Hewlett resident honored by Achiezer

James Vilardi was among several people honored by Lawrence-based Achiezer at that group’s annual dinner that this year took place in a vacant storefront in the Bay Harbour Mall in Lawrence on Feb. 26.

Nearly 1,000 people sat in what used to be the Best Buy store and honored Avi and Pessi Goldstein, Shabsi Schrier, Rabbi Elysha Sander and his wife, Dr. Norman Y. Otsuka and Joel and Cheryl Baruch.

Vilardi, a Woodmere resident, received an appreciation award for what former Queens Assemblyman Phil Goldfeder called “his tireless work” with Achiezer, an organization that aims to provide medical, financial, emotional or practical support to people in need.

Vilardi also lends a helping hand to Chevra Hatzalah of the Rockaways and Nassau County, the volunteer ambulance corps.; Sons of Italy, the Friends of Israel Defense Forces, the Five Towns Community Center and the Inwood Civic Association.