Oceanside Chamber of Commerce dinner is a big success

The annual Oceanside Chamber of Commerce cocktail party, held at Temple Avodah last Thursday, was an evening marked by worthy recognition, gratitude and a celebration of outstanding community members and businesses. Nearly 200 attendees gathered to honor those who have enriched the fabric of the Oceanside community.

Oceanside School Board President, Seth Blau underscored the rich history of the chamber, which has been a pillar of the community since 1926, and emphasized its crucial role in supporting local businesses and fostering collaboration within the community.

Newly elected Nassau County Legislator Patrick Mullaney swore in the chamber board and John Dianellos, the new chamber president, expressed gratitude to outgoing president Paul Engel.

“He was president right after the pandemic, and it was very, very tough for him and we thank him for all the work that he put in,” Dianellos said.

Dianellos also recognized the hard work of various individuals behind the scenes, including chamber secretary Brittany Humes, treasurer Leslie Braun and long-time chamber member and community leader Maria Heller.

The highlight of the evening was the recognition given to two exemplary community leaders — Brianna O’Hagan and the Ramalho family. O’Hagan was bestowed with the chamber’s “Citizen of the Year” award in recognition of her charity work and community engagement. As the general manager of the gastropub EGP Oceanside, O’Hagan has been instrumental in organizing annual toy drives and the annual Fall Fest fundraisers, which benefit a local family facing hardship.

This past holiday season, O’Hagan held her 11th annual toy drive and adopt a family event in which more than 1,000 toys were donated. The local “Adopt a Family” drive organizes local children’s wish lists for the holiday season and distributes gifts. The rest of the toys are donated to NYU Langone Cancer Center for Kids, every holiday season. Brian Driscoll, of the Oceanside Community Warriors, presented the award to O’Hagan and highlighted her selflessness and dedication to serving others.

“I have not met anyone who puts literally everybody before herself,” Driscoll said. “Your selflessness and thoughtfulness deserve to be recognized. On behalf of the chamber, we do not want it to go unnoticed.”

O’Hagan expressed gratitude for the recognition and shared her journey of giving back to the community, including plans to establish the Love Ava project, a nonprofit organization in honor of Ava Salonia, the Oceanside teen who lost a hard-fought battle against cancer in August.

“One thing I continually pride myself on is never doing any of the things I do for any sort of recognition or accolades,” O’Hagan said. “It is something that is done purely out of wanting to help those in need and setting a positive example for others.”

The Ramalho Tree Service was honored as the chamber’s “Business of the Year” for its longstanding commitment to serving the Oceanside community. The Ramalho family’s three-generation legacy of providing exceptional service and support, particularly during challenging times, was recognized.

Congressman Anthony D’Esposito commended the honorees and emphasized the significance of community service in building a better society.

“As we know, it’s becoming harder and harder to be a local business — the lifeblood of our community here in New York state — and when you have people and families who continue to fight the good fight, who stand at the frontline, you want to invest in our local communities so that we can do better, be better and see into the future,” D’Esposito said.

D’Esposito also lauded O’Hagan’s selflessness and dedication, citing her as a shining example of civic responsibility and compassion.

Ramalho Tree Service dates to 1958, when John Ramalho I, now 87, started the business, and John II and his wife Victoria Ramalho now carry the load with their sons, John III, 29, Jake, 23, and Sam, 20. Joe Cibellis, newly installed vice president of the chamber, in his remarks, highlighted the Ramalho family’s unwavering support and generosity, underscoring the importance of family values and community solidarity.

“Coming from a family business myself, I know the stress and toll it takes on everyone because I run a family business,” Cibellis said. “It is a 24/7 job, to balance your employees, your expenses, your estimates, billing, and most importantly, your spouse and your children. To be successful is exhausting and doing that for three generations is something truly amazing and special.”

John Ramalho III expressed gratitude for the recognition and shared poignant anecdotes of the family’s journey in serving the community. He emphasized the importance of family unity and community engagement in fostering a vibrant and supportive environment for all.

“My parents were raised in Oceanside and chose to raise my brothers and me, in Oceanside” he said. “Oceanside will continue to be a place I can call home. You have my word that Ramalho Tree Service will do our best to do