Oyster Bay Town Supervisor John Venditto recently announced the winners of the fifth annual Town of Oyster Bay "Women of Distinction" awards.

"The 'Women of Distinction' awards committee selected eight exceptional women as this year's 'Women of Distinction'," Venditto said. "Once again, I commend the awards committee for doing an excellent job, making the difficult choices among so many fine nominees."

Venditto and the town board will honor this year's designees at the March 25 town board meeting.

"My fellow town board members and I have invited the designees and their families to join us in publicly recognizing the town's 'Women of Distinction'," Venditto said. "Each recipient will be presented with a Town citation and a special pin designed to commemorate the occasion."

The winners of the Town of Oyster Bay "Women of Distinction" awards for 2003 are:

* Hilary Hartung of Massapequa, Distinguished Woman in Business, is the director of marketing and public relations for the Education and Assistance Corporation (EAC), one of the largest not-for-profit human service agencies in the metropolitan area. Through her successful publicity efforts and community involvement, Hilary has helped create overall awareness for EAC, which assists more than 46,000 people each year through its educational, vocational, counseling, rehabilitation, and mediation services.

* Beth S. Goldberg of Massapequa, Distinguished Woman in Community & Civic Affairs. As an active member of the Farmingdale Jewish Center, she established a Braille training course and led fellow volunteers in preparing Braille scripts for the blind. Ms. Goldberg has also served on the Board of Education of the Hebrew Academy of Nassau (HANC) and as president of the National League of American Pen Women. In addition, as president of the Farmingdale Lionesses Club, she worked with the Farmingdale Lions Club to secure a Braille typewriter to enable volunteers to prepare Braille scripts. Ms. Goldberg has also helped raise funds for Second Sight, an organization assisting the blind, and she is an award-winning artist.

* Linda Wargo of North Massapequa, Distinguished Woman Volunteer, chairperson of the Association Volunteers (CAV) for the Plainedge Girl Scouts. As a deeply committed volunteer, Ms. Wargo has given generously of her time to Girl Scouts throughout the years, and has made an outstanding contribution in serving the needs of others. She is the highest ranked volunteer in the Plainedge Girl Scout Community. She coordinates Leaders' meetings, Service Team meetings, and the Plainedge Leader Camping Weekend. Linda is master of ceremonies for the Plainedge Girl Scouts annual Fly Up and Bridging Ceremony and has represented Girl Scouts of Nassau County as a Council Delegate for the National Convention of Girl Scouts. In addition, she is a Master Trainer, volunteering her time to teach Girl Scout volunteers on numerous subjects, such as leader training for all Girl Scout levels.

* Theodora Bookman of Locust Valley, Distinguished Woman in the Arts. As founder, executive director and board member of the Friends of the Arts (FOTA), Ms. Bookman has been responsible for orchestrating the organization's growth and ability to attract world class performers. Her work has greatly enhanced cultural life in the Town of Oyster Bay and has helped make the town a destination for the finest performance arts anywhere in the world. Friends of the Arts is based at the Planting Fields Arboretum in Oyster Bay and features such renowned concert programs as the Long Island Summer Festival, the Beethoven Festival, and the Long Island Jazz Festival.

* Mary Ellen Hribok of Farmingdale, Distinguished Woman Humanitarian, led a successful community fund-raiser to help Farmingdale Community Council erect a 9/11 memorial monument at Farmingdale Library. Mary Ellen has raised thousands of dollars for the memorial fund by selling commemorative pieces of metal from the World Trade Center throughout the community. Ms. Hribok is also a member of the Junior League of the Women's Club of Farmingdale, photographer for LaSalle Regional School, and troop leader for the Girl Scouts. Mary Ellen is considered a guardian angel by many in the community because she is always ready to help those in need, and does so cheerfully and without seeking recognition.

* Dr. Carole G. Hankin, Distinguished Woman in Education, Superintendent of Syosset Public Schools. Dr. Hankin is a recognized education expert who has fostered quality in public education and has created a school environment that gives students every opportunity to succeed and develop their individual talents and abilities. She has been called upon by the President of the United States to participate in White House education conferences and for general advice on public education. She also appears often on Fox News Channel to speak on education, and contributes a monthly column to the journal Education Update. Under Dr. Hankin's leadership during the past 13 years, the Syosset School District has won many awards for educational excellence and has been recognized for its innovative programs.

* Claire Millman of Plainview, Distinguished Woman in Government, president of the Alliance for Smoke-Free Air, has served as an advocate for the enactment and strengthening of legislation to restrict smoking in public places. She has also worked to raise public awareness about the hazards of smoking and secondhand smoke. Claire is a charter member of the Tobacco Action Coalition of Long Island, and serves on the Policy Committee of New York City's Coalition for a Smoke-Free City. She is frequently featured on television news programs and talk shows and in radio newscasts and newspapers with regard to this issue. She has also been named Ms. Senior America Long Island and second runner-up in the Ms. Senior America New York State Pageant.

* Barbara Bartell of Hicksville, Distinguished Woman in Health Services, is chief executive officer of Central Nassau Guidance and Counseling Services. She has been in the forefront of providing innovative programs and services for persons diagnosed with psychiatric disabilities and substance abuse concerns for more than 30 years. Under her leadership, Central Nassau Guidance and Counseling Services has continued to grow as a widely recognized mental health and substance abuse organization. Ms. Bartell has been the feature of a Long Island Business News Executive Focus, as well as the subject of a LIBN Not-For-Profits feature. She is also the immediate past chairperson of the Coalition of Voluntary Mental Health Agencies in Nassau County.

"The recipients of the 2003 'Women of Distinction" awards constitute the fifth group of designees in what is a fine and lasting tradition in the Town of Oyster Bay," Supervisor Venditto said. "The honorees have dedicated themselves to service and achievement, and their remarkable accomplishments are an inspiration to us all. They serve as excellent role models for our young women throughout the town and are shining examples of the outstanding citizenship that has made the Town of Oyster Bay such a special place to live and raise a family. I am honored to recognize such fine individuals as the Town's 2003 'Women of Distinction'."