Merrick Kiwanis Changes Hands

The Merrick Kiwanis Club gathered at the Westbury Country Club on Thursday to honor outgoing president Arlene Gregory and install the new president, Cathy O'Malley.

"The Merrick Kiwanis has the distinction of being a driving force in our community," said Doug Mills, member of the Kiwanis board of directors. "This is possible because of the people that lead our forces and rise to the occasion," he added.

Gregory, who served as the president for the past year, explained that being president of the Kiwanis enabled her to be "a fairy godmother" to the members of the community.

"I am happy to work with great people with big hearts that work tirelessly in our communities," she explained.

After being installed by Dr. Steven Perrick, lieutenant governer, Long Island Kiwanis, O'Malley received a gavel, gong, scrapbook and the original charter that Mills asked her to hang in the bank where she works, the First National Bank of Long Island, in Merrick.

"I am honored to be given this opportunity," O'Malley said. "I have to thank the past presidents that have set the standard and raised the bar. My heart belongs to the Kiwanis with a heart," she said.