Presiding Officer Norma L. Gonsalves attended the 12th Annual Prairie Benefit of Friends of Hempstead Plains which took place in David S. Mack Hall at the Hofstra University Club in Hempstead. During the benefit, the Friends of Hempstead Plains honored Dr. John Staudt with the 2017 Honored Special Guest Award; Ed Ichart, Lisa Bott and Maryann Richer from Mazars USA LLP with the 2017 Corporate Volunteer Honoree Award; 2nd Assistant Chief John Skelly from Uniondale Fire Department with the 2017 Community Service Honoree Award; Joe Grupp with the 2017 Volunteer of the Year Honoree Award; Tom Coughlin from Mods of NY with the 2017 Program: “Cargo Containers” Award; and Tom McKloskey with the 2017 Photographer Award.
“Your untiring dedication and commitment to preserve and restore the Hempstead Plains habitat and foster good stewardship of the land through education and research is truly a great achievement.”
Shown in photo above, left to right: Dr. John Staudt, Tom McKloskey, Assistant Chief John Skelly; Presiding Officer Norma Gonsalves; Ed Ichart, Maryann Richer, Lisa Bott, Joe Grupp; Betsy Gulotta of Friends of Hempstead Plains at Nassau Community College; Town of Hempstead Supervisor Anthony Santino and NYS Assemblyman David McDonough.