Senate Resolution No. 339

BY: Senator MARTINS

HONORING Stephen Moore upon the occasion of his
designation for special recognition by HEARTS Port
Washington on February 7, 2025

WHEREAS, Individuals who give of their time and energies and serve
the best interests of their communities are assets beyond remuneration
and cannot be sufficiently extolled; and

WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is justly proud to honor Stephen
Moore, upon the occasion of his designation for special recognition by
HEARTS Port Washington, to be recognized at its Annual Red Party at the
Polish American Hall in Port Washington, New York, on Friday, February
7, 2025; and

WHEREAS, HEARTS (Helping Enrich the Arts of Port Washington) is an
independent, grassroots not-for-profit 501(c)3 community organization
whose mission is to add meaningful value to children's lives and our
community by supporting, promoting, and enriching the arts in Port
Washington and its public schools; and

WHEREAS, Since its founding in 2011, HEARTS has funded more than 180
grants district-wide, as well as scholarships for art and music students
for college; the non-profit also provides interactive high-quality
programming in theater, music, fine arts, creative writing, dance, and
much more; and

WHEREAS, HEARTS has created PortFest, a community art and music
festival celebrating arts in Port Washington, as well as Curtains Up, an
after-school musical theater program for elementary school students; and

WHEREAS, The organization also created Dancing Classrooms, which is
a partnership with the Creative Arts Department, HSA/PTAs, The Ed.
Foundation, and the Port Washington Summer Music Program; and

WHEREAS, Stephen Moore started his educational adventure at Highland
Park Elementary in Salt Lake City, Utah; in third grade, he clearly
remembers his teacher asking him what he wanted to be when he grew up,
and of course, he immediately responded, "An artist!"; as a child, he
would doodle, draw, and "design" machines; his first oil painting class
in fifth grade was transcendent; and

WHEREAS, At Utah State University, in northern Utah, Stephen Moore
studied illustration and painting while driving a truck to pay for his
education; after graduation, and on his way out of town, he stopped at
his favorite professor's studio and bought a small painting as a
talisman of inspiration; and

WHEREAS, While on vacation in New York City, Stephen Moore knew he
had found his home and moved there to become an illustrator, working for
many publishers, including Scholastic, Dodd Mead, and The Daily News;
the City's museums inspired him to return to school to study fine art at
Pratt Institute where he received a Master of Fine Arts degree; and

WHEREAS, Stephen Moore has shown his art at various venues,
including the Bronx Museum of the Arts, P. S. 122, and SculptureCenter
in Queens; in 1997, and much to his surprise, he was offered a teaching
position at P. S. 132 in Washington Heights where he taught for seven
years; and

WHEREAS, For the past 21 years, Stephen Moore has been exceptionally
fortunate to have John Philip Sousa Elementary School as his home for
teaching art; he is known for creating large (sometimes too large)
legacy art installations on the Sousa campus; and

WHEREAS, Stephen Moore has found that teaching young children has
been a joyful and extraordinary adventure; as a teacher, he has obtained
National Board Certification and has received the Title I Distinguished
Educator Award; he is extremely grateful to HEARTS for its support; and

WHEREAS, Throughout the years of his community service, a period of
constructive involvement, Stephen Moore has stood constant in dignity
and good grace; and

WHEREAS, Rare indeed is the impressive dedication shown by
individuals for the benefit of others which Stephen Moore has displayed
throughout his life; and

WHEREAS, It has always been the objective of this Legislative Body
to honor and support those individuals who have displayed their
commitment to the betterment of their communities, and it is the intent
of this Legislative Body to inscribe upon its records this tribute to
Stephen Moore, that future generations may know and appreciate his
admirable character, his many benevolent deeds, and the respect and
esteem in which he is held by his peers; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
honor Stephen Moore upon the occasion of his designation for special
recognition by HEARTS Port Washington on February 7, 2025; and be it
further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to Stephen Moore.