Alexandra Rasch, Miss Teen New York USA Pageant contestant and a sophomore at New Hyde Park Memorial High School, shared her vision to be a positive role model for young people during her second appearance before the New Hyde Park Board of Trustees at Tuesday night’s board meeting.
Inspired by her family, in particular her eight-year-old sister Isabella, Alexandra said she aims to use attention from the pageant to create a positive image, which is something she feels is missing in today’s celebrities.
“You don’t hear among high school students that they want to become mayors, principals or firefighter. They want to be reality stars, and I would really like to change that,” Rasch said.
Rasch is already setting an example through volunteer work she does at Cohen Children’s Hospital, where she’s speaking awareness about pediatric cancer.
Rasch suffers from Iron Deficiency Anemia, a condition where the body does not have enough healthy red blood cells, or produce or accept enough iron. For the past three years, she has been going to Steven and Alexandra Cohen Children’s Hospital, and recently began receiving iron infusions. Rasch is an active speaker about pediatric cancer awareness, as well as juvenile diabetes for the American Diabetes Association.
Rasch has been singing, dancing and acting since age seven, and she plans to explore career options as an actress, criminal defense lawyer, or congresswoman.
In January Rasch will be competing for a spot to represent New York State in the Miss Teen USA Competition at the SUNY Purchase Performing Arts Center,
In other news,
• village Department of Public Works Superintendent Tom Gannon updated the board on the road improvement project that began this August.
“We’re almost through with the concrete portion of the work, which should be followed up by the asphalt and milling next week. We’re right on schedule” Gannon said.
Landscaping is also underway where it’s been disrupted with construction of new curbs and driveway aprons.
• Trustee Donald Barbieri said the village’s plans for the final phase of upgrading the New Hyde Park business district will start in early March 2013. Barbieri said he will meeting with state Sen. Jack Martins, officials from Bellerose, Floral Park, and members of the state Department of Transportation to discuss the repaving schedule for Jericho Turnpike. The DOT’s repaving of Jericho is already underway in Mineola.
In the next few days, he said DOT engineers will be installing new countdown traffic signals in New Hyde Park to make it easier for residents to cross Jericho Turnpike.
