Henican talked about Long Island’s future and emphasized that it is imperative to solve the high cost of housing that is driving young professionals away from the area. He noted that Long Island has twice evolved – first as a bedroom suburb of New York City, second as a national center of defense industry contracting – and is now entering a new chapter. The face of that chapter remains undefined and with high property taxes, high energy and housing costs, and difficult transportation issues, the prospects for a glowing future growing dim. However, he added a note of optimism telling the audience of chamber members and businesspeople that it is people such as themselves – people who are involved participants in their communities – that will make Long Island succeed as it grows and evolves.
The annual meeting breakfast event was also an opportunity to give chamber members an overview of the organization’s activities over the past year. Larry Kushnick, vice chairman of the chamber’s board of directors, listed several successful initiatives:
- The Fall Festival at Huntington was another success and brought tens of thousands of visitors to Huntington over a four-day period. Plans for this year’s festival are well under way with Verizon again signing on as the chief sponsor.
- Dine Huntington Restaurant Week, produced in partnership with Long Islander Newspapers last October, sold 30,000 meals and drove $1 million in business to the town’s restaurants.
- The Chamber/Adelphi MBA Program presented diplomas to its first class of graduates at the Annual Meeting, and a new class is forming for fall.
- Increased partnership with Huntington village merchants resulted in meetings with police and public safety officials; the launch of the Huntington Village Passport website www.huntingtonpassport.com; and a seasonal Holiday Stroll promotion with Huntington Village Business Improvement District.
- In addition to being named Best Chamber of Commerce by Long Island Press, there were awards for the “It Starts Here – Buy Locally” campaign, an initiative of the Huntington chamber in cooperation with the Melville, Northport and East Northport chambers. The education and awareness campaign received a Folio Award from the Fair Media Council of Long Island and a 2010 Smart Growth Award from Vision Long Island. Looking ahead, Kushnick announced plans for a gala to celebrate the chamber’s 85th anniversary in November, and expressed optimism for the chamber telling the members “make it happen, Huntington.”
(C) 2010 Long Islander Newspapers - Reprinted with Permission
