Village honors resident, employee

Rockville Centre honored a future member of the Coast Guard and the village’s “Employee of the Month” at the board of trustees meeting on Monday night.

First up was South Side High School senior Joseph Busching, who was accepted to the Coast Guard Academy in Connecticut.

He is the son of John Busching, former chief of the village’s fire department, and Christine, a physician’s assistant at Mercy Medical Center. “They have raised a fantastic son,” said Mayor Francis X. Murray. “I’ve had the pleasure of knowing Joe since he was a very young boy… I’ve watched him grow and thrive and become a fantastic young man.”

The mayor noted that Busching was in the first class of junior firefighters in 2011, where he was elected as second lieutenant in 2012, first lieutenant in 2013, and captain in 2014. He is also a lifeguard at Hewlett Point Park in East Rockaway.

Busching will serve with the Coast Guard for five years after he graduates from the Academy.

Karen Polito was honored as the village “Employee of the Month” for her work with the nursery program in the Recreation Center.

Polito has worked full-time in the Rec Center for the past two years. For 15 years before that, she worked part-time as a tennis instructor and supervisor of the nursery school program.

When Rec Center nursery school teacher Joan Schapiro became ill in September 2013, Polito stepped in as a substitute, since she is a licensed teacher.

“Fortunately for us, she was able to work for us and did so in a fabulous manner,” said Trustee Michael Sepe. “Mrs. Schapiro was unable to return. Fortunately Karen has been able to stay on and over time, has assumed all of the duties of coordinating the village’s nursery school program. Due to Karen’s enthusiasm and dedication, she guided the group of teachers and assistants into a cohesive group of professionals that has earned high praise from residents.”

Under Polito, the Rec Center nursery opened classes for 2-year-olds this past September. Sepe added that classes for next Fall have already been filled to capacity.