business partner, New York State Police said.
The two were arrested at their home following a police investigation.
According to a police report, Ernest Pinelli and his son, Ernest Pinelli Jr., 43, allegedly attempted to hire someone to murder their former business partner, who lives in Puerto Rico, following a failed business venture. The elder Pinelli was the beneficiary of the business partner's half-million insurance policy, police said.
Burglary cases closed
An Elmont man and two others were arrested last week and charged in connection with multiple burglaries in Valley Stream and Elmont, police said.
Following the three arrests Nov. 18, Nassau County police closed approximately 25 burglary cases that took place during the past three months in Valley Stream and Elmont, according to Det. Sgt. John Roden, of the Fifth Precinct.
Leon Guy, 26, of 51 Fallon Avenue, Elmont, is charged with four counts of second-degree burglary for burglaries that occurred Oct. 28, and Nov. 5 and 16, Roden said. Defendants Dina Jones, 39, of 547 Bridge Street, Phoenixville, Penn. and Pierce Rivera, 17, of 25 4th Street, Coatsville, Penn., are each charged with two counts of second-degree burglary for two burglaries that occurred Nov. 16, Roden said. Roden declined to release the exact locations of the burglaries except to say they occurred in the Valley Stream/Elmont vicinity.
Shaw dedicates benches
Shaw Avenue Elementary School dedicated two memorial benches, one to honor the victims of Sept. 11, 2001 and another dedicated to a kindergarten student who died in September 2003. A ceremony was held Nov. 1 in the school's courtyard where the benches are located.
The entire student body, faculty, staff, some Board of Education members, the families of two Sept. 11 victims and the family of Kristal Williams, 5, who died Sept. 20, 2003, were present for the dedication ceremony.
Cestare welcomed
Blessed Sacrament Church made it official. Father Jerry Cestare was installed as pastor Nov. 14.
The installation took place during the 12:30 p.m. Sunday Mass. Father Gregory Cappuccino, former pastor, returned to Valley Stream from his new parish in Wantagh for the occasion.
Cestare's first day as pastor was actually July 1, the day after Cappuccino's transfer became effective, but his installation wasn't held until recently to allow him and the congregation time to get acquainted with one another.
Cestare comes to Valley Stream after having spent six years as an associate pastor of St. Agnes Cathedral in Rockville Centre. Prior to that, Cestare spent five years at Our Lady of Grace in West Babylon.
The end of dream season
North High School Spartan Vincent Del Maestro, a junior, reacts to his team's 19-14 loss to Cold Spring Harbor in the playoff semifinals Nov. 14. North held onto a one-point lead with less than three minutes of play before Cold Spring Harbor scored the game-winning touchdown. The semifinal loss ended the team's first playoff run since since 1989.
Waiting for a gift
A fund-raiser was held Nov. 12 to benefit 21-year-old Daniel Callahan, of Valley Stream, who was born with Down Syndrome, and was in desperate need of a liver transplant. Kate Miller of Lynbrook, Sister Barbara of Our Lady of Peace Parish and the Lynbrook Knights of Columbus St. Mary's Council, turned out a benefit fit for a king. Sadly, Danny died the following week. "The love in the room the night of the benefit, was enough to build a stairway to heaven, said Danny's mother Marie. "And Danny climbed it."
The Knights of Columbus made Danny an honorary knight of their council and said a traditional prayer vigil in his memory. "Danny brought us together as a council in the spirit of charity, unity and fraternity," said Grand Knight Ralph Macchia. "We will always remember him."
Wilbur Fare mourned
Eighty-four of his 85 years were "good years." He and his wife, Elsie, celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary last April. The couple raised six sons in Valley Stream and they cherished numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Fare spent the last 28 years of his life in retirement. Fare and Elsie used their retirement to spend time with family and friends, and to travel. They moved from Valley Stream to New Bern, North Carolina in 1986.
Wilbur C. Fare, a Valley Stream native, died Nov. 3 in Tarboro, North Carolina. He was 85. It was only during the last year that Fare's health started to decline. He had been living in an assisted-living community when he died.
December
A new addition
Captain Ernie Bouringer, of Hook & Ladder Co. #2, breaks a bottle of champagne celebrating the dedication of the company's new 2004 Seagrave Aerial Ladder truck Nov. 6. Ex-Captain Ed Fare, chairman of the new truck planning and design committee, Deborah Blasi and Eleanor Blasi look on. Eleanor's husband and Deborah's father, ex-chief Thomas Blasi, was named "Chairman Emeritus." Blasi died when the company began planning and designing its new truck.
Mission accomplished
Valley Stream's Cindy Nevader presented a $10 phone card to each of the 174 members of 306th Military Police Battalion, based in Uniondale, Dec. 17. Her son, Army Spc. Joseph Macchia, 19, is a member of the 306th. With her son as an inspiration, Nevader decided to purchase phone cards for the men and women of the 306th so they could call home during the holidays. She called the project "Operation Heart and Soul." Students at the William L. Buck School, which Macchia attended, cut out stars and hearts made of felt, which were sold for $5 and $1, respectively, by South's Key Club during members' lunch periods ( Macchia graduated from South in 2002). Nevader, her family and friends also sold the hearts and stars around town. Donors wrote messages on them, and they were glued to a giant felt flag.
Besides the phone cards, Nevader presented the battalion with the felt flag and with care packages, compliments of the Jackson Main Elementary School in Hempstead. Another of Nevader's sons, Nicholas, read a poem to the battalion that he had written in response to the Sept. 11 tragedies. The battalion was expected to be deployed to Iraq before the new year.
Signs of the season
Hanukkah and Christmas celebrations took place all over Valley Stream. To celebrate Hanukkah, Rabbi Yitzchak Goldshmid, of Congregation Beth Shalom, lit a Menorah Dec. 12. Hanukkah began at sundown Dec. 7. The the Knights of Columbus Father Carroll Council hosted a Nativity scene dedication. The village hosted its annual Christmas tree lighting and Santa Claus visit Dec. 11. Also, numerous schools and organizations hosted breakfasts with Santa Claus. Temple Gates of Zion also hosted a Hanukkah celebration.
Mall expansion OK'd
Green Acres Mall can go ahead with plans to expand, according to the Town of Hempstead Board of Appeals.
On Dec. 15, the Board of Appeals unanimously approved variances sought by Vornado Realty Trust, the mall's owner, in conjunction with the expansion of the mall, which is slated to begin next April.
Dominick Minerva, of Minerva & D'Agostino, Vornado's attorney, originally appeared before the board on Sept. 29. The board reserved its decision to allow for additional input from the public, particularly residents of the adjacent Mill Brook community, who had expressed concerns about the expansion. Chief among those concerns, as voiced by the Mill Brook Civic Association, was the increase in traffic the new stores would likely cause along Mill Road, as well as more noise and less pedestrian and shopper safety.
"The Mill Brook Civic Association board's number one concern is and always has been the safety and health of our community," said Marc Tenzer, the association's president. "We only hope that the [board's] decision will adequately protect the safety and health of our residents."
The expansion project includes the construction of a 122,000-square-foot B.J.'s Wholesale Club store on what is now a "rarely used" 1,000-space parking lot on the mall's south side; a Best Buy, to be built next to Seaman's at the west end of the mall; two retail stores, to be built on the parking lot adjacent to Seaman's; a 35,000-square-foot expansion of JC Penney; and two multi-level parking structures near the B.J.'s site, with space for up to 1,500 vehicles.
