Two Bellmore Residents Given Town of Hempstead's Pathfinder Award

From the Town of Hempstead:

Supervisor Kate Murray and members of the Hempstead Town Board honored nine women who live or work in the Town of Hempstead for their outstanding contributions to the community at the town’s annual Pathfinder Awards ceremony Tuesday.

An inspiring keynote speech was delivered by Long Island’s own Susan Axelrod, president and founder of Love and Quiches Desserts in Freeport. Axelrod has grown her internationally renowned quiche and dessert manufacturing business from a home-based enterprise started in 1973.

“[The] Pathfinder honorees are shining examples of women who have taken action to help create a better world,” Murray said. “Each of the women we are recognizing, as well as our keynote speaker, has worked hard to realize dreams and nurture those dreams into shining success stories. They believed in themselves and their vision and overcame challenges to accomplish great feats.”

Volunteer Award -- Nina Lanci: There are few areas of the Bellmore community that have not been touched by Lanci’s commitment and generous spirit. She is currently president of the Bellmore Lions Club and the Community Parent Center. She is also the treasurer of General Building Laborers’ Local 66 Charitable Trust and a trustee for the North Bellmore Board of Education.

Lanci’s commitment to education has spanned more than a decade, as she has served as president of the Martin Avenue PTA, the North Bellmore Coordinating Council of PTAs and the North Bellmore Board of Education.

Lanci has also served as president of the Central High School District Board of Education.

One of her earliest projects that benefited the children of Bellmore was securing a grant for the construction of the Martin Avenue Elementary School playground, which has been enjoyed by thousands of children over the last ten years.

In addition to her work with the schools, Lanci volunteers for the Bellmore Family Street Festival, the Strawberry Festival, the Bellmore tree lighting ceremony and various toys drives in the community. She does all this while working full-time as the Director of Administrative Services at General Building Laborers Local Union 66.

And, since it is said that volunteering begins at home, it is little wonder that her husband and children are her most enthusiastic cheerleaders as Lanci continues to be a Pathfinder who is making our town a better place in which to live. 

Town of Hempstead Employee Award -- Judy Zeitlin: Zeitlin, of Bellmore, began her career in the Town of Hempstead 14 years ago as a member of the Town Attorney’s office, and has been a dependable and dedicated staff member of Town Councilwoman Angie Cullin’s staff since 2005.

Zeitlin uses her knowledge and experience to serve the residents of the Fifth Council District, answering questions and responding to constituent requests in an expedient and professional manner.

A mentor to the Town Board interns, Zeitlin eagerly helps students transition to young professionals. She is always willing to lend a helping hand or kind, compassionate ear to others and is admired and respected by her co-workers for her phenomenal work ethic and team-player attitude.

A woman of great courage and grace, Zeitlin has persevered in the difficult year since being diagnosed with breast cancer, never wavering in the fulfillment of her commitments in her professional and personal life. Treatments, doctor appointments and surgeries have not stopped her uncanny humor and way of getting things done.

Zeitlin’s dedication to her work is only matched by her commitment to community service. Having long-served as a volunteer at Temple Beth-El of Bellmore, Judy began volunteering at Hewlett House 1 in 9 upon her recovery, compassionately providing hope, reassurance and great insight to other women facing a diagnosis of Breast Cancer. Judy and her twin sister Elaine have devoted countless hours raising over $8,000 for the Cure for Cancer Walk and were asked to travel to Israel as ambassadors in their Walk for a Cure.

“Each of these women is truly extraordinary,” Murray said. “They are true pathfinders and as such they inspire the next generation of great young women to continue blazing paths in their own unique ways.”