Dear Fellow Chamber Members and Residents of the Massapequas, 

With autumn now in full swing, I have been thinking about how proud I am of what our Chamber has achieved this year. This time of year always brings a sense of gratitude, and I truly appreciate everything our members and our board do to keep our community thriving. 

We recently had the pleasure of honoring our Businessperson of the Year, Michael Masone of Masone Masonry, at the Crest Hollow Country Club. Michael is not only a successful local business owner, but also a dedicated community supporter and longtime Chamber member. He is always one of the first to step up as a generous sponsor and lend a helping hand to our Chamber and our town. Our Board of Directors proudly joined with the Nassau Council of Chambers of Commerce to celebrate his many accomplishments. Congratulations again to Michael on this well-deserved honor.

We also had a successful 2nd Annual Trunk or Treat, which brought out hundreds of local families for a fun and festive afternoon. A big thank-you to James Funeral Home for sponsoring this event.

As we head into the season of giving, we are happy to share that our Annual Food Drive has officially ended, and we collected hundreds of items that were delivered to our local pantries. Thank you to Chairperson Karen Gawrych and to everyone who helped make this collection such a success. Our Toys for Tots drive is now in full swing. If you would like to display a toy collection box at your business, please call our office. 

We are also excited to share that the Chamber office has officially relocated to our new home at 511 Ocean Avenue. We cannot wait for you to see it. This beautiful, Manhattan-style building offers a fresh, professional, and welcoming environment for our members and the community. Details about our ribbon-cutting celebration will be announced in January.

This month we are proud to continue honoring those who serve our country. We will be honoring three Veterans at our Annual Veterans Day Luncheon on Wednesday, November 20th at 12:00 Noon at the Massapequa Elks Lodge. We invite all members to join us in recognizing these local heroes for their service and dedication.

On Sunday, November 23rd, do not miss our 5th Annual Holiday Fair at Memorare Caterers in Seaford. Families can enjoy free photos with Santa, a magic show, face painting, along with plenty of holiday shopping with our members and local vendors.

Our Annual Christmas Tree and Menorah Lighting will take place on Saturday, December 6th at Klestinec Park. The start time has been moved up to 5:00 PM. Santa will be joining us, and we hope you bring the whole family for this festive community celebration.

As we enter one of the busiest shopping periods of the year, I encourage everyone to shop local during Small Business Season, which runs from November 29 through December 31. Supporting our neighborhood businesses keeps our community strong and vibrant. Please visit our member list at www.massapequachamber.org to find great local businesses to shop with this season.

As we gather with loved ones this month, I want to take a moment to wish you and your families a very Happy and Healthy Thanksgiving.

Warm regards,

Robin Hepworth

President, Chamber of Commerce of the Massapequas