Senate Resolution No. 4461

BY: Senator PHILLIPS

COMMEMORATING the 40th Anniversary of the Port
Washington Children's Center, and paying tribute to
this year's honorees, on May 3, 2018

WHEREAS, Organizations which serve the interests of the people of
this Empire State merit the commendation of this Legislative Body; and

WHEREAS, The Port Washington Children's Center has served the
interests of the people of the Empire State by providing day care and
educational services to young children in the Port Washington area for
the past 40 years; and

WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its
long-standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to
commemorate the 40th Anniversary of the Port Washington Children's
Center, and to pay tribute to this year's honorees; and

WHEREAS, This auspicious occasion will be celebrated at a Tribute to
Presidents Gala on Thursday, May 3, 2018, at the Swan Club in Roslyn,
New York; and

WHEREAS, This year's honorees include former Presidents: Christine
Kiernan, Roberta McNeil, Barbara Miller, Nancy Ulrich, Arlene Labenson,
Sally Scott, Susan Bagnini, Claudia Rouhana, Toby Koren, Ginny Cook, Bob
McGuire, Pat Latzman, Anne Shkuda, Andy London, Kathy Zankel, Pamela
Tarica, Judy Cutaia, Lloyd Herman, Candy Scheer, Dorothy Conroy Rule,
Doris Novick, Barbara Ring, Doreen Berne, Sandra Joslyn, Teddy Rosaya,
David Beatus, Irene D'Antonio, and the late Howard Blankman, Faustina
Lees and Barbara Goldstein; and

WHEREAS, For 40 years, the Port Washington Children's Center has
provided high quality care for families who reside or work in the
community of Port Washington, New York; and

WHEREAS, In 1975, a group of concerned citizens under the auspices
of the Port Washington Community Council set up a steering committee to
establish a child care center in Port Washington which would serve the
economically and culturally diverse population of the community; and

WHEREAS, After receiving a grant and loan from the Veatch Foundation
of the North Shore Unitarian Church in the summer of 1977, the first
Children's Center opened its doors to the public at its first location
in St. Stephen's Church; and

WHEREAS, The licensed, private non-profit facility began caring for
32 children and by the end of the year the Children's Center had
outgrown its space and moved to the Merriman School where it thrived,
increasing its capacity to 68 children; and

WHEREAS, In 1988, the Children's Center moved to the Flower Hill
School and was able to provide care for 113 children from the ages of
three through five in its early childhood program, and five through 12
in its after-school program; and


WHEREAS, In 1995, the Children's Center moved to its present
location in the Landmark Building where it served 121 children; over the
next few years, more and more children attended the Center; soon,
toddlers, 18 months through 36 months, joined the program, and the
Center once again rented space from St. Stephen's Church allowing it to
serve more children; and

WHEREAS, During the Fall of 2009, the Children's Center added an
after-school program in Sousa Elementary School, followed by its move to
Daly Elementary in the fall of 2010, making its year-round program
capable of providing care for up to 92 children in Early Childhood
programs and 170 school-age children; and

WHEREAS, In the summer of 2010, the Children's Center began
directing the school district's summer recreation program, ATLAST, which
was later renamed Port Day Camp; this wonderful opportunity allows the
Center to provide high quality, affordable summer programs for even more
children of the community; and

WHEREAS, Since its inception, the Port Washington Children's Center
has strived to provide a safe, nurturing setting for all of its
children, helping them to become productive, responsible members of
society; a wide variety of activities promote each child's optimum
growth, gives them opportunities to make choices, to be creative, to
problem solve and to learn conflict resolutions; and

WHEREAS, Compassionate and experienced teachers provide a safe, warm
and caring environment for children to learn to express themselves
through play and positive reinforcement; and

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to extend its
highest commendation to all of the individuals who have been involved
with the Port Washington Children's Center, past and present, noting the
importance of their work and their enduring commitment to young
children; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commemorate the 40th Anniversary of the Port Washington Children's
Center, and to pay tribute to this year's honorees; and be it further

RESOLVED, That copies of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to the aforementioned honorees and the Port Washington
Children's Center.