Chances are you will encounter Myron "Mike" Blumenfeld at a Port Washington Public Library event. Or a Town of North Hempstead meeting. Or when spending an afternoon at a local park.
A longtime advocate for Port Washington, Blumenfeld remains passionate about the community. That's why he is one of the People Who Made A Difference in Port Washington in 2012.
"No one made more of a difference this year to protect and add to to the beautification of Port Washington then Mike," noted Lee Kalinsky. "Mike was awarded Citizen Of The Year by the Community Chest in 2012. His involvement with the Parks Conservancy helped to fund, restore and open the Stannards Brook Park. He was a key figure in reopening the Petrus Park and his hard work at the Port Washington Library is another example of his endless giving."
A Port Washington resident since 1965, Blumenfeld is known for his environmental contributions – many of Port’s local parks and trails are thanks to his efforts.
In 1968, Blumenfeld and some like-minded friends formed Residents for a More Beautiful Port Washington, planting trees, expanding parks and improving bay water quality.
With Blumenfeld as chairman, Residents next learned of dangers imposed by the disposal of garbage in Hempstead Harbor and in a surrounding landfill, and later of a plan to construct an adjacent, larger mass burn incinerator. Concerned about the spewing of toxic gases, Blumenfeld led RMBPW and collaborated with others to stop these hazardous practices and plans. Despite the loss of many lawsuits, the notoriety surrounding the incinerator and potential environmental health threats angered enough residents to vote out the town officials at the time. Today, Harbor Links Golf Course, senior housing and a planned industrial park exist on the site.
A Sierra Club member since the early 1950s, Blumenfeld served on boards of the Environmental Planning Lobby and the American Friends of Neot Kedumim – the biblical landscape preserve in Israel. Gov. Mario Cuomo appointed Blumenfeld chairman of the Long Island State Park Commission, where he initiated its first environmental education program.
Blumenfeld is serving his second five-year term as a library board trustee. Active in the library's children's room events, he regularly reads to and tutors children. He also founded the Josh Blumenfeld Memorial Scholarship Fund Committee, named in memory of his son, who tutuored English as Second Language Students.
