By Andrew Coen
The Lynbrook resident's 24-year struggle with pulmonary lympanthgiolei-omyomatosis, known as LAM for short, ended when she died on April 6 at Mercy Medical Center in Rockville Centre. She was 39.
Kathy touched the local community during her fight with the Hewlett Fire Department conducting numerous fund-raisers for the young woman and local television stations airing segments on the disease. Her family said the 1984 Hewlett High School graduate's courageous battle helped educate the public about the rare disease that affects around 15,000 people with yearly dinners and organized functions conducted by the Connecticut based Northeast Friends of LAM and the LAM Foundation in Cincinnati, with Kathy being an active participant in both organizations.
"She's was tough all along," said her mother Marie of how her daughter fought the disease. "She was not defined by the illness."
Kathy's family said she lived a relatively normal life until seven years ago when the disease began to strengthen and she was forced to go to sleep with a respirator each night. After graduating from Hewlett in 1984, Kathy pursued her passion for clothing by attending the Fashion Institute of Technology in Manhattan where she graduated in 1989 with a degree in fashion merchandising and worked for Banana Republic stores for a decade.
In addition to her interest in fashion, Kathy was described by family and friends as being a devoted fan of the New York Yankees and a family oriented person who enjoyed watching her nephews play sports.
Kathy's sister Michelle Curiel of Hewlett said despite touching so many lives about the illness, she never wanted people to know she had been stricken with a disease that would ultimately take her life. "She was a teacher without even knowing it," said Curiel. "I think she just had a will to live and tried to enjoy life as much as she could which is why she lived so long."
The fondness that many had for Kathy was evident for her funeral with over 700 people packing the service held at St. Joseph's Roman Catholic Church in Hewlett where she had volunteered when she was younger. "She was a beacon of light and served as an inspiration to everyone she knew," said her friend Christian Paccio of Lynbrook at her funeral. "Kathy allowed herself to experience moments of frustration and gracefully moved on. Through this I learned patience and tolerance, to bear life's ills rather than allow myself to be overcome by them."
In addition to her mother and sister, Kathy is survived by her father Joseph, brother Daniel Godstrey of Lynbrook, and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews.
Following the funeral at St. Joseph's, a private cremation occurred.
Kathy's family requests that donations be made in her honor to the LAM Foundation, 1015 Beacon Hills Drive, Cincinnati, OH 45241 and encourages people who would like further information on the organization to log onto www.thelamfoundation.org.
Comments about this story? acoen@liherald.com or 516-569-4000 ext. 210.
PHOTO; Lyn Budget Adoption 4/20
HEAD: Budget adopted
SUBHEAD: Passes by 3-1; Hendrick abstains from village vote
By Mike Schnitzel
Despite the fact that Lynbrook¼s proposed 2006-07 budget contains no tax increase for village residents, the Board of Trustees was not enthusiastic about its adoption.
The budget was adopted at Monday night¼s village board meeting by a vote of 3 to 1, with one abstention. After Deputy Mayor Thomas Miccio moved for its approval, Mayor Eugene Scarpato and Trustee Richard Clifford voiced their support for the measure.
Trustee William Hendrick, who, earlier in the night, had said he wanted to review the spending plan and do some „belt-tightening¾ before giving his OK, abstained from the vote.
The statewide deadline for village budget approvals is May 1.
Trustee David Penso voted against the budget, citing concern with an increase in expenses. „At the end of the day, I have very little confidence that [village] finances are being managed in a prudent manner,¾ Penso said.
He added that with the added burden of the village¼s debt, which Budget Officer John Giordano said is just over $21 million, he is concerned about a future spike in the tax levy.
Scarpato said he felt the budget was „solid,¾ and that „Lynbrook is in good shape.¾
The $30.9 million budget is a 3.8 percent increase over the current budget of $29.7 million. The village plans to collect $24 million in property taxes ã 1.5 percent less than the $24.3 million it collected this year. The tax rate will be $13.69 per $100 of assessed property value, the same as last year.
According to Giordano, a number of factors contributed to the absence of a tax increase, including a directive from management to prioritize capital projects, tighter projections of expenses and revenues, and the absence of increases in insurance and retirement benefits, programs that traditionally require increased expenditures.
Resident Jerry Marshall said he felt that the numbers for the Payment In Lieu of Taxes (PILOT) program from the Sterling Glen Assisted Living Facility were overstated in the budget. Sterling Glen has an agreement with the village that would require it to pay the village about $130,000 this year. Giordano said that a payment from Sterling Glen could not be made to the village until July 1, the start of the new fiscal year.
Village Attorney Peter Ledwith and Giordano agreed that the $130,000 projection was reasonable, and close to the amount the village would receive. Miccio asked Marshall to provide him with the figures he used to come up with his numbers so that the board could review them.
Marie Conneally voiced her concern with the debt being carried by the village, saying that she didn¼t want it to become overly burdensome in the future. Giordano said the $21 million debt represented 14 percent of the $134 million debt ceiling set by New York state, and that the village¼s goal was to keep debt at that level in the future.
The adopted budget is for the fiscal year beginning July 1 and ending June 31, 2007.
Lyn Ink Spot 4/20
Photos:
27301A Lyn Inkspot 4/20
Courtesy: Frank LaPeruta
27301B Lyn Inkspot 4/20
Caption: LaPeruta is sad to leave his shop, and the many loyal patrons of the „Ink Spot.¾
Story #3
HEAD: Ink Spot¼ leaves its mark
SUBHEAD: Lynbrook printer stops the presses after 57 years
By Mary Malloy
After more than a half-century doing business at 80 Broadway in Lynbrook, Frank LaPeruta, owner of Corcoran¼s Ink Spot, is ready to retire.
LaPuerta, 86, has been in the printing business since 1936, first as an employee, then as co-owner with the establishment¼s namesake Joe Corcoran, and eventually as sole owner.
„Joe was in business since 1918, on Bedford Avenue in Brooklyn, and moved the shop to Nostrand Avenue in 1921,¾ He and Corcoran worked side by side for six years, until they both enlisted in the army in 1942. „Pearl Harbor made me join,¾ said LaPuerta.
He was with the Flying Tiger¼s 14th Air Force division in the China Burma India Theater. After five years of military duty, he returned to the shop. „The guy Joe and I left behind to watch the place robbed us blind while we were away.¾ But they were happy to be home, and soon recouped their losses.
In 1949, LaPuerta and the „Ink Spot¾ moved to Lynbrook, and he took over as sole owner in 1954. His business flourished, and soon he had the village of Lynbrook, the school districts, the fire and police departments, and the schools districts, and many churches and temples in the area as clients.
He was awarded a Golden Anniversary plaque and the Patriotism Award from the Elks Club, of which he has been a member for 52 years. He is an honorary member of Tally Ho Engine Co. #3 and an associate member of Hose Co. #1 in Lynbrook.
„Frank has been in the same location for 57 years, and he has always been ready to to help the people of Lynbrook, sometimes at no charge,¾ said Mayor Eugene Scarpato. „Being in the printing business myself, I have a special bond with Frank, knowing what he goes through each day. He is a generous, lovable guy and we will miss him. He wasn¼t rich, but he gave of himself.¾
Scarpato presented LaPuerta with a citation for his enduring service to the village at the April 17 board meeting. „it has been a privilege to have him in village. We will miss seeing that store in the location he occupied.¾
LaPuerta moved to Valley Stream in 1996 with his wife Joan. He still goes to
Flyer TIger Reunions, the last one he attended was San Antonio, Texas. I don¼t think we¼ll be traveling too much, „ he said, „and we¼re not moving to Florida. We¼re just going to take it easy and relax - no cruises, though, I spent 45 days on a boat during World War II and that was enough. „
