Lynbrook/East Rockaway
HERALD Also serving Bay Park
A 10th birthday to remember
e.R. mayor: We’re in this together
Heroes in the community
Page 9
Page 7
Page 10
Vol. 27 No. 20
MAY 14 - 20, 2020
Honoring a cherished custodian children.” Wilder has been at home since the coronavirus pandemic Even into his late 70s, Elbert forced the school’s closing. So Wilder, a longtime custodian at Allison Fixler, the JCC’s earlythe Friedberg Jewish Communi- childhood director, brainty Center school in Lynbrook, stormed a way to surprise him. would stand near On May 1, his 80th its entrance, flail birthday, she orgahis arms and legs nized a drive-by and dance to enterparade outside his tain children as Hempstead home they arrived. to show him how His routine m u ch t h e Ly n brought smiles to brook community the dozens of chilhas missed him dren at the school, during the panwho affectionately demic. refer to him as “Every year “Elmo” because before his birthday, most can’t prohe would always nounce his first kARiN PoNSiek give us a countn a m e . H e e m - Administrative down at the braced the moni- assistant, Friedberg school,” Fixler said ker, often wearing with a laugh. “He JCC in Lynbrook an Elmo T-shirt. would always say, “The children ‘One week until my run to him like he’s the Pied birthday,’ ‘One day until my Piper,” said Karin Ponsiek, an birthday.’ So every year we’d administrative assistant at the have a big celebration, and all JCC, formerly the Temple Am the kids would sing to him.” Echad school. “They love to Ponsiek also recalled the yearshare with him what they’ve just ly countdown. When the day done in class or tell him stories, finally came and the children some making no sense, but he sang to him, she said, Wilder listens like it’s a bestseller. His didn’t smile. Instead, he looked biggest complaint during this quarantine is that he misses the Continued on page 4
By Mike SMolliNS msmollins@liherald.com
H
Courtesy Robert Paskoff
loNgtiMe lYNBRook ScHool board Trustee Alicemarie Bresnihan, 85, died on Monday. Above, she attended a national school board conference in Philadelphia in March 2019.
‘A shining example’ of service Alicemarie Bresnihan, trustee on Lynbrook Board of Education for 45 years, dies at 85 By Mike SMolliNS msmollins@liherald.com
Whenever there was an important school event or a chance to advocate for students, Alicemarie Bresnihan was there. Bresnihan died on Monday of cancer at age 85. Many of her fellow Board of Education trustees and school officials said they would remember her for her dedication to education and her passion for all things Lynbrook.
“There has been no greater supporter of the students and staff of the Lynbrook Public Schools than Alice,” Superintendent Dr. Melissa Burak said in a statement. “For 45 years, she has been a trusted school board member who exemplified how a board member champions the efforts of all in the district. Her attendance at every single district event was astonishing.” Board President William Belmont said he knew Bresni-
han for most of his life, dating back to when he was a student in Lynbrook. He got to know her on a professional level on the board. “She is a shining example of what public service is all about,” Belmont said. “Her calm demeanor and diligent efforts were always appreciated by the board. On a personal note, Alice exemplifies what’s great about Lynbrook. Someone who lived here, raised her kids here and has Continued on page 3
is biggest complaint during this quarantine is that he misses the children.