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HERALD Cards for cops at Harbor School
Working with graham crackers
$100K to help feed families
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Vol. 74 No. 1
JANUARY 1 - 7, 2026
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Santa gets a second chance Heart procedure helps Levittown man return to bringing joy at Christmas felt was two little pinches,” Burke said, comparing it with open-heart surgery he endured For years, Levittown’s Larry 12 years ago. “I had a whole lot Burke has brought Christmas to be thankful for this Thanksjoy to sick children and first giving.” TAVR is a technique that responders across Nassau County. But this season, it was uses a catheter to replace a Santa himself who needed sav- damaged aortic valve without open-heart surgery. According ing. Burke, 74, a retired public- to NYU Langone, it was initialschool teacher and longtime ly developed for high-risk volunteer with patients unable to Wa n t a g h - b a s e d tolerate major surProject T hank A gery, but is now Cop, feared his sigbeing used more nature holiday role frequently for would be cut short healthier, younger this year. He had patients. been experiencing The procedure worsening fatigue lARRY BURKE was performed by and shor tness of Dr. Darko Boljevic, Santa volunteer breath for months an interventional — symptoms that cardiologist at NYU ultimately pointed to a failing Langone. “We just had to put heart valve. two tubes into his groin, one for “I couldn’t catch my breath the valve and one for the in bed at night,” Burke said. “I thigh,” Boljevic explained. “We couldn’t walk and get up from put one wire in his heart and bed to the bathroom. And now delivered a valve across the that’s all behind me.” thigh. It was like 45 minutes, On Nov. 24, Burke underwent and recovery was fast.” a transcatheter aortic valve Burke was discharged withreplacement, or TAVR, at NYU in 24 hours. On Dec. 17, less Langone Hospital in Mineola. than a month after the proceThe minimally invasive proce- dure, Burke returned to the dure had him back on his feet hospital not as a patient, but as within a day. “The only thing I
By lUKE FEENEY
lfeeney@liherald.com
Courtesy Joeseph Gallart
Joseph Gallart, third from right, collected more than 11,200 toys during his annual toy drive.
Joe Gallart collects over 11,200 toys in his nonprofit’s third annual drive By HERNESTo GAlDAMEZ hgaldamez@liherald.com
Joseph Gallart, a longtime Merrick resident and community volunteer, has once again spread holiday cheer, collecting more than 11,200 toys this year through his nonprofit, Desirae’s Darlings, in honor of his late daughter. The annual toy drive, operating in its third year as a formal nonprofit, ensures that children in need receive gifts during the holiday season. Gallart, who began collecting toys in 2016, said that this year’s effort featured a sold-out comedy show at the Bellmore Playhouse and a unique collaboration with local TikTok influencer Mike Ventura, who helped gather more than 800 toys from his followers. “This year was amazing,” Gallart said. “We had 73 people at our house for breakfast and what I call a ‘load and go.’ It was electric. Every box I pick up has Desirae’s pic-
ture on it. Every time I mention the charity, her name is constantly on people’s lips.” In addition to community collections, local schools contributed to the effort. Seaford Manor Elementary School students donated dozens of new toys in a studentdriven campaign that ran from Nov. 24 to Dec. 10. The Student Council held a holiday sing-along near the collection boxes on the last afternoon. “Joe and his family are near and dear to my heart, so when the opportunity came to connect a cause, I truly believe in with students who have some of the biggest hearts in the world, it was a no-brainer,” Richard Schwartz, assistant principal of Seaford Manor, wrote to the Herald. “Our Viking community has always shown that when they put their mind and heart into something, the sky is the limit. “In Desirae’s honor, our students were able to collect an incredible number of toys Continued on paGe 7
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had a whole lot to be thankful for.
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