______________ VALLEY STREAM _____________
HERALD $1.00
Cuomo announces he’ll resign
More plans for mobile vaccines
Vaxmobile marks 5,000th dose
Page 4
Page 5
Page 17
Vol. 32 No. 33
AUGUST 12 - 18, 2021
Valley Stream street named for 9/11 hero By MATT CUdAhy mcudahy@liherald.com
Matt Cudahy/Herald
TowN of heMpSTeAd Supervisor Don Clavin handed a commemorative street sign, honoring NYPD 9/11 hero Vincent DeMarino, to his widow, Charlene. Vincent died of a brain tumor after working at ground zero after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.
A North Valley Stream street has been renamed in honor of a late New York City Police Department deputy chief who died as a result of his efforts at the World Trade Center in the aftermath of the Sept. 11, 2001, ter rorist attacks. Vincent DeMarino, a longtime North Valley Stream resident, served with the NYPD for 27 years, including assisting with the search and rescue efforts at ground zero. DeMarino died in Decem-
ber 2019 of a brain tumor, which he developed because of his exposure to the contaminated air in the days following 9/11. He was 61. To honor his legacy, Parkwold Drive South will now be known as Vincent DeMarino Way. The Town of Hempstead held a ceremony Aug. 5 to unveil the street sign. Officers from the NYPD and the Nassau County Police Department attended the ceremony, along with family members, friends and local legislators. NYPD’s Ceremonial Unit, Color Guard and Pipes Continued on page 3
Mosque, relief groups host back-to-school event in V.S. By MATT CUdAhy mcudahy@liherald.com
Local community leaders are doing everything they can to make sure Valley Stream students are well-equipped to start the new school year. The Islamic Circle of North America Relief, a national nonprofit organization, hosted a “Back-2-School” event Aug. 7, at Shaw Avenue Elementary School to hand out free backpacks and school supplies to students in the area. Members of Masjid Hamza, a mosque in Valley Stream, Assemblywoman Michaelle Solages and Nassau County Leg-
islator Carrie Solages assisted in putting the event on. Arshad Jamal, director of ICNA Relief ’s Northeast Region, said they gave out almost 600 backpacks Saturday. Each backpack included a notebook, pens, colored pencils, paper and other basic school supplies. “It gives us great pleasure to be able to help families in need,” Jamal said. “We want to do everything we can to take care of them.” According to its website, ICNA Relief ’s mission is to “build healthy communities, strengthen families and create opportunities for those in despair while maintaining their
dignity and advocating for their basic human needs.” Jamal said that ICNA Relief plans to hand out 6,000 backpacks around New York state this year, and over 50,000 around the country. ICNA Relief also uses its resources to run shelters, food pantries, clinics and disaster relief efforts. On top of the giveaway, there was also an ice cream truck, food, games and a DJ at the event. Sarfraz Ahmed, president of Masjid Hamza, said it felt incredible to help out so many families in the community. “We do this kind of stuff all of the time. We do our best to serve our commu-
nity,” Ahmed said. “Giving back and helping each other is the best way to build relationships. That is how you make humanity better.” Ahmed stressed that the work his organization and ICNA Relief do benefits people of all religions and backgrounds. “We are all brothers and sisters. It does not matter your reli-
gion,” he said. “This is our job. Community is our job, and we want everyone to flourish in a better environment.” Ahmed said Masjid Hamza works with ICNA Relief on a number of its charitable endeavors around Long Island and in New York City. But this event was special to the mosque Continued on page 14