GOLD COAST LIBRARY MEET THE CANDIDATES FORUM ON WED. 8/27; TRUSTEES ELECTION AND BUDGET VOTE ON 9/8

On Wednesday, August 27 at 7 pm, the Gold Coast Public Library will be holding a Meet the Candidates and Budget Information forum at the library annex at 50 Station Avenue in Glen Head.  The budget vote and Board of Trustees election will take place on Monday, September 8th.  

Three candidates are running for three openings on the Board. Incumbents Barbara Palermo, who has served as a Trustee since the library's inception in 2002, and Tobi Kupferman who was first elected three years ago, are seeking re-election. Jennine Bernesby is running for the seat currently held by Vannessa Valente-Visintainer, who has chosen not to seek a second term. 

The proposed Gold Coast Library Budget for 2015 represents a 2.6% increase over the 2014 spending plan - from $1,563,885 to 1,604,955 with a tax levy increase of 1.5% ($1,450,285 to $1472,285).  

All residents of the Gold Coast Public Library District, which includes all areas within the North Shore School District except for the Village of Sea Cliff, who are eligible to vote in a general election may cast ballots on September 8th. Polls will be open from 9AM to 9PM at the Library, 50 Railroad Ave. Glen Head. 

CLICK HERE FOR GOLD COAST LIBRARY BUDGET INFO NEWSLETTER
CLICK HERE FOR BUDGET

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BOARD OF TRUSTEES CANDIDATES' STATEMENTS

Tobi Kupferman

I, Tobi Kupferman, a resident of Greenvale, New York, have lived in the North Shore School District with my family for over 19 years. Over the past three years I have served as a Trustee for the Gold Coast Library and in that capacity have worked to promote the library throughout the community. Professionally, I am a licensed psychologist, specializing in working with older adults and their families and an assistant professor in Interdisciplinary Studies at New York Institute of Technology and an adjunct faculty member in the Family Medicine at NYIT’s College of Osteopathic Medicine. One of the areas that I have worked to build in my tenure as a Trustee is a relationship between an academic setting and the library. I have worked with the Gold Coast librarians to bring professionals from the health professions to speak and present to community members at numerous adult education programs. Topics have included falls assessments, nutrition, brain fitness, and participating in the National Memory Screening Day. Additionally, I have brought students to the library to lead programs such as memory screening days and falls assessments and look to bring some of the interior design students to the library in the near future. I continue to work to help use the resources and talents of professionals to serve as a resource and provide information to our library patrons and community. In addition to my professional work, I serve on local, state, and national boards of directors of aging organizations. As an active community member, I serve on the board of the Greenvale Civic Association and have served as a PTA president of the Glen Head Elementary School, North Shore Middle School, and North Shore High School. It would be my honor to continue to serve as a Trustee for the Gold Coast Library, to continue to serve my community, and to work with the library in meeting the needs now and in the future of our patrons.

Thank you for this continued opportunity and please take time to come to the library on September 8th to vote.

Tobi Abramson-Kupferman, PhD

Barbara Palermo

Working with members of our community I have had the honor of seeing our library evolve and grow into a space devoted not just to the borrowing of books but into a gathering place for members of our community.  

I was first elected to the Board of Trustees of the Gold Coast Public Library in December of 2002 before the physical library was opened.  I have had the pleasure of working with you as we issued our first library card, bought our first collection and hired our first staff member.   Currently working as the Treasurer and a member of finance committee I am dedicated to finding solutions to fulfill our financial obligations now and in the future. My commitment to our community extends beyond the library district where I have had the honor of serving on the Board of Directors for the Girls Scouts of Nassau County and The Red Cross and in the schools as a trustee on the North Shore Schools Board of Education for twenty years.  I would like to continue to serve on the Board of Trustees as the library grows to meet the needs of our community.

Jennine Bernesby 

Reading has shaped my life in so many ways. The library was my favorite place to be as a child and reading motivated me to earn my B.A. degree in English Literature. In addition, I have a Master of Science degree, Summa Cum Laude, in Education from Hunter College. As a third grade teacher at the Glenwood Landing School since 1994, I share my passion for literature with children and see firsthand how reading can spark imagination and kindle curiosity. It is an exciting time for literature, which is exploding through technology. The Gold Coast Library can be a rich and stimulating environment for children, teens, and adults. It is an important community center that enriches our lives and the lives of our children.   It is my hope that our little gem of a library can grow by providing more books, resources, and space for our citizens. If I am elected as a trustee, I will be a liaison to our schools and parents, and work with enthusiastic energy to support our wonderful library.

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