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Long Island Cares Market Event For Veterans
Town of Oyster Bay Councilwoman Vicki Walsh teamed up with Contour Mortgage to provide personal-care items to veterans. Every Tuesday is Military Appreciation Tuesday at all of Long Island Cares’ six satellite locations. Only veterans are permitted to obtain food (pet food too), personal-care items and household products on Tuesdays. Long Island Cares is the only Long Island food bank that operates satellite locations dedicated to food distribution, job training, nutrition education and advocacy to help identify the causes and cures for food insecurity. According to Walsh, this will become a twice-monthly event.
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Walsh and Brian Halloran of Contour Mortgage handed out bags of personal-care items to about a dozen veterans who are weekly regulars at Long Island Cares’ Harry Chapin Food Bank Essential Market. Veterans also picked up their weekly allotment of food, which is a three-day supply for regulars, and a fiveday supply for first-timers.
“Councilwoman Walsh is a champion for all that she serves,’ Long Island Cares Chief Programmer, Dr. Jessica Rosati said. “Introducing Contour Mortgage to support Long Island Cares’ Veterans programs has been a true benefit to the many families frequenting the Essential Market. We are grateful for the support, and excited for the potential this new relationship will evolve into.”
Veteran Lou Sarrica of Plainview served in the U.S. Army,and is a regular at the Essential Market.
Veteran Reggie Taylor of Roosevelt served in the U.S. Army in Vietnam and is also a regular at the Essential Market.
Also, at all Long Island Cares’ six satellite locations is a program called VetsWork, dedicated to helping veterans enter or re-enter the workforce. They are counseled on all aspects of a job search, from creating a résumé and improving interview skills to securing a job. —Submitted by Long Island Cares
From left: Brian Halloran, Reggie Taylor, Councilwoman Vicki Walsh
(Photo courtesy of Long Island Cares)
Homes By Mara Realty Welcomes New Real Estate Agent
Homes By Mara Realty of Syosset recently welcomed Kenny Schultz as one of its new Associate Real Estate brokers. New to the real estate sector, Schultz decided to venture into real estate and join Homes By Mara after enlisting Homes By Mara in 2020 to sell his Jericho home of 15 years. The firm also represented him as a buyer, leading to the purchase of the Greenlawn home he and his family reside in today.
“I couldn’t help but be inspired by how dedicated, diligent and ethical Mara Navaretta and her team were in representing me and my family on both the selling and buying front while we were looking to move,” Schultz explains. “At that time, I was in the process of considering a career change, so it was time to decide what it was that I wanted to redirect my new focus on. It was my experience working with Mara and her agency that made me realize real estate was my new calling and Homes By Mara was the place for me.”
Just before coming to Homes By Mara, Schultz managed a team of 200 people as a Station Operations Director at an Amazon Delivery Station in Staten Island. Prior to that, he worked as a Chief Operating Officer, where he built a staff of 200 cleaners and a dozen office employees from scratch at MyClean, Inc, while reporting to its New York, Chicago and Washington, DC offices. In addition, Schultz flew around the country resolving complicated multi-party environmental insurance claims when he was an AIG Complex Director for six years at its Manhattan and Jersey City offices.
Schultz says his colorful career has allowed him to hone the skills of negotiating financial and contractual terms in complex claims and litigation that complement his new position as a real estate broker who is committed to serving the needs of today’s home buyers and sellers.
“I negotiate for a living and understand the importance of answering the bell for my clients– be it day or night,” Schultz stated.
Navaretta says Schultz is a great asset to Homes By Mara and the clients they work with. “Kenny’s diverse leadership roles in business coupled with his expertise in negotiation make him a natural fit for our agency and clients,” she explains. “Kenny’s negotiating skills and understanding of quality client service is what makes him a fine addition to our team and a great complement to the core values that our agency is built upon.”
A native of Long Island who grew up in North Woodmere in the Five Towns, Schultz has a Bachelor of Science Degree in Industrial and Labor Relations from Cornell University School and is a practicing attorney specializing in insurance coverage with a Juris Doctor (JD) from NYU School of Law. He is also a Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) Senior Certified Professional. —Submitted by Homes by Mara
Kenny Schultz (Photo cour-
tesy of Homes by Mara)
Top row, from left: Senator Anna M. Kaplan, Leslie Davis, Alexus Coward and Neto Ifebi. Bottom row,from left: Bethany Ekezie, Wilande Joseph and Jaden McLeod.
Pictured during the Zoom presentation are, top row, from left: Senator Anna M. Kaplan, Leslie Davis and Stephanie Bell. Middle row, from left: Clayten Thomas, Desmari Miller and Samantha Mason. Bottom row, from
left: Madison Lewis, Nazir King and Kalyn Jones. (Contributed Photos)
Senator Kaplan Honors Local Trailblazers
At annual Black History Month celebration
Senator Anna M. Kaplan (D–North Hills) held her fourth annual Black History Month Celebration on Zoom to recognize and celebrate the contributions of African Americans throughout history, and to honor local African American trailblazers and student rising-stars.
“Black History Month isn’t just about celebrating the numerous contributions of African Americans throughout our history, it’s also about uplifting Black voices in the present, and committing ourselves to a brighter, more equitable future for everyone,” Kaplan said. “Each year, I’m proud to host a Black History Month Celebration that does just that, uplifting local trailblazers, veterans, students, small businesses, and community groups making a difference, while energizing the community to get engaged in the fight for justice.”
This year’s event, led by emcee Leslie Davis, president of the Westbury Chapter of the NAACP, featured a keynote address by New York State Lieutenant Governor Brian Benjamin and a message from U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer.
Local students performed for an audience of more than 150 guests, with Jackson Southerland of Great Neck leading the Pledge of Allegiance, Westbury High School student Leah Tunnell performing the National Anthem and Elmont High School students Meah Turnier and Justin Scott performing “Lift Every Voice and Sing.”
Local faith leaders Reverend Eddie Alleyne of Church of the Advent in Westbury and Sister Zainab Bey of The Islamic Center of Long Island, opened the event with Invocations, and Bishop Christopher T. Cox II of Family Life Worship Cathedral in Elmont closed the event with a Benediction.
The top awards of the evening were given to former Town of North Hempstead councilwoman, the Hon. Viviana Russell, and Dr. Abigail SmithLockett, both of whom were recipients of the 2022 New York State Senate Commendation award, a prestigious honor reserved for a select few individuals each year whose contributions to our community merit recognition at such a high level.
Beloved Pastor Victor Lewis Jr. of the Friendship Baptist Church of Roslyn, who passed away tragically in 2021, was honored with a Posthumous Proclamation on behalf of the New York State Senate in recognition of his service and dedication to the community. The award was accepted by his daughter, Netanya Lewis.
Local hero and armed services veteran Michael Hardy of Westbury, was awarded a proclamation in recognition of his decorated service and leadership of American Legion Post 1861 of Westbury.
Jacynth Bucknor, owner of Meacham Childcare of Elmont, was presented with the 2022 Senate Empire Small Business Award, an honor that’s given to a select few small businesses each year that excel in their field while also giving back to the community.
Elaine Gross, founder and President of ERASE Racism, was honored alongside the New York State United Teachers (NYSUT), New York State Nurses Association (NYSNA) and Phil Andrews, president of the Long Island African American Chamber of Commerce. Each organization received a proclamation in recognition of their tireless efforts to support our community and uplift diverse voices.
Kaplan continued her tradition of recognizing student rising stars from high schools across the district who, through their academic, athletic, or social efforts, have demonstrated leadership, been role models for their peers, and enhanced and promoted the positive image of African Americans in our schools and communities. Kaplan said “each of these students represent the best of our communities and I have no doubt every one of them is destined for greatness and excellence.” —Submitted by Senator Anna Kaplan
The 2022 student awardees are: • Stephanie Bell (Mineola High School) • Alexus Coward (Carle Place High School) • Bethany Ekezie (Port Washington
High School) • Neto Ifebi (Elmont Memorial High
School) • Kalyn Jones (Great Neck North High
School) • Wilande Joseph (Westbury High School) • Nazir King (Sewanhaka High School) • Madison Lewis (Floral Park High
School) • Samantha Mason (Hicksville High
School) • Jaden McLeod (H. Frank Carey High
School) • Desmari Miller (New Hyde Park
Syosset Author Releasing New Book
BY NATALIA VENTURA
nventura@antonmediagroup.com
Jennifer Wolf Kam is a fiction writer in Syosset and is releasing her new picture book, Until The Blueberries Grow, in May 2022.
The book is inspired by her personal experiences with her grandparents as a child and young adult.
“The book is a re-imagining of my experiences in my grandparent’s garden,” Kam said. “My grandmother had a green thumb, she could grow anything. It was important for them to grow things, to contribute to the earth, and be a part of it. My grandmother loved to grow things, so as a little girl I remembered she had all different kinds of flowers, fruits and vegetables. They had a giant cherry tree, and my grandmother would make cherry borscht.”
As a young adult, her grandmother passed away and then her grandfather relocated.
“I took those two experiences, my childhood and young adult experiences with him moving, and re-imagined it as if I were a child and what that would feel like,” Kam
Jennifer Wolf Kam
(Photos courtesy of Jennifer Wolf Kam)
explained. “My grandfather did move across the country, and I did get to see him but not as frequently. In my story, that’s not exactly what happens.”
Kam also infused her Jewish traditions into the story. She incorporated the gardening aspect into the picture book, along with moments of being overfed by her Jewish grandmother every time she visited.
When Kam was in second grade, she was inspired to become a writer after reading The Little Leftover Witch by Florence Laughlin. During that time, Kam wrote a letter to Laughlin about how much she adored the book and how she wanted to also become a writer. Laughlin responded back to Kam.
Kam’s writing process consists of writing for a period of time, then stepping away from it for a while. When she looks back at her work, Kam can look at it with fresh eyes. She also has people involved in her writing process. They read her writing, and Kam learns from their feedback to improve her work.
At one point, Kam contributed to the Syosset-Jericho Tribune while she was a student at Jericho High School. Kam holds an MFA from Vermont College of Fine Arts. She is a five-time finalist for the Katherine Paterson Prize for Young Adult and Children’s Writing. Kam is the author of the young adult supernatural novel, Devin Rhodes Is Dead.
Visit www.jenniferwolfkam.com/ for more information about Jennifer Wolf Kam and her upcoming picture book.
stepping away from it for a while. When she looks back at her work, Kam can look at it with fresh eyes. Book cover She also has people involved in of Until the Blueberries Grow Until the Blueberries Grow
illustrated by Sally Walker.
What did you think of this story? Share it with me at nventura@ antonmediagroup.com
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