Opinions

Letters to the Editor: East Rockaway, Lynbrook

July 21-27, 2016

Posted

Using the park is a nice start

To the Editor:
It was good to read about the many and varied events scheduled for Memorial Park in East Rockaway this summer. The park is a great resource for the community.
My husband, Jonathan Wolfsohn, was president of the East Rockaway Trade Association, beginning in 1999. He believed Memorial Park was an underutilized venue. In fact, with great effort he managed to get the prestigious West Point Band to play in the park — with the condition that the village would sponsor the insurance, as they do for so many events. In the end, the village couldn’t make it happen — but Lynbrook seized this golden opportunity, and was delighted to welcome the glorious band to Greis Park.

As Trade Association president, Jonathan also began the custom of holding a formal ribbon cutting and photo op for new businesses, something that is done routinely now. He worked tirelessly with East Rockaway business owners to develop our downtown as a destination.
There are many wonderful businesses in the village, yet more still needs to be done to increase the variety and staying power of those who open their doors here. The increased use of the park may be a start.
It is nice to know that Jonathan was then, and remains now, ahead of his time.

Nancy Wolfsohn
East Rockaway

Thank you for support

To the Editor:

On behalf of the entire Ginocchio family, I would like to thank the Herald and the East Rockaway community for the outpouring of condolences and support following the passing of my mother, Joyce Ginocchio.
Mrs. Ginocchio, as she was known to her many students who had her as third-grade teacher at Centre Avenue Elementary School, truly was an institution in East Rockaway, having attended Rhame Avenue Elementary School and East Rockaway High School herself (as Joyce Kellerman) before going on to teach at Centre Avenue for 40 years, until her retirement in 2011.
As a result of this, while growing up in East Rockaway I often felt like I was sharing my mother with generations of students, parents and colleagues. Trips to the supermarket, dry-cleaners or church were often interrupted with “Hi, Mrs. Ginocchio!” My brother, Paul, and I would often jokingly refer to her as “the mayor” due to the relentlessness of her popularity.
Still, it was very reassuring that even after her death, that wave of positivity toward my mom continued. People attended her services bringing some of their favorite “Mrs. Ginocchio” stories, and I received an overwhelming response on Facebook when I was looking for photos of my mom teaching in her classroom. This level of support safely signifies that her memory will live on in East Rockaway for years to come.

Mark Ginocchio
Brooklyn