Caroline Zimmermann Bazzini, born and raised in Amityville, was recently sworn in as Mayor of Brookville. Caroline Z. Bazzini, who was born in Amityville and graduated from Amityville Mermorial High School, was sworn in as the first woman mayor of Brookville, Sun., Jan. 11. She is the daughter of the late Frances Zimmermann and lived on Bayview Avenue.

She has been a volunteer in Brookville for nearly 20 years. Her credentials include 12 years as a Trustee with nearly half of those years spent as the Deputy Mayor and as the Deputy Police Commissioner of Brookville.

In talking about her work, Bazzini said she never viewed it as being involved in politics. Instead, she said, it was about giving back to the public and community, something she began to understand as a youngster growing up in Amityville.

"Amityville was and is a unique place in that it is a small jewel of a town and a place where people care about one another," she said. "I think that if people really understood Amityville, they would recognize its beautiful soul."

Bazzini was appointed by Mayor Richard P. Goodwin, who stepped down. She will fill out the last two months of his term.

"Caroline is one of our hardest working volunteers," said Goodwin. "She makes for a seamless transition as she is fully qualified to run all aspects of our Village."

Village government isn't the only way she has helped Brookville. For the past 11 years, Caroline has been publisher of the Voice of the Village, Brookville's newsletter. She has been a member of the Brookville Park Foundation for almost 20 years and served as its president for 10 years. She was sworn in in front of nearly 200 residents at the annual Village Recognition & Awards Party held at Tam O'Shanter Country Club in Brookville.

Known professionally as Caroline Zimmermann, she has run her own successful marketing company for 35 years. She is also the author of five non-fiction books, including "How to Break Into The Media Professions," published by Doubleday. She's listed in "Who's Who in the East" and "Women In Finance." She was named as one of her industry's 200 Most Influential People in America, and voted into the YWCA's Academy of Women Achievers. She recently received her industry's Silver Apple award for more than 25 years of outstanding contributions and service.

Volunteering is a family tradition with the Bazzinis. Her husband, Fred, serves on the Zoning Board and also does volunteer work for the VA Hospital in East Northport. The Bazzinis have lived in Brookville since 1989.

Caroline and her two brothers, Richard Zimmermann (deceased) and Conrad Zimmermann, were all born and raised in Amityville and each graduated from Amityville Memorial High School. Conrad, a retired Lt. Colonel, USAF, lives with his wife in Alexandria, VA.