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VoL. 102 No. 1
JANUARY 2 - 8, 2025
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County, JCC unveil vision for new center much higher level,” Blakeman said. The Gural JCC will invest at It’s out with the old and in least $10 million in new ameniwith the new, and a newly ties, including a new gymnasireconstructed Greater Five um and a swimming pool. Towns Community Campus is JCCs help promote Jewish on the way in Lawrence, replac- culture and heritage through ing the Five Towns Community holiday celebrations, IsraelCenter. related pro g ramming, and The old building will be other Jewish education. Howevdemolished to make er, they are open to way for a facility e ve r yo n e i n t h e that will serve everyc o m m u n i t y. T h e one, according to Gural JCC be gan Nassau County Execs e r v i n g t h e F ive utive Bruce BlakeTowns community man, who said he in 1981 out of a little anticipates six blue house on Grove months of planning Avenue, in Cedarfor the new center hurst. and at least 18 “From infants to months of construcolder adults, we are tion. StACEY FELdMAN there for all of life’s At a news conferchallenges and life’s ence, on Dec. 18 out- Executive director, joys,” Stacey Feldside the building on Marion & Aaron man, executive Lawrence Avenue, Gural JCC director of the JCC, Blakeman ansaid. “Through the nounced a partneryears, as the needs ship that includes the county, of the residents have grown, so its Police Activity League and have the services and programs the Marion & Aaron Gural Jew- we have offered.” ish Community Center. The new facility will offer “It’s part of the promise that after-school activities, expandI made when I became county ed programming for seniors, executive, that we were going to the gym and pool, and new take the Five Towns Communi- opportunities for those who are ty Center and bring it up to a ConTinUed on Page 8
By MELISSA BERMAN
mberman@liherald.com
Melissa Berman/Herald
Kiki Como, center, and her sister, Kati Palazzo, right, have been volunteering for the Rock and Wrap it Up! annual toy drive at the Five Towns Community Center for four years, helping families choose gifts and clothing.
Rock and Wrap it Up! marks 31 years of holiday gift giving By MELISSA BERMAN mberman@liherald.com
’Tis the season to give back to the community, and few know how to do it better than the Five Towns and Rock and Wrap it Up!. Rock and Wrap it Up! — the award winning, anti-poverty think tank founded by Cedarhurst resident Syd Mandelbaum — hosted its 31st annual gift-giving event, at the Five Towns Community Center in Lawrence on Dec. 24. More than 200 families in need received clothing, wrapped toys and winter essentials for all of their family members. Roughly 150 volunteers braved the bitter cold to hand out presents, and bring joy to residents’ faces on Christmas Eve. Santa Claus and his two elves made a special surprise visit, and the Police Activity
League Rockettes, led by Maria Rose Guzzardo, performed for the crowd. “It really is a community effort, and we’ve empowered hundreds of people of all faiths, genders and race,” Mandelbaum said. “Many people don’t get this in their homes, so we posted in the schools and tell people they don’t have to be at risk if they want gifts, they can come.” Steve Bernstein, a volunteer who has served on the board of Rock and Wrap it Up! since 1990, has participated in the gift-giving event every year. “There’s a lot of people who are in need in this community, and the people who can should be giving,” Bernstein said. “I am in that position where I am fortunate that I can give back to the community.” Bernstein, who’s also involved with the ConTinUed on Page 9
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ur doors have always been open and will remain open to everyone.