Richard A. Coppola, Jr. has announced that he will seek re-election to the New Hyde Park Village Board in the upcoming, uncontested village election to be held on March 20 from noon to 9 p.m. at Marcus Christ Hall, located on the grounds of the Village of New Hyde Park, corner of New Hyde Park Road and Jericho Turnpike, New Hyde Park.

Coppola, a 29-year resident of the Village of New Hyde Park, on North 12th Street, is the President of All Vehicle Leasing, Inc. in Levittown.

He is the father of two sons Richard and Michael and has been a trustee in the village since April of '99.

Coppola is a graduate of LaSalle Military Academy, Oakdale, New York. He also graduated with a bachelor degree of science in business from Marquette University, Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

As a New Hyde Park Village Trustee Copolla has served as the trustee liaison to the LIRR, Little League, Fire Department, Chamber of Commerce, Parks Commission, Nassau County and Auxiliary Police of the Village of New Hyde Park.

Coppola has also served the New Hyde Park Little League for the past 18 years as past president, Awards Breakfast chairman, treasurer, clinic director, player agent, vice president, manager and coach.

Further, he has been a member of the New Hyde Park Fire Department for the past 25 years. He served as captain of the Protection Engine Company No. 2 where he is the current treasurer.

Coppola is a member of the New Hyde Park Fire Department Exempt Association, the Firemen's Association and a member of the New Hyde Park Knights of Columbus Council No. 2852 where he is a 3rd Degree member.

He was also a member of the Holy Spirit Athletic Association and a past CYO basketball coach, the past president of the Holy Spirit School Board, the Diocese of Rockville Centre School Board, and the Superintendent's Advisory Council for Elementary Schools (SACFES) and was a regional School Planning Board Member.

Coppola's business affiliations include being a member of the New Hyde Park Chamber of Commerce, National Vehicle Leasing Association, Pi Sigma Epsilon, National Professional Fraternity in Marketing and Sales Management and he is the past president of Alpha Epsilon Chapter.

Robert Lofaro, the Deputy Mayor of the Village of New Hyde Park, has announced that he will seek re-election to the village board.

He has been a resident of the Village of New Hyde Park for 21 years and he and his wife Susan have two daughters ages 15 and 12. Both girls graduated from the New Hyde Park Road Elementary School and are currently attending New Hyde Park Memorial High School.

Lofaro has served as trustee for the village for the past eight years and has held the position of New Hyde Park Deputy Mayor for the past six years. Prior to being elected as a trustee, he chaired a five person Citizen's Budget Advisory Board that provided recommendations to the New Hyde Park Village Board on how to streamline expenses and reduce taxes. Many of those recommendations were implemented after he was elected trustee in 1999.

His profession is in the banking industry where he serves as a Director for Trade and Risk Services for one of the world's largest financial intuitions and is involved in financing international trade for U.S. Fortune 500 companies.

Lofaro has also been very active in many other community organizations. He has volunteered as a firefighter for the past 28 years, serving as a Line Officer for five years. Additionally, he currently serves on many committees for the volunteer fire service including Budget, Audit, Ways and Means, Sports Committee, and Golf Tournament Chairman.

Local children's sporting programs have provided Lofaro the opportunity to coach and manage girl's softball for the New Hyde Park Little League, act as Division Director and coach for the New Hyde Park Wildcats Soccer Club, and coach of girl's basketball for Notre Dame CYO.

Lofaro is proud of the accomplishments the New Hyde Park Village Board has made during his tenure including the completion of several major road improvement projects throughout the village; the beatification and revitalization of the area near the LIRR tracks which included a new train station, new curbing, repaved parking areas, new fencing, and many new planting areas. Plus, the establishment of new laws and codes in order to deter overdevelopment as well as preserve the suburban character of the village.

Lofaro said, "The greatest challenges the village faces in the near future are significant impacts from the LIRR plan for the main line which includes a third track and separation of the at-grade crossings, the redesign of Jericho Turnpike by New York State, and ensuring that the recommendations of the New Hyde Park Village Master Plan Committee meets the current and future needs of the changing community and preserves the suburban environment which attracted many residents to buy homes in the area to live and raise their families."

In addition to community activities which consumes much of his time, Lofaro enjoys supporting his daughters through their academic activity, music programs and sports.

He further enjoys family vacations, playing ice hockey, as well as "pretending" to play golf.

Lofaro added that he would like to thank his wife Susan and his family for their continued support and understanding, and is grateful for the many other committed village residents for the roles they perform on various boards and committees that make the Village of New Hyde Park a "great place to live."

The uncontested village election will be held on March 20, from noon to 9 p.m. at Marcus Christ Hall, located on the grounds of New Hyde Park Village Hall, corner of New Hyde Park Road and Jericho Turnpike, New Hyde Park.