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Inside Vol. 33 No. 51
DECEMBER 15 - 21, 2022
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Grace United Methodist has a new pastor that prompted me to share with the people there that I wanted to be a pastor,” he said. “And then I Grace United Methodist felt that that’s what God was callChurch, the oldest religious ing me to do.” institution in Valley Stream, has Hooker attended Nyack Cola brand new pastor — a youth- lege to pursue a degree in pastof u l , we l l - s p o ke n ral ministry, and evangelist from earned a master’s in upstate New York, divinity from Boston the Rev. Jeffrey Luis U n i v e r s i t y. H e Hooker. earned a Doctor of Youthful energy, Ministry at Wesley however, is not the Theological Semionly thing Hooker nary earlier this brings to the pulpit, year. In 2008, he was having devoted most appointed to a conof his adult life to gregation at Immanpreaching and minuel United Methodistering in New Engist Church in Bosland and New York. ton, where he minisBorn in Louisiana to t e r e d f o r s e ve n Nicaraguan immiyears. grants, raised in the He retur ned to Bronx and later New York to minisu p s t a t e, H o o ke r JoANNE HAZEll ter in Newburgh heard the call to Chairperson, where he lear ned ministry early in the complexities of life, at age 13, which Pastor Parish when a church tackfor him was some- Relations les the social ills of thing of divine reve- Committee its larger communilation. ty. He and his con“I was sitting at a gregants regularly prayer meeting at a little Span- cared for neighbors battered by ish United Methodist Church in crime, poverty, homelessness, West Haverstraw, New York, and mental health problems. when I just felt something in me, It may feel a world away from like a little voice inside of me Continued on page 19
By JUAN lASSo jlasso@liherald.com
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Courtesy Village of Valley Stream
These ladies are worth their weight in silver Village Justice Melanie Jenkins, left, thanked the village’s Silver Thread members at their holiday luncheon, organized by program coordinator SallyAnn Esposito, for adding vibrancy to the village.
Atlantic Beach Bridge tolls to jump 50 percent in the new year By HERNESTo GAlDAMEZ hgaldamez@liherald.com
When it comes to getting to the Atlantic Ocean — and specifically the seaside community of Atlantic Beach — Valley Stream residents and their neighbors have long appreciated the convenience of the Atlantic Beach Bridge. Motorists make their way through the Five Towns and cross the bridge, paying $2 each way.
Come Jan. 1, however, the Nassau County Bridge Authority will be rolling out its first toll increases since 2007. “The new toll rate schedule was approved in 2022 after a rigorous review process, and there will be no further planned increases for the next five years,” bridge authority officials stated in a news release earlier this month. The toll for passenger vehicles will increase to $3 starting
in the new year. Trucks tolls will bump up from $4 to $8 or from $8 to $16, based on vehicle size. When the E-ZPass system is introduced at the bridge next year, the fare for non-Nassau County motorists will jump to $4. The transponders of drivers with E-ZPass accounts will determine whether their vehicles are registered within or outside the county. All motorists Continued on page 14
n six short months, Rev. Jeffrey has started to shape the future of Grace United Methodist Church.