Lynbrook residents, business owners honored at mayor’s awards ceremony

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The Lynbrook New Vision Party hosted the 2017 Mayor William J. Hendrick Community Awards Night at the Saint Mary’s Knights of Columbus on Feb. 17.

Among those honored at the event were Eileen and Brett Linzer, who were named Humanitarians of the Year for their work with the Quinn Madeleine Foundation.

The foundation was set up in their daughter’s name. Quinn died when she was just more than 14 months old from complications of Niemann-Pick Disease, Type A, an inherited disease in which a person has an abnormal lipid metabolism that causes a buildup of harmful amounts of lipids in many of their organs.

The Linzers created the foundation in 2014 as a way to help and grant wishes for terminally ill children, including those who suffer from the disease that took their daughter’s life. Eileen Linzer said she was not expecting to win the award.

“It was surprising and it was very humbling,” she said. “It was not something that we were looking for recognition. Everything we do is not entirely altruistic in our minds, because it’s in our daughter’s name. We’re really doing it to keep her name out there and help kids like her. But it was surprising and wonderful.”

Other honorees at the event were Citizen of the Year Susan Kelly of the Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Connection team; Bryan Lanzello of Lanzello Roofing and Remodeling, Inc., which won Business of the Year; Lynbrook Fire Department First Responder of the Year Cory Hirsch; and Lynbrook Police Department First Responder of the Year Christopher Lopez.

According to its Facebook page, the Lynbrook New Vision Party is a local village group that is open to all residents and businesses regardless of any political persuasion, who are sincerely interested in continuing to make Lynbrook a great place to live and work. The awards night recognizes the businesses and residents that help Lynbrook thrive.

“The Mayor's Community Awards Night is always a premier event for Lynbrook,” said Hilary Becker, the executive director of the LNVP. “It gives us the opportunity to recognize the amazing accomplishments of some of our finest residents.  This year's honorees are truly exemplary of the people who go above and beyond in the service to their Lynbrook community.”