Monique Bloom Appointed School Board Trustee

Barbara Berkowitz and Donald Ashkenase are sworn in as president and vice president of the board

(Editor’s Note: A full story on new Board of Education Trustee Monique Bloom will appear in a future summer issue of the Great Neck Record.)

As Barbara Berkowitz was once again sworn in as president of the Great Neck Public Schools Board of Education, Monique Bloom was appointed as a new school board trustee and was sworn into office at the July 2 board reorganization meeting. Longtime school board member Lawrence Gross was sworn in as vice president, while both Ms. Berkowitz and another longtime board member Donald Ashkenase were sworn in to office for another term on the board. Superintendent of Schools Thomas Dolan was sworn into office once again too.

Pageantry, Tradition And Inspiration Mark USMMA 76th Commencement Exercises

Hard work, determination, endurance and high spirits praised

There is a certain grandeur in all the events held at the Kings Point United States Merchant Marine Academy, but none can top the thrill of witnessing 219 young men and women from across America and from around the world as they graduate from a rigorous and at times grueling four-year program in academics and seamanship. According to Academy figures, 21 percent of these graduates will serve in active military duty and 67 percent will be employed on board commercial and navy ships.

Dr. Kumar, interim superintendent told the graduates, “Together we have navigated tempestuous waters, yet we have stayed the course and made it to the boat safe and sound...you have been an outstanding class, the best I have seen in my five years here...it is my honor to give you away to the nation, to the world as our proud ambassadors.”

Michelle Schimel: This Year In Albany

A good year, with a budget right on time

With the legislative year just ending, New York State Assemblywoman Michelle Schimel told local officials that this, her fifth year, was the best ever. “I really felt effective this year,” the assemblywoman said as she addressed the Great Neck Village Officials Association meeting on June 27.

For Michelle Schimel, “This year was the best of times and the worst of times.” On a very positive note, the assemblywoman is proud of the fact that nine of her laws passed, with only one, microstamping, not having made the cut. “I had fun this year,” she said.

NYS Legislators Fight Costly New Voting Machines

Schimel, Martins spearheaded push to allow villages, school districts and special districts to continue to use lever voting machines

Reaching across the aisle, working together to save their constituents the considerable expense of a costly state mandate, New York State Senator Jack Martins and New York State Assemblywoman Michelle Schimel fought for legislation that they say “ensures the democratic process will go on in local communities without a costly mandate that would ultimately have to be borne by taxpayers.” The Republican state senator and the Democratic assemblywoman combined forces to pass legislation that allows villages, school districts and special districts to continue using lever voting machines as they have in the past for an additional two years. Without this legislation, local governments and school districts would be forced to purchase or rent electronic voting machines at an exorbitant cost or use paper ballots in conducting their local elections.

Wood Road Parcel Will Go From Dump To Deal

Nassau County to sell plot to park district for $1,000

Jean Pierce, a Great Neck resident who circulated a petition asking Nassau County to turn over a parcel on the corner of Arrandale Avenue and Wood Road to the Great Neck Park District so that it would be maintained properly, is delighted that a deal has been struck and final steps are under way to convert the property. “Of course,” she remarked, “I wish they were selling it to the park district for a dollar, but I’m just glad that it’s finally happening.”

The wooded lot adjacent to the Parkwood Sports Complex has been an eyesore for many years. The county has a drainage sump located there and periodically, after getting complaints from nearby residents, a public works crew would come over and make a stab at clearing it of litter.

The GNPS Class of 2012—Honors and Awards

An overview of the Great Neck Public Schools Class of 2012 reveals 595 graduates from our three high schools: 240 from North, 340 from South, and 15 from the Village School. Over 95 percent of the graduates will pursue higher education in either two-or-four-year colleges. The remainder historically seek employment, vocational training, or enlistment in the Armed Services. Graduation ceremonies for North and South high schools take place on Thursday, June 21, at Tilles Center, LIU Post, with North’s ceremony in the morning and South’s in the afternoon. The Village School graduation was held on Wednesday afternoon, June 20, at the school.

Kings Point Debate Draws Large Crowd

Some questions answered, many still linger

The auditorium at JFK elementary school was packed with an audience that paid little heed to the League of Women Voters moderator who asked for people to hold applause, boos and catcalls.

The rules of the evening did not allow for any questions other than those that were emailed to the Kings Point Civic Association.

Fran Langsner Resigns From School Board

A move from Great Neck precedes the resignation

As of June 1, Great Neck Public School Board of Education Vice President Fran Langsner will no longer serve on the school board. Ms. Langsner’s letter of resignation, read at the June 4 public action meeting by Board of Education President Barbara Berkowitz, explained that Ms. Langsner had relocated outside of the school district on May 31.

Ms. Langsner, who has served on the school board for 12 years (five of those years as vice president), wrote that it has been “an incredible privilege … to serve as a steward of public education to a community that finds the future in the face of every child.” As Ms. Langsner left Great Neck and the school district, she stated that it is her hope that since her first election in February 2000, that she has been able to “fulfill the trust that was placed in me.”

LIPA Officials Return To Great Neck With Updates

The problem of a lack of communications during and after a storm has been addressed by LIPA

As promised, Long Island Power Authority officials returned to the Great Neck peninsula to report on progress in addressing unreliable electric service, power outages and the chaos following storms. In the aftermath of last August’s Hurricane Irene, LIPA Vice President of T&D Operations Nicholas Lizanich and LIPA District Manager Lauren Brookmeyer spoke with Great Neck officials at a Great Neck Village Officials Association meeting. Local mayors expressed major concerns and much frustration at the mishandling of the storm damage repairs and cleanup. A lengthy, heated meeting ended in a pledge from LIPA representatives to immediately address the issues and report back to the mayors in six months.

Great Neck Park District Hosts Old Village Farmers Market

Farmers markets have been sprouting up everywhere, nourished by a budding interest in fresh grown produce that isn’t transported from thousands of miles away. As a result, “foodies” are finding it easier to purchase local, garden-fresh food, while supporting local farmers. The launching of this idea in Great Neck was fertilized by years of discussion and planning between members of the Great Neck community, village officials and Great Neck Park District commissioners.

There are many towns throughout Long Island (and around the state) that host similar markets and certain residents have observed that Great Neck has been long overdue. The dream has finally become reality. Great Neck is proud to introduce to the community its first farmers market beginning Thursday, June 14 and continuing every Thursday through Nov. 1. The farmers market will be located at the Village Green from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., hosted by the park district. This long-anticipated program has been established through an inter-municipal agreement between the Village of Great Neck and the Great Neck Park District. Both entities have affirmed their desire to jointly sponsor the program.