Town Board notes accomplishments of women who make a difference
East Northport – Huntington Supervisor Frank P. Petrone and the Town Council marked the Town’s 13th Annual Women’s Networking Day by recognizing five distinguished women for their contributions to the Town.
More than 400 people attended the October 28 event, run under the auspices of the Town’s Division of Women’s Services and carrying the theme, “Pulse of a Woman: Vibrant and Alive.” The event, at The Larkfield, was sponsored by GEICO, Estee Lauder Companies, Utopia Home Care and the Burns Law Group.
The day was highlighted by presentations to the honorees, each chosen by a member of the Town Board for her achievements in making Huntington a better place to live.
The honorees were:
Ellen O’Brien, executive director of the Huntington Township Chamber of Commerce. She began her career at the Chamber in October of 1999 as Coordinator and Director of the All-America City Award Program, a national community recognition competition. Huntington was successful in 2002 in being named an “All-America City”. She subsequently took on various programs and administrative duties at the Chamber and became Executive Director in 2005. Together with the Board of Directors, they continue to maintain the reputation of the Huntington Chamber as the premier Chamber of Commerce for business organizations on Long Island. Prior to joining the Chamber, Ellen had a long career with Michelin N.A., as the Board of Director/Shareholder liaison for the North American parent organization and 53 subsidiary corporations; managed their Manhattan office of Legal and Finance and became the first female officer of the U.S. corporation. She was recognized by Supervisor Frank P. Petrone.
Glenda A. Jackson, former Town councilwoman. A lifelong Huntington resident, she was the first African American Councilwoman in the Town of Huntington. She worked on many important local issues during her tenure, including quality of life issues, open space preservation and acquisition, youth and senior initiatives, and workforce housing. Besides working in the insurance industry, Glenda has been active in many community organizations and affiliations over the years, including the Town of Huntington’s Master Plan Advisory Committee, the Zoning Board of Appeals, the Huntington Chapter of the NAACP, and the League of Women Voters. She was recognized by Councilman Mark Cuthbertson.
Sarah Haiken, a junior at Half Hollow Hills High School East who has since the age of 11 been an active and dedicated advocate for Mothers Against Drunk Driving. On behalf of MADD, she helped form the Power Youth Program, sits on the MADD Teen Influencer National Board and the New York State MADD Advisory Board. This year, she was also asked to join the New York State Governor’s Board for Teen Safe Driving. She was recognized by Councilwoman Susan A. Berland, who also presented a proclamation to Sarah’s mother, Cheryl Haiken, citing Cheryl Haiken’s involvement with the Half Hollow Hills Parent Teacher Association and the South Huntington Jewish Center and calling her the driving force behind her daughter’s devotion to civic activism.
Sarah Connor, a Northport High School sophomore. Sarah has been involved in charitable work for entire life, including, at the age of three, beginning yearly “minithons” for the March of Dimes. After Hurricane Katrina devastated Louisiana, she began Sarah’s Lemon Aid Stand to help children of natural disasters. She has also raised funds to replace trees in Northport and to help victims of a tornado in Missouri. A talented theatre costume designer and artist, she is a 2014 Scholastic Young Writers and Artist’s Competition winner and Young Adult book author. She was recognized by Councilman Eugene Cook.
Frances Cerra Whittelsey, who as executive director of the Long Island Community Agriculture Network was a driving force in starting the Gateway Park Community Garden in Huntington Station. She has served as a member of the Huntington Town recycling advisory committee, as a board member of the Huntington Housing Coalition and was instrumental in formation of the Huntington Interfaith Housing Initiative, which shelters homeless men every winter. Fran is an award-winning journalist, cited for her work focusing on consumer abuses and investigations, and she has been honored by Sustainable Long Island with its “Getting It Done” award. She was recognized by Councilwoman Tracey A. Edwards.