By Linda Delmonico-Prussen
She could go straight into teaching and leave her child with a nanny or at a day-care center, or she could become a stay-at-home mom. Without hesitation, she chose the latter.
Still, Grossman had a college degree that she wanted to use constructively. I felt I could use my education in a different way, she said.
And she did.
Last spring, she joined Old Lindenmere Civic Association President Joseph Kralovich in a campaign to shut down Freeport Village's diesel Power Plant No. 2, whose exhaust residents fear causes cancer.
The trouble was, few in the Merricks knew about the plant. So, Grossman embarked on an informational campaign, educating people about the plant and its numerous health and environmental dangers.
Grossman was named vice president of the Old Lindenmere Civic Association. And soon, the entire community stood behind the association's efforts to "clean up it [the plant] up or close it down."
Nassau County Legis. David Denenberg (D-Merrick) recently named Grossman a county "Woman Trailblazer of the Year" for all her efforts in fighting Power Plant No. 2. She will receive the honor on Monday, March 18.
The award recognizes not only Grossman's leadership skills, but also her commitment to serving the greater good of the community.
Denenberg said Grossman's work will benefit the common good of my entire district. She raised awareness of power production and deregulation of the power industry.
Denenberg said Grossman helped residents and government officials understand that people weren't objecting to Power Plant No. 2 simply because they didn't want it in their backyard. There were real dangers that it posed.
Power Plant No. 2 has proven to be a mammoth undertaking for Grossman, but she still finds time to take on other smaller community issues.
Grossman is seeking to get Chestnut Avenue designated as a one-way street, and she is trying to get Central Parkway, Dobson Avenue and Central Boulevard repaved. The three streets surround Birch Elementary School, and because of potholes, they have become increasingly dangerous when icy, Grossman said.
The activist has also spoken with police about motorists who speed through the area, especially teenagers who cut through Old Lindenmere on their way from Calhoun High School to fast-food restaurants along Merrick Road during their lunch hours.
Grossman has also supported having the area south of Sunrise Highway in Merrick and Bellmore designated as a Child Safety Zone, which would allow students there to receive busing. The Central High School District Board of Education says that the area does not meet state standards for a safety zone. The board, however, has put a proposition on the May school ballot to reduce mileage limits for busing, which, if passed, would provide bus transportation for more students.
Grossman is also now fighting to have temporary curbing installed on Babylon Turnpike to prevent flooding.
Grossman's interest in civic life has grown considerably over the past year, but she's always been the community-minded sort.
She is a past member of the Merrick Kiwanis Club, a service organization. In 1995, with Kiwanis, Grossman helped to fingerprint 350 children at the Merrick Festival so parental identification cards could be made up for the youngsters.
Grossman loves to cook, and she has put her culinary skills to work by hosting spaghetti dinners with the Kiwanis Club to raise money for MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Driving) and USODA (United States Organization for Disabled Athletes).
Grossman attributes much of her desire to become active in civic affairs to an uncle, whom she lived with in Merrick as a young adult. My uncle did a lot of volunteer work for the Salvation Army, Grossman said, When he died, over 400 people, including kids, were at his funeral. Being in the Kiwanis helped me get through my uncle's death.
When asked if she would ever consider running for elected office, Grossman said, Not right now. I just enjoy doing community service.
She added, "We should have nice street lights. We should have nice roads. We love our area. We want our area to be neat. We want our area to be clean, and we want our area to be attractive to people. We want to enjoy our area, to have this area be a part of our lives.
