SHAI celebrates Mother’s Day at Versace boutique

On the evening of May 10th, SHAI celebrated Mother’s Day in style at the Versace boutique at the Americana. Over 150 mothers, daughters, and granddaughters filled the beautiful space and enjoyed the new Versace Icons collection.

Among the many women in attendance that evening, SHAI was privileged to host Nassau County Legislator Mazi Melesa Pilip, Judge Segal Blakeman, Judge Mojgan Lancman, journalist Ellie Cohanim, SHAI President Erika Kashi, and community members Anna Hakakian, Jacqueline Harounian, Rachel Geula, Orli Shakooi, Rebecca Sassouni, Claudia Amirian, Margan Greenblatt, Parvaneh Khodadadian, Coreen Eitan, Edna Khalily, and Tania Eshaghoff.

Our SHAI women are also grateful for the support of the men of the community, including Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, Officer Dolan, Mike Delafraz, Daniel Rabenou, and Shahruz Shahery, who were all present at the event.

SHAI President Erika Kashi introduced the theme for the evening, celebrating every woman as a Woman of Valor (in Hebrew “Eshet Hayil”).

Kashi spoke about the tremendous contribution made by our local women, each with unique gifts, talents, and accom- plishments that strengthen their families and the community. In hosting the event at Versace, SHAI celebrated women putting their best foot forward, and the importance of giving back to the community, having a career and motherhood.

Nassau County Legislator Melesa Pilip inspired and empowered as she spoke from personal experience about maintaining a balance between motherhood and career.

Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman delivered a Mother’s Day message and awarded citations to Kashi and Khalily for their dedication and hard work on behalf of the community.

Versace generously donated ten percent of the proceeds from the event to SHAI. Everyone who made a purchase also received a copy of “Alisha’s Magical Red Lipstick,” a children’s book on fashion and women’s empowerment authored by Edna Khalily.

Everyone present ate, danced, shopped, and enjoy themselves. Delicious bites and refreshments were provided by Lederman Caterers.

At the end of the evening each woman left with a rose courtesy of Metro Florist. It was a terrific, uplifting, and glamorous evening celebrating women, motherhood, career, and fashion.

BY JOHN NUGENT

The Village of Floral Park Board of Trustees on Tuesday approved the purchase of a 1997 Duplex 93-foot Aerial Ladder Platform Fire Truck in the amount of $89,000. The new apparatus will replace the 2004 Aerial Ladder Truck 123 that was destroyed in a four-alarm fire on April 17.

The fire, which involved more than 100 firefighters from 18 different Nassau County fire departments, caused major damage to a building at 266 Jericho Turnpike in Floral Park. Mayor Kevin Fitzgerald noted the importance of having this equipment not only to the Village of Floral Park but also to surrounding communities that “rely on us” for support in the event of a major fire emergency. Five fire department personnel sustained minor injuries in the fire which took four hours to bring under control. Several nearby businesses also incurred smoke and water damage. Trustee Frank Chiara called out News12 for what he said was an inaccurate report that there had been no fire inspections of the 266 Jericho Turnpike building since 2017.

Chiara said that fire inspections, which “are required by code every 3 years of this type of occupancy,” were conducted on that property in 2016 and every year from 2018-2022.

The fact that the village conducted these inspections was “inexplicably omitted from their story,” said Chiara.

The board also authorized the expenditure of $89,000 for a 2023 Chevy Tahoe for the police department.In a separate financial matter, the board approved the Schedule of Accounts Payable totaling $3.75 million. Al- locations for the General Fund, the Pool Fund and the Capital Fund are included in this figure. Deputy Mayor Lynn Pombonyo commended the Floral Park Police Department for their extraordinary efforts in managing the large volume of traffic that passed through the village during the recent Belmont Stakes at nearby Belmont Park Race Track.

Pombonyo added thanks to the FPPD for apprehending an individual who was reported breaking into vehicles that were parked in the village during the event. She urged residents to be alert, lock unattended vehicles and call 911 to report any suspicious activity.