V.S. centenarians are aged to perfection
By JUAN LASSO jlasso@liherald.com
Valley Stream may be celebrating 100 years, but for some of its residents, that’s just a number. Recently, three women have marked milestones that match or stretch well beyond the village’s own history. Doris Myers turned 100 in February. Anna Svirida reached 105. And in November, Mary Ryder entered her 102nd year.
Their lives span world wars, economic collapses, and technological revolutions. They have buried husbands, outlived children, and endured tragedies that could have broken them. Instead, they persisted — fostering community and family while quietly stretching the limits of a human lifespan.
Myers marks a century of life
Myers doesn’t dwell on the past, but her century-long journey is impossible to ignore. For more than six decades, she has called Valley Stream home, building a life with her husband, Jeanne, and raising two children. When she lost her son at a young age, she did what she has always done—she kept going.
“Whenever you’re faced with adversi-
ty, lean on God for strength and guidance,” she has often said.
Her longtime friend, Judy Gilbert, puts it plainly: “Doris is a good woman. She never turned away from someone who needed her.”
Myers spent years volunteering with the United Service Organization, taking on leadership roles on its board of directors. Never one for self-promotion, she worked behind the scenes, leaving an imprint on the community that many don’t even realize.
When asked about her secret to longevity, she doesn’t overcomplicate things: Eat well, stay active, live with purpose.
Ryder is rooted in faith
Mary Ryder was born in Brooklyn in 1922 and married her husband, William Benjamin Ryder, just after World War II. The couple moved to Oxford Street in Valley Stream, where she still lives today, in a home her father-in-law built nearly a century ago.
For five decades, Ryder was a cornerstone of Holy Name of Mary Church, singing in the choir for 35 years and serving in parish groups like the Rosary Society and Catholic Daughters. At 50, she reinvented herself, training as a
home health aide at Nassau Community College and spending years caring for others.
Now, at 102, she’s on the receiving end of that care. But those who know her say her optimism is as unwavering as ever.
100…and counting
Then there’s Anna Svirida. Born in 1920, she has seen America transform— from the depths of the Great Depression to the age of artificial intelligence. Her life has been a testament to resilience. After losing her husband unexpectedly, she pushed forward, staying active in the lives of her family and community.
For years, she was a fixture at Valley Stream’s parades and concerts. Though time has slowed her, she remains committed to one civic duty: voting.
Her advice for longevity? “Work hard, and you will be able to achieve your dream.” The National Institute on Aging estimates that fewer than 100,000 people worldwide make it past 105. For those born in 2019, only 0.4% of women and 0.09% of men will reach that age.
As Valley Stream marks its own milestone, it does so with three living testaments to endurance. It’s safe to say, the village is in good company.
Women in sports rise to the challenge
By RENEE DeLORENZO rdelorenzo@liherald.com
Six women from different areas of the sports industry athletes, marketers, advertisers, and company founders made up the Women in Sports panel, who sat before a private audience of about 100 guests and discussed their roles in the male-dominated field as UBS Arena kicked off Women’s History Month.
The March 4 event sponsored by Northwell Health welcomed panelists Anastasia Pagonis, a Paralympian gold-medalist, Van Adams, the principal and founder of VanAdams Sports Group, Violeta Ardeljan, the vice president of marketing and branding for Global Industrial, Peg Butler, the vice president of marketing and external relations for Northwell Health and Lenox Hill Hospital, Linda Pan, the senior vice president of new media content partnerships for the NBA, and Deb Patsky, the vice president of global sales effectiveness for Xerox.
Moderator Shannon Hogan, host of the Islanders telecasts on MSG Networks, led the discussion, asking each panelist about their careers and the ways in which they navigate the competitive industry. Centering the conversation around questions of job roles, personal adversity, and the impact of women’s healthcare on the field, Hogan explored their many contributions to both the business and entertainment side of sports.
According to Deb Patsky, a former ice hockey player who received a scholarship to play for Boston University in the early 1980s, the sports industry has come a long way for women.
When she began playing for the Enfield Youth Hockey sports team in middle school, she recalled having what she described as the “worst ice time.”
“The boys did not want us out on the ice,” she said. Most girls on the team were there because their brothers played, she explained. But, after growing tired of sitting in a cold rink waiting for game action,
The Women in Sports Panel kicked off Women’s History Month at UBS Arena, highlighting powerful female voices from a diverse range of roles in the field.
they finally got to play.
At the time, she pointed out, the pay disparities between men and women in the industry were egregious. This is something that especially stuck with her after she watched a documentary about American tennis player and activist Billie Jean King.
Today, however, the Islanders sponsor a girls’ hockey team, female players can attend Division-1 schools with ice hockey scholarships, and women’s ice hockey has been an Olympic sport since 1992.
During her time playing on the ice, Patsky remembered her family telling her that she was ahead of her time.
“From a business perspective,” Patsky said, “I just always was authentic. I had integrity, and I worked hard I never thought about being a woman.”
Despite the industry’s successes, however, much work is still to be done.
Pay disparities, Anastasia Pagonis explained, are still rampant in the industry. As a two-time Paralympi-
an, she said she has been approached by multiple brands for partnerships.
However, after getting an “inside scoop” of what male Olympic athletes were being paid by those same brands, Pagonis discovered she was offered a deal from one brand that was less than 4% of what the men were offered.
“It’s obviously disgusting, and just ridiculous,” she said of the pay difference.
Women aren’t just overlooked in sports, says Nina Vincoff, the medical director and vice president of the Katz Institute for Women’s Health at Northwell Health. Women are underrepresented in healthcare, as well.
Butler pointed out the strong connection between the two industries during the panel when Hogan asked about the partnership between Northwell and the Islanders.
Vincoff added that women’s healthcare is not limited to a particular area, like reproductive health. It needs to include research in sports medicine, too. “We’re talking about every age and stage, head to toe,” she said.
Women’s healthcare, she continued, includes heart health, brain health and whatever other field of medicine that could biologically impact women differently than men. In order to better understand women’s bodies, she explained, more women need to be encouraged to participate in clinical trials and have a spot in national discussions surrounding healthcare.
Vincoff said the nation tends to look at healthcare through the lens of men. Because research, education and clinical programs have historically excluded women as both researchers and participants, she said it will be a long road before the industry could make up for decades of neglect.
“We need more advocacy on every level,” she asserted.
During the panel, Hogan pointed out how many women become susceptible to “imposter syndrome,” or the belief that they don’t belong.
Renee DeLorenzo/Herald
Courtesy Angela Bleuler Doris Myers, who turned 100 in February, has spent decades quietly shaping Valley Stream through community service, resilience in the face of loss, and a steadfast belief in faith and purpose.
Leaders and advocates celebrate Sustainability
Local leaders push for greener, cleaner communities
By Kelsie Radziski
Visionaries, advocates and trailblazing leaders gathered at the Heritage Club in Bethpage on Feb. 26 to celebrate groundbreaking innovations and inspire bold action toward a sustainable future. From young students to influential policy-makers to community members making a difference, the Herald Sustainability Awards of Long Island, presented by Reworld, recognized those whose efforts are shaping a cleaner, greener tomorrow.
“It is an honor for us at the Herald and Reworld to showcase the achievements of these leaders,” Stuart Richner, president and publisher of Richner Communications Inc. and the Herald, said.
As Azeez Mohammed, CEO of Reworld, emphasized, the commitment to sustainability is not just about progress — it’s about making a lasting, positive impact.
“We are honoring those leaders and budding youngsters who demonstrated a commitment to sustainability, and that matters a lot to us,” Mohammed said. “Because with Reworld, our claim to fame is that we are the only company that manages waste in a sustainable manner.”
Reworld utilizes “infrastructure, technology and imagination to solve complex waste management challenges and help create a sustainable and more prosperous future for businesses and communities,” according to the company’s website.
Reworld was represented at the awards ceremony by Maureen Early, lead community relations specialist; Dawn Harmon, director of Long Island market; Adel Omrani, president of the East Region; and Lloyd Naideck, director of state government relations along with many other Reworld team members.
“We’re delighted to be able to honor all of these sustainability champions here tonight,” Early said. “So many of them have done so much in making Long Island a better place to live, work and play.”
Two young students were recognized for their sustainability efforts. Joseph Petraro, an 11-year-old who is a freshman at Louisiana State University, founded the Joe’s Be Kind Campaign, a nonprofit aimed at promoting positive social change, especially for vulnerable children. The initiative’s mission is to foster kindness, inclusivity and connections throughout communities, and to promote positive mental well-being.
“I used to get bullied when I was a lot younger,” Joseph said, “and I don’t want other people to feel that same way.”
He also started other initiatives, including the Clean Wells for Humanity program, which tackles global water scarcity, and the Adopt-a-Grandparent program, which fosters intergenerational bonds and promotes sustainable living practices. Joseph’s efforts to bring people together to help the environment made him a Student Champion for Sustainability Award winner.
Desiree Mohammadi, a 12-year-old student at South Woods Middle School, in Syosset, was honored for her initiative Seeds of Hope, which began when she saved the seeds from the vegetables in her family’s garden. Seeds of Hope has blossomed into a bigger movement, and Desiree has partnered with Island Harvest to plant seeds every spring at the nonprofit’s Healthy Harvest Farm in Brentwood.
“I think it’s a human right that people should be able to access fresh fruits and vegetables,” she said. Both student award winners were also presented with $2,500 to support their education or future sustainability projects.
Other honorees include Don Clavin, Town of Hempstead supervisor, and Rich Schaffer, Town of Babylon supervisor, who received Environmental Leader in Policy awards. They have each made efforts, working with Reworld, to improve sustainability and environmental efforts in their towns.
“It’s a great honor to be recognized by the Herald and by Reworld,” Schaffer said. “Reworld has been an excellent partner with the Town of Babylon, and it’s probably the main part of our solid waste infrastructure and how we deal with making sure the garbage leaves the curb and is dealt with correctly.”
Local community leaders were also recognized for their work. Adrienne Esposito, executive director of Citizens Campaign for the Environment, works to protect natural resources and public health. She and her organization have taken on challenges such as upgrading failing sewage-treatment systems, protecting and filtering drinking and surface water and supporting large-scale renewable-energy projects in the interest of improving the environment.
“We really feel it’s our job to make sure Long Island is clean, safe and sustainable for now and in the future,” Esposito said.
Gregory Sandor, executive director of Cornell Cooperative Extension of Nassau County, was honored as well, for the strides the organization has made during his 12 years of leadership. The group has earned grant funding for a number of its specialized programs, including renewable energy, sustainable food systems, urban forestry and youth development. Cornell Cooperative is currently working with Reworld to build a Dynamic Learning Center in East Meadow, with the goal of educating the public about sustainability issues.
“We’re always looking at sustainability issues and how to be more resilient,” Sandor said. “So it’s exciting to be a part of that, and be a part of this different group of leaders that are being recognized.”
As attendees mingled and celebrated the honorees, vendors offered their donated products, among them Barrier Brewing Co., Garvies Point Craft Brewery, Farrm Wines, Borghese Vineyard, Del Vino Vineyards, Loughlin Vineyard and Twisted Cow Distillery.
The Herald Sustainability Awards were a testament to the collective impact when leaders and advocates unite with a shared purpose. The inaugural event showed that commitment to sustainability is about leaving a lasting, positive imprint on the world for generations to come.
Tim Baker/Herald
Maureen Early and Dawn Harmon pose with Gerry Compitello, Janina Martinez, Greg Maxilla, Jassi Anand, and Doug Jacob accept award for Babylon Town Supervisor, Rich Schaffer.
Holden Leeds/Herald photos
Joseph Petraro (center) poses with his 2,500 check, joined by Dawn Harmon, Maureen Early, and former NFL player Justin Tuck.
James Wylie, Lorne Brousseau, and Garrett Chelius get recognized for their work with REACH Rotary Club.
Holden Leeds/Herald photos
Gregory M Sandor, executive director of Cornell Cooperative Extention Nassau County.
Citizens Campaign for the Environment Executive Director Adrienne Esposito.
Hempstead Town Supervisor Donald X. Clavin gets his award for establishing the first hydrogen fueling station on Long Island.
Michael Fiorentino, Natural Resource Program Director at Cornell Cooperative Extension of Nassau County.
Seatuck Environmental Executive Director Enrico Nardone proudly poses with his award.
Desiree Mohammadi (center) proudly poses with her $2,500 check, joined by former NY Rangers Mike Richter, Maureen Early and Dawn Harmon.
Island Harvest CEO and president Randi Shubin Dresner proudly poses with her award.
Stony Brook University student Esther Poon with their award.
Reworld CEO Azeez Mohammed gives welcoming remarks.
Jason Thomas/Herald
REACH Rotary Club honoree James Wylie playfully points out the towering height of former NFL star Justin Tuck as they pose together for a photo.
Lissette Pellegrino, celebrating her award for Environmental Stewardship.
Garrett Chelius receives his award for his work with REACH.
Operation SPLASH president Robert Weltner.
Thomas Powell accepts an award on Eric Swenson’s behalf to recognize his exceptional contributions.
