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UNIONDALE _____________
HERALD BEACON
Blakeman will run for governor
PTSA’s inagural resource fair
Jolly Jamboree returns
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Vol. 75 No. 50
DECEMBER 11 - 17, 2025
$1.00
You say you want snow? Retired teacher leads 3-D project cils. As Sundri demonstrated the process — folding rectangles into squares, trimming While temperatures hov- them until they become trianered well below freezing out- gles and measuring threeside, a quiet, creative warmth q u a r t e r - i n c h s l i t s — s h e filled the Uniondale Public emphasized patience and creLibrary on Monday as resi- ativity over perfection. dents gathered for a hands-on She was joined by members holiday craft workshop — of her family, including her learning how to turn sheets of 10-year-old niece, Janiya Sunpaper into large, dri, from East three-dimensional Meadow, who snowflakes for proved to be a home decorating. standout with her The free proconfident crafting. gram was led by While other particNanda Sundri, a ipants moved retired biology methodically instructor from the through each step, East Meadow Janiya assembled school district, who her snowflake with taught until 2018. ease, needing only Sundri, who is also a bit of help from a longtime craft her mother, Sapna instructor, guided NANDA SuNDRI Sundri, Nanda’s participants of all sister-in-law. ages through each “She only helpstep, offering ened with the first couragement and help. part, taping the inside,” Janiya “No two snowflakes are said. “I had a lot of fun. It’s fun alike,” she told the group. to make something big.” “Even when everyone follows Asked what part of the prothe same design, each one cess she liked best, she said comes out different, because she especially enjoyed “assemyou’re cutting it and holding it bling the single snowflake,” differently.” the final stage, in which the The tables were covered folded pieces are taped or stawith white, blue and lavender p l e d i n t o a l a r g e t u b u l a r paper, scissors, rulers and penCoNTiNUED oN PagE 7
By STACY DRIKS
sdriks@liherald.com
Holden Leeds/Herald
Members of the Nassau County Police Department, Walnut Street Elementary School staff and the Kiwanis Club of Uniondale gathered at the Toys of Hope parade, which brought gifts and holiday cheer to hundreds of children. They were among the groups that worked together to organize the Uniondale stop of the parade, the first of three across Nassau County.
Ninth annual toy parade brings joy By STACY DRIKS sdriks@liherald.com
More than 3,000 holiday gifts moved through Uniondale, Roosevelt and Freeport in just three hours last Saturday as Nassau County police officers, volunteers and community partners fanned out across school campuses during the ninth annual NCPD Foundation & Give Squared Holiday Toy Parade. At the first stop, Walnut Street Elementary School in Uniondale, a crowd gathered quickly. Families arrived in waves, with children weaving through clusters of police officers and volunteers as well as Santa Claus and the Grinch. There were no formal lines, no clipboard checkpoints — just crowds forming naturally as attendees followed the music, the laughter and the systematic unloading of toy boxes. For County Police Commissioner Patrick Ryder, the scene captured the parade’s purpose — a coordinated effort involving Toys of Hope, area school districts, police, the Uniondale Fire Department, volunteers and residents. “We meet up in Walnut Elementary School – we go to Roosevelt (middle school and high
school), and then we go to Freeport (high school),” Ryder said. “So it’s bing, bing, bing.” The schools were chosen to reflect communities with the greatest need, focusing on underserved areas where support could make the strongest impact. Select students received special slips from teachers to make sure they would get gifts, but no child was turned away. Each child received a toy, courtesy of Toys of Hope, which is based in Huntington and provides books, toys, clothing and other items to needy and homeless children. Alexandra Nigolian, chief executive of the Nassau County Police Department Foundation, explained that schools are asked to identify families in need. Looking ahead, Nigolian said, she was already thinking about how to mark the event’s 10th anniversary. Next year, she said, laughing as she watched the toys being handed out, will have to be even bigger. “This is all about giving back. Look at these kids,” Ryder added, pointing out children showing their toys to their parents. “People are so messed up today in this world. This is CoNTiNUED oN PagE 10
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here’s something special about being able to create something yourself.