Friday, October 13, 2017
THE PULSE OF THE PENINSULA
Vol. 92, No. 41
+RPH Ç 'HVLJQ ŽŽ™’—Â?Čą ™ȹ ž›Â&#x;Â’Â&#x;’—Â?Čą –Š•• ‘Ž— ˜˜Â?Čą ŽŒ˜— Čą Â’Â?ÂŒL RP[JOLU ˜ž›4\Z[ OH]
K ZWHJL
/V^ [V THRL [OL TVZ[ VM SPTP[L
YLTVKLS MLH[\YLZ
$1
FALL HOME AND DESIGN
PLAZA GETS MORE MONEY FOR ROADS
CURRAN LEADS MARTINS IN FUNDS
PAGES 31-42, 47-58
PAGE 2
PAGE 8
M YVVM [YV\ISL
7V[LU[PHS PUKPJH[VYZ V
XEOLFDWLRQV 6SHFLDO 6 $ %ODQN 6ODWH 0HGLD /LWPRU 3
HFWLRQ Ĺ˜ 2FWREHU
Deena Lesser, activist official, leaves a legacy
A D O G ’ S D AY O U T
Ex-mayor, town clerk, commissioner opened doors for women in local politics BY JA N E LL E CL AUSEN Deena Lesser held many titles throughout her life: commissioner of the Great Neck Water Pollution Control District, town clerk, adviser, activist, friend and mayor being just a few of them. Colleagues, family and friends recalled Lesser as a “trailblazer� who helped pave the way for women in local and county politics, and also as a kind soul and determined woman who truly valued and tried to help everyone. “There wasn’t anything my mother couldn’t see her way through,� her daughter Julie Barkan said. “She believed that people make things happen.� Lesser died from complications from Alzheimer’s disease last Tuesday, family and friends said. Lesser served in numerous capacities for the Town of North Hempstead, Village of Thomaston and the Great Neck area until
2016. She served as the mayor of Thomaston from 1989 to 1992, as town clerk from 1992 to 1997 and as a commissioner of the Great Neck Water Pollution Control District from 1999 until late 2016. Jerry Landsberg, the chairman of the Great Neck Water Pollution Control District, described Lesser as a mentor who had a “very calming inuenceâ€? over other members at the district. “She had a quiet demeanor about herself and was very knowledgeable not only about the water pollution control district, but local government,â€? Landsberg said, noting most of her career was dedicated to public service. Steve Reiter, a commissioner for the water district, described Lesser as someone instrumental in rebuilding the district’s plant and in the sewer district’s consolidation with the Village of Great Neck. She also helped prevent the Continued on Page 76
PHOTO BY JANELLE CLAUSEN
Tao and his dog were among the many who took to the outdoors last week, enjoying sunny skies and unseasonably warm weather in the Great Neck area.
All hands on deck at JFK to save a lighthouse mondo’s daughter spotted the Great Neck Historical Society’s stand and wanted a T-shirt at The John F. Kennedy Ele- the AutoFest and Street Festival mentary School’s eorts to save in Great Neck Plaza in 2014. “My daughter and I were Stepping Stones Lighthouse began when Principal Ronald Gi- walking through town and
BY JA N E LL E CL AUSEN
they just started the save the lighthouse project,� Gimondo recalled. “And my daughter said to me – we should donate some money or we should do something.� Continued on Page 75
For the latest news visit us at www.theislandnow.com D on’t forget to follow us on Twitter @Theislandnow and Facebook at facebook.com/theislandnow