Saturday, October 3, 2026
If a tree falls where no one hears it, does it make a sound?
More aptly for any business owner: If a tree falls in the forest where no one hears it, how will anyone find out?
LaShawn Lukes, president of the New Greater Hempstead Chamber of Commerce, and her chamber team are making sure that if a business opens in Hempstead, noise will be made.
The most recent example is Hempstead Primary Care, which joined the Chamber this year, held a grand opening at 135 Main Street on Oct. 22.
On hand to support the grand opening were six Chamber members: Lukes; Latoya Benjamin (V.I.P. Small Dog Sitting in West Hempstead); Timothy Edwards, a legacy property owner and deli owner in the village; Jin Pan (owner of Eternal Deli and also Sweet Tea House, both on Main Street); Regis Thompson Inuwa (Seniors Committee leader for the Chamber); and Reine Bethany, writer and historian.
Not only were Chamber members present to celebrate, but also Assemblyman Noah Burroughs, Nassau County Legislator Scott Davis, Hempstead Mayor Waylyn Hobbs, Jr., and Village Trustees Tanya Carter and William Whitaker.
Greetings and citations were sent from Congresswoman Laura Gillen, County Executive Bruce Blakeman, County Comptroller Elaine Phillips and County Legislator Olena Nicks.
Hempstead Primary Care offers an extensive roster of medical services, including walk-in doctor appointments, telehealth, a fully equipped on-site lab for administering and evaluating medical tests, and mental health treatment by certified professionals. Every staff member is certified to communicate in Spanish as well as English, and a Creole translator is available.
Through its relationship with the state Social Care Network, Hempstead Primary Care can guide its patients to housing and food organizations in Nassau County, provide court-ordered therapies for people referred to the facility from the criminal justice system, and also handle medical and mental health referrals sent to them from the social care organizations.
“It’s not just about medical,” said Matt Swerdloff, CEO of Hempstead Primary Care. “If you see people who are physically sick, and they’re not getting adequate housing or food, they’re not going to get better. We’re trying to close the circle of care and really help people achieve a better life.”
