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Light Drizzle Fog/Mist E.M. Chamber installs officers, presents honors
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The Chateau Briand, in Carle Place, was abuzz with conversation, good food and good company last Friday at the East Meadow Chamber of Commerce’s 66th annual installation of officers and board of directors. Richie Krug Jr. was sworn in as chamber president.
The color guard from Boy Scout Troop 362 helped kick off the evening, while Richie Krug Sr. led the Pledge of Allegiance. Kiwanis President Peter Mancuso gave the opening invocation.
Tom Gallagher, a crowd favorite emcee, had everyone laughing and clapping the whole evening. “Good evening, East Meadow,” Gallagher said excitedly. “…Tonight, more than a year overdue, we finally have a chance to get together and celebrate our amazing town, East Meadow, our president, Richie Krug Jr., our man of the year, Steve LaSala, and Past President Mike Levy.”
Frank Camarano Jr., a past president himself, presented the immediate past president Michael Levy. “While I’ve been about one step ahead of Michael these past two years, Michael has been about ten steps ahead of me in just about everything else that’s important in life,” Camarano said. “… He’s been about 30 steps ahead of me when it comes to being a dad and a father, and when it comes to friendship, he’s about a thousand steps ahead of me.”
Levy, who owns Minuteman Press, in Levittown and Farmingdale, was president of the chamber in 2019 and 2020.
Richie Krug Jr. presented Camarano with the Silver Fox award, describing it award as being given to someone who has shown outstanding service to East Meadow during the year. “The individual selected has an ‘East Meadow first’ mentality,” Krug said. “His service to the community and lead-from-the-front mentality helped East Meadow shine bright on the county level.”
Mancuso received the Humanitarian Award, for outstanding service to the East Meadow community and its neighbors. “It is an honor to announce this year’s selection,” Krug said. “Watching from afar, I’ve always been in awe of all the service and volunteering you do,” he told Mancuso.
County Legislator Thomas McKevitt swore Krug in with the rest of the board. “Daddy good job,” Mackenzie Krug, 4, could be heard saying in the audience.
LaSala accepted the Man of the Year award after his son, Frank, gave a speech filled with jokes and anecdotes about his father that had the whole room smiling and chuckling. LaSala has been involved with the East Meadow Baseball and Softball Association for more than 30 years, and has been the commissioner for more than five years. He is a member of both the chamber and Kiwanis, and was named Kiwanian of the Year in 2020.
“I am truly humbled by this attention that I’m getting,” LaSala said. “I especially want to thank our president, Richie, for sharing his day with me.”
Richie Krug Sr. introduced his son. “Having the opportunity to speak in front of a room with so many people that I love, respect and admire is a great honor,” Richie Jr. said. “We have so many individuals in this room that represent all the great aspects of our community, that help our little town of East Meadow shine so brightly.”
Krug spoke about the organization’s activities past and future, including a brand new one, planned for the upcoming summer season: the Chamber of Commerce festival.
The gavel was ceremonially passed from Levy to Krug and James Skinner offered the benediction.
