Assemblyman John Mikulin (R, C-Bethpage) held his annual Women of Distinction ceremony to honor the remarkable accomplishments of women from throughout the 17^th Assembly District. The ceremony was held at the Island Trees Public Library on October 1 and featured a keynote speech from Nassau County District Court Judge Rhonda E. Fischer, Betty Tucker who read the biographies of the women present, as well as participation from Nassau County Legislator Steve Rhoads.

“I am so honored to represent this community. It’s such a warm and wonderful place to have grown up and to continue to call home because of the remarkable people who do so much for others, and that’s what this event is all about. Taking time to recognize, honor, and say thank you to the women who have truly gone above and beyond when it comes to community, to being civically engaged, to being leaders in their fields, or giving their all,” said Mikulin. “We are grateful to them for their accomplishments because without them, our community would not be as strong – it wouldn’t be home. Thank you and congratulations to every woman who was nominated this year.”

In total nine women were honored this year, including a special recognition award that was given to Thien Nga Vu (Westbury), a certified body and yoga instructor. The other nominees are Carol Ippolito Arigo, retired andformer local business owner of Pietro’s Restaurant (East Meadow), Elizabeth K. Franks, member and treasurer of the American Culinary Federation Long Island Chapter (Massapequa), Diana Garone,world language teacher (Bethpage), Carol Louise Gravely, nurse and firefighter (East Meadow), Dr. Tonie McDonald, former superintendent of the Levittown Union Free School District and educator (Levittown), Dr. Jacklyn J. Nogan, chiropractor and head of Public Relations and Adult Programming at the Levittown Public Library (Levittown), and Deborah Podolski, retired director of the Farmingdale Public Library (Massapequa), and Paula DiPietrantonio Sidor, volunteer with the Blue Star Mothers NY 14.