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Page 3 Vol. 27 No. 13
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Thanking the women who lift others up By RENEE DeloRENZo rdelorenzo@liherald.com
Renee DeLorenzo/Herald
Honorees at the 12th annual Women of Distinction ceremony on March 16 were recognized for their extraordinary career accomplishments and community contributions.
Nine women from Elmont, Franklin Square and Valley Stream were honored for their contributions to their communities at Assemblywoman Michaelle Solages’s 12th annual Women of Distinction ceremony on March 16, at Sewanhaka High School. The 2025 honorees were Gabrielle Barry, Jennifer Bellamy, Erum Hanif, Sonya Jones, Aviva Kane, Claire Leon, Julie Soffientini, Aisha Stevenson and Althea Thomas. “These honorees uplift others,” host Tawana Gosley said. “They break barriers and inspire future generations in education, business, advocacy, health care and beyond.” Solages recognized not only the honorees, but also every woman in the community who makes it a better place for residents to live. ContinueD on page 14
Franklin Square welcomes AHRC artwork to library By RENEE DeloRENZo rdelorenzo@liherald.com
Lifelong Franklin Square resident Donna Nowakoski, an adult member of the AHRC of Nassau, a daytime habilitation program, was congratulated on March 19 by attendees and staff of the program on her diamond art exhibit that was displayed in the Franklin Square Library meeting room. AHRC of Nassau supports adults with developmental disabilities. Nowakoski’s collection of 16 diamond art paintings, which are created by individually placing thousands of diamond
studs on canvas templates, took her over seven years to complete. Nowakoski, 40, recalled being very excited when Melinda Space, the adult programmer at the library, approached her about setting up an art exhibit. While she already had a few pieces ready to go, she quickly got to work adding a few more diamond art paintings to the collection to ensure she could fill the exhibit space. The program’s staff said art projects are heavily encouraged by AHRC because it teaches members that they can do anything they put their minds to. Tracey Johnson, a direct
support person at the organization, said it’s important for these adults to understand that they’re not defined by their disabilities. “They’re not just in a little box,” Johnson said. “They’re more than just a disability.” T h e p r o g r a m , Jo h n s o n explained, hosts many art exhibits out of the East Meadow Art Gallery on East Meadow Avenue, which rotates themes and projects every few months. Their next exhibit, she said, will be inspired by movies and musicals, and has a tentative schedule to be completed by May. In preparation, Nowakoski has been helping Johnson cre-
ate her own diamond art paintings. Johnson said she’s on her second project, thanks to Nowakoski’s guidance. Lisa Polizzi, a family support service worker for AHRC, said diamond art is extraordinarily tedious because artists have to be very patient and precise when placing each of the studs on the template.
“It takes tremendous amounts of fortitude,” she said. When Polizzi sat down to attempt it herself, she recalled how difficult it was for her to keep focus. But, Nowakoski and other members said doing art helps keep them calm. Annie Ber ris, an AHRC ContinueD on page 2