IPBRCC Honoring those who serve the community
The Island Park Business and Residential Chamber of Commerce held its first award dinner-dance Apr. 25 at The Coral House in Baldwin, in a night marked by pride, camaraderie and tears. Five people, who, over the course of their lives, gave to the community through service or enterprise, were honored.
Introduce by President Terry Reichel, master of ceremonies, Island Park Fire Chief Anthony D’Esposito began with remembrances of the late Island Park Deputy Village Clerk, Irma Tice, who served the Village from 1991 until she retired in 2014. She died shortly thereafter. The Chamber named a new award in her honor. Her son Christopher Tice, after hearing D’Esposito’s speech, broke into tears, as did many of those present who knew Irma. Tice presented the first ever Irma Tice award to Chris Fabris, a third generation Island Parker, who is active in community organizations, among them Little League and Operation Splash.
The President’s award went to John Marino, Past Commander of American Legion Post 1029 in Island Park. He served on the Island Park School Board, is the face and voice of the Island Park Memorial Day Parade, served at the Sacred Heart San Gennaro Feast for 43 years, and is a member of the Knights of Columbus. With no fanfare John and the Legion has raised and donated thousands of dollars to various causes, including those that help Veterans of the wars in the Middle East.
The Good Samaritan Award went to former Island Park Fire Chief Steve Ruscio who has been a member of the Fire Department for 27 years, and was twice elected Chief. One of those terms was during Hurricane Sandy. He also volunteers at the San Gennaro feast, and he and his family raise puppies for Canine Companions for Independence. Ruscio now serves as a trustee of the Chamber.
Business Person of the Year was Island Park’s own Butch Yamali. The President of the Dover Group, his thriving business includes many familiar local establishments; The Coral House in Baldwin, the catering hall at the Sands on Lido Beach, the Malibu Shore Club, also in Lido, Hudson’s on the Mile in Freeport, Carnival Ice Cream, and most recently Peter’s Clam Bar in Island Park. Yamali is on the Board of the American Red Cross and Pronto of Long Island, serves as President of the Merrick Union Free School District Board, is the small business analyst for FOX Business News, and this year he was named President of the Freeport Educational Foundation.
A portion of the proceeds raised at the dinner was donated to Nassau Suffolk Services for Autism in honor of National Autism Month.
