FP Police Commissioner McAllister To Speak at Next Meeting
After a successful summer of fundraising and community events, the Floral Park Chamber of Commerce has a busy fall with several upcoming chamber meetings and Community Day at Belmont Park and continuing with plans in the works for a new kiosk in the village.
On Sept. 9, the Chamber of Commerce will host a lunch meeting at Stella Ristorante in Floral Park at noon. The keynote speaker will be Floral Park’s newly appointed Police Commissioner, Stephen G. McAllister. According to Chamber President Sal Bonagura, the commissioner is looking for input from the business community and the event is a great opportunity for members to voice their concerns and meet the man in charge of the Floral Park Police Department. Cost for the event is $15.
The Chamber recently announced that its popular ninth annual Chamber of Commerce street fair on June 4 was a huge success. A few thousand people attended and the event featured three bands, local restaurants and merchants, face painting, a clown, bouncing rides and local dancers. “As a fundraiser, it was the best fundraising event the chamber has ever had,” Chamber President Sal Bonagura said.
In June and July, the Chamber also had the opportunity to purchase 160 copies of Walter Gosden’s new book, Floral Park, Nassau County. With the help of a few local merchants, (Associated, Tulip Bakery, Levine’s & Tulip Wine & Spirits), the chamber was able to sell 154 copies of the book. The remaining copies are available to Chamber members for $18.
Plans are well under way for Community Day on Sunday. Oct. 10, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Marquee Tent at Belmont Park. Parking is free and so is admission with a ticket available through the Chamber or the Village. This event is sponsored by the Floral Park Chamber, the Covert Avenue Chamber, the Village of Floral Park and NYRA. You can sponsor a race for $250, get your name in the program for that race, and appear in a photo with the winning horse trainer, horse and jockey. Local restaurants will be serving food in the tent and there will be live music.
In other Chamber news, the Nassau Council of Chambers of Commerce requests each Chamber to select an honoree for the Small Business Person of the Year. This year’s honoree is Kathleen Duggan, from Jack Duggan’s Pub & Restaurant, 145 Tulip Ave. Kathleen, will receive her award at a Legislative Breakfast, held on Oct. 15, at the Crest Hollow Country Club.
The Chamber of Commerce has been asked by Library Director Tracey Simon to serve on the Floral Park Library Advisory Committee. According to Bonagura, “its purpose is to create a vision of what this community could look like five or 10 years from now. This will help the library assess the community’s needs and will reveal programs and services we should consider.”
In their September Newsletter, the Chamber informed members that it has had an offer from AAA Taxi to pay for one half of a new kiosk. The Chamber would pay for the other half and has approached the Village for locations on Jericho Turnpike, according to Bonagura. The existing kiosk, located on Tulip Avenue, is over 10 years old and was paid for with NYS grant money and Chamber funds.
For more information on upcoming chamber events or to join the Floral Park Chamber of Commerce, visit www.floral parkchamber.org. Any new members joining from now until the end of the year get the rest of 2010 for free and just have to pay the dues for 2011.
