Huntington Town Officials Get Sworn In

Four elected officials in the Town of Huntington took their official oaths of office at an inauguration ceremony at Walt Whitman High School on Sunday.

Town Council Members Susan A. Berland and Eugene Cook, Town Clerk Jo-Ann Raia and Tax Receiver Ester Bivona were sworn in in front of an audience of approximately 200.

The ceremony featured remarks from all four officials, performances by Walt Whitman High School students and an appearance by Sen. Charles Schumer.

“Every one of them represents the best of Long Island,” Schumer said at the ceremony. “They have been involved for a long time in community activities. They have worked hard…Huntington is a town that really needs good elected officials to look after them…Today, you have chosen four outstanding people to lead you.”

A few remarks from the elected officials:

• Berland: “[Understanding] is the ability and the willingness to try to appreciate, to feel what it is like to walk a mile in another person’s shoes…Where has that kind of understanding, that sense of our humanity and compassion gone?... If this past election is any indication, understanding was lost. But was it lost forever? Oh, no, I’m too much of a positive person to believe that. I am determined to remain an understanding person, no matter how others behave.”
• Cook: “It is very important that we get out and work together to get things done, perhaps a new parking garage in Huntington Village, Huntington Station revitalization and getting it better, safety and clean waters. These are important things to me. I believe they are important things to you,” he said.
• Bivona: “We all took oaths today to faithfully perform the duties of the offices we were elected to. These are important jobs, and we will all do them for the benefit of the residents of the Town of Huntington.”
• Raia: “As your town clerk, I pledge to continue to work full time and to provide complete and effective services to the residents of the Town of Huntington. I pride myself on having an open door policy at all times and will continue to do so.”
• Petrone delivered some brief opening remarks before, citing his recent back surgery, turning over the master of ceremonies duties to Councilman Mark Cuthbertson.

Councilwoman Tracey A. Edwards and Highway Superintendent Peter Gunther were also in attendance.

Walt Whitman’s brass ensemble and members of the orchestra played musical selections. Walt Whitman students Pamela Carey and Tyler Zeoli sang the National Anthem.

Color guards participating in the ceremony were from the Greenlawn, Huntington, Huntington Manor, Northport, East Northport and Cold Spring Harbor Fire Departments; the Marine Corps League Huntington Detachment; the Elwood/Commack #9263 and Nathan Hale #1469 Veterans of Foreign War Posts; Jewish War Veterans Post #488; and the Greenlawn #1244 and Northport #694 American Legion Posts.

Image via Town of Huntington: seated (l-r): Tax Receiver Ester Bivona, Councilman Susan A. Berland, Supervisor Frank P. Petrone and Councilman Mark Cuthbertson. Standing (l-r): Councilman Eugene Cook, Northport Mayor George Doll, Councilwoman Tracey A. Edwards, Highway Superintendent Peter Gunther, Asharoken Deputy Mayor Pam Pierce, Assemb. Andrew Raia, the Rev. Jerry Artis; the Rev. Dr. Luonne Abram Rouse, Town Clerk Jo-Ann Raia, Northport Trustee Damon McMullen and the Rev. Stephen Donnelly.