Malverne Honors 2012 Small Business Person of the Year

The Malverne Village Board honored the 2012 Small Business Person of the Year and reminded residents of the various activities happening throughout the community this month at its Oct. 3 business meeting.

Anyone who has stepped inside the Bank of America branch on Hempstead Avenue in Malverne has probably seen Judy Puma hard at work.  The branch manager has been serving the community for the past 34 years, using her knowledge and talents to help residents of Malverne.

The Nassau County Chamber of Commerce recently selected Puma as Malverne's 2012 Small Business Person of the Year and she will be recognized at the chamber's annual brunch on Oct. 12.

 “I am honored to do this, and I have known Puma for almost 27 years,” stated Mayor Patricia Norris McDonald at the October monthly meeting while congratulating Puma.

 Outside of Bank of America, Puma wears many hats in the community. She is an active member of the Malverne Merchants and Professionals Association. She's also the past president and treasurer of the Malverne Rotary Club , through which she has assisted the Malverne Educational and Fitness Foundation with organizing the annual 5K Run/Walk for Education. Puma has also raised money for the Salvation Army, breast cancer awareness and Habitat for Humanity.  

 “I am grateful for the award and I look forward to continue working and helping the residents of Malverne,” noted Puma.

Malverne Village Festival and Fall Events

Throughout Wednesday's meeting, residents were also reminded of the many events coming up later this month.

The annual Malverne Fall Festival, which is sponsored by the Malverne Merchants and Professionals Association and the Malverne Civic Association, will be on Sunday, Oct. 21.  The event will encompass the parking lot near Connolly Station stretching down to the parking lot near the Malverne Movie Theater, where residents will find classic cars, vendors, pony rides, a pet costume contest, a bouncy castle and other kids inflatables, and live entertainment. There will also be children games on Church Street. Addtitional activies will be going on at nearby Crossroads Farm at Grossmann's throughout the day too including a petting zoo, hay rides and free pumpkin picking.

On Oct. 27, the Bridge Church on Hempstead Avenue will be hosting a Harvest Festival. The event is open to the public and will include bounce houses and games for children.

The recently revived Malverne Community Theatre will hold its first production on Oct. 26 and 27 at Crossroads Farm. The show, entitled “Once Upon a Midnight Dreary,” will be a dark presentation of the works of Edgar Allen Poe. 

And let's not forget about Halloween. Henry Stampfel, president of the Malverne Merchants and Professional Association, explained that merchants on Hempstead Avenue will be placing black and orange balloons outside their business to welcome children as they trick-or-treat on Halloween.

Although it's early October, the annual Lighting of Malverne will be here sooner than you may think. Registration for the kids activities including Breakfast and Bowling with Santa, and the cookie decorating workshop, will be held on the morning of Nov. 3 at Village Hall.