______________ VALLEY STREAM _____________
HERALD V.S. firefighters battle blazes
Celebrating the Lunar New Year
‘Pointercounts’ visit high schools
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VOL. 34 NO. 7
FEBRUARY 9 - 15, 2023
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What’s the fuss about at Sylvan Place? and Santa Claus pays a visit to the kids. The party hasn’t taken place in the Covid-19 era, but Sylvan Place residents have houses are still being decorated. been decorating houses for the “The Saturday before Christholidays for nearly 30 years. mas, we’d always have the block Since 2014, they have banded party,” Carr said. “This block together each season here has 40 houses, to raise funds for and 36 out of 40 usucharities to honor ally decorate. This is the memory of two just all on Sylvan of their own. Place.” As part of their Carr, now 59, who efforts, the Valley grew up on Sylvan Stream group holds Place and has been a block party, servthere since he was ing hot dogs and hot four, had one word to chocolate, giving out describe the block: gifts and inviting close-knit. He Santa to share in the recalled when a few festivities in honor neighbors decided to of their late neighhave a little decorabors Chris Schroedtion competition er, who died of canbetween houses for cer in 2013 at 18, and the holidays. Michael Smith, who The block has had Down synbeen raising money drome, and died the ALEX CARR in a little box outside same year at 44. Carr’s house since Alex Carr and his Sylvan Place 2014, when they wife, Sheryl, have neighbor started decorating been at the forefront for Schroeder and of the annual block Smith after they party since the inaugural. Usual- passed away. The funds raised ly, food and hot chocolate are are split between the Sunrise served, gifts are given out, the Association, a non-profit aimed Valley Stream Fire Department at supporting families with chillets families explore the trucks CONTINUED ON PAGE 9
By BRENDAN CARPENTER bcarpenter@liherald.com
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Tim Baker/Herald
SISTER MARGIE KELLY, the director of parish outreach at the Saint Vincent de Paul food pantry program at Holy Name of Mary Church, works with volunteers to clean and stock the pantry.
Local officials and pantries jump-start village hunger relief By JUAN LASSO jlasso@liherald.com
During the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, local officials banded with regional and village food organizations in a concerted effort to curb hunger in Valley Stream. At that time, the need felt obvious and immediate. Regional food bank Long Island Cares, working with the office of Assemblywoman Michaelle Solages, propped up a temporary emergency
food distribution center at Valley Stream Presbyterian Church, welcoming hundreds of residents in need. And when local pantries like the Saint Vincent de Paul food pantry program at Holy Name of Mary Church saw a jump in the number of vulnerable families requesting food assistance, they mobilized their volunteers. But three years later, when asked whether pantries are breathing easier with the troubles of the pandemic
largely behind them, food relief coordinators flatly say no. If anything, demand has intensified. “The food is flying off the shelves,” said Sister Margie Kelly, director of the pantry outreach program at Holy Name of Mary Church. According to hunger relief advocates, families are feeling the sting of rising food costs and inflation, fueling the surging demand at local and CONTINUED ON PAGE 20
t’s what I like to see, people decorating people and just getting out there enjoying the holiday and enjoying the neighborhood.