Chamber honors local do-gooders

The Oceanside Chamber of Commerce announced their honorees for the year this week. A citizen of the community, a young person and a local business will all be honored at the Annual Instillation Dinner Dance on Feb. 28 at Oceanside Jewish Center.

Bill Kallinkos of Towers Funeral Home was chosen as Citizen of the Year. The nominees for this award come from community leaders. The Chamber reads through the applications and chooses the honoree.

The current second vice president of Oceanside Kiwanis, Kallinkos sponsors many events in the community, often anonymously. “I just don’t like the limelight,” said Kallinikos. “It really is an honor and a privilege.”

In the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy, Towers Funeral Home was a staging area for first responders, served coffee and snacks to people waiting on gas lines and stored clothing brought up from volunteers ins the Carolinas.

Kallinikos and his wife, Athena, are very involved with their church, the Cathedral of St. Paul in Hempstead. He founded the ‘Grief and Bereavement’ program at the church 20 years ago. It has since grown into a nationwide program within the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese. He also works with Oceanside Community Service and the school district to help with grief counseling referrals.

“I love to help people,” said Kallinikos.

The Outstanding Youth Award, which is given to a deserving Oceanside High School student, is given to Dari Goldman, 17.

A senior at Oceanside High School, Goldman introduced Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation for Childhood Cancer to Oceanside High School. She was asked to be the Treasurer of the Cancer Awareness Club at Oceanside High School because of her continuous efforts to raise money for childhood cancer. She is currently planning a six hour dance-a-thon which will take place in the spring all proceeds from which will be donated to the Four Diamonds Hospital for childhood cancer research.

“I was very honored to be chosen for this award,” Goldman wrote in an email. “I am very happy to represent Oceanside High School and my community.”

Goldman is also a member of Natural Helpers, Best Buddies and the treasurer of the National Honor Society.