(GREAT NECK, N.Y.) - Nassau County Legislator Ellen W. Birnbaum (D - Great Neck) joined Great Neck Cub Scout Pack 178 and students from Great Neck’s Elementary Remote Program (ERP) at the Parkwood Aquatic Center in Great Neck on Saturday, March 13 for a successful Pinewood Derby.
Organizers, including Scott Sontag, Den Leader for the Great Neck Cub Scouts, and Pack 178 Cubmaster Sewell Tang taught participants (some of whom are pictured above) how to build their miniature racecars through a series of Zoom meetings leading up to the event. Using what they learned from those sessions, more than 80 scouts, siblings, and ERP students, built cars and raced them during four sessions throughout the afternoon.
During each session, prizes were awarded for the fastest, most creative and most realistic entries. Legislator Birnbaum had the privilege of serving as a judge for some of the races and awarded the Most Creative prize to ERP student Aria Yal (pictured below, with her father Richard). The event was presented with support from the Great Neck Library and the Great Neck Park District.
“Pinewood Derbies are a time-honored Scouting tradition and a sure sign that spring is just around the corner,” Legislator Birnbaum said. “All of the children did a wonderful job with their cars, and I applaud Scott Sontag, Sewell Tang and their fellow leaders at the Great Neck Cub Scouts for their commitment to safely continuing this event during the pandemic.”
PHOTO CREDIT - Office of Legislator Ellen W. Birnbaum
