Merrick Chamber honors those who give to community

Leaders in the business community gathered on Jan. 26 to toast four individuals who have worked unceasingly to improve their town.

The Merrick Chamber of Commerce presented its Man of the Year award to Ron Luparello and Woman of the Year to Margaret Mueller.

It was an evening of food, laughs, networking and marking the chamber’s accomplishments over the past year, including the growth of the annual Spring Kids Fest. Vice President Ira Reiter even celebrated his birthday. Which one? He wasn’t telling. “A year older than last year,” he laughed.

Mueller, owner of RS Jones Restaurant, formerly Rattlesnake Jones, which has been open since 1993, has served for several years as chamber president, and opened her restaurant’s doors as a collection point for backpacks for children displaced after Hurricane Katrina, amassing more than 4,000.

She was named the Herald’s Person of the Year in 2005, and, according to Douglas Mills, the chamber’s 1992 Man of the Year, she is “invaluable” to the chamber and richly deserved her Woman of the Year award.

“The best thing about Margaret is that ‘no’ is not an option,” Mills wrote in his letter of support. “She always finds a way to get things done.”

Man of the Year Ron Luparello is a volunteer firefighter and former chief of the Merrick Fire Department, a public relations representative for Birch Elementary School and a NYPD detective.

Luparello has also played a special role in the chamber’s annual holiday events and is active in a father’s support group where he shares his knowledge and experience of parenting two children with special needs.

Thanking the chamber for the award, Luparello invoked words attributed to Winston Churchill. “We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give,” he said.

Chamber member Lorraine Darcy said that Luparello is “a shining example of what it means to give back to your community,” and that she couldn’t think of a more deserving Man of the Year. “Our community is so very lucky to have him,” she said.

Dr. Richard Siebert, a chiropractor and national champion weightlifter who also teaches human nutrition in Nassau Community College’s biology department, was also honored with Professional of the Year.

“Dr. Rich does not know the word ‘no,’” said chamber member Louise Pitlake. “Anytime anybody has anything to do or a hard job, you can just knock on his door.”

Tim Feldis, owner of Feldis Florists, one of the region’s oldest florists, received the Merchant of the Year award for his dedication to the community.

Board member Randy Shotland gave Feldis his award and said that it was well-deserved. “When you need help, you don’t have to ask Tim twice — you don’t have to ask at all,” he said.

The chamber’s new leadership for 2017 includes President Erin Donohue, Vice presidents Ira Reiter and Kevin Hoffmann, Secretary Margaret Biegelman and Presidential Advisor Assemblyman Dave McDonough.

The chamber’s Board of Directors consists of Femy Aziz, Audrey Cohen, Armando D’Accordo, Ilene Dixel, Tim Feldis, Marian Fraker-Gutin, Arlene Gregory, Susan Helsinger, Carmela Lage, Leo Levine, Julie Marchesella, Ron Mare, Douglas Mills, Margaret Mueller, Andrew Nachamie, Randy Shotland and Salvatore Vassallo.