About Us

Founded in 1968, Residents Forward is a Port Washington-based (501-C3) nonprofit dedicated to creating a cleaner, greener, and more sustainable peninsula. Through hands-on environmental education, beautification, data-driven advocacy and sustainability initiatives, we empower and unify residents of all ages to protect and enhance the natural environment of our hometown. From school programs and public gardens to climate action projects and wholistic planning, our mission is to inspire community-driven stewardship that keeps Port Washington thriving and resilient for generations to come.

Rooted here, connected everywhere.

We proudly work with Port residents, local government, organizations, businesses, schools, experts and community to create, develop and implement the following:

  • Long Island’s most comprehensive groundwater sustainability study.

  • Environmental education for students from elementary through high school, including the Youth Climate Summit and Youth Climate Action Program.

  • Clean-up programs to keep our water and streets litter-free.

  • Visioning our Waterfront, including the expansion of shoreline trails.

  • New parks, gardens, memorial benches and trees in town.

  • The Port Mural Project to bring the pride, history and magic of Port to its walls with artwork by local artists and, so much more!

  • Read Our Financial Report Here

Support Our Work
Support Our Work
Myron Blumenfeld, the founder of Residents Forward wearing a straw hat and white shirt holding a framed artwork of a tree with many smaller trees below it against a plain gray background.

Our Founder Myron Blumenfeld

Port Washington Living Magazine, Cover
Six people standing together, smiling, in a group photo.
People gathering at an outdoor event holding a banner that reads "Residents for a More Beautiful Port Washington".
Sign protesting the installation of an incinerator in Hempstead Harbor, with a graphic of a factory emitting black smoke and the words "NO NO INCINERATOR IN HEMPSTEAD HARBOR".
Group of children and adults at a community cleanup event holding trash pickers, with a banner reading 'Clean Green Main Street'.
Group of women at a recognition event, with one woman handing a certificate to another, two others watching and smiling.
Group of people participating in a tree planting event outdoors, with children and adults holding shovels and gathered around a small mound of soil.
Black and white photo of a group planting a tree in a schoolyard, with a brick building in the background. Seven people hold shovels and a young tree, including children and adults.
A woman with blonde hair wearing sunglasses and a black t-shirt that says 'President Bernie 2020' sitting on the hood of a silver car during a political rally or parade, with a crowd of people and storefronts in the background.

  • In 1968, a small group of concerned citizens met to discuss the state of the Port Washington community. Our founder, Myron Blumenfeld (1928 – 2018), lovingly referred to as “the Lorax of Port Washington,” envisioned Residents as the group that would “speak for the trees.”

    And so it did. 

    Over the next five decades, the seed that was planted in 1968 blossomed into a vibrant and strong organization, advocating for, and impacting every inch of our peninsula.

    In 2018, we became Residents Forward to better reflect how we represent and advance the sustainability, vibrancy, beauty, and resiliency of our entire Peninsula.

  • The Port Washington peninsula is comprised of unincorporated areas and six incorporated villages (Baxter Estates, Flower Hill, Manorhaven, Port Washington North, Plandome Manor, and Sands Point).

    This vibrant community includes about 15,846 residents, 800 businesses, and nearly 100 non-profit organizations.

    Residents Forward advocates for the entire Port Washington community and the 5.6 square miles we all home.

  • For over five decades, Residents Forward has been a community stakeholder in the comprehensive planning of the Greater Port Washington Peninsula.

    Working with residents, community stakeholders, and elected officials, Residents advocates for realistic, effective, and forward-looking policies and plans that support Port Washington’s well-being, now and in the coming years.

    RF recommends action steps.

  • Meetings are held the second Monday of each month. Please email info@pwresidents.org for additional details

  • RF’s Executive Director and Office Manager

  • The RF Board volunteers their time and talent to serve the organization.

Our History & Our Present

Front page of Newsday newspaper, dated Tuesday, February 16, 2016. Main headline: 'Eyes on LI's Water.' Subheadings: 'Suffolk - Compost facilities may leak contaminants' and 'Nassau - Lawmakers seek $3M to study saltwater intrusion.' A weather forecast shows 55°F high, 35°F low, cloudy and foggy conditions. A smaller image on the left shows people at the Grammy awards, with a caption about 'Hamilton' among music's honorees.

Patricia Class - Executive Director

  • Chairman, Co-Presidents, Vice President, Treasurer, Recording Secretary, Member At Large

    RF’s Executive Committee is nominated and elected by the Board.

  • RF’s Board sets the vision and meets monthly to move RF’s agenda forward. The Board ensures;

    • moves towards goals

    • tasks are distributed between board members

    • leverages board’s individual talents and interests

    • creating an atmosphere that is flexible/nimble

    • engages volunteers 

  • The Green Circle is a trusted advisory and ambassador cohort of residents who support RF’s mission.

Patricia Class, A woman with glasses and shoulder-length hair smiling at the camera, wearing a black and white striped shirt and a silver necklace.

Trish has been a Port resident since 2000, and raised her children, Will and Emily, here along with her husband, Todd. Prior to her current position, Trish was the Executive Director of the Parent Resource Center. Since August 2020, she is the driving force behind the work of Residents Forward.

2026 Board of Directors

  • An elderly man wearing a gray blazer, light blue shirt, and black sneakers is sitting on a chair, smiling. Behind him, a group of people is standing, holding certificates, in an outdoor setting.

    Curt Trinko

    Chairman of the Board

  • A middle-aged woman with long blonde hair sitting on wooden stairs inside a modern home, wearing an orange and white geometric patterned blouse and a turquoise necklace.

    Dawn Serignese

    Co-President

  • A woman with long, wavy brown hair wearing a dark blue off-shoulder top and a dark necklace, standing against a textured beige wall.

    Cynthia Litman

    Co-President

  • A woman with shoulder-length wavy blond hair, smiling, wearing a black top with a zipper neck, a gold necklace, and standing against a textured concrete wall.

    Mindy Germain

    Vice President & Education Chair

  • A woman with dark brown, wavy hair, wearing a black sweater with the word 'BURBERRY' and a white horse logo, smiling and standing against a textured beige wall.

    Melissa Vissicchio

    Treasurer & Beautification Chair

  • A woman with long dark hair smiling, wearing hoop earrings, in front of a wooden background.

    Susan Goldman

    Secretary

  • A woman with long straight dark hair smiling outdoors with a cityscape of tall buildings in the background.

    Deborah Shapiro

    Advocacy Co-Chair

  • A smiling middle-aged woman with blonde hair, wearing a white shirt and green blazer, outdoors with trees and a fence in the background.

    Bonnie Doran

    Board of Directors

  • Roy Smitheimer

    Board of Directors

  • Smiling woman with glasses and brown hair, wearing a pink velvet blouse, standing in front of a textured beige wall.

    Claire Brezel

    Board of Directors

  • A smiling man with glasses and a beard wearing a light blue collared shirt standing in front of a textured beige wall.

    Jason Meier

    Board of Directors

  • A woman with long dark wavy hair wearing blue patterned glasses, a black headband, a black shirt, and a black vest, smiling in front of a textured beige wall.

    Maria Shapiro

    Board of Directors

  • Professional headshot of a woman with blonde hair wearing a navy blazer over a light top, smiling at the camera against a gray background.

    Andrea Day

    Board of Directors

  • A woman with long black hair, wearing a white blouse and smiling, posed against a dark background.

    Lauren Summa

    Board of Directors

  • An elderly man with glasses and a beard smiling while sitting in front of a white wall with colorful abstract art.

    Joel Ziev

    Board of Directors

Logo with a brown tree having green leaves, encircled by a green ring, and the text 'Green Circle' below it.

The Green Circle is a trusted advisory and ambassador cohort of residents who support RF’s mission.