East Rockaway, Lynbrook women honored
Assemblyman Brian Curran presents Women of Distinction awards
State Assemblyman Brian Curran hosted his first annual Women of Distinction awards luncheon last Sunday at the Lynbrook Public Library, honoring eight women from the 14th Assembly District who have distinguished themselves through a wide variety of community activities.
Regina Flaherty
Her “unselfish contribution to her community” earned Lynbrook resident Regina Flaherty one of the awards, Curran said. “She volunteers her time to improve the lives of residents in her community … she has tirelessly given a great amount of her time to the Lynbrook library.” Flaherty is president of the library’s board of trustees.
A resident of Lynbrook for 46 years, Flaherty and her husband, Ray raised their two children, Kristin and John, in the community. She said that she has always loved the small-town feel of Lynbrook, and has enjoyed meeting new people and learning the inner workings of the library. She joined the board last year, and will serve for one more year, she added.
Flaherty has also been a member of the Sodality of Our Lady at St. Raymond’s Church for close to 10 years.
“I guess you can say my volunteering is a labor of love,” she said. “I have a great love for the library and the people who work there.”
One of Flaherty’s greatest joys is spending time with her grandchildren, Sydney and Thomas, who live just a few towns away — close enough to allow her and her husband to spend much of their time watching them grow up.
Diane LauKaitis, East Rockaway
Diane LauKaitis has been involved in the East Rockaway Auxiliary Police Department for more than 30 years — most of her life. She rose through the ranks, became commanding officer in 2003, and estimates that she has volunteered over 25,000 hours.
“For her commitment to protect and serve her community,” said Curran, “Diane LauKaitis is a 2011 Woman of Distinction.”
