Our Alumni Connections columnist Summer K. had the opportunity to sit down to interview Port Washington school district alumni Mariann Dalimonte to learn more about her time as a student, as well as her successful career serving the residents of Port Washington, NY.
COUNCILWOMAN MARIANN DALIMONTE (DISTRICT 6), TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD
Paul D. Schreiber High School – Class of 1985
John Philip Sousa Junior High – Class of 1982
WHAT WAS YOUR FAVORITE CLASS IN SCHOOL?
I had three favorite classes. First, at Guggenheim Elementary School, my 6th grade teacher was Ms. Salerno, and I loved her class because we cooked every Friday. Ms. DeNisco, my 2nd grade teacher at Guggenheim was another favorite elementary school teacher. At Schreiber High School, my favorite class was taught by Ms. Joyce Shapiro, Chair of the Business Department where I learned basic life skills like filing, office organization, and how to write a check and balance a checkbook.
WHAT WAS YOUR FAVORITE SUBJECT IN SCHOOL?
Accounting
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE MEMORY FROM GROWING UP IN PORT WASHINGTON?
My favorite member was skating on Mill Pond. I remember running home from school to get my skates. The nearby restaurant would bring us hot chocolate. It was so much fun.
DID YOU PARTICIPATE IN EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES WHILE IN SCHOOL?
In junior high, I played soccer in 7th, 8th and 9th grades. In high school, I was a Portette in 10th, 11th and 12th grades.
WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST JOB?
I worked for the Port Washington School District while I was in college.
WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST JOB AFTER COLLEGE?
My first job after college was in the music industry. I was there for 14 years. I was a staff accountant for SONY Classical for 2 years. And then I moved within the company to a new job at Epic Records. I was the Manager of Promotion Operations, where I oversaw the marketing budget for promotions. I worked my way up to the role of Associate Director and then the Director of Operations for the entire label.
YOU ARE A FOURTH-GENERATION PORT WASHINGTON RESIDENT. HOW HAS GROWING UP IN THIS COMMUNITY INFLUENCED YOUR PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL LIFE?
I grew up in this town. I love Port Washington. My husband grew up in this town too. He’s 8th generation and our kids are 9th generation. My husband, myself and my three kids all graduated from Schreiber. I love this community, and that is what motivates me.
YOUR DECISION TO LEAVE YOUR CAREER TO FOCUS ON RAISING YOUR CHILDREN ULTIMATELY LED TO YOUR EXTENSIVE COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT. CAN YOU SHARE MORE ABOUT THAT TRANSITION AND WHAT MOTIVATED YOU TO BECOME SO DEEPLY ENGAGED IN PORT WASHINGTON’S LOCAL EFFORTS?
When I left Sony Music, I became very involved in the Sousa school community. I joined the board of the Sousa HSA and worked on membership. Soon after, I moved up to Co-President of the HSA. My efforts in this role were to bring the faculty and parents together for a stronger relationship.
In 2019, I decided to run for Town Councilwoman. I wanted to be there for the community. I wanted to listen to the community. I thought it should be all of us coming together. I wanted to be there to listen to the residents. If I see something that is good for our community, I’m going to fight for it for our community. My involvement growing up here, plus 14 years of board roles led to me running for public office. In all my roles before Councilwoman, including my roles with Sousa HSA, Weber HSA, Schreiber HSA, Residents Forward and the Greater Port Washington Business Improvement District, were things I did to help grow Port Washington and have it become more of a destination.
YOU’VE HELD LEADERSHIP ROLES IN SEVERAL SCHOOL ORGANIZATIONS, SUCH AS PRESIDENT OF THE JOHN PHILIP SOUSA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL H.S.A. AND THE CARRIE PALMER MIDDLE SCHOOL H.S.A. WHAT IS ONE KEY INITIATIVE THAT YOU WORKED ON DURING YOUR TIME WITH THESE ORGANIZATIONS?
The Sousa Welcome Breakfast is an event that welcomes parents of students who have transferred to Port Washington Schools, as well as parents of incoming kindergarten students. The breakfast is designed to present a warm and welcoming feeling to the school and school district. This wonderful event still exists today!
AS VICE PRESIDENT OF COMMUNICATIONS FOR SCHREIBER HIGH SCHOOL, YOU HAD A STRONG IMPACT ON THE SCHOOL’S RELATIONSHIP WITH THE COMMUNITY. HOW DID YOU FOSTER THAT CONNECTION BETWEEN THE SCHOOL AND THE STUDENTS?
I wrote the Sunday newsletter to inform the parents and community about what was going on. We would include anything that the superintendent wanted to communicate to the parents too.
YOU’VE WORKED WITH A VARIETY OF COMMUNITY GROUPS, INCLUDING THE GREATER PORT WASHINGTON BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT. WHAT WERE SOME OF THE CHALLENGES AND REWARDS OF ORGANIZING EVENTS LIKE THE FIRST RESTAURANT WEEK, AND HOW DID THESE EVENTS CONTRIBUTE TO THE COMMUNITY’S GROWTH?
When I organized Restaurant Week for the first time, I was shocked to learn that many people participating were from outside of Port Washington. One of my goals was to make sure they came back to Port again. It is very important to keep money in the community and to shop locally. Before you click and buy, give PORT a try.
YOU WERE DEEPLY INVOLVED WITH RESIDENTS FOR A MORE BEAUTIFUL PORT WASHINGTON (NOW CALLED RESIDENTS FORWARD). CAN YOU DESCRIBE A PROJECT OR INITIATIVE FROM THAT TIME THAT STOOD OUT AS ESPECIALLY MEANINGFUL TO YOU?
We did a lot as an organization. Port Holiday Magic was started to help promote small businesses in Port Washington.
YOU’VE BEEN RECOGNIZED WITH SEVERAL AWARDS, INCLUDING THE PORT WASHINGTON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE APPRECIATION AWARD, PRIDE IN PORT COMMUNITY HONOREE AWARD. AND THE TOWN OF NORTH HEMPSTEAD WOMAN’S ROLL OF HONOR. WHAT DO THESE RECOGNITIONS MEAN TO YOU PERSONALLY AND PROFESSIONALLY?
These awards really meant a lot to me because when you do things from your heart, you are not doing them to be recognized. When other people recognize you for your efforts, it makes me feel so good inside.
THROUGHOUT YOUR YEARS OF SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY, YOU’VE BUILT A REPUTATION FOR BRINGING PEOPLE TOGETHER.
I always say “TEAM” means “Together Everyone Achieves More.” I will work with anyone to bring people together. I ran for office on transparency, and I believe I have fulfilled that promise. I strive to let people know what is going on in Port Washington. I write recaps of our Board meetings so that residents know what is going on.
LOOKING BACK, WHAT DO YOU THINK ARE THE MOST SIGNIFICANT CHANGES OR IMPROVEMENTS YOU’VE SEEN IN PORT WASHINGTON DURING YOUR TIME OF INVOLVEMENT?
I have taken on a project to expand our oyster gardening program — trying to add oysters to the existing oyster reef in Manhasset Bay so that they can filter our water. Oyster gardening improves water quality through filtration, and it helps to prevent erosion. I contacted the Governor’s office who put me in touch with the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC). Since I started this program, residents have volunteered to help and as of today, more than 4 million oysters are now in Manhasset Bay. We are putting in another one million next year. I’m trying to help improve the water quality in Manhasset Bay. This has been a huge accomplishment.
AS SOMEONE WHO HAS GIVEN SO MUCH TO THE PORT WASHINGTON COMMUNITY, HOW DO YOU DEFINE ‘COMMUNITY SERVICE,’ AND WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO STUDENTS LOOKING TO GET MORE INVOLVED?
For community service, you must do it because you want to do it. You must do it from the heart. And when you do something from the heart, you do it because it’s the right thing to do.
WITH ALL THE CHANGES IN THE COMMUNITY OVER THE YEARS, WHAT DO YOU SEE AS THE NEXT STEPS FOR PORT WASHINGTON’S GROWTH, AND HOW DO YOU ENVISION YOUR CONTINUED ROLE IN ITS FUTURE?
I would like to see more public access to the water in Port Washington.
WHAT’S NEXT FOR YOU? ARE THERE ANY NEW PROJECTS OR GOALS THAT YOU’RE EXCITED ABOUT PURSUING IN THE FUTURE?
I would like to continue what I’m doing now and keep moving forward. But in 2025, I would like to host a town hall meeting or send out a survey to find out how Port residents are feeling. I’ve reached many of my goals so now I want to take the next steps to work with the community to see what else they want and need.