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Chamber chooses its Man of the Year

Two local businesses, resident also recognized

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The East Rockaway Chamber of Commerce held its annual awards dinner at Althouse1848 on Nov. 20, bestowing the title of Man of the Year on Village Trustee Stanley Lombardo.

“I thank you all,” said Lombardo, who is also the village’s liaison to the chamber. “But none of what I do, I do by myself. This is Smalltown, America. We need to keep businesses in the neighborhood and help the people who live in this village prosper and move forward.”

Lombardo is a 30-year village resident. He and his wife, Corisse, have raised three children in East Rockaway. He is a past commander of the Sons of the American Legion, a member of the Sons of Italy, a member of the East Rockaway Beautification Committee and a past chairman of the Huckleberry Frolic. An auto mechanic who operated his own auto repair business for many years, he is now a senior manager for the Town of Hempstead, supervising repairs.

“As the East Rockaway Chamber of Commerce continues its work serving and helping better our village, the organization’s choice of Trustee Stanley Lombardo as Man of the Year is truly fitting,” said Mayor Francis Lenahan, a former honoree himself. “Stanley and I share the same goals of the chamber: ensuring that local merchants are able to thrive to keep our local economy and downtown area strong. His tireless efforts are deserving of this recognition.”

Two local merchants were named Business of the Year: Rolling River Day Camp and Collision Depot, which is managed by Bobby Zigman. “I was surprised to get this award,” said Zigman, a 20-year East Rockaway resident. “I help a lot of people out when I can, and I have strong ties in the community.”

Zigman’s business, on the border of East Rockaway and Oceanside, attracts customers from many neighboring communities. “I recently went to help an elderly woman whose car was stuck,” he said. “I didn’t charge her. We help each other out in this town.”

Rolling River Day Camp, on Ocean Avenue in East Rockaway, is a popular family-run business that was founded in 1992. Allison Goodman and Marissa Goodman Allaben, daughters of the camp’s directors, Rhonda and Marc Goodman, accepted the award on their parents’ behalf.

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