Fresh ideas in Hewlett and Woodmere

The newly created Hewlett-Woodmere Business Association, the product of a merger of the Hewlett Business Association and the Woodmere Merchants Association, not only installed its new executive board on Monday, but has its members thinking with a sense of urgency.

“Something needs to be done, and something needs to be done right now,” said association member Mike Pantino, owner of Pantino’s restaurant in Hewlett for the past 12 years. “We have to create a reason for people to come here. Nobody is coming here anymore.”

Pantino said that the organization needs to motivate potential customers to come to both Hewlett and Woodmere — to once again make the Five Towns communities destinations. “We need to work together and give each other business,” he said.

His words ignited a brief brainstorming session toward the end of a meeting of the association Monday night at La Cucina in Hewlett, where members discussed the idea of once again having a fair and a Memorial Day Parade. The Woodmere Merchants Association held a fair in October 2010, but didn’t have one last fall. There was no parade in either community last year.

Steve Anchin, the new association’s president, said that the group and the communities it represents need to rebrand and remarket themselves. “We have to start to rebuild,” he said. “There are lots of resources — we’re wealthy communities and we need to take advantage of those resources.”

Anchin said he wants the association to have an online presence, to seek out grants for business and community improvements and to use the potential political clout of the growing membership — which numbers nearly 70 — to push local elected officials to help them get things accomplished.

“As hamlets, there’s no one to advocate for us until we get to the town level, and Hewlett and Woodmere get lost in the shuffle of incorporated villages in the struggle to stay vital,” Anchin said. “We have to speak up for ourselves.”

He suggested a Midnight Madness sale event for businesses, akin to what Cedarhurst has. Dr. John Santopolo, former president of the Woodmere Merchants Association, pointed to the success of the group’s car show last summer as an example of an event that drew people to the downtown area.

Several members offered new ideas at Monday’s meeting, many coming as quickly as the pizza slices served by La Cucina owner Luigi Muto disappeared. At least three committees were formed, tasked with building a website, looking into grants and organizing a Memorial Day parade. Other suggestions included exhibiting local artists’ work in businesses, thereby creating a “culture trail,” said Ann Salpeter Shockett, leader of the Woodmere Republican Club and an association board member. “People go from store to store to see the artwork,” she said, “and it’s an opportunity for the store to show off its wares.”

Vassa Halatas-Cohen, who owns Wedding Dresser Couture in Woodmere and is the association’s second vice president, headed the Woodmere’s group Beautification Committee and will continue to do so for the new group. “We need to have a passion,” she said. “I’m looking forward to working together and helping the organization in developing business in the area. I want to make people in the community see we are serious.”

Members also discussed the appearance of several buildings in the area. Dance Express owner Jaime Wysocki, who is on the association’s board, said she has 30 or so Hewlett High School volunteers who are willing to clean, paint and plant if the business owners supply the materials. “I think we should work together,” she said, referring to businesses in both communities.