By JOSEPH KELLARD
"She's always gotten up at 5 a.m. in the morning to go running," Lauren said. "Basically, I wouldn't be an athlete if it weren't for her. She's been my inspiration."
Lauren's sentiments evoked the theme of the third annual Island Park Women of Distinction forum, in which Leone, coach of the village's Little League Girl Scouts Softball program, Carmel Caracciolo, director of religious education at Sacred Heart Church, and Jane Guli, owner and director of the Village Nursery School, were honored. The theme: women as builders of communities and dreams, or, as Helen Lorenz, president of the forum's presenter, the Nassau County branch of the American Association of University Women, explained it: women who inspire women with "hopes and possibilities."
In 1997, Leone and her girls were the first Island Park softball team to capture a district championship. Leone was then a fledgling coach (under the wing of mentor Dan McGann), during a decade when girls' participation in sports was rising rapidly. About her early success, Leone said she took her girls and "taught them how to be players."
She noted that all her players from her early years, now in their mid to late teen years, continue to play softball. "I think that this means I passed on a passion for the game," Leone said. "I take a lot of satisfaction from that ŠWith my girls," she added with pride, "if you say to them, 'you play like a girl,' they can say, 'yeah, I do play like a girl."
Leone alluded to other ways in which times and gender rolls have changed, explaining how her devotion to her softball team meant her husband, daughter and son didn't see her that much at times. "My best friends became the microwave oven and the drive through windows," she joked before the capacity crowed of mostly females, from young girls and to senior citizens, at the Island Park Library March 16.
Caracciolo also alluded to these role reversals, when she joked that throughout her professional career with Sacred Heart Church, her husband of 54 years, Eddie, was always attentive to her. "He would have dinner ready for me on the table whenever I came home," Caracciolo said, drawing the biggest laugh from the crowd.
"Mrs. C," as Caracciolo came to be known, first worked as a nurse's aid at Lincoln Orens Middle School, and, in 1985, started as a secretary at the church on Long Beach Road. "I call it my professional life," she said, choking up throughout her brief speech, "but I really don't regard it as a profession because I love it so much." Caracciolo has been Sacred Heart's religious education director since 1990.
Caracciolo devoted most of her talk to thanking various people she regards as key to her success as a career women, particularly her teachers and four children and grandchildren.
"I couldn't be where I am without them," she said.
Diana Caracciolo, a member of the Island Park Board of Education, said about her mother-in-law, "She's always very giving and thinks of everyone before herself, not just her family but everybody... No one can fill her shoes."
Guli, the founder, owner and director of the Village Nursery School, built her business with a handful of students out of her and husband Larry's Waterford Road home in 1981. Within two years, enrollment grew considerably, prompting Guli to open shop in a building on Broadway. She expanded the nursery in 1987, and, with daughter Maria Asher as her partner, takes care of 70 youngsters today.
"The hours were long, the work was hard and the responsibilities were great," Guli said about her years as an up-and-coming business woman.
Guli refused to rest on her initial laurels, however, developing her business sense by taking a management course at SUNY Farmingdale, and attended various
workshops, seminars and training courses.
In what she believes best captured the impact she's had on her students, Guli read a letter she once received from a 13-year-old girl who began attending her nursery at age 2.
"You were always patient with me," the girl wrote. "...Thanks for your patience and kindness and for confronting me every time I was sad." When
Guli finished the letter, she held it up and said, "Now this is what it's all about."
Diane Guli, when asked how her mother-in-law inspired her, said, "Her independence and that she created her business from scratch. And she's a
saint to have the patience that she had to have."
Guli raised two of her own children, and now has three grandkids. Said son, Larry, "She's the nicest lady you'll ever meet."
Comments about this story? JKellard@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000
ext. 287.
# # FRIDAY # #
H: Sepreated from the pack
S: Three IP women recognized for their distinctions
Photo#
Photo Credit: Andrew Vardakis/Herald
By JOSEPH KELLARD
A Island Park softball and basketball player at West Hempstead High School, junior Lauren Leone says she owes her life-long play in various sports to her mother, Peggy Leone.
"She always got up at 5 a.m. in the morning to go running" Lauren said. "Basically, I wouldn't be an athlete if it weren't for her. She's been my inspiration."
Lauren's sentiments tie right into the theme of the third annual Island Park Women of Distinction forum, whos three honorees this were Leone, coach of the village's Little League Girl Scouts Softball program, and two other Island Parkers, Jane Guli, owner and director of the Village Nursery School, and Carmel Caracciolo, director of religious education at Sacred Heart Church.
This year's theme is as women as builders of communities and dreams, or as explained by Helen Lorenz -- president ofthe forum's presentor, the Nassau County branch of the American Association of University Women -- women who inspire women with "hopes and possibilities."
With mentor Dan McGann, Leone's softball team was the first Island Park team to capture a district championship in 1997. Leone was then a fledgling coach, during a decade when girls' interest in sports was rising considerably. She said aboue her early success that she took her girls and "taught them how to be players," she said.
Leone noted that all of her players from her early years were still playing softball now in their mid to late teens. "I think that this means I passed on a passion for the game," Leone said. "I take a lot of satisfaction from that."
Leone continued, "With my girls, if you say to them, 'you play like a girl,' they can say, 'yeah, I do play like a girl," Leone said with pride.
When noting how devoted she was to coaching softball Leone again alluded to have times and gender rolls have changed, explaining that her husband, daughter and son had to deal with her not being around much. "My best friends became the microwave oven and the drive through windows at fast food restaurants," she joked before the capacity crowed of mostly females, young and old, at the Island Park Library March 16.
In another indication of these role reversals, Caracciolo joked that throughout her professional career with Sacred Heart Church, her husband of 54 years, Eddie, was always attentive to her.
"Eddie would have dinner ready for me on the table whenever I came home," Caracciolo joked, drawing the biggest laugh from the crowd.
After working as a nurse's aid at Lincoln Orens Middle School, "Mrs. C," as she came to be known, started at Sacred Heart as a secretary in 1985. "I call it my professional life," Caracciolo said, choking up throughout her speech, "but I really don't regard it as a profession because I love it so much." Caracciolo has been the church;s religious educatin director since 1990.
She mostly thanked the many people she regards as key to her success as a career woman, particularly her teachers and four children and grandchildren.
"I couldn't be where I am without them," she said.
Diana Caracciolo, a member of the Island Park Board of Education, said about her mother-in-law, "She's always very giving and thinks of everyone before herself, not just her family but everybody...No one can fill her shoes."
Guli, the founder, owner and director of the Village Nursery School, started her business with a handful of students out of her and husband Larry's Waterford Road home in 1981. Within two years, enrollment grew rapidly, prompting Guli to move to a building on Broadway in Island Park. She expanded the building in 1987, and, with daughter Maria Asher as her parnter, has over 70 youngsters at her nursery.
"The hours were long, the work was hard and the responsibilities were great," Guli said.
Guli didn't rest on her initial success, however, improve her business sense by taking a management courses at SUNY Farmingdale, as well as many workshops, seminars and training courses.
In what she thought encapsulated the impact she has made on her students, Guli read from a letter she once received from a 13-year-old girl who started out at her nursery at age 2.
"You were always patient with me," the girl wrote. "...Thanks for your patience and kindness and for confronting me every time I was sad." When completing the letter and her talk, Guli said, "Now this is what it's all about."
Diane Guli, when asked how her mother-in-law inspired her, said, "Her independence and that she created her buisness from scratch. And she's a saint to have the patients that she had to have."
Guli raised two children of her own, and now has three grandchildren. Said son, Larry, "She's the nicest lady you'll ever meet."
Comments about this story? JKellard@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 287.
---------
+ One thing to point out is how all of the women said things that are traditionally things that men/women would do or say (role reversals)---dinner on the table for me,
# # Peggy Leone, coach of Little League Girl Scouts Softball.
+ "My kids only know me as a softball coach," Leone said.
# # "My family had to deal with me not being around a lot," Leone explained, joking that her best friends became the microwave oven and the drive through windows at fast food restaurants.
+ She started out as a kid liking softball and knowing the basics of the game...
+ Dan McGann, coach who really helped her out...when she started coaching girls softball.
+ She got that chance about 9 years ago.
# In 1997, she lead the first Island Park team to a district championship.
+ "It's nice to have a job for something that's fun," she said.
# # Carmel Caracciolo,director of the religious education at Sacred Heart Church.
+ Born in Brooklyn
+ Family was very religious
+ Married in 1952 to husband Eddie, and had four children and grandchildren.
+ Move to Island Park in 1954...
# Her mother taught religious education
+ Workded as a nurses aid at Lincoln Orens Middle School
+ In 1985, starts as a secretary at Scared Heart Church.... "I call it my professional life, but I really don't regard it as a profession because I love it so much."
+ In 1990, became director of religious education....
# # "My husband, Eddie, would have dinner ready for me on the table whenever I came home," Mrs. C joked.
+ At 56-years-old, she learned to drive.
+ Thanked many people for her successe, especially teachers, kids and grandckis who helped her out "I couldn't be whree I am without them."
+ Island Park School Board member Diana Caracciolo said about her daughter: "She's always very giving and thinks of everyone before herself, not just her family but everybody." "No one can fill her shoes,"
+ Jane Guli, founder, owner and wner and director of the Village Nursery School (for 2- to 3-year olds)
+ Born in Brooklyn and moved to Island Park at 13 after spending every summer there since then
+ Married, Larry, what year, and had two kids and has three grandkids....
+ She built her home in Island Park when:
+ Operating the nursery first out of her Island Park home in 1981....and two years later opened in Island Park. ...70 children...
+ "Something was missing," she said after she had established her life.
+ First she got a job as an assiatant teacher at a nursery school. "Thought that I can do this," she said.
# # "The hours were long, the work was hard and there was lots of responsibility," she said.
# # She did various things to improve herself and business, from taking workshops and school courses...
+ (SHE GAVE ME THE NOTES TO HER SPEECH?>>>
+ To show the impact she has had on others, and saying that it capsulized who she was, Guli read from a letter she once received from a 13-year-old former student of her nursery.
+ "You were always patient with me," the girl wrote. "Thanks for your paticnet and kindness and for confronting me every time I was sad."
+ "Now this is what it's all about," she said.
+ Guli is in business with her only daughter, Maria Asher, an Island Park resident.
+ Diane Guli said she admired her mother in law for "her independence and she created her buisness from scratch. And she's a saint to have the patients that she had to have."
+ "She's the nicest lady you'll ever meet," said Guil's son, Larry.
Helen Lorenz, president of the Nassau Chapter of the AAUW,
+ ... the forum, presented by the Nassau County branch of the American Association of University Women (AAUW) at the Island Park Library on March 16.
Distinct women In celebration of Women's History Month, join the library for the Third Annual Forum honoring Island Park's Women of Distinction at 7 p.m. on March 16. This year's honorees are Carmel Caracciolo, director of religious education at Sacred Heart Church, Peggy Leone, coach of Little League Girl Scouts Softball, and Jane Guli, owner and director of the Village Nursery School. These women will share their road to achievement on becoming a significant positive force in the community.
+ Third annual Women's Forum at the Island Park Library on March 16.
+ Ronnie Swett: Designed to have girls think "bolder and larger." and for men to understand them...
+ Lorenz: This year the them is women as builders of communities and dreams.....Three women honored for their encouragement of dreams...Inspiring women with "hopes and possibilities."
+ The forum began with introductions by Helen Lorenz, president of the Nassau Chapter of the AAUW, and library Director Ronnie Swett, who explained its purpose. "We're honoring these women of our community tonight for passing on a legacy of empowering women," Swett said.
+ Is requirement for recognition to be a trailblazer in one's field?
Comments about this story? JKellard@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 287.
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# # ORIGINAL NOTES # #
+ LEAD
+ Lauren Leone, a junior at West Hempstead High School, who plays on two softball tams and a basketball team, says she owes her life-long interest in athletics to her mother. Peggy Leone would get up routinely each morning at 5 a.m. and go out for a run.
+ "I owe it all to my mother, who gets up at 5 in the morning to go running. Basically, I wouldn't be an athlete if it weren't for her. She's been my inspiration."
+ One thing to point out is how all of the women said things that are traditionally things that men/women would do or say (role reversals)---dinner on the table for me,
# # Peggy Leone, coach of Little League Girl Scouts Softball.
+ "My kids only know me as a softball coach," Leone said.
# # "My family had to deal with me not being around a lot," Leone explained, joking that her best friends became the microwave oven and the drive through windows at fast food restaurants.
+ She started out as a kid liking softball and knowing the basics of the game...
+ Dan McGann, coach who really helped her out...when she started coaching girls softball.
+ She got that chance about 9 years ago.
+ Mentioned how girls' interest in sports is really growing in our time
+ "I took the girls and taught them how to be players," she said.
+ Most of her plays she's had throughout her coaching career, from ages 8 to 16, 17, 18 today. "They're all still playing. I think that this means I passed on a passion for the game," Leone said. "I take a lot of satisfaction from that."
# # -- "With my girls, if you say 'you play like a girl,' they can say, 'yeah, I do play like a girl," Leone said with pride.
# In 1997, she lead the first Island Park team to a district championship.
+ "It's nice to have a job for something that's fun," she said.
# # Carmel Caracciolo, founder, owner and director of the religious education at Sacred Heart Church.
+ Born in Brooklyn
+ Family was very religious
+ Married in 1952 to husband Eddie, and had four children and grandchildren.
+ Move to Island Park in 1954...
# Her mother taught religious education
+ Workded as a nurses aid at Lincoln Orens Middle School
+ In 1985, starts as a secretary at Scared Heart Church.... "I call it my professional life, but I really don't regard it as a profession because I love it so much."
+ In 1990, became director of religious education....
# # "My husband, Eddie, would have dinner ready for me on the table whenever I came home," Mrs. C joked.
+ At 56-years-old, she learned to drive.
+ Thanked many people for her successe, especially teachers, kids and grandckis who helped her out "I couldn't be whree I am without them."
+ Island Park School Board member Diana Caracciolo said about her daughter: "She's always very giving and thinks of everyone before herself, not just her family but everybody." "No one can fill her shoes,"
+ Jane Guli, owner and director of the Village Nursery School (for 2- to 3-year olds)
+ Born in Brooklyn and moved to Island Park at 13 after spending every summer there since then
+ Married, Larry, what year, and had two kids and has three grandkids....
+ She built her home in Island Park when:
+ Operating the nursery first out of her Island Park home in 1981....and two years later opened in Island Park. ...70 children...
+ "Something was missing," she said after she had established her life.
+ First she got a job as an assiatant teacher at a nursery school. "Thought that I can do this," she said.
# # "The hours were long, the work was hard and there was lots of responsibility," she said.
# # She did various things to improve herself and business, from taking workshops and school courses...
+ (SHE GAVE ME THE NOTES TO HER SPEECH?>>>
+ To show the impact she has had on others, and saying that it capsulized who she was, Guli read from a letter she once received from a 13-year-old former student of her nursery.
+ "You were always patient with me," the girl wrote. "Thanks for your paticnet and kindness and for confronting me every time I was sad."
+ "Now this is what it's all about," she said.
+ Guli is in business with her only daughter, Maria Asher, an Island Park resident.
+ Diane Guli said she admired her mother in law for "her independence and she created her buisness from scratch. And she's a saint to have the patients that she had to have."
+ "She's the nicest lady you'll ever meet," said Guil's son, Larry.
+ ... the forum, presented by the Nassau County branch of the American Association of University Women (AAUW) at the Island Park Library on March 16.
Distinct women In celebration of Women's History Month, join the library for the Third Annual Forum honoring Island Park's Women of Distinction at 7 p.m. on March 16. This year's honorees are Carmel Caracciolo, director of religious education at Sacred Heart Church, Peggy Leone, coach of Little League Girl Scouts Softball, and Jane Guli, owner and director of the Village Nursery School. These women will share their road to achievement on becoming a significant positive force in the community.
+ Third annual Women's Forum at the Island Park Library on March 16.
+ Ronnie Swett: Designed to have girls think "bolder and larger." and for men to understand them...
+ Lorenz: This year the them is women as builders of communities and dreams.....Three women honored for their encouragement of dreams...Inspiring women with "hopes and possibilities."
+ The forum began with introductions by Helen Lorenz, president of the Nassau Chapter of the AAUW, and library Director Ronnie Swett, who explained its purpose. "We're honoring these women of our community tonight for passing on a legacy of empowering women," Swett said.
+ Is requirement for recognition to be a trailblazer in one's field?
Comments about this story? JKellard@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 287.
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