Women of Distinction event was on May 9
Assemblyman Colin Schmitt held his inaugural 99th Assembly District Women of Distinction event at the Orange County Emergency Services Center.
“The event was created to recognize women from across the Assembly District who have made significant contributions to their communities and the 99th Assembly District,” the assemblyman said.
Highland Falls nominated Snowdrop Smith. (Her daughter Edweana Aiken accepted the award on her behalf.)
A military wife and mother of three, and while her husband was deployed in Korea, Mrs. Smith raised her family while volunteering at West Point Hospital as a Gray lady, and for the Red Cross. Later, she worked at Deborah Hospital and St. Francis Hospital. Mrs. Smith volunteered for more than 20,000 hours at Castle Point VA Campus. An active member and past president of the Highland Falls Senior Citizens Group, she’s also a past president of the 5th District Ambulance and Rescue Association of New York State. A life member of the Ladies Auxiliary VFW, she’s been the recipient of several awards including Citizen of the Year in 1998 and the Outstanding Citizens Award in 2003.
The Town of Highlands nominated Juanita King.
A long term member of the community, she has a well-established track record of community service. Mrs. King cooks and delivers food on a regular weekly basis to shut-ins in her community and takes great pleasure in this work. The number of meals that she has helped deliver to those in need are too numerous to count. She’s the president of the church choir, and works to coordinate repast dinners for the church community. She is a Ladies Auxiliary Member of the American Legion and a member of the Highlanders.
Cornwall nominated Elizabeth ‘Betty’ Longinott.
She has a long record of service to the Town of Cornwall, and has a special devotion to local senior citizens. Mrs. Longinott served as the Receiver of Taxes for over 30 years, and as a Town Council member for four years. She has helped many seniors to see the world by working to facilitate senior trips throughout the U.S. and Europe; and always looked after the travelers to assure that they were enjoying their travels. She leads senior exercise programs in town, to help others feel their best. A volunteer in the Recreation Department, and former clerk in the Building Department, assisting the building inspector, developers and residents, she is the president of the Golden Age Club and helps to organize parties and other activities for local seniors.
In response to the awards, Smith stated, “I am humbled and surprised by this honor. It’s wonderful to be apart of this new initiative to honor women across the 99th Assembly District that contribute so much to their communities. I believe that everybody can do something to give back to their community.”
King added: “I really do appreciate it. It means a lot to me to be able to help others and serve the community.”
Longinott said, “I am very humbled to receive this award! I do what I do for my community because I genuinely love doing it!”
Schmitt said he was proud of all the honorees.
“Mrs. Smith, Mrs. King and Mrs. Longinott are well-deserving of this recognition,” he said. “They dedicate their time to helping those in need in their communities.”
