Assemblyman McDonough honors ‘Women of Distinction’

A number of the women are teachers. One is a speech pathologist. Others are community volunteers, and still others are business leaders. New York State Assemblyman David McDonough honored all of these Bellmore-Merrick “Women of Distinction” at a ceremony at the Merrick Library on Sept. 22.

McDonough recognized their contributions in business, community and civic affairs, education, government, health care, humanitarian causes and military services.

Merokean Lynda Arnone was honored for her commitment to education. At the St. John’s Lutheran Church Early Childhood Center in Merrick, she is known for treating each of her students specially, recognizing their strengths and working closely with them to excel as they prepare for kindergarten. She also volunteers at a local animal shelter and a homeless shelter.

Bellmorite Elizabeth Bowen is a speech pathologist who provides speech and language therapy to young children. She worked in the Uniondale School District before opening her own practice in North Bellmore. She remains up to date on the latest technology to provide the best treatment for her young clients.

Beth Stein, of North Bellmore, teaches the hearing-impaired in the Baldwin School District. She encourages and supports her students to help them succeed, regularly attending their extracurricular activities.

Bernice Stern, of Bellmore, retired as the deputy county clerk in Queens. At age 87, she volunteers her time and knowledge at the Long Island Cares food bank in Freeport, and assumes responsibility for lobby sales at South Nassau Communities Hospital in Oceanside for the hospital’s Bellmore auxiliary.

North Merrick resident Sharon Erikson has volunteered her services as a pediatric nurse on medical missions to Jamaica and Haiti, and worked to obtain donations of medical supplies and daily necessities for these nations, which have been hard hit by natural disasters. She is also a eucharistic minister at Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Church in North Merrick, and has been a religious education teacher for more than 25 years for those with special needs.