Lynbrook Chamber of Commerce installs new officers, directors

Local business owners also honored at dinner

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Several elected leaders, local residents and business owners turned out for the Lynbrook Chamber of Commerce’s installation dinner for new officers and directors at the Knights of Columbus on Jan. 26. Business owners’ achievements were recognized at the celebration as well.

“You are the lifeblood of this community,” state Sen. Todd Kaminsky told chamber members. “A great community.”

Kaminsky was one of the elected leaders on hand, along with Assemblyman Brian Curran, Town of Hempstead Councilman Anthony D’Esposito, Town Supervisor Anthony Santino and Lynbrook Mayor Bill Hendrick.

Santino swore in longtime chamber member Carol Burak as the new president, while outgoing President Linda Stephenson was also honored.

In addition to Burak, the chamber also installed Stephen Wangel as executive vice president, Eleanor Jobbagy as secretary; Shirish Mohile as treasurer; Jeffrey Greenfield of the NGL Group LLC insurance company as vice president of government affairs; Rhonda Glickman of the Herald as vice president of public relations; Donald Janonis as vice president of membership; Joseph Carusone and Stuart Neufeld as vice presidents of retail; and Bruce Hafner as the counsel.

Chris Anderson, of Crown Ford, Polly Talbott, of A la Carte Cooking School, David O’Neill, of the Village Car Service, Denise Rogers, of Astoria Bank, William Gaylor Jr., of the Lyn Gift Shop, and Harold Reese, of Harrontine Realty Corp, were also installed.

Honoring Lynbrook’s business community leaders

Greenfield and O’Neill were also honored for their contributions to Lynbrook’s business community, as were Greenfield’s partner, Ken Hehir Jr., and Harry and Bruce Levitt of Mur-Lee’s Men’s & Boy’s Shop.

O’Neill was chosen by the chamber as its Small Businessperson of the Year, Greenfield and Hehir were recognized for 50 years of doing business in Lynbrook, and the Levitts were honored for their business’s 70th anniversary in the village.

The award was given to O’Neill for the many contributions he’s made to the community. The Village Car Service offers free rides to older adults who need transportation to doctor offices, free service to veterans and seniors to polling places on Election Day, and free rides to high school students returning from their proms. The company also offers $1 rides to senior citizens anywhere within Lynbrook and East Rockaway.

“I would like to thank the residents of Lynbrook for supporting me and the Village Car Service,” O’Neill said. “If not for them, we wouldn’t be here.”

Greenfield was honored for reaching the five-decade mark with the insurance company he took over from his father, the late Martin Greenfield. Martin purchased the business and called it Ebin, Newman and Greenfield, and moved it to Lynbrook in 1966. Jeffrey became a partner in 1988, and carried on the legacy of his father after he died in 2008.

“I enjoy the business of insurance,” Greenfield said. “I enjoy helping people and I especially enjoy being a part of the Lynbrook business community.” He noted that his business partner was unable to attend because of work obligations.

Mur-Lee’s Men’s and Boy’s Wear has been a part of the Lynbrook community since brothers Murray and Lee Levitt went into business together after World War II, opening the shop on Atlantic Avenue. Murray’s sons, Harry and Bruce, helped him run the business after Lee retired in 1979.

Murray, a former president of the Lynbrook Chamber of Commerce, retired in 2000 and left the business to his sons, who have helped it reach the seven-decade mark.

“It hasn’t always been easy making it to 70 years,” Bruce Levitt said. “We’ve endured wars, fires, recessions and an onslaught of many different outlets we all compete with that take away customers in a small village like Lynbrook, but through it all we’ve managed to survive.”

The brothers said they were proud to carry on the legacy of their late father and humbled by the recognition.

“My father loved the village of Lynbrook,” Bruce said. “He gave all of his heart to it — in fact, sometimes he gave more of his time to the village than he gave to his family, as my brother will attest. He would have been very proud of this moment, and we wish he was here to see it.”