Did You Know: Women’s Roll of Honor honorees

The Island Now

Every year we celebrate influential women of our town with the Women’s Roll of Honor.  The award is named after the late May W. Newburger, who served as North Hempstead supervisor from 1994-2003. May was an iconic leader who blazed a trail for women as well as for all of us in public service.

There is no shortage of incredible women who have made their impact on the Town of North Hempstead. Whether it be through public or private efforts, these individuals are a large measure of what makes the town the amazing place it is in which to live, work and raise our families.

They serve as role models not only for women, but for all who they come in contact with and whose lives are enriched by what they do each and every day.

The Women’s Roll of Honor is now in its 28th year. Normally, the honorees are inducted at a ceremony during the last week in March, culminating Women’s History Month. It is a breakfast that typically draws close to 300 attendees and takes place at Harbor Links Golf Course in Port Washington.

Last year, such an event was impossible to host. In lieu of the large in-person gathering, we made arrangements to do small-scale, socially distanced presentations with each of those honorees. As we continue to adapt to unprecedented times, this year’s event will continue in a way that is respectful of public health.

Nominations for the May W. Newburger Women’s Roll of Honor are called for in January and reviewed in February and March of each year.

The honorees are selected by the Women’s Roll of Honor Committee, an anonymous group of past honorees from throughout the town. The selections have always been done this way to avoid political interference. In a typical year, we receive over 50 unique nominations.

As such, I can once again state with great confidence that this year’s honorees reflect the diversity that makes our town such a special place.

Through humanitarian, philanthropic or volunteer service, each one of these honorees has made a lasting influence on our community, and most importantly, touched the lives of others in a self-less way. This year’s honorees come from a wide variety of disciplines including education, religious groups, civic organizations and charities. While they come from all different backgrounds, the common thread which binds them all is their willingness to serve. A large ceremony and tokens of esteem are hardly indicative of their achievements. We only ask that they continue to keep up their good work.

The 2021 Honorees

Margaret Ballantyne-Mannion

Kira Bryant

Traci Caines

Lynn Capuano

Ellen Fox

Carolina Guardado

Diane Harragan

Ann Marie Hradek

Farhana Islam

Dianne Karl

Pam O’Connell

Rosa Stein

Ann Tountas

 

A full list of past honorees can be found on the Town’s website. For more information about the event, please contact my office via the Town’s 311 Call Center.

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