_________________ WANTAGH ________________
HERALD Urging water conservation
Protecting your pets from heat
Family trivia night at the library
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Vol. 70 No. 31
JUlY 28 - AUGUST 3, 2022
$1.00
OBITUARY
James Vinson, fire captain, dies Seaford native, 44, was dedicated to Wantagh Fire Department and drive to the fires so he could watch the firefighters.” His career as a firefighter Capt. James Vinson, who began in high school at age 16, served more than 20 years with working as a junior volunteer the Wantagh Fire Department, firefighter in North Massapequa, died unexpectedly on July 5. He since Wantagh didn’t have such was 44. a program available Capt. Vinson’s at the time. As soon family and friends in as he turned 18, Vinthe Wantagh comson joined the Wantmunity described agh Fire Department him as a selfless indiand was assigned to vidual who will soreEngine 7. In 2004, ly be missed. Vinson transferred Vinson, whose to Ladder 2 and career was as an began the transition insurance broker in from an engine comManhattan, dedicatpany to a ladder ed a great deal of his company, moving James Vinson time to the Wantagh from fire suppresFire Department, a sion to ventilation fully volunteer organization, to and rescue. Vinson was promothelp protect his community. ed to lieutenant in 2012 and According to Vinson’s sister, served for two years before being Jackie Verdon, 41, growing up in elected captain of Ladder 2. Due Seaford, he had always wanted to to his seniority, Vinson also be a firefighter. served as a mentor to many of “Our grandmother used to the department’s younger memhave the fire department scan- bers. ner (on), and he would listen to Vinson served on a number of whatever fires were going on in Wantagh Fire Department comthe area,” Verdon said. “Some- mittees and also served as an times we would get into the car Continued on page 5
By mIchAel mAlASZcZYK mmalaszczyk@liherald.com
Courtesy of Islamic Center of Nassau
WANTAGh’S NeW ISlAmIc Center, on Jerusalem Avenue.
New Islamic center in Wantagh Building used to be an Episcopal Church By mIchAel mAlASZcZYK mmalaszczyk@liherald.com
A historic building in Wantagh, at 2856 Jerusalem Ave., is the new home for the Islamic Center of Nassau County. The Islamic Center recently acquired the dilapidated building, formerly home to the St. Matthias Episcopal Church, on the Bellmore border, and repurposed it into the center. The acquisition is a huge step for the growing Muslim communities of Wantagh, Seaford, Bellmore and Merrick, and the center’s owners said they hope that it will also be a step forward for interfaith relations on Long Island. St. Matthias Episcopal Church was more
than 100 years old, built in 1904 by “the Brush” community, which was comprised of freed African-American slaves and their families, as well as Native Americans. From 1994 to 2009, it was under the jurisdiction of the Episcopal Diocese, but services ended abruptly in 2009 because attendance was poor, officials said. The building began to fall into disrepair, and independent groups, regarded as “squatters” by the Episcopal Diocese, continued to congregate in the deteriorating building, officials added. The Episcopal Diocese eventually regained control of the building, and St. Matthias was granted historic landmark status in 2019. The Continued on page 10