LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION commending the Town of Babylon upon the occasion
of hosting its 27th Annual Women's History Month Celebration, and paying
tribute to its honorees

WHEREAS, The State of New York is home to countless women who have
contributed to the advancement of our culture through both their tradi-
tional and non-traditional roles in society; and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-
standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to commend
the Town of Babylon upon the occasion of hosting its 27th Annual Women's
History Month Celebration on Saturday, March 19, 2016, at Walter G.
O'Connell Copiague High School, Copiague, New York; and
WHEREAS, The 2016 Women's History Month honorees: Andrea De Loney,
Phoenix Award; Coleen Farrell, Gertrude Van Kirk Woman in Government
Award; Sharon Fattoruso, Community Service Award; Traci Fonville,
Commissioner's Recognition Award; Florence Hechtel, Special Recognition
Award; Afreen Rizwan, Government Appreciation Award; Naima Robinson,
Phoenix Award, and Carrie Vasiluth, Maxine S. Postal Humanitarian Award;
and
WHEREAS, In 2010, Andrea De Loney graduated Cum Laude from Wagner
College, New York, where she received her Bachelor's Degree in Business
Administration with a double concentration in Marketing and Management;
today, she is a Human Resources professional who possesses experience in
both the corporate and non-profit sector; specializing in creative
recruiting strategies, program development and implementation, and civic
engagement; and
WHEREAS, Dedicated to the mission of "empowering communities and
changing lives," Andrea De Loney has been an active member of the Urban
League of Long Island Young Professionals since December of 2010, hold-
ing several leadership roles within the organization, including Communi-
ty Outreach Co-Chair, Vice President and President; and
WHEREAS, Over the years, Coleen Farrell has become very active with
local organizations including Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church Chris-
tian Mothers, and the Ladies Auxiliary of the American Legion Post in
Lindenhurst; as a member of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church Christian
Mothers, she helped to support both the church and the school; and
WHEREAS, With the Lindenhurst American Legion, Coleen Farrell has
spent countless hours volunteering, assisting the American Legion with
fundraising activities, soliciting donations, organizing, setting up and
cooking for the Wounded Warrior Project event, as well as the Hope of
Warriors annual dinner dance and run; and
WHEREAS, A true leader, Sharon Fattoruso serves as President of the
Copiague Chamber of Commerce, under her luminous leadership, the
Copiague Chamber of Commerce has established two business scholarships,
which are presented annually at the Copiague High School awards night;
and
WHEREAS, Sharon Fattoruso also serves as President and Co-founder of
the Copiague Community Cares Coalition which was started to promote
awareness, aimed at the prevention of underage drinking and substance
abuse in our youth and adults; and
WHEREAS, In 2009, Traci A. Fonville began her career with the Town of
Babylon as the Executive Assistant to the Commissioner of Human
Services; after nine months, she was promoted to Deputy Commissioner;
and
WHEREAS, In this capacity, Traci A. Fonville assists with overseeing
five Senior Citizens Centers, Drug and Alcohol Services, Senior Trans-

portation, Women's Services, and the Food Pantry; in addition, she is
the editor and creative designer of the AROUND TOWN SENIOR MAGAZINE; and
WHEREAS, Furthermore, Traci A. Fonville coordinates three yearly
community events including the Black History Month, Women's History
Month and Hispanic Heritage Month Programs, as well as creates flyers,
brochures and programs for all the department's activities; she has also
organized quarterly Women's Empowerment Forums affording women business
owners the opportunity to network and inspire others to start their own
businesses; and
WHEREAS, Born and raised in Jamaica, Florence Hechtel emigrated to the
United States in 1961, and pursued a career in the arts; her extensive
repertoire, which spans songs in 10 different languages, includes opera,
oratorio and vocal chamber music; she has made numerous triumphal solo
appearances at Lincoln Center, New York and in other major cities; and
WHEREAS, For 18 years, Florence Hechtel held the position of voice
teacher at The Stony Brook School, and serves as an Applied Music
Professor of Voice at Suffolk County Community College, Selden, New
York; for almost five decades, she has taught private voice lessons, and
mentored some of today's most promising artists; and
WHEREAS, In March of 2008, Afreen Rizwan began her legal career with
the Town of Babylon, when she was appointed an Assistant Town Attorney;
four years later, she was appointed as the Chief Deputy Town Attorney;
and
WHEREAS, In this capacity, Afreen Rizwan represents the Town in vari-
ous legal matters including property transactions, contracts, and advis-
ing various other Town Departments such as the Office of the Supervisor
and Planning; she also serves as counsel to the Zoning Board of Appeals,
a role she thoroughly enjoys as it incorporates not only her legal mind
but also aspects of planning and development, design and architecture;
and
WHEREAS, A current Doctoral student at Long Island University CW Post,
Naima Robinson's formal doctoral research is on the effects of parental
incarceration on student achievement; in her work with students she
teaches that education is a continuous process of unlearning, learning,
relearning, reflection, and evaluation; and
WHEREAS, With her knowledge in History and Women's Studies and a
primary interest in issues of race, class, and gender equality in educa-
tion, Naima Robinson helps students to discover and evaluate the world
around them and engage critically in active civil responsibility to make
this world a better place; and
WHEREAS, Carrie Vasiluth has devoted her entire adult life to serving
.SO DOC S R4409 RESO TEXT 2015
those most in need; throughout her life, she has gained knowledge, hope
and inspiration from the many unsung heroes who crossed her path; and
WHEREAS, In 1989, Carrie Vasiluth began a long career with
Nassau/Suffolk Law Services, a not-for-profit agency providing free
legal services in civil matters to low income and disabled Long Island
residents; as a staff attorney, she represents clients in matters
involving public benefits, housing, child custody and support, guardian-
ships, orders of protection, health care, foreclosure and other
debtor/creditor matters; and
WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that those who
enhance the well-being and vitality of their community and have shown a
long and sustained commitment to excellence certainly have earned the
recognition and applause of all the citizens of this great Empire State;
now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commend the Town of Babylon upon the occasion of hosting its 27th Annual

Women's History Month Celebration, and paying tribute to its honorees;
and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to the Town of Babylon's Department of Human Services, and to
the aforementioned honorees.