The Greater Port Jefferson Chamber of Commerce honors two local business owners as members of the year, Raquel Fernandez and Risa Kluger.
The chamber’s director of operations, Barbara Ransome, said that while the chamber does not typically award the honor to two members, she felt that it was necessary to recognize both Kluger and Fernandez for their service to the Port Jefferson community.
“They are very good business people. They take pride in the services they provide,” Ransome said.
Fernandez and Kluger are businesswomen, but their identities as community members inform how they lead their businesses, Century 21/Icon and SERVPRO, respectively. Their obligation to their community is inextricable from their role as entrepreneurs, which is evident through the work they do with the chamber of commerce.
Raquel Fernandez
Fernandez, who serves on the chamber’s executive board as the second vice president, believes a foundation of trust helps elevate the mutually beneficial relationship between consumers and herself.
“I feel as a business owner you have to get involved so the community can identify with the brand and what you bring to the community and what you’re doing,” she said. “I wanted to create a culture that I could be proud of and really have a sense of family and loyalty —all the essence of all the things that I value.”
Serving in the chamber is “second nature” to Fernandez. “If I had something to tell myself 20 years ago, I would say join the chamber. Organically you are meeting the other business owners, networking, exchanging ideas, getting to know each other, and it becomes really cool that you get to support other businesses,” she said.
Ransome said Fernandez always does “the best she possible can” to assist the chamber, whether it is volunteering at the dragon boat festival, which is one of Fernandez’s favorite events, or sponsoring the events. “She has been very consistent and we are very appreciative,” Ransome said.
Risa Kluger
Kluger directs her damage restoration business, SERVPRO, with the collegial mindset of a person helping her neighbors.
“It’s a big responsibility, I feel, to set a standard to show people that you are an honest business person not only as a business but to the community,” she said.
“From the very beginning she was there to help,” Ransome said of Kluger. “If I call and ask her to do anything, she’s there. It’s not only her, but she gets her entire family involved.”
Indeed, Kluger said that while she tries to always make time for chamber events, her busy schedule sometimes means she has to send representatives to support her.
“I felt the involvement was important to show a presence in the community; so you are not just there to earn money in the community, but to help and get involved,” Kluger said.
Kluger also serves on the board of the Long Island Insurance Community, where she helps raise money for various charities, including the nonprofit United Way of Long Island.
Ransome mentioned a specific instance that encapsulates Kluger’s dependability and generosity: After noticing roof damage on one of the chamber’s buildings, Kluger immediately had it repaired, without Ransome asking.
Fernandez, too, finds fulfillment in using her business to help others. She runs a successful internship program, which has led past interns to pursue careers at major companies such as Amazon and J.P. Morgan.
“To be able to be a part … [of] that and help them a lot along the way … that kind of drives me,” Fernandez said.
Earning member of the year means a lot to both Kluger and Fernandez, who have worked hard to make their businesses successful while also staying true to their consumers.
“Our industry is cyclic and you go through these ups and downs but you have to know how to weather the middle,” Fernandez said. “And then you realize you have been doing it for all these years and that in itself is a huge accomplishment.”
Cleanup efforts are underway at the Art League of Long Island
Last month’s unprecedented rainstorm wreaked havoc on Long Island and the Art League of Long Island was not spared from the wrath of Mother Nature. The heavy rains on the night of September 29 led to extensive rain damage within the Art League of Long Island’s two-story art center, located at 107 East Deer Park Road in Dix Hills.
As a result, the organization has been compelled to temporarily close its doors, including all exhibits, programs, and classes, for an estimated duration of four weeks or more, according to Marianne Della Croce, the non-profit’s Executive Director.The rainstorm caused substantial damage to the gallery, studios, hallways, and office space, resulting in significant harm to floors and walls, while only minimal damage was incurred by two wall murals created by our Resident Artists Program.
Cleanup efforts are underway at the Art League of Long Island
In response, the Art League promptly engaged the services of ServePro to commence the abatement process, which was successfully completed in under two weeks. Following this phase, the Art League will embark on the reconstruction of its facility, “presenting a unique opportunity to deliver a fresh and enhanced Art League experience to the vibrant community of Long Island upon reopening,” said Della Croce.
The Art League is also working with other local nonprofits and community partners to temporarily host some of our upcoming events and classes.The Executive Director and Education & Program Manager, Ersule Metelus, have spent the last week visiting these alternate sites to determine the best fit for each one of our unique programs.
The Long Island Craft Guild, originally scheduled to host a month-long exhibition at the Art League titled “Seeing the Other,” featuring local artists’ work, had to cancel its opening reception planned for the day after the storm.In response to the unforeseen circumstances, the Craft Guild artists have retrieved their artworks, including glass mosaics, sculptures, wood designs, and pottery, all of which fortunately remained unscathed. The Jeanie Tengelsen Gallery at the Art League of Long Island is a highly sought-after exhibition space, often reserved a year in advance. The Art League has offered the group gallery space for the year 2025, allowing them ample time to determine their way forward.
Furthermore, the Latin Heritage Month Celebration, co-hosted by the Art League and Colored Colors and sponsored by Legislator Manuel Esteban, has been rescheduled for Saturday, November 4, 2023. This event promises to be a vibrant and culturally enriching experience for all attendees, featuring music, dancing, delectable Latin cuisine, and a variety of vendors offering unique cultural products and crafts. The event’s headlining band, Bachatu, will serenade the audience with captivating rhythms. Additionally, children will have the opportunity to participate in a Huichol Mexican Yarn Painting project, providing a hands-on cultural experience.
Their Ceramics Department Fundraiser, “Made with Mud, Kissed by Fire” which was scheduled for October 21st has been postponed to January 27, 2024. The Art League of Long Island looks to bring you ceramic entertainment, raffles, an auction, and hors-d’oeuvres for you to enjoy while helping support one of their dynamic departments. Your ticket to the event entitles you to take home one bowl made by our instructors, staff, and long-term students. Please continue to purchase tickets to this lively event on our website.
The financial implications of the flooding damage are substantial for the Art League of Long Island, an educational center dedicated to the visual arts since its establishment in 1955. While insurance coverage will alleviate a portion of the repair expenses, the Art League seeks the support of the local community during this challenging time.
The Art League of Long Island has faced significant operational challenges before. The non-profit was forced to put its headquarters on the market due to the closure necessitated by the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020. Revenues, primarily derived from tuition, along with donations, memberships, exhibition, and gallery rentals, quickly dwindled. Nonetheless, a local fundraising campaign generated over $100,000 in donations, which aided in steering the Art League away from financial turmoil. Marianne Della Croce remains hopeful that the community will rally around the Art League once again, ensuring its resilience as it progresses toward its 70th Anniversary in less than two years.
For more information or to offer support, please visit the Art League of Long Island’s website at www.artleagueli.org/donate/ or email [email protected]
About Art League of Long Island: The Art League of Long Island, founded in 1955, is a 501c non-profit visual arts organization committed to enriching the community through fine arts education and exhibitions. Located in Dix Hills, New York, the Art League serves as a hub for artistic expression and cultural appreciation, providing a wide range of classes, workshops, exhibitions, and events for artists and art enthusiasts of all ages.
Many North Shore businesses made and donated face shields to help health care workers in the beginning of the pandemic when PPE supplies were low. Photo from Dr. John Folan
North Shore businesses found themselves turning into chameleons during the pandemic, having to adapt to new hampering COVID-19 regulations and restrictions.
But many of these small shops and companies took the extra time the mandatory state shutdowns created by using their resources to reach out to their communities to lend a helping hand. While some made face shields, others sewed masks, helped those short on cash keep their living spaces and workplaces clean, among many other aids and services.
Beyond that help, in a time of rampant unemployment and job loss, many of these small businesses focused on keeping busy and keeping people employed, even in these difficult times.
Zaro’s Cafe
Members of the Huntington Community First Aid Squad pick up face shields at Zaro’s Cafe earlier this year. Photo from Zaro’s Cafe
The lack of face shields for frontline workers in hospitals and first responders was an issue identified as soon as the infection rates for the coronavirus climbed. Several business owners who own 3D printers were ready to make whatever their local health care facilities, fire departments and more needed for battle.
While a restaurant may seem like an unlikely spot for making face shields, it wasn’t for Edmund Zarou, owner of Zaro’s Cafe on Jericho Turnpike in Huntington Station. On the side, he sells nightlights using 3D printers along with his cousin Alex Solounias.
In March, Zarou said he was going a bit stir crazy during the afternoon hours. With restaurants prohibited from indoor dining at the time and restricted to providing curbside service, he said many diners were not coming in for lunch and there was a lull until dinnertime. He and his employees were there for hours just prepping and cleaning.
“I’m not a person that likes to be stagnant, I always like to be doing something,” he said.
When he heard there was a need for face shields in the community, he turned Zaro Cafe’s dining room into a face shield production center using the 3D printers he had. He said through word of mouth and Facebook postings, he would get about 20 phone calls a day with people asking for at least five or 10 shields for fire departments, EMTs and nursing homes.
Zarou said he was busy making masks until about mid-May when production chains began to catch up and the restaurant businesses also started to pick up with the warmer weather and more people venturing out.
He ended up making close to 1,000 shields, and still can’t understand how the pandemic created such a need.
“I couldn’t believe these big companies or hospitals, that they would run out of that,” he said.
He added he was happy to help though.
“It was so easy for me to do it, because I had the know-how, machines and equipment,” he said. “So, once I was able to do it, I just did it.”
Railex Corporation
Railex Corp. in Copiaque went from producing conveyor systems to making face shields to donate to health care workers during the pandemic. Photo from Railex
At the same time Zarou learned of the need for face shields, so did Setauket resident Richard Sobel, who along with Old Field Village trustee Steve Shybunko, owns the conveyor system company Railex Corporation in Copiague.
Sobel first heard of the need when faculty and students at The Stony Brook School, where his son Owen attends, were using 3D printers to make face shields for Stony Brook University Hospital. When he heard of the need, he knew Railex could help and even produce more for them.
Four days after the business shut down due to state mandates, Sobel was able to reopen again and keep employees working. After the company produced 5,000 shields to donate to SBUH, they went on to make another 20,000 over the next five to six weeks.
Like Zarou, he said once the supply chain caught up, and businesses were able to open up again, he found they were able to go back to producing conveyor systems.
The philanthropic opportunity also brought two new ventures for the company. First they sold some shields to local doctors’ offices, and they also began creating mobile area guard partitions with polycarbonate shields that many places, including courthouses, are using to separate people and enforce virus restrictions.
Sobel said it would have been difficult to tell employees they were shutting down for a few months. As a manufacturing company, there aren’t many opportunities to work from home.
“It was a huge deal to be able to do that, keep the business open,” he said. “I would say that our mantra was work safely and stay a little bit paranoid.”
While they navigated new waters in working during a pandemic, that mantra worked as no one in the company came down with COVID-19.
He said he was impressed with the donations facilitated from The Stony Brook School from stores such as Home Depot, Lowe’s and P.C. Richard & Son.
“You would call them up, and they would say ‘yes,’ right away,” he said.
71 Visuals
Craig Geiger, CEO of 71 Visuals in Hauppauge and a Stony Brook resident, also rose to the occasion when he heard health care workers and first responders were in need of face shields.
“There were people pulling up that were literally crying, saying, ‘You have no idea how important this is to me.'” — Craig Geiger
The business usually provides signage products including light boxes, trade show booths, LED signs and stages, banners, posters, counter wrap, window tinting and wall graphics, with most of their customers in retail. With industrial machines, Geiger said he knew his company could meet the demand for face shields quickly.
Like Sobel, the CEO said that the company was not only able to help health care workers and fire departments but also keep approximately 25 to 30 employees working. He also took on an additional 60 employees, many of whom were friends with his nephew, a senior at Commack High School.
The company also started a GoFundMe page where Geiger said they were overwhelmed by the generous donations. The company got to a point where they were making 8,000 shields a day.
The CEO said he was surprised by the need and the number of calls he received from hospitals and surgeons including St. Catherine of Siena Medical Center in Smithtown and Stony Brook University Hospital, and even medical facilities outside of Long Island.
“I remember reading that Stony Brook was excited that they were able to use some of the equipment they had on their premises for the college to make face shields, and I think they were able to do like 50 or 60 a day like it was,” he said.
After learning about the need at SBUH, 71 Visuals created 5,000 shields for the hospital.
Over the months, the company made more than 400,000 shields. In addition to keeping its employees at work, additional projects came out of the philanthropic act as they then began making and selling acrylic barriers for hospitals and small three-sided acrylic barriers to about two dozen school districts. The barriers are used at students’ desks and are portable.
While Geiger is grateful for keeping his company open, he said one day when they arranged a curbside pickup to fulfill requests for shields, he was amazed when there was a line down the street and traffic police had to manage the flow of cars.
He said it was an emotional day.
“There were people pulling up that were literally crying, saying, ‘You have no idea how important this is to me,’” he said.
SERVPRO
SERVPRO of Port Jefferson was recently recognized by the Port Jefferson Station/Terryville Chamber of Commerce. The company provides services to customers in Port Jefferson as well as the surrounding areas in the field of handling fire, water and mold cleanup as well as restoration.
The chamber thanked the company for cleaning its historic train car for free. Owner Risa Kluger said they also have done some free cleanings for fire departments as well as regular customers who were unable to pay their bills.
With many worrying if they could catch COVID-19 from surfaces, the company’s signature microbial misting, air-duct and air-scrubber commercial cleaning service provided peace of mind to many.
When regular customers, who needed a general cleaning for their business or a specific one for their home due to a COVID-19 reason, mentioned being short on cash, Kluger said they were happy to provide a free service.
“If there’s a repeat customer or someone who has a situation where they are in need, we always listen and try to help,” she said.
She also credits being able to assist free of charge to some due to her business being considered essential during the pandemic as she was able to stay open and keep employees working.
“Sometimes people choose to clean up things themselves a little more often, but we didn’t take as big of a hit as others,” she said.
