By Howard Goldstein
Maureen Bruning
Maureen Bruning has been a homeowner in North Bellmore for 28 years. Growing up, she attended school in Levittown and graduated high school there.
At 16 years old, Bruning worked for Holly Patterson Nursing Home in an effort to help the residents. She also worked with people with Down's Syndrome.
Bruning, whose 57-year-old brother has Down's Syndrome, has had much experience with disabled people.
She's been heavily involved in programs benefiting Down's Syndrome patients, including recreational activities such as bowling with groups from special facilities.
Bruning has three sons, all of whom went to the North Bellmore School District.
"The most important things in my life are children and people of all types; healthy, disabled, senior, everybody," she said.
Currently, Bruning is involved with shipping supplies to the troops in Iraq. She has taken a leading role in several local campaigns to organize letter writing and sending gifts to soldiers stationed overseas.
Additionally, Bruning has tied yellow ribbons around many poles and trees in North Bellmore.
"As someone who has spent a lifetime helping people, I want to join the North Bellmore school board to make life as good as possible for our children.
"I am honest with everybody and will show the community where their tax dollars are going. We need accountability and parents from the community must get onto the board," Bruning said.
Nina Lanci
Nina Lanci is the director of administration services for a non-profit entity in the construction field. Prior to this, she was employed in finance for a major non-profit buying cooperative, serving education and medical institutions, while earning her bachelor's degree with in accounting at Adelphi University.
Lanci and her husband Richard have a fourth-grader currently attending Martin Avenue School.
She is seeking election to school board, having been appointed to fill the seat left vacant by the late James Rooney. She has been the Martin Avenue PTA president for the past two years, representing her unit at the New York State PTA Convention, held in Rochester, New York in November 2002, and at the National PTA Convention in San Antonio, Texas, in 2001.
She has attended various workshops, focusing on various topics from parenting to grant writing, offered at PTA-sponsored conventions and events. As a PTA president, she had worked closely with the board and the parents of our school to create strong programs that benefit the children of both Martin Avenue and the local community.
Lanci has also served from July 2002 to June 2003 as the vice president of the coordinating council for the North Bellmore School District PTAs, working alongside other PTA units on many plans and activities that benefit the district. She also maintains an active membership in SEPTA, as well as the Newbridge Road PTA.
As the former president of the Martin Avenue PTA, Lanci coordinated a grant supported by Sen. Charles Fuschillo Jr. (R-Merrick) for $20,000 that was used to create a playground for the children of Martin Avenue in 2002.
She also coordinated an additional $2,500 grant from Nassau County Legislator David Denenberg (D-Merrick) to be used at Martin Avenue to assist the school's "Peaceful Playground" initiative.
District-wide, Lanci has offered support, experience and assistance to all PTAs requesting information on obtaining grants for various educational activities. She has helped the Creative Arts Program (CAP) that serves children in the North Bellmore School District, to obtain a $2,000 grant to assist in the activities of that program.
As the vice president of the Community Parent Center Board, Lanci is currently working to continue the programs and enhance services offered by the center for the families in the Bellmore and Merrick communities.
Additionally, Lanci is an active member of the Bellmore Lions Club, and was inducted as that organization's first female member in the spring 2002. She is also an active member of The Kiwanis Club of The Bellmores.
In the efforts two years ago to re-open the Martin Avenue School, Lanci served as the chairperson on the Martin Avenue Planning Group Safety Committee. She also served as a parent representative on the Principal Search Committee, working alongside the district staff and fellow Martin Avenue parents to select principal candidates for recommendation to the Board of Education.
"Bellmore is my home and I believe in this community and I have seen first-hand the good that this school board has accomplished. I strongly feel that my experience, commitment and enthusiasm for this community is a great asset to this board, and I humbly ask that you consider endorsing me for re-election to the North Bellmore school board," she said.
