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Bus company is honored by Inwood group for camps and community organizations like the Five Towns For over eight decades, the Early Learning Center, in Independent Coach Corporation Inwood, and Lawrence’s Rock has been a model of reliability and Wrap it Up! The company is owned by the and community in the Five Towns and surrounding neigh- Fabrizio family, of Lawrence. Nanci Quaas, its borhoods. The president since 1997, Inwood Civic Associis one of the late ation honored the owner Nicholas company as its CitiFabrizio’s four chilzen of the Year on dren. The compaMarch 22. ny’s goal, Quaas Founded in 1941, said, has always Independent Coach been to give back to is the only charter the community. bus company based “We just try to do in the Five Towns. as much as we can,” Its original facilities, she said. at 25 Wanser Ave., in Rosemarie Reo, Inwood, and 1145 president of the Railroad Ave., in Inwood Civic AssoHewlett — purciation and a 1974 chased in 1970 — graduate of Lawhouse more than 225 rence High School, employees and just recalled riding Indeas many vehicles. NANcI QuAAS pendent Coach The company trans- President, buses as a youngports thousands of Independent Coach ster. children in 18 school Corporation “Organizations districts to and from like Independent their school buildings as well as to events and pro- Coach don’t boast about what grams. Its network includes they do,” Reo said. “People need Hewlett-Woodmere, Stella K. to know that we have good peoAbraham High School for Girls, ple in the community that are East Rockaway, Valley Stream 13 civic-minded.” Over the years, the bus comand West Hempstead, and it also helps facilitate transportation
By AIDAN WARSHAVSKY
awarshavsky@liherald.com
W
Courtesy Douglas Hesney
The Cognitive Film Society’s creative director and co-founder, Yelena Fradlis, left with Co-founders Douglas Hesney and Jeff Hsi outside the Hewlett-Woodmere Public Library, promoting their screenings.
Cognitive Film Society keeps growing By MELISSA BERMAN mberman@liherald.com
On any given screening night, the red velvet seats in the theater at the Hewlett-Woodmere Public Library fill quickly with movieloving community members ready to debate, dissect and celebrate film together. In just two years, the Cognitive Film Society has transformed from a grassroots idea into a cultural hub in the Five Towns, blending packed screenings, student engagement and community partnerships. Co-founder Douglas Hesney, said the organization was built with community at its core. “I saw an opportunity to create something that wasn’t just about watching films, but about engaging with them,” Hesney said. “What’s been most rewarding is seeing how
the community has embraced that idea and really made it their own.” He added that the society’s growth has exceeded expectations. “We started with a vision, but the response has gone beyond what we imagined,” he said. “Every screening, every discussion, you see new faces, new voices, and that’s what keeps it exciting.” Library Director Michelle Young said the concept was an ideal match with the library’s mission. “I thought it was perfect,” she wrote in an email. “While we are the designated arts and music library of Nassau County, we really should consider ourselves the arts, music and film library.” The library’s 200-seat theater, Young said, has played a key role in the film group’s success. “The jewel of the library is our theConTinueD on Page 11
e were very honored, and remain committed to helping the community however we can through our services.
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