10 People You Should Know In Hauppauge

In every community, Patch recognizes there are people who play a crucial role in what happens in Hauppauge. These are community leaders, civic association presidents, concerned citizens and business owners who are the core of those issues that concern local residents. They set the daily agenda, organize events and facilitate discussion of ongoing problems in hopes of getting them resolved.

In order to better get to know Hauppauge, there are 10 people you should know to get a sense of the community.

Presented alphabetically, they are:

1. Terri Alessi-Miceli is president of the Hauppauge Industrial Association of Long Island, representing businesses in Hauppauge's industrial park and thousands of other businesses across Long Island. This organization plays a large role in setting the business agenda not only in Hauppauge, determining its market, but across Long Island.

2. Public libraries are an asset and corner stone of the community they represent, as is Director Judith Berry of . She has overseen its growth, expansion into digital technologies and the search for a new home resulting in a deal with Town of Islip's Hidden Pond Park. It also offers an array of free and low-cost programs to Town of Islip residents throughout the year. 

3.  Known as the "voice of Hauppauge," Paul Borowski is a concerned citizen of Hauppauge who gets involved in local organizations and tackles community issues. He's a frequent attendee of Hauppauge Board of Education meetings, on the Courtney Sipes Memorial Foundation's board of directors, and always knows what's happening in the community.

4.  Pam Donovan  handles community relations for Hauppauge Public Schools and is the author of their monthly Horizons newsletter. Donovan attends countless school events, taking photos, talking with parents and knows the district's inside and out. 

5. Local history buffs and Hauppauge alumni know Noel Gish, a retired social studies teacher of Hauppauge High School, who has a love for Hauppauge's history. Gish has a wealth of knowledge on local history that proves the community has a rich, vibrant past.

6.  Frank Hufnagel wears many different hats in Hauppauge. First and foremost, he's president of Hauppauge Youth Organization, which provides little league baseball, girls softball, women's softball, boys and girls basketball, football and girls lacrosse leagues. Hufnagel works as a business teacher at Hauppauge High School and advises the DECA club.

7. Suffolk County Legis. John M. Kennedy, Jr.,  R-Nesconset, is Hauppauge's elected county official. Within state and regional governments, Kennedy is the only elected official who represents all of Hauppauge, rather than a small portion. His offices are on Veterans Memorial Highway, across from the Suffolk County Legislature's building, if you need to stop by and ask for help.

8. Hauppauge Public Schools operated under the watchful eye of Superintendent Patricia Sullivan-Kriss. She ensures Hauppauge's schools maintain their reputation for academic excellence despite state funding cuts, putting her students and staff first.

9.  Stefan Krompier, president of Northfield Woods Civic Association, helps organize Hauppauge residents to tackle community issues such as the asphalt plant on Rabro Drive. His leadership helps ensure residents' voices and opinions are heard by public officials.

10. Hauppauge Board of Education trustee Eileen Mass, also president of Hauppauge's PTA Council, plays an active roll in the community. She's always ready to question any policy put before the board of education to make it addresses all angles before being put into effect.