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Holiday fun at Belmont Park
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V.S. dentist overcomes health battles clear of his medical problems.
By JUAN LASSO jlasso@liherald.com
Holden Leeds/Herald
For over three decades, Sylvan Place, in Valley Stream, transformed its friendly holiday light rivalry into a community tradition, drawing droves of visitors each year, including Joseph Rodriguez, above, with his toddler William.
Sylvan Place: the little block party with huge holiday joy A tradition that endures
By JUAN LASSO jlasso@liherald.com
The parties thrown on this quarter-mileplus stretch of street in Valley Stream make local headlines year after year — not for rowdy noise complaints or over-the-top antics, but for exemplifying what many American neighborhoods increasingly seem to lack yet deeply crave: a wholesome sense of community among neighbors and friends. That’s how Alex Carr sums up the purpose and unique selling point of the most recent Annual Holiday Block Party, on Dec. 21. “I’m still trying to keep that old familystyle block going,” he said. “Everyone always tells me that they can’t believe that this type of a block still exists.”
For more than three decades, what began as a friendly rivalry among residents of Sylvan Place in Valley Stream to best one another on the flashiest illuminated house during the holidays, has grown into a cherished community event, drawing dozens of visitors each season. Carr, 60, who has lived on Sylvan Place for nearly his entire life, enjoyed seeing the diversity of decorations neighbors adorned on their lawns and houses. His house was no exception. “I have a menorah next to a snowman next to a Happy Hanukkah sign next to a penguin,” he said. Since 2014, the street’s dazzling displays Continued on Page 10
A bleeding that wouldn’t stop
Not long afterward, he was Jaimie Bodner has always excelled as a caretaker of oth- reeling on the floor from agoers but never felt at ease being nizing pain in his abdomen. He on the receiving end. His severe was ferried over to the hospital and sudden bout of health for treatment. Once discharged problems left him with no and a catheter removed, it w a s n’ t t o o l o n g choice. before severe bleedBodner, 77, said ing and paralyzing it started sometime pain would strike last February. “I’ve again, landing him known my general back in emergency practitioner for 40 care. years,” he said. “He “This went on had to sit down back and forth for when he looked at weeks,” he said. what was in my “There were nights brain.” in the ambulance I A brain scan just wanted to revealed seven quit.” aneurysms — dan- JAimiE BOdNER Medically, what gerous bulges in a former Valley Stream he was suf fering blood vessel that dentist from was a condicould burst and tion known as radicause life-threatening bleeding. In hospital, doc- ation cystitis, according to Dr. tors also discovered he would Devendra Brahmbhatt, a vascuneed a heart ablation, a proce- lar surgeon at Long Island Jewdure to correct irregular heart ish Valley Stream Hospital. The rhythms that could lead to radiation therapy might have fatigue, shortness of breath, or saved his life but not without causing severe, unintended coleven stroke if untreated. lateral damage to the tissue Thanks to a heavy dose of radiation, the surgical proce- around his bladder. “The radiation affects your dure proved successful and a relieved Bodner thought he was Continued on Page 11
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verything that I feel about patient relationships, that’s what they feel.