Chamber of Commerce takes care of business

As she accepted the gavel as new president for the East Meadow Chamber of Commerce, Rose Fuger issued a challenge for her fellow colleagues.

“People need help more than ever,” Fuger said. “This body we call East Meadow needs to be more unified than ever. We need to huddle together to weather the storm.”

A unified body it was indeed last Friday at the Fox Hollow in Woodbury — nearly 250 people attended the Chamber’s 55th annual Installation of Officers and Board of Directors.

Fuger was officially installed as the Chamber’s new president for 2010. Dr. Janine Kelly, now the immediate past president, passed the ceremonial gavel on to Fuger.

Fuger’s husband Dan and her sons, Tim, Chris and Daniel, joined the new president, who owns A Taste of Home Bakery in North Bellmore with her sister, Monica Tarantino. Tim Fuger opened the program by leading the audience in the singing of the National Anthem.

Kelly, now the chairwoman of the Chamber’s Board of Directors, was installed along with her fellow board members. Fuger’s officers were also installed — Mike Panagatos, 1st vice president; Peter Cipriano, 2nd vice president; Connie Duggan, treasurer; and Millie Jones, secretary.

Following the presentation of gifts and awards was the Person of the Year ceremony. That honor was given to Frank Borrelli, who was in tears as he accepted his award.

Tom Gallagher, who introduced Borrelli, said Chamber members had to ask him twice to accept the Man of the Year award.

“He’s a quiet guy who doesn’t like the limelight,” Gallagher said. “He never says no.”

“Frank always says yes,” he added. “He does everything and then some.”

Borrelli is the owner of Borrelli’s Italian Restaurant, a longtime mainstay in East Meadow and a popular stop for Islanders fans and Nassau Coliseum concertgoers.

Borrelli has a long resume of volunteerism and generosity to the community.