Neighbors in the News

V.S. bank honors chamber, businesses and two students

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T.D. Bank in Valley Stream honored the Valley Stream Chamber of Commerce and a pair of students from Suffolk County at a ceremony celebrating Black History Month on Feb. 24.

“We celebrate Black History Month in a different way every year,” said branch manager Glenore Anderson. “This year we wanted to take some time and honor people in and around our community who are doing great things.”

Debbi Gyulay, president of the Chamber of Commerce, was on hand to accept an award for her organization. Anderson said that Gyulay’s hard work with small businesses around the community deserved to be recognized.

“She has helped so many different people out, it’s absolutely incredible,” Anderson said. “She’s just such a great resource for any business in the community. No matter who’s calling, how big their business is, what their concern may be, she’s always there to answer the phone and lend a hand.”

Gyulay said she the honor caught her off-guard.

“I was honestly very surprised when I got the call,” she said. “I didn’t know much about it, but I was very grateful to be recognized. I’m always glad to help any businesses in the area, because small business is what is most important in the community. People that own the small businesses here in Valley Stream are the people that we live with, and they care about what happens here.”

T.D. Bank also honored a pair of local businesses at the event, Jamaica Breeze Restaurant in Jamaica, Queens and Misrok Law Firm in Valley Stream.

“They both are thriving businesses in our area that are not only doing well financially, but they work very hard for the community, and do good for those around them” Anderson said of the two companies.

Two students, Kalif Jones of Walt Whitman High School in Huntington and Dionte Harrilal of North Babylon High School, were also recognized. They are members of 100 Black Men, an organization devoted to the intellectual development of youth and economic empowerment in the African-American community.

Both were recognized in part for their creative talents. Jones performs with choral groups that have performed at venues as prestigious as Carniege Hall, and Harrilal has performed in school and community theater productions and has competed in Hofstra University’s Battle of the Bands.

Jones said he was “blown away” when he found out about the award, and said he was honored to receive it. Harrilal said the award also came as a surprise to him.

“I was really excited and really surprised when I found out,” said Harrilal. “The first thing I did was tell my mom. She’s always been hugely supportive of me, and I was really glad to tell her about the award.”