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A Few Clouds Bellmore District celebrates Founder’s Day
There were plenty of shocked, but smiling faces in the auditorium of the Charles A. Reinhard Early Childhood Center on the evening of April 28. That’s because 16 women whom Bellmore School District officials said have had a lasting impact on the lives of children throughout the three schools were surprise-honored at the annual Founder’s Day celebration.
Emceed by Bellmore PTA Co-Presidents Barbara Haimson, Suzanne Kehati and Beth Fingeroth, the event featured not only an awards ceremony, but also musical performances by students and faculty members. Cheers reverberated through the packed auditorium as award winners approached the stage to receive their honors. All three of Bellmore’s schools were represented, as the Reinhard Rising Stars chorus, Winthrop Avenue recorder ensemble and Shore Road chorus performed. The Belltones, a musical group featuring staffers and Superintendent Dr. Joseph Famularo, also took the stage.
“It’s a great night to honor all the adults for what they’ve done for the children,” Famularo said. “That’s what it’s all about.”
Sixteen women were honored with PTA Life Membership awards. The recipients were:
- Executive vice presidents Jeanne Yandolino, Lisa Sherman, Brandy Broder, Shanna Silva and Renni Siegel
- Music teachers Laura Laude and Jennifer MacVicar
- Winthrop Avenue School secretary Linda Komorowski
- Parent Involved Membership Chairwoman Michelle Zilberzweig
- Spanish teacher Dana Frankel
- Outgoing sixth-grade parents Cheryl Raso, Ellen Tulchner, Isabella Dellitalia and Michele Griffith
- Second-grade teacher Tina Miller
- Outgoing PTA Co-president Beth Fingeroth
Outgoing Co-president Barbara Haimson, who was also given the New York State Distinguished Service Award for her work, not only as the Bellmore PTA co-president, but also her service-related contributions throughout the district. Her family joined her on stage as her eyes welled with tears during the award presentation.
“You have a wonderful school district here in Bellmore,” Haimson said. “Everyone who is part of it deserves an award. There’s just nothing I can say. I did it for your kids.”
