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Green Acres set to celebrate Black history shape our culture today through music, dance, education and leadership,” Bromberg said. Green Acres will host its “We want families to feel proud annual Black History Month of the richness of our commuCelebration, bringing together nity and excited to continue learning and celemusic, dance and i n t e r a c t ive p r o brating together.” gramming to mark In recent years, 100 years of honorthe mall has contining Black history. ued to expand its The Feb. 28 event Black History takes place between M o n t h p ro g r a m 2:30 to 6:30 p.m.at ming, building on Center Court and is several years of designed to highreco gnition with light culture, crem o re i m m e r s ive ativity and youth and communityempowerment driven elements. while serving as a Over the past three community gatheryears, the celebraing space for Valley tion grew through Stream and surstrengthened local rounding neighborpartnerships, interhoods. active components Jill Bromberg, and increased community relaopportunities to tions manager at JILL BROmBERG showcase youth talGreen Acres, said Community relations ent and cultural the shopping center manager, expression. v i e w s i t s e l f a s Green Acres Bromberg demore than a retail scribed community destination. T he engagement as cendecision to commemorate a tral to Green Acres’ mission. century of honoring Black his- Throughout the year, the mall tory grew from a desire to cele- partners with local organizabrate culture and progress. tions, schools, nonprofits and “Black history is American cultural groups to host incluhistory — and it continues to Continued on page 16
By ANGELINA ZINGARIELLO
azingariello@liherald.com
B
Alice Moreno/Herald
The mayor looked the part Mayor Ed Fare portrayed George Washington at the Valley Stream Historical Society’s “George Is Back” program on Sunday at the Pagan-Fletcher Restoration, where costumed members marked the occasion and displayed a historic plate believed to have a connection to the nation’s first president. Story, more photos, Page 10.
Cat caretakers sound alarm over husky after deadly attacks By ANGELINA ZINGARIELLO azingariello@liherald.com
Neighbors on one Valley Stream block have for years been part of an informal network of caregivers for a colony of outdoor cats. That community effort has recently drawn attention to a husky owned by a resident three blocks away that residents say has been killing cats and threatening public safety, including a killing they believe took place on Jan. 28. The cat colony, on Home Street, has grown as cats that were reportedly abandoned or left to roam bred and established themselves in the neighborhood. Some were pets that escaped and
didn’t return, and others were the offspring of unspayed or unneutered animals. Neighbors who began feeding and sheltering them discovered how quickly such a population could grow, and several took part in trap-neuter-return efforts. They called in a local professional rescuer, Danielle Wilson, who helped arrange spay and neuter care. Residents recounted different starting points for their involvement. Larry Mantrone began feeding the strays after his sister noticed one with a leg injury. Mantrone bought traps and, beginning in 2018, started trapping and trying to socialize younger cats for adoption. Continued on page 6
lack history is American history — and it continues to shape our culture today through music, dance, education and leadership.