Dwight Gooden, AFA team up for ‘Walk in the Park’ fundraiser
Former New York Mets baseball legend Dwight Gooden joined with the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America (AFA) to help strike out Alzheimer’s disease at AFA’s annual Alzheimer’s Walk in the Park. The walk raised approximately $50,000 to support AFA’s programs, services and research projects.
Services supported by the walk proceeds include the AFA Helpline, caregiver support groups, and educational programs, as well as research toward better treatment and a cure. AFA funds research across the country and around the world, including NYU Langone Hospital-Long Island, the Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research and Stony Brook University.
As the AFA’s honorary ambassador for the walk, Gooden cut the ribbon to start the walk, threw out a ceremonial first pitch, and talked about the impact that help and support have for someone going through the challenges of this disease.
Moss Wellness Workspace hosts women’s networking event
About 30 women in the architecture, design, construction and real estate industry gathered for a first-ever CONNECT networking event at Moss Wellness Workspace, a co-working community in Garden City, to celebrate and strengthen relationships among female professionals in the architecture, real estate and design space.
“Our mission was to provide the opportunity for women to connect across adjacent professional spaces,” Diana Lillo, CEO of InspireDesign Creative Studio and creator of Moss Wellness Workspace, who co-hosted the event, said in a written statement.
The event was sponsored by Waldner’s Business Environments, Combined Resources and The Own
It Team.
Peconic Bay Medical Center orthopedic team achieves top honors
Peconic Bay Medical Center (PBMC) received a Gold Level Beacon Award for Excellence by the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN). The award specifically celebrated the orthopedic team in Surgical Pavilion 1 (SP1) for providing the highest level of individualized patient care and elevating the health of the Eastern Suffolk County community.
The award recognizes hospital units with an exceptional track record of patient outcomes and that have exhibited strong leadership structures, staffing management, professional development and use of evidence-based practices.
PBMC is the only hospital in New York State to receive the highest level of this prestigious award based on three-year evaluation of leadership, collaboration and patient care.
Mastic Beach teacher presented with Milken Educator Award
Tangier Smith Elementary School third and fifth grade teacher John Melandro was surprised by staff and students at a schoolwide assembly when he was presented with a Milken Educator Award. The prestigious national honor–created by philanthropist and education visionary Lowell Milken–recognizes exceptional educators for their dedication to excellence in education. Hailed as the “Oscar of Teaching,” the award was presented by Milken Educator Awards Senior Vice President Jane Foley, and Eastern Suffolk BOCES District Superintendent Jasmin Varela.
As part of the honor, Melandro also received an unrestricted $25,000 cash prize.
The first-ever recipient in the William Floyd School District, Melandro earned his Bachelor of Arts in child study from St. Joseph’s University in 2017. He also received his master’s degree in liberal arts from Stony Brook University in 2022.