Merrick Chamber celebrates 75 years

For 75 years, local merchants and caring community members in Merrick have been brought together through the Chamber of Commerce. On Jan. 7, the chamber celebrated the milestone with a swanky soirée at the Carltun restaurant in East Meadow.

More than 150 guests attended the fete, which commemorated the chamber's history and honored the organization's Man of the Year, Lawrence Garfinkel, and Woman of the Year, Phyllis Guttilla.

"Celebrating the 75th anniversary of the Merrick Chamber of Commerce was an awe-inspiring way to start the new year," said Chamber President Margaret Mueller. "It was an honor and a privilege to be part of such an event, and in the company of so many terrific people who have helped to shape the town of Merrick as we know it today."

The Chamber was launched in 1935, but did not start keeping official records until 1954. Today it is easy to see the organization's influence and reach by looking around Merrick any day of the week.

Each year, the Chamber is responsible for events that not only promote local businesses, but are mainstays of the community. The Merrick Festival, Kids Fest and Holiday Lights Program are annual neighborhood favorites that it sponsors and organizes. In 2009, the Chamber also created new, fun and innovative programs such as a local merchant scavenger hunt.

Every year, the organization chooses two community members to honor as Man and Woman of the Year. Garfinkel, president of the Historical Society of the Merricks, was a timely choice, since the Chamber was celebrating a historic anniversary.

Garfinkel is a prominent community member, and has been for years. He is a trustee of the Brotherhood Council of the Merricks and is involved in many community events: He is master of ceremonies at the annual Brotherhood Thanksgiving Musical Concert, directs the Historical Society's annual reading of the Declaration of Independence on July Fourth, narrates Merrick Symphony concerts and coordinates Nostalgia Nights at the Merrick Library.

Garfinkel and his wife, Adrienne, have lived in Merrick for 48 years, raising three children, Andrew, Rodger and Craig.

Guttilla has been involved in a wide variety of community activities. From schools to sports and from parish activities to scouting, she has gone above and beyond to make Merrick a safe and fun place for families.

Guttilla has served Merrick as a Girl Scout leader and Service Team member as well as an assistant coach for PAL and CYO cheerleading. She held many PTA positions, including president at Chatterton Elementary School and Merrick Avenue Middle School. She is a past vice president and is now a delegate of the Bellmore-Merrick Central High School District Council of PTAs, where she is actively involved with many teams and committees. She was co-chair of the Calhoun Sports Boosters Fund Drive and co-president of Calhoun Music Boosters, and she is a member of the Tri-M Honor Society. She also coordinates the Midnight Madness post-prom party for Bellmore-Merrick students, which encourages teens to avoid dangerous prom pitfalls like drugs and alcohol and offers a fun, safe place for local teens to celebrate the special night.

Guttilla and her husband, Salvator, have raised two daughters, Sofia-Maria and Katrina, in Merrick.