PEOPLE MAKING A BUZZ: Week of April 14

HONORS & AWARDS

Ridgeite Janine Kieran, the principal of George WestinghouseHigh School and the daughter of Marilyn and William Mafouz, wasnamed high school principal of the year by the Association ofOrthodox Jewish Teachers of the New York City Public Schools, andhonored at the group’s 41st annual award luncheon in March.

Councilmember Sara González honored local volunteers for Women’sHistory Month. The women honored volunteer in a wide range ofarenas, from the community board to local schools. These arehard-working women who still find time to volunteer and care fortheir families. These are neighborhood heroes who we prefer to callSheroes, González quipped.

APPOINTMENTS

Dr. Kathleen Cashin, a Bay Ridge resident, was appointedrecently to the New York State Board of Regents. Cashin has had along career in public education, serving as a principal in District22, then as the superintendent of the Ocean Hill-Brownsville schooldistrict. As a member of the Board, I know she will be a strong,independent voice for children and will bring the ambition that sheshowed as a superintendent to the state-level, said AssemblymemberPeter Abbate.

Lisa Price, who began the multi-million-dollar beauty productscompany, Carol’s Daughter, in her Brooklyn apartment on $100capital, was appointed to the board of the National Women’sBusiness Council for a three-year term. Price is, A credible andknowledgeable voice for small business owners, said Donna James,the chairperson of the council. She understands first-hand theunique challenges women business owners face in their journey fromthe start-up phase to success and significance.

MEETINGS

Money talk — Representatives of the Bay Ridge Federal CreditUnion and the Municipal Credit Union visited Washington, D.C.recently, to meet with their new representative, CongressmemberMichael Grimm. Among those who attended the meeting were SamuellaSeisay, Joy Schwartz, Gene Brody, Grimm, Steve Sabotta, MarkBrantley and Mario Matos.

Brooklyn Women’s Services, an affiliate of Maimonides MedicalCenter, hosted its 15th Annual Focus on Women Symposium last monthat Sirico’s Restaurant, to celebrate Women’s History Month. Thisyear’s event featured Rita Cosby, renowned TV host and veterancorrespondent for Fox News Channel and MSNBC. Cosby, anEmmy-winning journalist who recently wrote Quiet Hero: Secrets fromMy Father’s Past, talked about uncovering her father’s past as aWWII Resistance fighter and prisoner of war.

EVENTS

Fun Night For Moms — St. Ephrem School’s Home SchoolAssociation held its annual Ladies Nite Out on March 10 at theRex Manor. The evening was filled with excitement as the mothers ofSt. Ephrem students gathered together for a night of prizes,dancing and great food. The annual Ladies Nite is one of theschool’s biggest fundraisers.

Maimonides Medical Center recently hosted an event intended toalert area residents to raise awareness of the importance ofcolorectal cancer screening. Colorectal cancer is the seconddeadliest form of cancer among Hispanic residents in Brooklyn andaround the U.S., but is treatable if caught early, before symptomshave developed. Screening is therefore key, but one of the mostcommon barriers to getting screened is lack of coverage for thecost of the test, according to the hospital. At Maimonides,patients without health insurance receive assistance in determininghow to get coverage for testing. If no coverage is available,Maimonides covers the cost – including any follow-up treatment thatmay be needed.

The Kiwanis Club of West End members gathered recently at the ElCaribe Country Club in Mill Basin to celebrate St. Joseph’s and St.Patrick’s Days, and to support the BenBay Kiwanis club raise moneyfor a good cause.

Supporters of Our Lady of Grace School went back to the ‘70slast month to raise money for their cause.

Not your typical dinner dance, the school’s fun-raisingcommittee rocked Gargiulo’s Restaurant at 2911 West 15th Streetwith help from Joe Causi and mix master Johnny Rocks, and a specialguest appearance by Lime.