Northeast Queens Jewish Community Council 2005 Installation & Awards Reception Sponsored by Parker Jewish Institute for Health Care and Rehabilitation Honoring Hon. Frank Padavan Hali Herman Linda Eichhorn Sunday, October 30, 2005 – 27 Tishri 5766 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. Bellerose Jewish Center 254-04 Union Turnpike, Floral Park, New York 58-20 Little Neck Parkway, Little Neck, NY 11362 (718) 225-6750 facsimile: (718) 423-8276 www.northeastqueensjewish.org Email: [email protected] An association of synagogues and other religious, education, fraternal and community organizations, the Northeast Queens Jewish Community Council (NEQJCC) covers Bay Terrace, Bayside, Bellerose, Douglaston, Floral Park, Fresh Meadows, Glen Oaks, Hillcrest, Holliswood, Hollis Hills, Jamaica Estates, Little Neck, New Hyde Park, Oakland Gardens and Queens Village (north). Council projects include neighborhood development, Jewish continuity, Lay Leadership, social action, fostering intergroup understanding and building a multi-cultural coalition. The Council combats anti-Semitism and discrimination, sponsors forums with major public figures, Jewish cultural events, open discussions with local Rabbis and represents community concerns. As part of its Neighborhood Development efforts, the Council helped form the NORC-WOW, a pilot program to serve seniors in one and two family homes. The Council publishes a (4-fold 8.5 by 14-inch) brochure, You Can Have It All, touting life in northeast Queens Communities, including a map locating its member synagogues and institutions. The NEQJCC hosted two Israeli Gifts Fair with Queens Region Hadassah and the Consulate of Israel, where thousands purchased direct from Israeli merchants and listened to Israeli entertainers 2002’s Ben Yehuda Street Comes to Bayside and last year’s Jerusalem's Ben Yehuda Street and Beyond Comes to Bayside Hills, Queens. Its annual programs include its Installation of Officers and Awards Reception each fall, the lighting of the largest Chanukah Menorah in Queens, a Purim Carnival at the Samuel Field YM&YWHA, a Pre-Passover Food Drive and a Food and Clothing Drive before the Jewish New Year, and its annual Legislative Forum each Spring, co-sponsored by the the Metropolitan Council on Jewish Poverty, the Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater New York and Queens Region-Hadassah, at the Y. A UJA-Federation beneficiary, the NEQJCC works closely with Metropolitan Council on Jewish Poverty ("Met Council"), the Samuel Field Y, and the Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater New York. Visit the Council’s Website at www.northeastqueensjewish.org PROGRAM Welcomes Jeffrey Gurdus, President, NEQJCC Jeffrey Berzon, President, Bellerose Jewish Center Michael N. Rosenblut, President and CEO, Parker Jewish Institute Invocation Rabbi Jerome Dattelkramer, Spiritual Leader, Bellerose Jewish Center Star Spangled Banner Hatikvah Introductions Corey B. Bearak, Esq., Chairman, NEQJCC Installation of Officers Hon. David I. Weprin, Chair, City Council Finance Committee Presentations: Award for Outstanding Service to the Community of Queens Hon. Frank Padavan Presented by Helene Zaro, First Vice President, NEQJCC Award for Outstanding Service to the Community of Greater New York Hali Herman Presented by Matthew Grossman, Executive Director, BBYO, Inc. Award for Outstanding Service to the Community of Northeast Queens Linda Eichhorn Presented by Rick Lewis, Assistant Executive Director, Samuel Field Y Remarks Jeff Gurdus, President, NEQJCC Birchat Hamazon Northeast Queens Jewish Community Council 2005/2006 OFFICERS Corey B. Bearak, Esq. Chairman, Executive Committee Jeffrey Gurdus President Helene Zaro First Vice President Ethel Levine Second Vice President Dr. Sandra Alfonsi Third Vice President Corinne Steel Secretary Herb Friedman Treasurer Dr. Steven Goodman Trustee Staff Gail Eisenberg, Executive Director Past Presidents Jay R. Roth Rabbi Michael Kramer Rabbi Meir Bilitzky Robert Orner Dr. Arnold Honig Corey B. Bearak, Esq. Joseph M. Varon Past Honorees: 2004: Hon. Claire Shulman Karen Ginnis Ethel Levine 2003: Dr. Sandra Alfonsi Joseph M. Varon 2002: David Rosenzweig Hon. David I. Weprin 2001: Harold Baron Helene Zaro 2000: Michael Miller Steven Goodman Harold Goldberg Jonathan Bearak 1999: Jeffrey Weisenfeld Sharon Kalker 1998: Met Council on Jewish Poverty Corey Bearak 1997: Michael Rogovin Mady Caslow 1996: Manny Behar David Bogart 1995: Rabbi Robert Kaplan Rabbi Meir Bilitzky 1994: Anne Lupkin 1992: Hon. Elizabeth Holtzman Dr. Arnold Honig David I. Weprin Council Member 23rd District Chair, Finance Committee Congratulates The Northeast Queens Jewish Community Council And their Honorees: Hon. Frank Padavan Hali Herman and Linda Eichhorn District Office City Hall Office 205-07 Hillside Avenue 250 Broadway Hollis, NY 11423 NY, NY 10007 (718) 465-8202 (212) 788-6984 Our warmest congratulations to HON. FRANK PADAVAN HALI HERMAN LINDA EICHHORN AND HON. DAVID I. WEPRIN on their well-deserved honors. JOSEPH C. SHENKER, PRESIDENT MERRYL H. TISCH, CHAIRMAN WILLIAM E. RAPFOGEL, CEO Met Council and NEQJCC are proudly affiliated with The residents and Board of Directors of North Shore Towers and Country Club congratulates Senator Frank Padavan on receiving this distinct honor. Your invaluable assistance over the years has been a tremendous benefit to our community. It is with sincere gratitude that we recognize your continued service. Ira Rubin – Board President Marvin Rosenberg – 1st Vice President Eileen Brenner – Secretary James Short – Vice President Alan Gardner – Vice President Allan Pessin – Vice President Martin Fladell – Vice President Murray Lewinter – Vice President Ted Tulchin – Vice President Glen Kotowski – General Manager Robert Serikstad - Controller Outstanding Service to the Community of Queens Hon. Frank Padavan Senator Frank Padavan was appointed Vice President Pro Tempore of the New York State Senate in 2003 and was chosen to Co-chair the State Senate Task Force on Government Reform in 2004. Senator Padavan previous served for 10 years as Chairman of the Mental Hygiene and Addiction Control Committee (1977- 1987).The Senator authored numerous laws over a 32-year legislative career. Senator Padavan is the legislature's leading opponent of casino gambling and the state lottery and authored several reports on the negative consequences of state sanctioned gambling. The Senator is also an advocate for tough laws to fight crime; a pioneer in welfare and Medicaid system cost containment and a principal architect of New York City legislation. As former Chairman of the Senate Committee on Cities, Senator Padavan has played a key role in most significant New York City education advances, including increased Mayor control and accountability. Senator Padavan was a key architect of New York City's "Safe Streets/ Safe City" program, which contributed to the dramatic decline in reported crime. Senator Padavan also authored New York's landmark Criminal Asset Forfeiture Law. Community Residence Site Selection ("Padavan")creating the State Commission on Quality of Care for the Mentally Disabled; opening basic group health insurance coverage for alcoholics and their families; making mental health coverage possible for New Yorkers in group health plans; and, making 21 the State's minimum legal drinking age. Law His laws govern Business Improvement Districts (BIDs) . Senator Padavan's report, "Our Teeming Shore," calculated the annual cost of federal immigration policy to New York City and State at $5.6 billion. Accomplishments for Queens include securing financing to modernize and expand Flushing Hospital Medical Center and Jamaica Hospital and Medical Center, providing the Lifeline Center for Child Development with a permanent home; supporting the Bayside Historical Society's restoration of the Fort Totten Officers Club; creating the Colonial Farmhouse Restoration Society and providing land to develop senior citizen housing in Bellerose. Senator Padavan also passed legislation transfer State land to the Queens Center for Progress (QCP). Senator Padavan has also been a leader in Queens environmental action, establishing the Northeast Queens Nature and Historic Preserve Commission and helping to create and maintain the Alley Pond Environmental Center. Senator Padavan's lawsuit restored parkland threatened by the State Department of Transportation's expansion of Long Island Expressway through Alley Pond Park and the front yards of Little Neck homes, Numerous New York City and statewide organizations have honored Senator Padavan including the Alliance for the Mentally Ill of New York State, Pride of Judea Mental Health Center, Samuel Field YM-YWHA, and veterans groups including the Jewish War Veterans. A graduate of Newtown High School and a member of the Queens school's Alumni Hall of Fame, Senator Padavan earned his bachelor's degree in electrical engineering from Brooklyn Polytechnic University (1955) and master's degree in business administration from New York University (1963). A recipient of NYU's Distinguished Graduate Award, Senator Padavan became a member of Brooklyn Polytechnic's Board of Fellows in June, 1988. Prior to his 1972 election to the Senate, he was employed for 14 years with the Westinghouse Electric Corporation and served four years as Deputy Commissioner of the New York City Department of Buildings. Attaining the rank of Colonel, Senator Padavan's 30-year career in the Army Corps of Engineers included serving as commanding officer of the 411th Engineer Brigade and chief