Lions honor three

The Little Neck-Douglaston Lions Club held its 56th Annual Dinner Dance at the Inn at New Hyde Park recently, where members honored three local residents for service to the community.
The honorees at the event, on Sunday, November 23, included Tom Cress, the well-known owner of Cress Florist in Little Neck, who was named “Man of the Year.”
The multi-generation business is in its 105th year; after relocating from Columbus Circle in Manhattan to Woodside, then to Long Island City, it branched out to the Little Neck-Douglaston community 15 years ago.
Cress, a second-generation Lion, founded and organized the “Safe Haven” program among store proprietors, providing aid to any child who is lost, frightened or uncomfortable.
A student of judo since he was eight years old, Cress has been an instructor at West Point and the Olympic training center, and is a longtime volunteer at the Flushing YMCA and the New York Athletic Club.
Lori Cress, another second-generation Lion, was honored as “Woman of the Year.”
Besides assisting Tom in managing the two stores, she sits on the Board of Directors of the Visiting Nurse Service of New York, donates to “The Smile Train,” a charity that helps fund surgeries for children with cleft palates, and both volunteers with and supports “Share our Strength,” a group that fights hunger and conducts food drives.
Lori has also taken an active role in fundraising events for the Little Neck-Douglaston Memorial Day Parade and directed the store’s donations to many local churches, schools and community organizations.
Barbara Quigley-Barba was named “Lion of the Year.”
After being honored as “Woman of the Year” two years ago, Barba joined the local Lions chapter and immediately pitched in, helping organize a youth group, the LEO’s - promoting leadership, experience and opportunity.
Born in Jackson Heights, Barba has lived in the Great Neck-Douglaston area for most of her life. She earned both a bachelor’s and master’s degree at Saint John’s University, and teaches school in Suffolk County.
Barba is the recording secretary for the Eastern Queens Democratic Club and a lector and usher at Saint Anastasia Roman Catholic Church, where she belongs to the Folk group.
A member of the Douglaston Garden Club, Barba is also very active in the Little Neck Douglaston Memorial Day Parade, where she co-chairs or supports the Dinner Dance, Art and Essay/Poetry Contest, Golf Outing and volunteers at many of the activities on Memorial Day. In addition to the Lion’s Club accolades, the honorees were also presented with Senate Certificates of Merit by Senator Frank Padavan, who praised each in turn for their works.
The crowd then continued to enjoy the festivities, which included several raffles and fundraising, the proceeds of which supported one of the Lion’s central efforts, supporting the acquisition and training of guide dogs for the blind.
The Little Neck-Douglaston Lion’s Club meets on the second and fourth Wednesday of the Month.