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UNIONDALE _____________
HERALD BEACON
tabletop hobbyists return
First 100 days of school
Student overcomes obstacles
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Vol. 76 No. 11
MARCH 12 - 18, 2026
$1.00
A long shot pays off with a new home nonprofit land trust was created in 2010, in response to the foreclosure crisis that hit the In February 2025, after community particularly hard learning he was ranked fourth following the housing market in a housing lottery for a new collapse of 2008. home in Uniondale, Juan Kelly The Long Island Housing visited the empty lot on Union- Partnership helped the land dale Avenue where trust with the the house would application and elieventually stand, gibility review probowed his head and cess for the 125 prayed. applicants who “Me being a completed the prochurch kid, I asked cess before identiGod to give me this fying a qualified house,” Kelly, a buyer — Kelly. As it Long Island Rail happened, the top Road employee, three ranking said. “I came in applicants were fourth — but I unable to provide didn’t want the the necessary docufirst three people to ments. fail for me to get it. Kelly and his I prayed that God daughters, Jaylnn would give the first and Kimberly, ANeSToRIA three people better moved into the opportunities and SHAlKowSKI home, across the let me have this President, street from the Uniondale Community U n i o n d a l e F i r e house.” A f e w w e e k s Land Trust Department, on later, that prayer Feb. 14 — one week was answered before the official ribbon-cutwhen Kelly became the owner ting ceremony. of that newly built home, “I absolutely love the thanks to the Uniondale Com- house,” Kelly said. “Of course, munity Land Trust’s afford- it’s going to take some getting able-housing program, the used to. It’s a whole new area, a Uniondale Avenue Project. The Continued on page 9
By STACY DRIKS
sdriks@liherald.com
H
Photos courtesy Northern Parkway Elementary School
educating through hip-hop Northern Parkway Elementary School third-grade teachers Lisa Stutts, far left above, Keith Hinnant, Xiomara Flowers, Emely Sosa and Erica Heyward presented “Hip-Hop in the ’90s,” celebrating the beats, rhymes and culture of 53 years of hip-hop as part of a Black History Month program. Decorations with New York City themes were displayed throughout the school, including Metropolitan Transportation Authority logos and subway station stops reflecting hip-hop’s origins in the Bronx. At right, Ricardo Molina, Axel Maldonado and Issac Orozco showcased a hip-hop sweatsuit and a Pittsburgh Steelers jersey worn by quarterback Russell Wilson. Story, more photos, Page 5.
aving a home creates stability — not only stability for the family, but it also creates stability for the community.