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NORTH AMERICAN Newsline DECEMBER 26, 2025 | The Indian Eye 21

Punjabi music star Ms. Pooja, who business leaders, AAPI representa-
captivated the audience and turned tives, Sikh gurdwara and Hindu tem-
the celebration into a lively cultural ple leaders, and members of law-en-
showcase. forcement affinity groups, including
APS also highlighted its commu- the Sikh Officers Association, Indian
nity initiatives for 2024–2025, includ- Officers Society and American Mala-
ing the Gurdham Yatra undertak- yali Law Enforcement United, were
en by 135 pilgrims, blood donation also present.
drives, cancer awareness walks, a In his concluding remarks, Pres-
Women’s Council family picnic, youth ident Sikka expressed gratitude to
mentorship and digital outreach pro- APS’s leadership team, advisory
grammes, and Vaisakhi celebrations board members and volunteers, ac-
organised in partnership with Nassau knowledging their collective efforts
County. in making the gala a success. He of-
Addressing the gathering, Wom- fered special recognition to Sunil
en’s Council Chair Navneet Sikka Hali for coordinating extensive media
Sondhi spoke about women-led initia- coverage in collaboration with APS
tives within APS and announced up- Media and Public Relations Director
coming humanitarian efforts, includ- Pradeep Tandon. “Tonight reflects
ing a winter coat drive and a children’s who we are — a community rooted in
holiday wish drive, encouraging broad seva, united by culture, and strength-
community participation. ened by shared purpose,” President
The gala was attended by a wide Sikka said.
cross-section of dignitaries and lead-
ers, including Nassau County Exec-
utive Bruce Blakeman; Binaya Sri-
kanta Pradhan, Consul General of
India; New York State Republican
Party Chairman Edward Cox; Nas-
sau County Republican Chair Joseph
Cairo Jr.; Nassau County Comptrol-
ler Elaine Phillips; New York State
Senator Steven Rhodes; former U.S.
Congressman Anthony D’Esposi-
to; Chief Deputy County Executive
Arthur Walsh; Town of Oyster Bay
Supervisor Joseph Saladino; Town
of North Hempstead Supervisor Jen-
nifer DeSena; Town of Huntington
Supervisor Ed Smyth; North Hemp-
stead Town Clerk Ragini Srivastava;
Chaudhry Akram, Senior Advisor to
the Nassau County Executive; Own
Naqvi, Executive Director of the Of-
fice of Asian American Affairs; com-
munity leader Sheharyar Ali; and
Bobby Kumar, Chairman of the Hu-
man Rights Commission. Presidents
of Indian-American associations,

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