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UNIONDALE _____________
HERALD BEACON
community celebrates fall
Smith Street trunk-or-treat
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Page 10 $1.00 FREE
OcTOBER 31 - nOVEMBER 6, 2024
Uniondale High unveils library with a new look spaces, like tables and couches, throughout the library for students to spend their free periUniondale High School cele- ods studying and lounging. The library was one of varibrated a new chapter in education with the grand unveiling ous construction projects the o f i t s r e v a m p e d l i b r a r y, district underwent over the designed to foster learning and course of the summer into the new school year to creativity, last Friimprove its faciliday. ties. “Now we’ve The unveiling of added to the high the new library school another came with a festive place where truth ribbon cutting cereand correct informony that brought mation can be to gether the stufound,” Reece Rene, dent body, school Uniondale High administrators and senior and student community memBoard of Education bers, all present in member, said, “at a support of the new time where it’s very learning space. rare to find.” Shawn Brown, The new library Uniondale High’s has freshly painted new principal, walls and new floorspoke of his pride ing for a fresh look. for the project and Shelves filled with REEcE REnE teen books, fiction Uniondale High senior its personal importance to him. and nonfiction, line and student Board of “There are peothe room for stuEducation member ple that were born, dents to browse and l ive d a n d d i e d re a d , w i t h s o m e books propped up on display dreaming of spaces like this,” on the tops of the shelves for he said. “For myself, my church easy access and to draw atten- and my library was the only safe space that I could just be tion. There are plenty of work COnTinUed On PAge 4
By KELSIE RADZISKI
kradziski@liherald.com
Courtesy Mario Bellevue
The Uniondale Community Land Trust held its annual Housing Heroes awards ceremony on Oct. 17, and among the attendees were its board of trustees, including President Anestoria Shalkowski, fourth from right, and Vice President Jeannine Maynard, far left.
Uniondale group hands out ‘Housing Heroes’ awards By KELSIE RADZISKI kradziski@liherald.com
The Uniondale Community Land Trust honored Kevin Crean, director of affordable housing and project development for the Town of Islip, for championing affordable housing initiatives, during its annual Housing Heroes awards ceremony on Oct. 17. U-CLT is a community-based nonprofit organization “committed to revitalization and empowerment in Uniondale,” according to its website. Since 2014, the organization’s aim has been to address the continuous issue of affordable housing in Uniondale and seek to provide long-term housing stability and promote ownership by members of the community. “There’s great instability in the housing market, and where there’s instability, it has significant repercussions,” Anestoria Shalkowski, president of U-CLT, said. “So our
purpose is to provide long-term housing stability, prevent displacement and promote community ownership and stewardship of the land.” Recognized for his work in revitalizing neighborhoods and addressing the complexities of the housing market, Crean has made a significant impact in many communities, including Uniondale, U-CLT officials said. “Each year, we really are on a quest through our work within the community to find a hero and a champion who really shares our values in affordable housing,” Olena Nicks, U-CLT treasurer, said. In his position at the Town of Islip, Crean works to identify new affordable housing opportunities within the town and to ensure compliance with the various federal requirements, Nicks said. Previously, Crean, a lifelong Nassau County resident, spent 15 years as the deputy director COnTinUed On PAge 5
T
here is an invaluable experience of reading a book that you can connect to and feel seen in that can only be found in a library.