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Richie Labanowski named Pine Island Citizen of the Year Thomas Maslanka, Jr., Brigitte Scheinert earn Youth Citizen Achievement awards

| 31 Oct 2013 | 02:49
    Pine Island Chamber of Commerce 2013 Citizen of the Year Richie Labanowski, left, and the two Youth Ctizen Achievement award winners, Brigitte Scheinert and Thomas Maslanka, Jr., right, are congratulated by Assemblywoman Annie Rabbitt at the chamber's annual social.
    Pine Island Chamber of Commerce 2013 Citizen of the Year Richie Labanowski, left, and the two Youth Ctizen Achievement award winners, Brigitte Scheinert and Thomas Maslanka, Jr., right, are congratulated by Assemblywoman Annie Rabbitt at the chamber's annual social.
    County Legislator Michael Pillmeier, left, was on hand to congratulation Pine Island Chamber of commerce Citizen of the Year, Richie Labanowski.
    County Legislator Michael Pillmeier, left, was on hand to congratulation Pine Island Chamber of commerce Citizen of the Year, Richie Labanowski.

PINE ISLAND — The Pine Island Chamber of Commerce has awarded world class Polish Dancing expert Richie Labanowski its 2013 Citizen of the Year for his life of community service in the Black Dirt Region.

The award was presented by chamber president John Redman at the chamber’s annual social at the Polish Legion Hall in Pine Island on Sunday, Oct. 27.

The Youth Citizen Achievement Awards were presented to Pine Islanders Thomas Maslanka, Jr, and Brigitte Scheinert, for their service to the community.

Labanowski, a former Marine who also served the United States Army, is on the board of directors of the Polish Legion of American Veterans Post 16 in Pine Island, where he serves as post chaplain. He has also been active in St. Stanlislaus Roman Catholic Church in Pine Island, serving in the honor guard for many years.

The Boy Scouts awarded Labanowski the prestigious “Ad Altare Dei” award for many years of service to the organization. He also served in the Pine Island Ambulance Corps for 13 years.

As a polka dancer in 1960, he was the champion of the Harvest Moon Ball, the most famous dance contest in the world at the time. He danced to music by Artie Shaw, Benny Goodman and Tito Puentes and appeared on the Ed Sullivan show. As a dance champion he rubbed shoulders with Mickey Rooney, Danny Thomas and the McGuire Sisters and while on tour met Patsy Cline. His dancing entertained many dignitaries, including Gen. Omar Bradley and Sen. Edmund Muskie.

Labanowski’s continuing dedication to his Polish heritage is manifest in the many contributions he makes to events held by the Hudson Valley Polonaise Society, including giving weekly lessons in the Polish dancing that made him famous.

Youth awards given
One of the Youth Award winners, Thomas Maslanka, Jr., a freshman at Dutchess Community College, has volunteered at local events including the Black Dirt Feast, the Pumpkin Festival and Pine Island Recreation. He has helped to care for an elderly relative at home as well as neighbors who need help in their yards in the winter. While at Warwick Valley High School, Maslanka held three part-time jobs while maintaining good academic grades.

Brigitte Scheinert, also a Youth Award winner, is a Warwick Valley High School senior where she helped organize the Harvest Fair. She volunteered at various community events including Pine Island Recreation and ran a food and clothing drive for the Farm Workers Community Center (The Alamo). All the while, Scheinert has achieved outstanding grades at school.

The annual social was attended by more than 70 people, including Assemblywoman Annie Rabbitt, County Clerk Donna Benson, Warwick Deputy Town Supervisor Jim Gerstner and many other local officials and dignitaries.



Orange County Legislator Michael Pillmeier, left, was among the many dignitaries and officials who congratulated Richie Labanowski for being chosen as the Pine Island Chamber of Commerce Citizen of the Year at the chamber's annual social in Pine Island.