By KAREN RICE
Prior to his mayoral appointment, Levenbrown had accumulated a long list of municipal accomplishments that includes a stint as chairman for the committee for responsible dog ownership, which lobbied for and obtained an enforceable pooper scooper law in Lawrence; chairman of the Lawrence Association Committee on Crime Prevention; founder of the Neighborhood Watch Program that ran from 1980 to 1988; and chairman of the Lawrence association Rockaway Turnpike clean-up committee from 1983-1988.
Levenbrown is proud of what he has achieved and considers the improvements he made with the responsible dog ownership one of his biggest accomplishments. It was a very big problem, he said. The streets were disgusting. This law enabled anyone in the neighborhood to take someone to court if they saw someone breaking the law. That made it easily enforced thanks to the cooperation of the residents.
Levenbrown has done a great deal with the Village of Lawrence Long Range Planning Commission, the Planning Board of Zoning Appeals, and he was a representative to the Town of Hempstead Aircraft Noise Abatement Committee.
In addition, Levenbrown was a village trustee since 1988 and has served as deputy mayor since 1996.
Over the years, he won a number of awards, including Nassau County Police Commissioner's Award for Heroism, Award for Community Service from then Nassau County Executive Thomas Gulotta, the Award for Community Service from the Town of Hempstead Supervisor and Nassau County Police Department, Fourth Precinct Award.
The mayor won his award for heroism after rescuing a man from a burning car seconds before it blew up. A car went out of control on Rock Hall Road, he said. It burst into flames and the man was unconscious behind the wheel. I was lucky I got to him in time and pulled him to safety before the car exploded seconds later really it was just like the movies.
Levenbrown, the director of pediatric radiology at North Shore University Hospital, also has a long list of professional accomplishments that speak volumes for his character. He is specialty board certified in pediatrics, diagnostic radiology and pediatric radiology. It is a large feat for any doctor to be certified in more than one area, according to Levenbrown. He has also been a member of Alpha Omega Alpha, National Medical Honor Society; Smith-Reed-Russell Medical Honor Society, and Kane-King Obstetrical Honor Society since he graduated George Washington University School of Medicine in 1968 where he earned his doctorate degree.
Levenbrown felt that his job at the hospital has given him a good background to be a successful mayor. [In] my job I have a lot of administrative responsibilities and I interact with various agencies, he said.
Overall, Levenbrown felt positive about becoming mayor and said that it is a worthwhile experience even though being mayor is a volunteer position.
Working for the community I find very rewarding, he said. We come into it knowing we are volunteers. You [become mayor] to become a volunteer to keep the community right.
