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Lenore Paprocky

Brendel's Bagels opened it's Centereach location on Jan. 8. Photo courtesy of Greater Middle Country Chamber of Commerce

Brendel’s Bagels & Eatery of New York celebrated the grand opening of its Centereach location with a ribbon cutting on Jan. 8. The event was attended by members of the Greater Middle Country Chamber of Commerce, local officials including Suffolk County Leg. Nick Caracappa and community supporters. 

Located at 1311 Middle Country Road, the shop boasts its signature Newfield Pride Bagels along with an extensive breakfast, lunch and catering menu. 

“Brendel’s Bagels is proudly owned by local Middle Country residents, and the store manager, Zach, is a graduate of Newfield High School. We take immense pride in seeing our homegrown talent thrive by opening and managing businesses that enrich our community,” said Lenore Paprocky, President of the  Greater Middle Country Chamber of Commerce, in a press release.

“We look forward to many great things ahead for Brendel’s Bagels and encourage everyone to stop by, support this new local gem, and enjoy their delicious offerings. Here’s to new beginnings and continued success for our community,” she added.

Legislator Caracappa praised the business and its team, stating, “They are an incredible bunch of individuals, from owners to employees committed to the quality of their food and services and representing and participating in community events.”

Brendel’s Bagels also has locations in Syosset, Glen Cove and Hauppauge. 

Store hours are 5 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays and 5 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sundays. For more information, call 631-320-1009.

Vice President Ann Pellegrino by one of the farm’s raised gardens. File photo

By Sabrina Artusa

Ann Pellegrino is a busy woman. Between the Bethel Hobbs Community Farm, a nonprofit farm she built herself and describes as “more than a full-time job,” and her appointments speaking at local hospitals about the life-changing effects of organ donation, it was difficult to schedule a time to talk. However, she made sure to make time to talk to me about what she describes as her calling.

In 2007, Pellegrino was in her car and noticed people in the woods hungry and homeless. The unfortunate sight ignited a passion she didn’t know she had — a passion that would be tested by the skepticism of others and the practical challenges of developing a farm without experience. 

She became certain what she was meant to be doing, that the vacant lot of loose, barren dirt — a collection ground for the unwanted and disposed — could become something nourishing and productive with the proper care. 

It started with a fence

After first ripping up her own lawn, intending to farm fresh vegetables to use in her own home (much to her husband’s dismay), Pellegrino had the idea to renovate the Bethel Hobbs land. For decades the land was farmed by the Hobbs family before ultimately falling into unuse after the death of Alfred Hobbs. 

Pellegrino received permission from the Bethel African American Episcopal Church to work on 50 x 50 acres, which then became 50 x 100. Her unwavering confidence in the project was intriguing, and as she began the work, increasing numbers of community members began offering support. 

“There was something inside of me that was giving me the drive to do it. If you didn’t do it you couldn’t sleep. They still think I’m crazy but they come and help now,” Pellegrino said. 

Once a single mother herself, Pellegrino knew that food pantries have a hard time finding good produce. Most of the produce that was donated was damaged, over-ripe or rotten. The plot of neglected land was the perfect opportunity to change that. 

Her father offered fencing, which piqued the interest of nearby residents who then asked Pellegrino about her plan. One neighbor offered his hose, another offered sprinklers. Previously, Pellegrino had been transporting water in her car. “This little vacant land with a fence going around it and a hose leading from across the street” was becoming something real.

Pellegrino’s contagious enthusiasm for helping others inspired their own generosity, just as their generosity inspired Pellegrino. “I feel blessed to be even a small part of our community,” she said.

And the community has shown that they feel the same way about the farm. Bethel Hobbs Community Farm hosts a plethora of events such as the annual “Run the Farm,” dances and breakfasts, not to mention, volunteers enjoy serving others as well as gardening on a beautiful day. 

“It is a great area for people to get together as far as a community hub is concerned,” said Lenore Paprocky, president of the Greater Middle Country Chamber of Commerce.

 “Her nature is such that she is a servant to her community and that comes naturally to her. For all these reasons you can’t help but become endeared to her,” said Paprocky, who has collaborated with Pellegrino in the past. “She is kind, giving, sincere, and genuine. We need more people like her.”

The late Peter Castorano, was invaluable in the development of the farm. Pellegrino describes him as her best friend. “My granddaughter was his granddaughter,” she said, emphasizing his importance to her and her family. 

Castorano died last year and always described himself as “Ann’s right hand man.”

Organ donation

In addition to the farm, Pellegrino speaks regularly at hospitals, offering encouragement to exhausted nurses and speaking on the life-changing effects of organ donation. She starts speaking during winter months while the farm is closed.  

At 19, Pellegrino’s son Christopher was paralyzed in a car accident. For seven years afterward, Christopher would speak at schools about the importance of wearing seatbelts; he would pursue his college degree in the hopes of getting involved with alcohol and drug rehabilitation; and he would try to change lives, like his mother. 

“His attitude was that if he could help save one life it is worth it,” Pellegrino said of her son, who passed on Christmas Eve in 2018. 

Pellegrino decided to honor his memory by pursuing his goal of helping save lives. She goes to hospitals and shares her son’s statement, something that she enjoys. “I get to celebrate him,” she said. Three men live on because of the gifts Pellegrino’s son made through organ donations. 

Moreover, she extends support to the staff. “This time of year I don’t want them to feel like they were forgotten and it’s not a thankless job. Letting them know what they do matters and it really counts,” she said. 

Paprocky describes Ann as quiet, thoughtful and eager to befriend anyone who shows an interest in service; a woman who exemplifies what it means to be a community leader; a true person of the year. It is for all of these accomplishments that Ann Pellegrino is a 2024 TBR New Media Person of the Year.

Lenore Paprocky

By Jennifer Donatelli

Lenore Paprocky, president of the Greater Middle Country Chamber of Commerce has been named Person of the Year for 2024 by TBR News Media for her exceptional leadership, advocacy, and commitment to strengthening the local business landscape. 

Since taking the helm of GMCCC in 2020, Paprocky has been a driving force behind the chamber’s initiatives. Her leadership has not only propelled the chamber to new heights, but has also made it a vital resource for local businesses. 

The GMCCC, which serves the Middle Country area, including the towns of Centereach, Selden, Lake Grove and surrounding communities, represents a broad spectrum of industries. Under Paprocky’s stewardship, the chamber has expanded its services, increased its outreach and has become a central figure in the area’s economic development.  

By championing initiatives that support workforce development, business growth and entrepreneurship, Paprocky has helped create a more robust and resilient ecosystem in the local community. She has also worked closely with local municipalities and organizations to ensure the Middle Country businesses have access to resources and opportunities that can help them expand and thrive. 

Karen Roth, REMAX  agent and chamber board member, first met Paprocky when she started attending the board meetings, and felt an immediate connection. “I love her,” says Roth, “because she listens to the board members’ ideas and makes things happen.” 

One of those ideas was to have the chamber host an annual music festival. Working closely with elected officials, Paprocky managed to get a grant that covered the expenses for putting the festival together. Last year, the music festival was host to over 1,000 attendees, making it the largest turnout for events the chamber has ever had. This year’s festival was held in April.

Since 2008, she has been on the Smithtown Industry Advisory Board and works with Smithtown High School students in a mentoring program she started that gets students ready for college and the working world.  She says, “I love to mentor and help people succeed.”

Seeing a need to continue mentoring the youth in her community, Paprocky formed a partnership with the Holiday Inn and initiated a hospitality-driven internship program for college students, showing them how each department in an organization needs to work together in order for the company to grow, thrive and run effectively and efficiently.

This commitment to community engagement and mentoring has helped raise the profile of the GMCCC as not just a business entity, but also a pillar of the greater Middle Country area. 

Paprocky’s leadership has not only benefitted the Middle Country Chamber of Commerce, but has also inspired others to take an active role in supporting their local communities. Under Paprocky’s leadership, there is no doubt that the work she has done to date will continue to shape the regions’ economic future.

In addition to her job at the chamber, Paprocky is also the director of business development at Synergy Wealth Strategies in Smithtown, and recently co-founded Spheres of Influence, a nonprofit  organization that helps business professionals grow their business, while supporting local nonprofits at the same time. Through this initiative, she helps grassroots organizations raise their visibility and secure the funds needed to continue making a positive impact in the community.

Doreen Newman, a co-worker at GMCCC says, “Lenore brings a wealth of knowledge and energy to every endeavor. Her unstoppable spirit and ever-present smile are a testament to her commitment. She gives 110% to every project she undertakes, and she does it all with warmth and resilience.”

Seeing a need in the community for women business owners, Paprocky created a Women’s Power Hour series where once a month, women meet local professionals in the area to make new connections and discuss important topics affecting them. 

Roth says Paprocky is known for her relentless dedication. “Lenore seeks out new prospects, elevates brand awareness and manages all events with her signature enthusiasm and professionalism. Her passion for fostering meaningful connections is evident in everything she does.”

Paprocky was recognized for her efforts by being awarded Employee of the Year from Suffolk County Community College Education Advancement Center, as well as Volunteer of the Year and Member of the Year, consecutively. As an influential business leader, she was named one of the Top 50 Most Influential Women in Business on Long Island, as well as being awarded Long Island Business News Corporate Citizen of the Year. 

In naming Lenore Paprocky as Person of the Year, the recognition not only celebrates her past accomplishments, but also her vision for the future. Her tireless advocacy, leadership and dedication to the community, make her a true champion for local businesses and residents. She is a role model for others in the community, inspiring growth, innovation and unity for years to come.  

When asked what her biggest accomplishment is to date, Paprocky smiles and proudly says, “raising my daughter.”

Photo from Councilman LaValle's office

On Feb. 24 Councilman Kevin LaValle and Suffolk County Legislator Nick Caracappa joined other community leaders in welcoming Lidl Grocery Store to Selden at their grand opening-ribbon cutting ceremony. Located in the Selden Plaza shopping center at 211 Middle Country Road in the former Best Market, the new store is the fourth Lidl location in the Town of Brookhaven, including Lake Grove, Patchogue, and Center Moriches. 

Lidl’s history dates back to 1973, when the first modern Lidl store opened in Ludwigshafen, Germany. With only three employees and about 500 products, this small store became the foundation of Lidl’s far-reaching expansion. During the 1990s, they began opening stores outside of Germany and within a few years, had stores all across Europe.

They now operate approximately 11,200 stores, are active in 32 countries, and employ more than 310,000 people globally. In June 2015, they established their U.S. headquarters in Arlington, Virginia, and now sell their award-winning products in more than 100 stores in nine states across the East Coast.

Leg. Nick Caracappa makes a statement during the grand opening of Lidl in Selden

“I welcome Lidl to Selden, as their commitment to Long Island has been steadfast. I look forward to them servicing our community as well. What makes Lidl a welcome addition to Selden is its commitment to environmental responsibility, and its effort to support groups in addressing hunger,” said Legislator Caracappa.                                                    

“I welcome the new Lidl food market to Selden and encourage people to stop by. They are well known for discount prices and for their community outreach, and I look forward to working with them in the future to benefit the Selden residents. Congratulations and good luck in the new location,” added Councilman LaValle.  

Pictured in top photo, from left, are Linda Miller, President of the Selden Civic Association; Lenore Paprocky, President of Greater Middle Country Chamber of Commerce; Robert Pepe, Lidl Selden Store Manager; Leg. Caracappa; and Councilman LaValle. 

Lidl is open seven days a week from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. For more information, call 844-747-5435 or visit www.lidl.com/contact-us.