Town Board notes accomplishments of women who make a difference
East Northport – Huntington Supervisor Frank P. Petrone and the Town Council marked the Town’s 14th Annual Women’s Networking Day by recognizing five distinguished women for their contributions to the Town.
More than 400 people attended the October 20 event, run under the auspices of the Town’s Division of Women’s Services and carrying the theme, “La Vie est Belle.” The event, at The Larkfield, was sponsored by The Bristal Assisted Living and Island Better Hearing.
The day was highlighted by presentations to the honorees, each chosen by a member of the Town Board for her achievements in making Huntington a better place to live.
The honorees were:
Gail C. Lamberta, associate dean of community development; and professor and chair, coordinator of experiential learning, recreation and leisure studies at St. Joseph’s College. She has a long and distinguished career in community involvement, including positions at the Huntington YMCA and the YMCA of Long Island. Dr. Lamberta has been a member of the Long Island Leisure Services Association’s board of directors since 1998 and currently serves as its president, as well as being on the board of the Long Island Convention and Visitors Bureau, the Huntington Township Chamber of Commerce and the youth standing committee of the Suffolk County Workforce Development Board. She is a co-founder of the Blue Stars and Yellow Ribbons Veterans Initiative at SJC. She also volunteers with ALS Ride for Life, LaunchPad and the Huntington Business Incubator. She was recognized by Supervisor Petrone.
Bridget Widmaier, a breast cancer survivor who will be competing in the New York City Marathon with the goal of raising $100,000 for breast cancer research at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center through a group she co-founded called Team 10 From 10,000. The goal is to raise the money through $10 donations from 10,000 people. She is also a permanent substitute teacher at Northport Middle School and a coach for several youth league teams. She was recognized by Councilman Mark Cuthbertson.
Charlotte Koons, a retired school teacher who has spent 17 years on the board of the Northport Arts Coalition coordinating programs at the Northport Public Library. She also volunteers at Hospice House in East Northport and is a founding member of Huntington N.O.W., CODEPINK L.I., Women for Peace and is the only woman on the board of the Suffolk Chapter of the New York Civil Liberties Union. She was recognized by Councilwoman Susan A. Berland.
Marilyn McDermott, a community activist who has volunteered with Long Island Youth Mentoring, Save the Children, the Salvation Army Angel Tree and World Vision. She feeds and donates clothes to homeless and needy people in the community through the Helping Hands Rescue Mission, the Central Presbyterian Church and the Bowery Mission. She was recognized by Councilman Eugene Cook.
Janet Kushnick, a longtime Huntington resident and registered nurse who is on the advisory board for the Dolan Family Health Center, volunteers at Huntington Hospital’s emergency department, Meals on Wheels and the Huntington Historical Society. She is also active at the Huntington Jewish Center, where she co-chairs the social action committee, runs the library and has coordinated food drives and rummage sales benefitting the Family Service League. She was recognized by Councilwoman Tracey A. Edwards.
In the photo: front row, (l-r): Janet Kushnick, Marilyn McDermott, Bridget Widmaier, Gail Lamberta and Charlotte Koons. Rear (l-r): Councilwoman Tracey A. Edwards, Councilman Eugene Cook, Councilman Mark Cuthbertson, Councilwoman Susan A. Berland and Rhonda Shepardson, Town of Huntington director of women’s services.