By: Hector Flores
"It was the most wonderful tribute," Ellen Lassman said. "I will cherish it forever, and I thank the chamber for the recognition."
"I'm still getting over it," said Podolski. "It was a great honor, and it's nice that people see what I have done and see that I'm deserving of recognition."
More than 100 well-wishers attended the awards ceremony last Saturday at the Woodbury Country Club. The Bellmore Herald sponsored the awards. That night the chamber also celebrated its 50th anniversary, with a dinner and dancing to live music.
Joni Caputo, the chamber's executive director, said the Lassmans and Podolski were selected by members of the chamber through a newsletter application form. "Nominations for both categories were submitted to the chamber and voted upon at an executive board meeting," she said.
Ellen and Sy Lassman
Virginia McClean, owner of Have You Heard? Inc. in Bellmore and co-president of the Bellmore Chamber of Commerce, nominated the Lassmans for the Businesspersons of the Year honor. The Lassmans, she noted, provided entertainment at the annual Bellmore Family Street Festival. Through their imaginative entrepreneurial spirit, they have also created one of Bellmore's most viable businesses, Carlson Wagonlit Travel. On Jan. 22, they opened a franchise of Carlson Wagonlit, Cruise Holidays of Bellmore.
Ellen Lassman opened Happy Talk Travel on Oct. 1, 1975, on Bellmore Avenue. In January 1990, the Lassmans became associates of the travel franchise Carlson Wagonlit Travel. In 1995, they bought the building at 309 Bedford Ave. and renovated it. They're still there today.
In 1998, the Lassmans expanded their operation, opening another Carlson Wagonlit office in Fishkill, N.Y., under the direction of their daughter Marilyn Schweitzer.
Ellen was also an adjunct professor who taught a course in marketing and management at Adelphi University for three years. She has served on the Carlson Wagonlit Travel Advisory Board for three years, as president of the American Society of Travel Agents, Long Island Chapter, for five years and president of the Business Networking International's Central Nassau Chapter for two years.
Dr. Seymour Lassman, a podiatrist, retired in 1985 and joined his wife in the travel agency as vice president and office manager, handling all of the business's finances. Sy has been a member of the Bellmore Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors for many years. The Lassmans have also served as chairpersons of the Wantagh Fourth of July Parade and originated the Miss Wantagh contest.
P. Robert Podolski
Reinaldo Nunez, president of the North Bellmore Civic Association, nominated Podolski for Community Person of the Year. Nunez described Podolski as an active member of several community organizations who has dedicated most of his life to serving his community.
Podolski has been a member of the North Bellmore Fire Department since 1964, and was honored as its Fireman of the Year in 1970. He has worked through the department's ranks, serving as captain, chief and fire commissioner, and has also been involved with the EMT unit.
Podolski was an adviser to a local Explorers Post for young people ages 13 to 17. He has attended several disaster- and hurricane-preparedness conferences, and disseminated the information as a guest speaker for many community organizations.
Podolski, a head-injury expert, was chosen to make head-injury policies in Albany from 1992 to 1996. Former Assemblyman Charles O'Shea and the chief of the Levittown Fire Department called on him to help people who suffered from brain injuries from car accidents. He continues to take part in the annual Head Injury Conference in Albany.
As past president of the Bellmore Kiwanis Club, Podolski has supervised Key Club students from Kennedy and Mepham high schools at the Bellmore Strawberry and Family Street festivals. He has also been adviser to the Mepham Key Club for the last two years.
As the current second vice president of the North Bellmore Civic Association, Podolski has demonstrated a commitment to the community. He was responsible for putting together a fund-raiser to help the civic group donate larger school scholarships this year. And he has devoted much of his spare time to helping the Chamber of Commerce of the Bellmores.
Comments about this story? HFlores@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 283.
