______________ VALLEY STREAM _____________
HERALD This month, donating life
A message from Anthony Capone
Student music celebrated
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VOL. 37 NO. 16
APRIL 16 - 22, 2026
$1.00
Bilingual ministry opens doors in V.S. began 16 years ago after a personal health crisis involving her daughter. Following that A new bilingual Christian experience, she and her husministry has established a band became Christians, and physical presence in Valley her life direction shifted from a Stream, offering services and business-focused path to faithbased service. outreach to support She previously a diverse and growoperated a boutique ing community. in Brooklyn, where Ministerio Camishe said customers no y Esperanza often came not only recently opened for business, but inside the small chaalso to talk about pel of Olivet Baptist personal struggles Church, located at and faith. That 34 Locust St., near experience evolved the Dubois Avenue into broader outentrance. The minreach work, includistry, led by Pastor ing supporting Yanilsa Campoverwomen facing hardde, now holds regus h i p. M a n y s h e lar in-person servicworked with were es after operating YANILSA immigrants dealing virtually for about CAMPOVERdE with issues such as two years. Pastor, workplace mistreatServices are held Ministerio Camino ment, financial Tuesdays, Thursy Esperanza instability and days and Saturdays domestic abuse. Her at 7:30 p.m., along with a youth service on Sun- ef for ts included advocacy, days at 3 p.m. All services are prayer and connecting individoffered in both English and uals with support through church communities. Spanish. “Now I say I’m the pastor, Campoverde, a mother of four who has lived in Valley but my calling didn’t start Stream for about 11 years, said today,” Campoverde said. “My her jour ney into ministry ConTInueD on pAGe 5
By ANGELINA ZINGARIELLO
azingariello@liherald.com
V
Abbey Salvemini/Herald
Troop leader Danielle Coysh, far left, with Girl Scouts Alli Vicchiarelli, 12, Liliana Coysh, 11, Kayla Gentile, 13, and Tori Sznurkowski, 12, in front of a display set up for them at Long Island Jewish Valley Stream hospital.
Girl Scouts from Troop 1322 cook up healthy fare at LIJ By ABBEY SALVEMINI asalvemini@liherald.com
The familiar boxes of Girl Scout Cookies were nowhere in sight on the morning of April 7, when four members of Troop 1322 traded sweets for sauté pans inside the kitchen of Long Island Jewish Valley Stream hospital. Instead of selling treats, the Hauppauge middle schoolers stepped behind the scenes with the hospital’s executive chef for a hands-on lesson in healthy cooking, part of their effort toward earning the Girl Scouts’ prestigious Silver Award and a larger mission to inspire better eating habits among kids their age. The Silver Award, the second-highest honor in Girl Scouting, requires partici-
pants to complete at least 50 hours of work on a sustainable, community-focused project. Scouts must research an issue, develop a solution and create something that continues to make an impact beyond their direct involvement, often through education, outreach or ongoing programs. For their soon-to-launch YouTube channel, “Real Food Real Aesthetic,” the Scouts set out to turn a simple kitchen visit into a powerful lesson on nutrition, wellness and the fight against childhood obesity. Inside the bustling hospital kitchen, the group gathered around prep stations as Executive Chef Russell Ficke demonstrated techniques and offered guidance while keeping it fun. Fresh ingredients, including zucchini, ConTInueD on pAGe 11
alley Stream didn’t have a Spanish congregation. It has it now. It has a safe place to come.