Home > News
Kaiman Honored by Sandminers Monument Group in Port Washington

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 16, 2013
MEDIA CONTACTS: Collin Nash, Ryan Mulholland, & Sam Marksheid | (516) 869-7794

Kaiman Honored by Sandminers Monument Group in Port Washington

Port Washington, NY
– The Sandminers Monument, Inc. honored former North Hempstead Town Supervisor Jon Kaiman during a ceremony at the monument site on West Shore Road in Port Washington this past Columbus Day, October 14th.

In recognition of his efforts in working with the Sandminers Monument, Inc. and President Leo Cimini to build a monument and create a Town park surrounding it, Kaiman accepted a small scale model of the monument, known as a maquette, on behalf of the Town.

“The sand mining industry of Port Washington was the economic engine of this community and of New York City for decades, and created hundreds of jobs,” Kaiman said. “This monument is about the history of our peninsula, our town, our county, our state, and our country. It tells a wonderful story that should be preserved and told to generations to come.”

The sand from Port Washington, known as Cow Bay Sand, was used to construct the sidewalks, skyscrapers, water tunnels and infrastructure of New York City for most of the 20th century. Since the 1880's it has been estimated that over 140 million yards of sand were delivered from Port Washington to New York City.

Sandminers Monument Inc. also announced the established of a $1,000 scholarship that will be provided to a worthy graduating senior from Schreiber High School. Port Washington School District Superintendent Kathleen Mooney was on hand along with Schreiber High School Principal Ira Pernick to thank the Sandminers Monument, Inc. for the partnership.

Nearly a dozen elected officials were joined by members of the Sandminers Monument, Inc. Board, as well as some original sand miners including 96 year-old John Murro, who began working as a sand miner in 1937 until his retirement in 1981.



Jon Kaiman receives the maquette from Leo Cimini, Sandminers Monument, Inc. President.



From left, Assemblywoman Michelle Schimel, Councilwoman Anna Kaplan, County Legislator Delia Deriggi-Whitton, County Legislator Wayne Wink, County Legislator Judi Bosworth, Former Town Supervisor Jon Kaiman, Carmine Meluzio, Town Supervisor John Riordan, Sandminers Monument Inc. President Leo Cimini, Saby D'Amico of the Sandminers Monument Board, Former Councilman Fred Pollack, Mike Binna of the Sandminers Monument Board, Tony Demelas, Councilwoman Dina De Giorgio, Town Clerk Leslie Gross and John Maura.
View Archives