Living In Valley Stream

WINNER

HERALD

Photo:

P ub LISH er

We are pleased to present our annual Living in Valley Stream, a special supplement to the Valley Stream Herald.

Those of us who live here know Valley Stream is a wonderful place with a proud history. Our annual guide is a testament to its post-pandemic resurgence. Not only does it include vital information about Valley Stream, but it also gives you a look at some of the people and places that represent the best of the community.

Stuart Richner

Think of Living in Valley Stream as an “owner’s manual” for newcomers and longtime residents alike.

As you’ll see in these pages, there’s an amazingly rich social fabric here. An abundance of services and organizations are available to residents. No matter what your interests, age, religion, or needs, the village has much to offer.

Valley Stream’s multicultural heritage shines through in many ways. Its vibrant business district reflects the melting pot of cultural influences from Italian-American restaurants and shops like Il Corso Bakery on Rockaway Avenue to the growing African-American, Asian, and Latin businesses. Valley Stream maintains its community solidarity, volunteering spirit and ardent patriotism from the village-wide Memorial Day Parade, to the Boy Scouts’ annual Camporee at the Bandshell, to the much-loved Community Fest.

There is also a thriving arts and culture scene nurturing the likes of hometown artists and musicians from New American painter Mike Stanko to alternative rock frontman Robin Wilson.

In Valley Stream, you’ll find people who care passionately about the well being of their neighbors. Whether it’s the area’s four school districts, which work collaboratively to provide an excellent education to its many students, veteran’s organizations, or the many service-based religious institutions, Valley Streamers know how to take care of their own.

Living in Valley Stream is published in cooperation with the Valley Stream Chamber of Commerce. We are honored to mark another year as the chamber's official publication.

We hope that you find this edition useful and informative and that you enjoy reading the Valley Stream Herald 52 weeks per year.

Be well and be safe.

Stuart Richner Publisher

P.S. If you're not currently receiving the Valley Stream Herald by mail each week, please help keep quality local journalism alive in your community by subscribing. See our ad on Page 26 for subscription information, or find us online at LIHerald.com/subscribe, or call (516) 569-4000, ext. 7.

GreetinGs from mayor fare

Dear Friends,

It is my pleasure to extend greetings on behalf of our entire Village Board, myself, Deputy Mayor John Tufarelli, trustees Dermond Thomas, Sean Wright and Kevin Waszak, Village Justice Melanie Jenkins and Village Clerk James Hunter.

Another year has passed, and we welcome this latest edition of Living In Valley Stream. The word is out that Valley Stream is a great place to live, and as a result our population has grown to 40,000. We are the third-largest incorporated village in the entire state of New York, and proud of our designation as the “Best Place to Live In New York!”

Although it is a mere 30 minutes away from Midtown Manhattan, Valley Stream is truly a beautiful suburban oasis, rich in recreational, social and community character. We are home to more than 100 acres of beautiful parkland, affording our residents lots of green open spaces.

From baseball and soccer fields to basketball, tennis and now pickleball courts, a miniature golf course and a popular state-of-the-art pool complex, recreational opportunities for all ages abound.

Our village staff works hard to provide great services so that there is truly something for everyone in Valley Stream. The summer months bring an outstanding array of outdoor concerts and movies, the Barrett recreational program, and the ever-popular farmers market! Throughout the year, there are always plenty of seasonal activities for all to enjoy.

Abounding in civic spirit, Valley Stream is fortunate to have a uniquely dedicated group of citizens who donate their time and talents to the betterment of our community. Our village’s volunteers include the members of the historical society, the brave men and women of the fire department, first-rate auxiliary police and civilian patrols, and organizations catering to residents of all ages, from our Youth Council to our Silver Threads. Our website at VSVNY.org — as well as our social media platforms — provides a great way to keep informed of everything that is going on around Valley Stream. The Mayor’s Helpline (855) 99MAYOR is another way to let us know of any concerns our residents may have.

As a lifelong Valley Streamer, I am proud to call this village my home. The entire Village Board joins me in urging you to take advantage of all that is offered here!

Edwin Fare, Mayor, Valley Stream

Keith Rossein/Herald file

Valley Stream Mayor Edwin Fare, left, with Stephen Grogan, vice chair of Nassau County Firefighters Operation Wounded Warrior, with Valley Stream Trustee Kevin Waszak, and Valley Stream Deputy Mayor John Tufarelli.

PLACES OF WORSHIP

Baha’i Center of Nassau County

11 W. Jamaica Ave.

Valley Stream 11580 (516) 887-0181

LIBahai.org

bahai.information.li@gmail.com

Bethlehem Assembly of God

12 E. Fairview Ave.

Valley Stream 11580 (516) 561-6150

Pastor: the Rev. Steven Milazzo BethlehemAG.org info@bethlehemag.org

Church of the Blessed Sacrament (Roman Catholic)

201 N. Central Ave.

Valley Stream 11580 (516) 568-1027

Pastor: the Rev. Lawrence Onyegu BSVS.us blsrcc@bsvs.us

Chabad Outreach Center (Orthodox)

550 Rockaway Ave.

Valley Stream 11581 (516) 825-5566

Rabbi: Yitzchak Goldshmid ChabadOfValleyStream.com

Gateway World Christian Center

502 N. Central Ave.

Valley Stream 11580 (516) 596-7222

Senior Pastor: Dr. Sunny Philip GatewayNYC.com info@gatewaynyc.com

Grace United Methodist Church

21 S. Franklin Ave.

Valley Stream 11580 (516) 825-1182

Pastor: Rev. Dr. Jeffrey L. Hooker GraceVSNY.org

Holy Name of Mary Church (Roman Catholic)

55 E. Jamaica Ave. Valley Stream 11580 (561) 825-1450

Pastor: the Rev. David Regan HNOMary.org

holynamemary@aol.com

Jesucristo La Esperanza de la Familia

34 Locust St. Valley Stream 11581 (516) 792-2999

Pastors: Revs. Raul and Ivette Ruidiaz

Lutheran Church of Our Saviour 888 Rockaway Ave.

Valley Stream 11581 (516) 825-5453

Pastor: the Rev. Alfred Thiagarijan pastoralfy@gmail.com

Masjid Hamza Islamic Center of the South Shore

202 Stuart Ave. Valley Stream 11580 (516) 285-8585

MasjidHamza.com info@masjidhamza.com

New Covenant Baptist Church

215 N. Hillside Ave.

Valley Stream 11580

Pastor: Hi S. Lee (516) 887-3700

New Hope Lutheran Church

60 Oliver Ave.

Valley Stream 11580

(516) 285-9782

Pastor: The Rev. Robert Cederstrom

MNYS.org/locations/new-hoplutheran-church-valley-stream

North Woodmere Jewish Center

Congregation Ohr Torah

410 Hungry Harbor Road

Valley Stream 11581

(516) 791-2130

Rabbi: Aryeh Dachs OhrTorah.org

Olivet Baptist Church

34 Locust St.

Valley Stream 11581

(516) 825-9462

Pastor: the Rev. Karen Pickler

St. John’s United Methodist Church of Elmont

2105 Stuart Ave.

Valley Stream 11580

(516) 285-6003

Pastor: David Ball StJohnsUMCE.org

Temple Hillel (Conservative)

1000 Rosedale Road

Valley Stream 11581

(516) 791-6344

Rabbi: Steven Graber rmarkowitz@templehillel.org

Unity Church of Christianity

14 E. Mineola Ave.

Valley Stream 11580

(516) 825-1488

Pastor: the Rev. Charles Foley

UnityValleyStream.net info@unityvalleystream.net

Valley Stream Baptist Church

1865 N. Central Ave.

Valley Stream 11580

(516) 285-7565

Pastor: the Rev. Dr. Sherby Clarke

ValleyStreambaptistChurch.com

valleystreambaptistchurch@gmail. com

Valley Stream Jewish Center (Conservative)

322 N. Corona Ave.

Valley Stream 11580

(516) 561-2308

Rabbi: Yechiel Buchband

President: Bruce Wulwick, Shlomo Spritzer ValleyStreamJC.org

Valley Stream Presbyterian Church

130 S. Central Ave.

Valley Stream 11580 (516) 340-1554

Pastor: The Rev. Kymberley Clemons-Jones ValleyStreamPres.org

vspc@valleystreampres.org

Outreach Centers

Holy Name of Mary Parish Outreach 55 E. Jamaica Ave.

Valley Stream 11580

(516) 825-0177

Coordinator: Sister Margie Kelly HNOMary.org

hnmoutreach@verizon.net

Blessed Sacrament Parish Outreach 201 N. Central Ave.

Valley Stream 11580 (516) 561-8969

Director: Judith Miccio

House of Hope, Bethlehem Assembly of God 22 E. Fairview Ave.

Valley Stream 11580

(516) 887–1708

Director: Norma Pascualini

Keith Rossein/Herald Senior Advisor to Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman Akram Choudary, back left, paid a visit to show solidarity with the Nassau County Girl Scout bake sale to fundraise for the earthquake victims in Syrian and Turkey under the supervision of Majid Hamza Islamic Center Outreach Coordinator Ruhee Kapadia, fourth back from the left.

Clubs & OrganizatiOns

All businesses are in Valley Stream, NY 11580, 11581 and 11582 unless noted

businesses

Valley stream Chamber of Commerce

(516) 825-1741

962 Rockaway Ave.

P.O. Box 1016

ValleyStreamChamber.org

Paw it Forward Pet Pantry

114 Claredon Drive

Daniella Scala-Nathan, president  Civic

Women in the Military inc.

15 Idell Road

(516) 800-1000

Village of Valley stream Civic a ssociation inc.

P.O. Box 304

north Woodmere Civic a ssociation  729 Sherwood St. (516) 791-7860

Valley stream Historical s ociety (516) 872-4159

143 Hendrickson Ave. VSVNY.org

Cultural

Delight of Painting with Matt Khan

25 W. St. Marks Place

(917) 225-9772

Adult art class

Fraternal

Knights of  Columbus-Valley stream

2985 Kenneth Place, 94 S. Grove St. (516) 825-2622

long island s ociety of italian a mericans- Valley stream P.O. Box 12 LISIA.webs.com

Political

nassau County  Democratic Committee

100 Garden City Plaza, Suite 115, Garden City 11530 (516) 294-3366

league of Women Voters  of nassau County

P.O. Box 221

Port Washington 11050 (516) 431-1628

LWVOfNassauCounty.org

Valley stream republican Club 51 Roosevelt Ave.

VSRepublicanClub.wordpress.com

Valley stream Democratic Club 123 W. Merrick Road

ValleyStreamDemocrats.weebly.com valleystreamd@gmail.com

service

Valley stream b oy s cout troop 109 (516) 321-0952

VSPack109.com

Valley stream little l eague P.O. Box 544

(516) 887-8197

info@vsll.org

Valley stream runner’s Club VSRunningClub.com

Valley stream Civilian Patrol

P.O. Box 965

ValleyStreamCivilianPatrol.org (516) 823-9088

Valley stream Hornets

183 E. Melrose St. (516) 902-6391

Valley stream girl s couts troop 2243 vsgstroop2243@gmail.com

(girl scouts of nassau County – Valley stream/Five towns service unit (516) 741-2550

GSNC.org

Valley stream lions Club ValleyStreamLions.com

(516) 983-2696

info@valleystreamlions.com

nassau Chapter of Hadassah

(516) 766-2725

430 De Mott Ave.  Rockville Centre 11570

Kiwanis Club of Valley stream tinacast@optonline.com

(516) 508-1768

Kiwanis-NY.org

52 Central Court Second Thursdays at 6:30 p.m.

Veterans

Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1790 65 E. Merrick Road (516) 825-9894

VFW.org

Department of Veterans affairs (631) 754-7978

99 S. Central Ave. a merican l egion Post 184 Valley stream P.O. Box 169 (516) 791-9719

51 Roosevelt Ave. AmericanLegion854.com alpost854@gmail.com

Courtesy Matt Khan

Hometown artist Matt Khan, right, showcases his art exhibit, 'Exposition of Texture: The Art of Matt Khan,' at the Pagan-Fletcher Restoration earlier this year.

Maureen Lennon/Herald file

Newly-minted Eagle Scouts Andrew Schiller, left, Ethan Palacio, Robert Munafo, and Lucas Colonna at the Eagle Court of Honors last May.

ForJim Zabatta’s passion for volunteering roared to life some 37 years ago at the Valley Stream Lions Club’s annual dance for the blind. He recalled helping to pick up and drive home its visually impaired guests, treating them to some fun and reverie. And, as he likes to tell it, “was hooked from there.”

So began what would become Zabatta’s decades-long devotion to the Lions Club chapter in Valley Stream A time in which he’s become a pillar of leadership and stability that has helped to steward some of the service organization’s most iconic charity and service programs. While the service international organization has carried an active presence on Long Island with an organizational arm in many villages, towns and cities the history of the club in Valley Stream has been a rich one, thanks to members like Zabatta.

“I was president, vice president, treasurer and secretary. And at one point, I was the zone chairman. I’ve been all of them,” Zabatta says, with a chuckle. Unfailingly modest, it’s not exactly something he broadcasts, but Zabatta is quietly proud of the work him and his fellow Lions have done over the years.

The Lions have presented annual scholarship awards to deserving seniors at Valley Stream North, Central and South high schools. They hosted food drives to supply donations for the pantries at Holy Name of Mary and Blessed Sacrament.

Juan Lasso/Herald

Top photo: Lions club members, from left, Dave Basile, Jose Pastrama, Timothy Lawton, Josh Anand and Jim Zabata at the Valley Stream Lions Club’s 27th annual charity flea market.

Tim Baker/Herald

Bottom photo: Jim Zabatta has been a paragon of leadership at the Valley Stream Lions Club serving as its president, vice president, treasurer and secretary.

each day is a day to do good

In the early 2000s, the Valley Stream Lions Club hosted its Lend an Ear program with the help of audiologist Dr. Larry Cardano, to provide hearing aids at no cost to people who have suffered hearing loss and are unable to pay for the expensive devices.

“Dr. Cardano would rebuild hearing aids, but we had problems with fundraising enough money to fix and maintain them, so I initiated a program for Lions throughout the whole of Nassau County to donate and fundraise,” Zabatta said. “Everybody thinks its only old people who needs hearing aids, but there’s all kinds of people who need them.”

He learned the importance of serving by watching his parents, Canio and Anne, serve others. The example they set and the lessons they taught certainly was not lost on Zabatta.

“My father was a member of the Knights of Columbus. My mother was at the Rosary Society," he says. "I would go with her to people’s houses and help her clean up the house and feed them. We always learned to respect and help people who needed it.”

— Juan Lasso

Juan Lasso/Herald photos

Top photo: Timothy Lawton and Michelle Bage manning the main table at the charity flea market in the Hendrickson pool parking lot.

Bottom photo: Dr. Larry Cardano checked on the hearing aid that he provided to William Ryan through the Valley Stream Lions Club’s Lend an Ear program.

Eagle Scout

left it better than she found it

It’s a credo recited and revered by Scouts everywhere in the Boy Scouts of America: Always help other people.

And that means everybody. Not just your fellow Scouts, but neighbors and strangers — even the person you most detest.

Plucky, polite, and with a cheery attitude for service, one might say radical kindness is built into the core of the Boy Scout life. Yet few embody this ideal more completely than Valley Stream’s first female Eagle Scout, Gabriella Burke of Troop 99.

For the uninitiated, the Eagle Scout rank is the BSA’s highest distinction. To prove her stuff, Gabriella took on the last and hardest test of her Eagle Scout journey: The successful execution of an ambitiously complex,

coordinated, self-managed project — better known as Eagle service project, aimed at leaving a part of the community better than she found it.

Even when done in the spirit of helping others, the pressure to deliver on the project can be daunting. Some lean on the desire for fame of the Eagle Scout rank to push them to cross the finish line. Others carry the pressure of family and fellow Scouts on their shoulders to prod them forward.

Gabriella certainly could have been tempted by the former and fallen prey to the latter coming from a proud tradition of Eagle Scouts down the family line.

Yet she never lost sight of her North Star. Her project was born principally out of concern and care for preserving a shrine of patriotic remembrance at the Holy Name of Mary School for those who fought and died in World War II, erected in the late 1940s. A noted

Continued on page 18

Tim Baker/Herald

Photo: The World War II memorial monument engraved with names of church members who fought and died during one of the nation’s deadliest wars had a total makeover.

World War II history buff, it pained her to see the monument fall into benign neglect, losing its air of solemn significance.

People were no longer coming to pay their respects to this monument of hometown history, she noted. It was practically hiding in plain sight, covered by overgrown trees and shrubs that obscured the view of the names of the soldiers engraved. Families said it was downer to see its current state.

“I have family ties to World War II with certain members of my family, my great-grandpa and great uncle, serving," Gabriella says. "So, when an opportunity like this came, it was perfect.”

After days of sweat, dirt-stained clothes and dedicated planning, she and her fellow Scouts completely refurbished and revived the monument. Gabriella cleared out dead bushes and vegetation, and planted new ones. She and her team installed pavers and new benches with commemorative plaques. They polished and cleaned up the monument. And, as a finishing touch, she added mums, ornamental cabbages, solar lights and new flags.

“We always come together to help one another out,” said sister Troop 99 member Blair Graham, who was there to lend a hand with Gabriella’s project. “She brought us together. She stood up for what she thought was right, and

Tim Baker/Herald photos

Top photo: Gabriella Burke and her fellow Scouts methodically place pavers in front of the World War II monument as part of her efforts to beautify the patriotic shrine.

Bottom photo: Blair Graham, left, and Nina Munafo — members of Troop 99, the only all-female Boy Scout troop in Valley Stream — rolled up their sleeves to help Gabriella Burke with her Eagle Scout service project.

now she made this thing happen.

For the inevitable bumps, surprises, and snags she faced along the process, Gabriella made sure to wear a token of inspiration around her neck — her Arrow of Light necklace — to remind herself “about the cheer and joy of serving others, especially when it gets difficult.”

"It’s great.”

— Juan Lasso

Top photo: Gabriella Burke enlisted the help of her fellow Scouts for her Eagle service project to refurbish the Holy Name of Mary World War II monument that had seen better days.

Bottom photo: Passionate about her project, she lays the groundwork to add pavers to the dilapidated World War II remembrance monument at Holy Name of Mary School.

knows a healthy community sticks together

It’s been quite some time since she’s put on her medical scrubs or taken a patient’s blood pressure at the Long Island Jewish Valley Stream Hospital, having fully embraced the administrative side of things as its director of patient care.

Nevertheless, Lissa Nelson reminds us that she’ll always be a nurse. For Lissa, that posture of unrelenting compassion exemplified in the nursing field which she’s served as a leader in for years is not just her job, it motivates everything she does.

If anything, nowadays, she considers herself a nurse for the whole hospital, put in charge of tending to the experience of every patient that comes under the hospital’s care. And heck, she’s even a nurse for the community at large, using the power of her position to embolden the hospital’s message of community outreach to care for souls, sometimes in places and situations far removed from the hospital walls.

For example, this year, through the hospital’s Women’s Empowerment Business Employee Resource Group program, she held a donation drive for tampons and other feminine hygiene products for women in need of them at a church food pantry in Roosevelt.

You can bet Lissa was on-hand at the pantry, sleeves rolled with a congenial smile, helping to hand out nearly 500 donated items to grateful women and children.

She followed that up by playing a leading hand in hosting a community baby shower for

Tim Baker/Herald

Top photo: Lissa Nelson, right, helped to coordinate a community baby shower for underserved expectant mothers at Long Island Jewish Valley Stream Hospital.

Courtesy LIJ Valley Stream

Botrom photo: Lissa Nelson and Asha Gallagher, administrator, orthopedic and administrative services, receive a warm LIJ Valley Stream recognition for being part of the team honored with the 2023 President’s Award.

While one should expect excellent medical care from a hospital, LIJ Valley Stream noted Lissa takes an extra step in its concern for the health of the community as whole.

“We want to be tethered to the community that supports health," she says. "And a healthy community we discovered is one where folks are working together and integrated without a sense of isolation.”

Lissa and her team have gradually developed something of a knack for gauging the pulse of the community’s ongoing health needs. And when an opportunity for collaboration or support with community leaders on this project or another presents itself, Lissa intends on ensuring the hospital is there to lend a hand.

“The hospital isn’t just a place to take your blood pressure," she says. "We’re a learning center for young people to explore careers in health care. We participate in chambers of commerce. We’re there at the neighborhood fairs. We will sit at that table wherever someone shows evidence of goodness for the community.”

— Juan Lasso

Tim Baker/Herald

Top photo: Lissa Nelson, director of patient care at Long Island Jewish Valley Stream, has ramped up the hospital’s community outreach initiative this year.

Juan Lasso/Herald

Bottom photo: Lissa Nelson, third from right, and Dianna Rose, fourth from left, showed off vegetables with hospital and market staff during the hospital’s farmers market.

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Juan Lasso • Editor

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that moves to feed those in need

For this impassioned gaggle of volunteers at the Saint Vincent de Paul food pantry program at Holy Name of Mary Church, feeding Valley Stream’s hungry, downtrodden families is soulnourishing work.

And with soaring food costs and swelling demand for pantry donations, the work has never been busier.

The pantry and its volunteers are more than up to the task, however, thanks in large part to the tireless stewardship of its director of parish outreach, Sister Margie Kelly. Many at the pantry say her leadership has been a Godsend to an extent few may fully appreciate.

When she applied for the open position 40-some odd years ago, there were simply a few supplies of donated food boxes at the Holy Name of Mary School basement. Today, she has her own office headquartered 65 E. Jamaica Ave., with two part-time assistants, a phalanx of loyal volunteers, and housing a fully stocked pantry with a frozen section. She practically built the pantry program from the ground up, and her volunteers have kept it alive and growing.

“My faith motivates me," Sister Margie says. "That’s first always. Then there’s the motivation

Tim Baker/Herald photos

Top photo: From left, volunteers Pattie Mercurio Mark Daley, Carmine Desio parish outreach director Sister Margie Kelly, and volunteer Isabelle Desio work diligently to restock the Saint Vincent de Paul food pantry.

Bottom photo: Sister Margie Kelly has worked with volunteers to clean and stock the pantry for four decades.

I get is the energy and willingness of the volunteers to jump into ideas I might have and make it work. In any kind of work, you must accept all kinds of personalities. But everybody has something they’re willing to give. And we’ll always have a place for them.”

But for all its success, the real fruit of her efforts resides in the uplifted faces of those who she and her volunteers have comforted, fed and empowered – roughly 90 families in any given year.

In typical years that have not been marred by Covid, their volunteers enter people’s homes, get to know the full extent of each family’s hunger and hardship, and provide the food and resources they need to overcome their struggles.

“What motivates me is the people you help," said volunteer Pattie Mercurio. "If you go to people's houses and you see it, when you leave, you just feel so much better. And we maintain absolute confidentiality with our clients.

“People don’t realize that there is poverty in Valley Stream because this looks like a very well-situated community," Sister Margie says. "And, in many ways, it is. But behind some of those doors, there’s tremendous need.”

— Juan Lasso

Top photo: Volunteers like Pattie Mercurio, left, and Carmine Desio, not only restock the pantry but visit the families of those in need to understand their hardship and deliver food.

Bottom photo: The Saint Vincent de Paul food pantry on East Jamaica Avenue stocks a variety of goods for hungry families.

Edwin A. Fare Mayor

ToWN

Town of Hempstead Supervisor

Donald Clavin (R) One Washington St., Hempstead N.Y. 11550 (516) 489-6000 donclavin@tohmail.org

Councilwoman 4th District

Laura A. Ryder (R) One Washington Street Hempstead, N.Y. 11550 (516) 812-3242 lryder@hempsteadny.gov

Nassau CouNTY

Nassau County Executive

Bruce Blakeman (R) 1550 Franklin Ave. Mineola, N.Y. 11501 (516) 571-3131

sTaTe

Nassau County District Attorney

Anne Donnelly (R) 262 Old Country Road, Mineola, N.Y. 11501 (516) 571-3800

Governor Katherine Hochul (D) State Capitol Building Albany, N.Y. 12224 (518) 474-8390

State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli (D) 110 State St., Albany, N.Y. 12236 (518) 474-4044

State Attorney General Letitia James (D) NYS State Capitol Building Albany, N.Y. 12224-0341 (518) 776-2000

Nassau County Comptroller

Elaine Phillips (R) 240 Old Country Road Mineola, N.Y. 11501 (516) 571-2386

Nassau County Clerk

Maureen O’Connell (R) 240 Old Country Road Mineola, N.Y. 11501 (516) 571-2664

Assemblywoman - 22nd District

Michaelle Solages (D)

1690 Central Court Valley Stream, N.Y. 11580

(516) 599-2972

LOB 619

736 Albany, N.Y. 12248

(518) 455-5560

State Senate - 9th District

Patricia Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick (R)

265 E. Merrick Road, Suite 101 Valley Stream, N.Y. 11580

(516) 766-8383

New York State Senate Legislative Office Bldg., Room 415, Albany, N.Y. 12247

(518) 455-2400 canzoneri@nysenate.gov

Nassau County Legislator

3rd District

Carrié Solages (D) 1550 Franklin Ave., Mineola, N.Y. 11501

(516) 571-6203

Nassau County Legislator 6th District

William Gaylor (R) 1550 Franklin Ave. Mineola, N.Y. 11501 (516) 571-6206

Sean Wright

Dermond Thomas Trustee

and their parents

For pet owners near and far, there’s no quantifying the value that pooches provide to their lives.

Yet when peril strikes on a massive scale and economic times are hard, there are few, if any, available safety nets pet owners could turn to help them keep their furballs fed and cared for when their own fortunes run out. The sad reality? Many pet owners are faced with no other choice than to part ways with their warm-and-cuddly companions.

Danielle Scala-Nathan knew there had to be another way.

“If we can help it, we want pets to be kept with their pet parents,” she said.

Close to a decade ago, in the aftermath of hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria, Danielle and her now-late husband Rob converted their basement into a pet pantry. And just like that, they jumpstarted Valley Stream’s own non-profit pet pantry: Paw It Forward

Originally, their patrons were victims of hurricanes, the most predictive disasters on Long Island. But recently, in the face of catastrophic wildcards like, say, a global pandemic and an ensuing inflationary economy, the pantry has

been serving patrons with a wide range of needs and circumstances.

“We serve the pet owners in Queens, all over Nassau County, and Western-Suffolk," board

aim

help the people that are closest to us first.

Tim Baker/Herald photos

Top photo: Paw It Forward founder Danielle Scala-Nathan, right, and board member Linda Guckian, show off their donated pet food, which they stock in the pet pantry to help struggling pet owners and their beloved pets.

Bottom photo: The Paw It Forward pet pantry counts on the generosity of local governments, business benefactors, and individual donors to restock their pantry

member Linda Guckian says. "We

to

keeps answering the pleas of pets

Danielle found new meaning in what she did after tragedy struck in 2020 when she lost her husband.

More losses of loved ones would follow, but through her grief, she is more resolved than ever to keep the pantry’s services going as long as she can and for however long pets and pet owners need it.

And without a doubt, Danielle's own dogs give her an encouraging woof to forge on.

“My dogs Damien who loves to swim in the pool and Tazzie, who looks like Scooby-Doo have brought me so much joy in life and they definitely motivate me to keep going,” she said.

“One of the catch phrases we use is lend a paw to those in need," Guckian added. "And we thank our volunteers and donors who, because of their efforts, allow us to lend that paw to our community.”

— Juan Lasso

Top photo: Aside from your standard pet food, Paw It Forward founder Danielle Scala-Nathan, left, works with volunteers like Linda Guckian to collect pet toys.

Bottom left photo: Paw It Forward founder Danielle Scala-Nathan, left, couldn’t support underserved pets and their owners without the backing of volunteers like Rebecca Syers.

Bottom right photo: They count on the generosity of local governments, business benefactors, and individual donors to restock their pantry.

message from the Valley stream Chamber president

Greetings! The Valley Stream Chamber of Commerce is an organization composed of local businesses and their owners, community organizations and educational institutions.

Our members have the opportunity to meet monthly to network, meet local leaders, and learn about local issues.

In addition to promoting the interests of the business community, the chamber also strives for community involvement in many ways some of which the public may not be aware.

We award scholarships to graduating high school seniors, and sponsor community events such as the Rockaway Avenue Summer Car Show, concert series, Community Fest, pumpkin painting

contest and Winterfest. Chamber members have also participated in career days with the local schools, and gift the winter holiday decorations that are on display around the village.

The chamber has also worked in conjunction with the village administration to obtain grants to support the downtown and beautify the community.

We also arrange ribbon cuttings to welcome new businesses and march in the Memorial Day Parade.

As president of Valley Stream Chamber of Commerce, I would like to thank our member businesses for their continued support of our organization and I’d like to remind our community to shop local.

Our businesses are the backbone of our community.

Sasan Shavanson, President Valley Stream Chamber of Commerce

Valley Stream Chamber of Commerce

All businesses are in Valley Stream, NY 11580, 11581 and 11582 unless noted

accounting/Finance

master tax Service

Anthony Ippolito

203 Rockaway Ave. (516) 256-7000

ippolito_anthony@mastertaxservice.net

mastromarino & a ssociates

Helene & John Mastromarino

107 S. Central Ave. (516) 825-2827

hmastro1957@aol.com

Wali Syed, CPa Wali Syed

26 W. Merrick Road (516) 800-7800

wali@wsyedcpa.com WSyedCPA.com

air Conditioning education

air Design

James Padavan 331 W. Merrick Road (516) 825-5066

jpadavan@airdesigninc.com AirDesignInc.com

automotive

Crown auto l easing

Arthur Sionov

396 Rockaway Ave (718) 676-7272 info@crownautoleasing.com CrownAutoLeasing.com

D & D auto Body

Dondy Hendrickson

53 W. Merrick Road (516) 825-9742

Finish line Collision

Michael Giacobbe 21 Railroad Ave. (516) 256-2666

FinishLineNY.com

North Star Collision

Thomas DeGrace 663 Merrick Road Lynbrook 11563 (516) 561-5126

nscollision@optimum.net

Valley Van & Sport Utilities

Ronald Siegel

622 W. Merrick Road (516) 561-1231

accounting@valleyvan.com ValleyVan.com

Banks/Credit Unions

Dime Community Bank

Glenore Anderson

175 W. Merrick Road (516) 825-0140

janderson@dime.com Dime.com

road Jovia Financial FCU

Yogi Hariprasad

264 E. Merrick Road (516) 561-0030

yhariprasad@joviafinancial.com Jovia.org

New york Community Bank

Leidy Duran

75 N. Central Ave. (516) 599-0066

leidy.duran@mynycb.com

MyNYCB.com

Children

Kidtastix llC

Messiah Brown

18 Pershing Ave. (347) 460-0597

kidtastix@gmail.com

KidtastixParties.com

Nassau County Police activity l eague

V Annette Gray

111 S. Franklin Ave. (917) 796-1938

ayg792@verizon.net

NassauCountyPAL.org

Precious Harbor

Kidz Day Care Inc.

Renee Watson

116 Hundry Harbor Road (516) 408-0326

reneewatson116@gmail.com

PreciousHarborKidz.com

Valley Stream

youth Collaboration Inc.

Kenneth Heino P.O. Box 446 (516) 872-6003

vsyouthcouncil@gmail.com

Cargo

Just your Broker Inc.

Jermeale Lewis-Johnson

1073 Hunter Ave., Apt 1 (516) 226-0392

hello@justyourbroker.com

JustYourBroker.com

Worldwide Cargo Services Inc.

Mark A. Parrotto

181 E. Jamaica Ave. (516) 372-2300

susan@worldwidecargogroup.com

WorldwideCargoGroup.com

Civic a ssociation

mill Brook

Civic a ssociation

Lee Feinman P.O. Box 1312 (718) 506-7076

lsf2003@aol.com

Communications

at &t Madhu Penubothola

21 Rockaway Ave. (516) 603-0002

celltalkny@yahoo.com

Construction/ Home Improvement

Doortronix Inc.

Frank Mannino

181a East Jamaica Ave. (516) 596-1304

flasusa@doortronix.com

Doortronix.com

Paramount

Construction Corp.

Alex Riverro

12 West Lincoln Ave. (516) 218-1000

alex@goodbuilder.com

regina Door & Design Corp

Michael Regina 75 Franklin Ave. (516) 561-0111

reginadoor@gmail.com

ReginaDoor.com

Cosmetics & Skin Care

mary Kay Angela Ogurick

91 Cornwell Ave. (516) 263-4489

aogurick@gmail.com

Tim Baker/Herald file

The Valley Stream Chamber of Commerce at the annual Nassau Council Chambers of Commerce breakfast last fall.

Valley Stream Chamber of Commerce

All businesses are in Valley Stream, NY 11580, 11581 and 11582 unless noted

Continued from previous page

education/Schools

martin De Porress School

Joseph Trainor 621 Elmont Road

Elmont 11003 (516) 502-2840

jtrainor@mdp.org

MdP.org

One tenth Consulting, llC Terry Pena

85 N. Grove St. (646) 298-8423

terryp@onetenthconsultant.com

OneTenthConsulting.com

Ozcredo Olga

Dr. Zbarsuaya

76 S. Central Ave. (888) 692-7336

ozcredo@gmail.com

Ozcredo.com

Valley Stream School District 30

Dr. Roxanne Garcia-France

175 N. Central Ave. (516) 434-3601

rfrance@vs30.org

ValleyStream30.com

Valley Stream Christian academy

Sandra Shanhai

12 East Fairview Ave. (516) 561-6122

aadams@vscaschool.org

VSAcademy.org

Valley Stream Central HS District

Dr. Wayne Loper

One Kent Road (516) 872-5601

loper@vschsd.org

VSCHSD.org

Valley Stream School District 30

Marcela Moran

150 Washington Ave. (516) 434-3600

mmoran@vs30.org

ValleyStream30.com

entertainment

Celebs & Stars Hall

Sandra Clarke 175 E. Merrick Road (516) 887-2517

celebnstars@gmail.com

CelebsAndStars.com

DJ King Khan

Matthew Khan

753 Rockaway Ave., Apt 2B (917) 929-8110

matthewkhanny@gmail.com iInstagram.com/nykingkhan

Island events Staffing & Consulting

Jacqueline Marvucic

2 Putney Road (516) 984-0378

jmarvucic@gmail.com

m & r entertainment

Marie Granato-Ferraro

128 Hunnewell Ave. Elmont 11003 (516) 263-9695

marie.granato_ferraro.px6l@statefarm.com

Piazza music Corp

dba Ace DJ's

John Piazza

56 W. Kissimee Road

Lindenhurst 11757 (631) 943-0460

piazzamusiccorp@gmail.com

Financial Consultant

One tenth Consulting llC Terry Pena

85 N. Grove St. (646) 298-8423

terryp@onetenthconsultant.com

OneTenthConsulting.com

Fitness

Blink Fitness

Olivia Jacobini

Food & Beverage

7- eleven

Kishan S. Patel 83 Franklin Ave. (929) 360-6093

kishempatel810@gmail.com

a ntonio's Deli

Vito Asaro

307 Hempstead Ave. Malverne 11565 (516) 599-1274

vasaro1724@gmail.com

AntoniosItalianGourmet.com

Buffalo Wings

O'Neil Washington

6 Green Acres Road (516) 561-9453

owashington1@wingsbeersports.com

C-town Supermarket

Cesar Marte

214 Rockaway Ave. (516)490-4220

drivewithc@gmail.,com

mcDonald's

Mark B. Hendle

10 West Sunrise Highway (516) 256-0200

susan.risi@us.stores.mcd.com

Pelican's SnoBalls of Valley Stream

Alycia Benjamin-Peebles

253 Rockaway Ave. (516) 882-4524

pelicansvalleystream@gmail.com

PelicansSnoballs.com

B&B of Valley Stream/

t he Corner Store

Forzana Kadery

260 Rockaway Parkway (917) 859-8879

fkadery@gmail.com

t he Best Goodie Bag Inc.

Darlene J. Edwards

77 Roosevelt Ave. (516) 544-8242

reservations@thegoodiebagny.com

TheBestGoodieBag.com

Valley Bites Deli & Grocery

Harjeit Singh

258 Rockaway Parkway (347) 977-3430

Wings Over Valley Stream

George Schreiner

52 W. Sunrise Highway (516) 233-4541

valleystream@wingsover.com

WingsOver.com

Food/restaurants

Ben's Crab Valley Stream Corp.

Jason Liu

43 Rockaway Ave. (516) 400-9899

fliu1025@gmail.com

BensCrab.com

Buffalo Wings

O'Neil Washington

6 Green Acres Road (516) 561-9453

owashington1@wingsbeersports.com

mia's of Valley Stream

Horacio Afonso

31 Rockaway Ave. (516) 776-4116

papafigocorp@gmail.com

MiasOfValleyStream.com

mitchell's Diner

Viki Sourgoutsis

191 Rockaway Ave. (516) 825-9708

vasilikigoutz@gmail.com

MitchellsValleyStream.com

t he Chicken Coop restaurant

159 Rockaway Ave. (516) 852-5357

pichi2k2@hotmail.com

tepache

Juan Pablo Fuentes

47 Franklin Ave. (516) 400-0238

tepache.ny@gmail.com

TepacheTasteOfMexico.com

Fraternal Organization

Knights of Columbus

Father Carroll Mark Daley P.O. Box 1416 (516) 561-9544

daleym212@gmail.com

Funeral Home

edward J. lieber Funeral Home

Paul Lieber

266 N Central Ave. (516) 825-2900

edwardflieber@aol.com

Florist

DePalma Florist

Reina/Kevin Buckhout

146 Rockaway Ave. (516) 825-3777

kbuck1@msn.com

Insurance/Finance

Comparion Insurance

Angela Shirian (516) 428-7020

angela.shirian@comparioninsurance.com

comparioninsurance.com/angela-shirian

Continued on next page

Valley Stream Chamber of Commerce

All businesses are in Valley Stream, NY 11580, 11581 and 11582 unless noted

Continued from previous page

Global Insurance & Financial Consultants, Corp.

Hugh Edwards

65 Carstairs Road (516) 286-0268

hugh@globalinsconsulting.com

GlobalInsConsulting.com

John D. richards Inc.

John De Grace

P.O. Box 903 (516) 887-2422

john.jfrinc@gmail.com

New york life Insurance

Lauri LoQuercio

85 Edwards Place (516) 507-4663

lauriloq@verizon.net

Pamphile Insurance Brokerage & Financial Service

Westley Pamphile

70 E. Sunrise Highway (516) 373-8461

wpamph@gmail.com

WPInsurances.com

Nicole eliopoulos State Farm

Nicole Eliopoulos

157 Dubois Ave. (516) 825-0030

nicole@nicoleinsurancesme.com

NicoleInsuranceMe.com

Insurance adjuster

emergency Services Co.

Lucy Viggiano

PO Box 610 (516) 792-0437

lucy@emergencyservices.company

EmergencyServices.company

Paul Guttman & Co. Inc.

Howard Guttman

203 Rockaway Ave. (516) 825-4800

hguttmanpa@aol.com

PaulGuttman.com

Handmade Crafts - Sale

Bijoux Baubles & accessories N yC

Kay Yhap

25 Eldarberry Lane

(718) 496-2536

bijouxbaublesnyc@gmail.com

BijouBaublesAccessoriesNYC.com

Home Care Services

recco Home Care Service

Donna Rasmussen

232 B Rockaway Ave. (516) 798-6688

srecco@reccohomecare.com

ReccoHomeCare.com

Sara Companions

Roberta Lulov

201 E. Merrick Road (516) 837-3388, Ext. 708

Roberta@saracompanions.com

SaraCompanions.com

Janitorial Services

accelerated Cleaner

Jessica Smith

134 E. Dover St. (347) 647-7464

acceleratedcleaning@gmail.com

AcceleratedCleaningInc.com

l andscaping

ace l andscaping

J.R. Reyes

aceland2005@yahoo.com

legal Services

minerva & D'a gostino PC

Dominick Minerva

107 S. Central Ave. (516) 872-7400

presidentVSCC@yahoo.com MinDAgLaw.com

Shopping mall

Green acres Valley Streammacerich

Jill Bromberg

2034 Sunrise Highway (516) 561-7360

jill.bromberg@macerich.com

medical

Hearing Center of l .I.

Dr. Lawrence Cardano 46 Rockaway Ave. (516) 872-8485

drcardano@hearingcenterofli.com

HearingCenterOfLI.com

Jennifer Sipkin, DDS PC

Orthodontics

Dr. Jennifer Sipkin

978 Rockaway Ave (516) 561-1881

info@sipkinorthondontics.com

SipkinOrthodontics.com

liberty medical Supply

Marvina Gelman

Gretta Vasserman

59 Franklin Ave. (516 887-0210

libertydme1@gmail.com

l IJ Northwell Valley Stream Lleana Alfonso 900 Franklin Ave. (516) 256-6145

lalfonso@northwell.edu

Northwell.edu

lynbrook restorative t herapy & Nursing

Denise Walsh 243 Atlantic Ave. Lynbrook 11582 (516) 316-2977

dwalsh@lynbrooktherapyandnursing.com

LynbrookRehab.com

N y Physical t herapy & Wellness

Raiyan Islam 153 E. Merrick Road (516) 495-3154

raiyan@nyphysicaltherapy.net

NYPhysicalTherapy.net

Paramount Physical t herapy

Leigh-Ann Edison

11 Sunrise Plaza – Store 1 (516) 218-2555

paramountptmessage@gmail.com

Paramount-PT.com

Valley Stream

Optometric Service, P.C. Dr. Aleksandra Wianecka

10 E. Merrick Road, Suite 201 (516) 825-7455

vsoptimetric@gmail.com

VisionForLife.com

municipality

Incorporated Village of Valley Stream

Tom McAleer 123 S. Central Ave. (516) 825-4200

vsmayor1@vsny.org

Newspapers

Valley Stream Herald

Rhonda Glickman

2 Endo Blvd. Garden City 11530 (516) 569-4000

rglickman@liherald.com

LIHerald.com

Tim Baker/Herald Valley Stream Chamber of Commerce officials and village dignitaries joined in the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the newly revived C-Town supermarket on Rockaway Avenue with owners Alex Santiago, center, and Cesar Marte, center left.

Valley Stream Chamber of Commerce

All businesses are in Valley Stream, NY 11580, 11581 and 11582 unless noted

Continued from previous page

Not for Profit

Friends of Bridge, Inc

Kathy Bogel 5-11 Pflug Place (516) 825-4242

mnorton@emblemhealth.com

FriendsOfBridge.org

Girl Scouts of a merica

Nicole Reksono

110 Ring Road W. Garden City 11530 (516) 614-6512

reksonon@gsnc.org

GSNC.org

House of Hope/Food Pantry

Norma Pascualini

22 E. Fairview Ave. (516) 887-1708

npascualini@bethlehemag.org HOHVS.org

Pest Control

Select e xterminating

Robert Alarco

149 New Hyde Park Road Franklin Square 11010 (516) 738-9523

ralarco@akaselect.com

SelectExterminating.com

Printing

lm N Printing Co., Inc

Noreen Carro

23 W. Merrick Road (516) 285-8526

noreen@lmnprinting.com

LMNPrinting.com

minuteman Press

Les Forrai

246 Rockaway Ave. (516) 378-2515

les@manhassetminuteman.com vsminuteman.com

richner Printing Services

Michael Karff (516) 569-4000, Ext.288

2 Endo Blvd. Garden City 11530

mkarff@richnerprinting.com LIHerald.com

real estate

a rrowhead realty

Sal & Linda Pizzolo

76 Gold St. (516) 250-6638

twsbuild@yahoo.com

Coldwell Banker a merican Homes

Kevin Aburto (516) 359-7252

kaburto@c21amhomes.com

eX P realty

Craig Kaplan

3 Grace Ave, Suite 116 Great Neck, NY 11021 (516) 517-3700

ckaplan.mra@gmail.com

MarcoGomez.com

Iland realty

Joosoo Kim 489A Willis Ave. Williston Park 11596 (347) 898-0304

realtorjoosoo@gmail.com

Khan Capital Group

Pervez Khan

169 Greenway W. Manhasset Hills 11040 (516) 382-6109

pkhan@khancapitalgroup.com KhanCapitalGroup.com

Screen Printing/embroidery

One in a million, Inc./ Promotional Products

Sasan Shavanson

51 Franklin Ave. (516) 829-1111

sasan@oneinamillioninc.com

OneInAMillionInc.com

Staffing/employment

admiral Staffing Inc.

Aneesa Mohamed

23 Catalpa Lane (212) 714-3543

aneesa@admiralstaffinginc.com

AdmiralStaffingInc.com

Security

Priority 1 Security

Glenore Jacobsen

22 Kowall Place Lynbrook 11563 (516) 880-4388

gjacobsen@priority-1security.com

Priority-1Security.com

Veterans Organization

a merican l egion 854

James J. Hunter

51 Roosevelt Ave.

alpost854@gmail.com

AmericanLegion854.com

VFW Post 1790

Kevin Hill

65 E. Merrick Road (516) 825-9894

vfw1790@gmail.com

Juan Lasso/Herald file

Valley Stream Chamber of Commerce leaders along with village officials and other dignitaries join state Sen. Patricia Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick, center, at the opening of her district office on East Merrick Road in Valley Stream.

The Best on Nassau County’s South Shore.

Three Years in a Row.

High Performing in Ten Areas of Care

MAYOR ED FARE & THE VALLEY STREAM BOARD OF TRUSTEES WELCOME YOU TO

THE INCORPORATED VILLAGE OF VALLEY STREAM

Valley Stream