Two Openings and Two Candidates For Port Jeff Library Board Seats

The Port Jefferson Library will hold an election on Jan. 18 to fill two vacant seats on its board of trustees. One five-year term and one three-year term positions are up for grabs.

Absentee ballots will be available in the library from Dec. 16 until Jan. 17. On Monday, Jan. 9, the library will host a Meet the Candidates night. The candidate with the most votes will win the five-year term.

Below are profiles of each candidate provided by the library.

John Grossman has lived in Port Jefferson for ten years with his wife and son. John wishes to be a Trustee of the Library for myriad reasons. He is an employee of the Mt. Sinai Union Free School District and has seen the incredible re- sources provided to his students and football players by the Port Jefferson Free Library.

Secondly, he sees the love and appreciation his three year-old son has for the Library. On any day of the week, you can see John’s son attending one of the many engaging programs or interacting with one of the dynamic childrens’ librarians. Additionally, John’s dog, Duncan, was-as a Therapy Dog-a big part of the “Reading to Dogs” program at the library. In this capacity, John saw first-hand, the positive effects the library and its programs have on our residents.

John would like to be a part of ensuring that the quality that currently exists at the library is maintained and seeks to be a part of its amazing team.

Tracy J. Stapleton has been a Trustee of the Port Jefferson Free Library since January 2011. She has had the pleasure of calling the village of Port Jefferson her home for the past 18 years. She and her family have come to love the Vil- lage and all it has to offer, including the Library.

Tracy has a BA degree in Criminal Justice from LIU-CW Post and received her Doctorate of Ju- risprudence from Touro Law School. She has always been active in both the PTA and PTSO. She is currently a board member on the PJ zoning board of appeals and a member of the Port Jefferson Historical Society.

Tracy is a practicing attorney currently working from her home as well as being an Associate at a Law Office in Smithtown. Tracy feels in these uncertain eco- nomic times and with her legal background and fund-raising abilities, she is in a unique position to help find new ways to develop and support library programs and services.