______________ VALLEY STREAM _____________
HERALD A car lover’s paradise
Liberty water rates going up
Honoring Jewish heritage
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VOL. 35 NO. 35
AUGUST 22 - 28, 2024
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Gibson circle undergoing major overhaul making it safer for pedestrians and motorists.” The project is being done in Residents agree that the most phases, noted Accarino, to “minstriking and, some would argue, imize inconvenience to the frustrating aspect of the Valley shops, pedestrians, and motorStream Gibson traffic circle ists. Only shutting down specific areas of traffic lately is this — while keeping vehisome parts have discles moving appeared. through.” And they are not The final leg of wrong. the road renovaOne by one, sections will be the tions of the traffic westbound lane of circle’s roadway are Dubois Avenue folbeing reduced to l owe d by g r e e n patches of earth space plantings, and cordoned off striping, and sigwith cones and caunage installations. tion tape before conIt is an extensive struction crews improvement projrebuild it all from ect in a “challengscratch. Day by day, ing” area of the vilposted detour signs lage made so by its — and the occasionhub of traffic activial flag-waving workty. But, by the time er — warn drivers JOe AccAriNO construction is to navigate around village engineer through around whatever slice of mid-September, one the road is currentof this community’s most comly under construction. muter-heavy corners, currently Joe Accarino, the Village of Valley Stream engineer, says he stricken with deterioration and its fair share of safety problems, and his team are in the thick of road re-pavement, reconstruc- promises to be safer and more tion, and renovation in their bid navigable than before. Thousands of dollars, “to give the area a much-needed facelift while at the same time ContinueD on page 11
By JUAN LASSO
jlasso@liherald.com
T
Juan Lasso/Herald
Michael DeBlasio, the new principal of William L. Buck School, brings a wealth of experience and a commitment to enhancing support systems for students with academic challenges.
William L. Buck meets its new chief, Michael DeBlasio By JUAN LASSO jlasso@liherald.com
On a recent clear-skied August afternoon with the sun beating down, families with their charges in tow gathered at the William L. Buck School playground area. A phalanx of administrators fully dressed in well-cut suits, including Superintendent Unal Karakas, were there to greet them with beaming smiles. But the face of the event was Michael DeBlasio. This tall man, with a firm jawline, dark hazel eyes, and tufts of silver hair will greet all William L. Buck students this fall
as their newest principal. But for now, his job was to hand out ice pops to a queue of families with their kids. He did so with a gentlemanly grace, adding a friendly handshake and a warm smile. Some kids enraptured by their refreshing late-summer treat stood contently with their families in the shade while others were scaling, climbing, and swinging in the playground from which they could laugh and roam to their heart’s content. Parents supervised their play from the background. Others merrily coalesced around DeBlasio to chat briefly before saying their goodbyes. ContinueD on page 5
he oncepainted ‘islands’ will now be physical islands, creating more defined lanes for motorists navigating the circle.