Serving New Hyde Park, Floral Park, Garden City Park, North Hills, Manhasset Hills and North New Hyde Park
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Friday, February 24, 2023
Vol. 72, No. 8
N E W H Y D E PA R K
HEALTH AND WELLNESS GUIDE
DeSENA ADDRESSES BLAKEMAN FREEZES ASSESSMENTS LAKEVILLE CIVIC
PAGES 21-28
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Berkowitz stepping down G.N. ed board trustee since ‘92 BY R OB E RT PE L A E Z Longtime Great Neck Board of Education Trustee Barbara Berkowitz announced on Wednesday she will be stepping down from the board on June 30. Berkowitz, appointed to the board in 1992, is one of four individuals to serve on the Great Neck Board of Education for 20 or more years. With her 31 years of service coming to a close in June, she will have served the third-longest tenure in the history of the board, which has been around since 1894. Serving the Great Neck community for the past three decades has been chiefly “a labor of love,” acknowledging the personal sacrifice and uphill challenges any volunteer workers face. Berkowitz said the well-being of Great Neck students and promoting the school district remained top priorities throughout her tenure on the board. “I’ve tried to do my very best to treat all members of the public with great respect and exhibit a spirit of collegiality and kindness toward our staff, as well as my colleagues, while always keeping the needs of our students uppermost in my mind,” Berkowitz said. “But despite my Continued on Page 39
PHOTO COURTESY OF HERRICKS PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Herricks Middle School students recently performed three sold-out shows of Frozen, Jr. on Feb. 10-12. See story on page 45.
6 uncontested races in NHP, F.P. Floral Park Mayor Fitzgerald running for re-election, NHP’s Burger on ballot BY B R A N D ON D U FF Y The village elections for New Hyde Park and Floral Park will feature six incumbents running uncontested. The ballot in New Hyde Park has Trustee Rainer Burger and newcomer Iram “Eve” Sheikh running for twoyear terms on Tuesday, March 21. Sheik is running for the seat currently
held by Donna Squicciarino, a trustee since 2013, who is not seeking reelection. Both candidates are running on the New Hyde Park Unity Party line. Burger, who was originally from Floral Park but has lived in the village for more than 30 years, works for AECOM Tishman, a construction and design firm. Before getting involved
with construction consulting, Burger served in the U.S. Air Force and retired in 2020 with the rank of colonel. He has also been involved in the community as a scoutmaster for Boy Scout Troop 298. The trustee first joined the board in 2018 after being appointed following the death of Trustee Donald Barbieri.
Sheikh has been a resident of the village since 1996 and is a pharmacy manager at Vitality. Her previous village experience includes the cultural committee. Floral Park’s ballot includes incumbents Mayor Kevin Fitzgerald, Deputy Mayor Lynn Pombonyo and Trustee Frank Chiara running for Continued on Page 38
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