-
Recent Posts
Recent Comments
- Margarita Lappost on Heading Elsewhere for a Better School: Education in Washington Heights
- wdiaz on Less Art and More People: SoHo
- wdiaz on Searching for a Skateboard Haven in Hempstead
- wdiaz on Restaurant Row in Spanish Harlem
- Abel Ramirez on Heading Elsewhere for a Better School: Education in Washington Heights
Archives
Categories
- A.J. Liebling
- Amanda Burden
- Announcements
- Audio
- Backgrounder
- Commentary and Critiques
- Community Services
- Conflict Story
- Deadly Choices at Memorial (Fink)
- E.B. White
- Gish Jen
- Here Is New York
- Joseph Mitchell
- Multimedia
- Neighborhood News
- Neighborhoods
- Profiles
- ProfilesDRAFTS
- Reporting Notes
- Small Business
- Story Queries
- Uncategorized
Meta
Author Archives: john.friia
Posts: 13 (archived below)
Comments: 1
Patricia Ann Norris-McDonald (Malverne)
A life long resident, a compassionate individual and the Mayor of Malverne, Patricia Ann Norris-McDonald has been an active member of the community since she can remember. Out of all the residents I decided to select Norris-McDonald because she is known throughout Malverne, in a personal and professional environment and people are interested in talking about her.
Through this interview she will be questioned about what makes Malverne a unique place? Why did she decide to serve as Mayor of the village? Is there anything during her term in office that she would change? What are some of her accomplishment while in office? Through everything she has been through how does she stay positive? Has the village and its resident helped her through the difficult times she has faced? When making decisions that impact the residents what goes through her mind?
Working with her on the Board of Trustees, I would interview Trustee Joseph Hennessey and Trustee Michael Bailey about how they feel she runs the village and how they perceive her personally. However, her tenure as Mayor is only a small portion of her time in Malverne, I would also speak with other life-long residents to discover how McDonald is known. Some of these individuals include Patricia Callahan and Robert Powers, both have known her for years.
As a resident I am familiar with Mayor McDonald and through my knowledge and contacts I aim to see what makes McDonald such devoted resident and what others feel about their mayor and fellow citizen. She has suffered great tragedy in her life, she takes care of her husband that is former NYPD detective and is paralyzed from an incident on the job and still has time to focus on others.
Posted in Profiles
Tagged John Friia, Malverne, Patricia Norris-McDonald
Comments Off on Patricia Ann Norris-McDonald (Malverne)
Amanda Burden Post
As Julie Satow begins the extensive profile on Amanda Burden, she depicts a businesswoman ready to start her day as the director of the New York City Planning Department. Satow praises the work that Burden has done through her 12 years of public service with the city and conveys how her dedication to the city allowed her to accomplish many things that New Yorkers have come to love.
“On Ms. Burden’s watch, the Brooklyn waterfront has been transformed from a landscape of derelict industrial structures to one of glossy condominiums and parkland…” Satow writes. She uses a powerful word, transform, to depict to the readers that she pioneered and spearheaded the improvement of many areas throughout the city.
As much as Satow applauds Burden’s success with her career she does inform the readers in a small portion that she does have critics and they feel that she is transforming New York into a place for only the upper class.
While she discusses her career in the public sector, Satow then takes the reader into Burden’s past and explains how her life could have been different because of her family’s connections. Discovering whom she was married to and the different jobs she had that eventually lead up to working with Mayor Mike Bloomberg, she is represented as a very hard working individual.
Satow continues the profile with problems that she was faced with rezoning, and how Burden handled what she thought was right. Satow leaves the reader with a quote from Burden that makes the reader feel that she cares for the average New York citizen. Wanting to create a neighborhood for every part of the city is an ideal thought, but resident can feel appreciative after looking at everything Burden has accomplished thus far.
Malverne
Strolling along the tree lined streets, people witness the normal routine of couples wishing each other a good day before going to work, mothers welcoming their children home from school, a thriving business district and perfectly kept homes. This is not Wisteria Lane, but this one square mile incorporated village nestled within southeastern Nassau County is known as Malverne.
According to the US Census, Malverne’s population is an estimated 8,500 residents and nearly 83% of them are Caucasian, the rest of them include African Americans, Hispanics and Asians. With a median income of $115,000 this affluent neighborhood possess many benefits, but comes with high taxes and conflicted feelings about the village.
The business district of Malverne consists of all small businesses and no franchises are permitted within the village. From a working farm to the old style luncheonette to a modern wine bar, residents have most of their necessities on Hempstead Avenue. An active civic association and chamber of commerce that host numerous events throughout the year, including the annual holiday lighting, galas and wine tastings it creates a caring community for all residents.
Governed by a mayor and board of trustees and patrolled by the Malverne Police Department, these are some of the main aspects that people find negative about the village. During village elections, residents are allowed to vote to maintain or disband the incorporation of Malverne, however for the nearly 100 years residents and visitors have enjoyed the quaintness and American feel of the village Malverne.
