By Nicole Falco
This year we're taking readers on a photographic journey through 2005. But for as many photos as we've snapped this year, and all of the pictures submitted by community members, there was still so much more that went on.
There were accolades aplenty. Bob Hawkey Sr. was honored for having won more than 400 games and 30 championships as head coach of the Valley Stream Green Hornets. Auxiliary Police Chief Joseph Carbonette enjoyed a surprise party for his four decades of service. Pre-schooler Michael McGuinnes was named one of 25 "Wish Children," and was honored by the Make-A-Wish Foundation after a courageous battle with brain cancer than began when he was just 18 months old.
Milestones marked in 2005 including the 75th anniversary of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1790 and the 50th anniversaries of North and South high schools.
The community also recognized some of its heroes. McDonnell "Mac" West, a delivery driver for Culligan Bottled Water of Valley Stream, came to the aid of a woman cab driver after she was robbed and stabbed by a customer she had picked up at the Rockville Centre train station. Timothy Scanlon of Valley Stream was charged in connection with the incident.
While making an early-morning run for milk and juice, Valley Streamer Tyrone Murphy, a registered nurse, helped save the life of a New York City police officer who had been shot outside a Queens park.
Leonard Wahl, whose son, Gregory, died while serving in Iraq, founded the Children of Long Island Fund to raise money for the sons and daughters of soldiers killed while serving in Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom. Gregory, who died in May 2004, left behind a wife and young daughter.
And streets were renamed in honor of Valley Stream firefighters Philip Fournier, Joseph Valentino, Sherman Smith, John Tate and Michael Moran, who all lost their lives in the line of duty during the department's 75-year history.
Valley Stream athletes made great strides this year. North High School's girls' track team became county champs, led by junior Theresa Rush, who competed at the state level for the second year in a row. Andrew Larsen, a Central High School graduate, was drafted by the Kansas City Royals in June. The Central High School District rifle team was the state champ. And both North and South high schools advanced to the football quarterfinals. The Falcons defeated the Spartans to advance to the semis before being stopped there by Roosevelt.
The community bade farewell to some of its own, including village treasurer Jerome Leonardi, former postmaster and consummate volunteer Joe Bergen, and Evelyn McKenna, a top-level county official under former County Executive Eugene Nickerson. And we've also endured our share of tragedies, including the unexpected death of Central High junior John LaBarbera, 16, who collapsed while attending a basketball clinic at school. Michael Garrity, 22, fell to his death when he tried to get off a Long Island Rail Road train bound for Lynbrook in between stations.
Edward Donovan Nickerson Reese, 20, was fatally shot just steps from his father's home on Flower Road. Marvin McKenzie of Queens was arrested just days later and charged with Nickerson Reese's murder. And there were at least three deaths in the line of duty: Jeffrey Weiner, who was serving in Iraq, Curtis Meyran, a New York City firefighter who was forced to jump to his death by a fast-moving fire, and volunteer firefighter Peter Lund, a Gibson resident, who suffered a fatal heart attack while battling a blaze.
Others were offered best wishes as they embarked on retirement: District 24 Trustee Henrietta Carbonaro, Holy Name of Mary Principal Sister Elizabeth Marie Lynch, District 30 Trustee Richard Eisenberg and Board of Zoning Appeals member Marvin Ronik.
Among those invited to take on important roles in the community were Ian Wraith, who was elected to fill the vacancy left by Carbonaro; Kathy Spollen, who was hired to replace Sister Elizabeth; Cliff Odell, who became principal at North after Dr. Tom Troisi was promoted to assistant superintendent in the high school district; Salvatore Pizzolo, who was appointed to the BZA to replace Ronik; Gerard Frusci, who was appointed to the BZA to replace Thomas Hauck, who was not re-appointed by the mayor; Meegan Coleman, who joined the Keynoter Chorale as its accompanist; Debra Evans, who was elected to District 13's Board of Education to replace Dr. Marie Connelly; and Kenneth Cummings, who was appointed in District 30 to replace Eisenberg.
The community has also had its share of controversies, some resulting in lawsuits. The village's decision to cancel the annual July Fourth fireworks display at Firemen's Field was booed by some. A group of Gibson residents filed a lawsuit challenging the BZA's approval of a condominium complex on Gibson Boulevard, a case that's still pending. Residents Bill Freda and Gabe Parish filed a lawsuit against the village (since dropped) challenging its passage of two local laws that paved the way for a 77-unit condominium complex on South Cottage Street. District 30 won a lawsuit against the current and former owners of the Exxon gas station at 562 W. Merrick Road and the Exxon-Mobil Corporation that it filed soon after learning of an underground oil spill near the Clear Stream Avenue School. And after being granted a preliminary injunction to close the adult store on Sunrise Highway, the village returned to court when the owner of the store filed an appeal.
Valley Stream shared the world's grief in mourning Pope John Paul II, victims of the tsunami in south Asia and hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Many in the community, especially schoolchildren, came to the aid of the tsunami and hurricane victims by raising money, collecting much-needed items and making donations. Valley Streamers were also affected by terror attacks in London, which heralded the need for stepped-up security in subways and tunnels as well as on buses, bridges and the LIRR. And the recent New York City transit strike extended the commutes of many Valley Streamers, who were forced to either carpool into the city or walk part of the way to work after arriving at Penn Station.
All four school district budgets were approved, District 13's on the second try. Incumbent legislators Fran Becker, John Ciotti and Jeff Toback were returned to office in November. The Hempstead Town Board approved, without objection, plans to build a 388-unit condominium complex for people 62 and older on the former site of the Salvation Army's Wayside Home School for Girls. And two Valley Stream churches, Trinity Lutheran and St. Paul's Lutheran, combined ministries.
This is just a sampling of the year. As you look through this week's Herald, I hope you enjoy the photographs that captured some of the other significant moments of 2005.
