Joint swearing in ceremony held at Greenwood Lake Middle School

Greenwood Lake - It was an important civics lesson for the entire student body of the Greenwood Lake Middle School. On Thursday, Jan. 25, New York Senator Thomas Morahan (R-C-New City) and Assemblywoman Annie Rabbitt (R-C-Greenwood Lake) took their ceremonial oaths of office in the school’s auditorium. Each oath was administered separately by the Greenwood Lake Village Justice Nancy DeAngelo. After welcoming remarks by Middle School Principal Allan Lipsky, the Grade-K students demonstrated their ability to use the American Sign Language while leading the assembly in the Pledge of Allegiance. And just before opening remarks by School Superintendent John Guarracino and the official swearing-in, the Middle School Band treated the audience to John Philip Souza’s “Stars & Stripes Forever.” Orange County Executive Edward Diana was among the invited local government officials and other dignitaries and faculty who attended the event. At the conclusion of the ceremony, he praised the recently reelected state officials for their accomplishments and support for local projects. “They are our good friends,” he said. Morahan was first chosen to represent the 38th District in a special election in May 1999. Since then, he’s been reelected four times. He began his government service as a member of the Clarkstown Zoning Board of Appeals. Prior to joining the state Senate, he served as a Rockland County legislator and, later, as a state assemblyman. Morahan represents the five Rockland County towns of Clarkstown, Haverstraw, Orangetown, Ramapo and Stony Point and the Orange County towns of Tuxedo and Warwick. Rabbitt is beginning her second term in the Assembly representing the 97th district, which includes seven towns and 18 villages in Orange and Rockland counties. She began her political career as a village trustee and deputy mayor of Greenwood Lake. Later she served as a councilwoman and deputy supervisor for the Town of Warwick. Morahan and Rabbitt told the students that what they had witnessed was an example of the freedom and opportunity available to everyone in America. “If you study and work hard,” said Morahan, “you can achieve your goals. Have passion for whatever you want to be.”