Throggs Necks businesspeople will honor their own who’ve shown the entrepreneurial spirit that symbolizing the ideals of the local Throggs Neck Merchants Association.
Five of them will be honored this month at the group’s fifth annual dinner dance at Villa Barone Manor on Thursday, October 18.
The honorees were selected by its board of directors for their dedication to strong businesses, said TNMA president Steven Kaufman.
Steven Squiteri, owner of Sanitation Salvage, will receive the lifetime achievement award; Miguel and Jose Luna of Fine Fare at 3680 E. Tremont Avenue, businessmen of the year; businesswoman of the year Theresa Dambinskas, the co-owner of The Ice House Cafe at the Hammonds Cove marina; and Community Board 10 community liaison Patrick Caruso, who will be taking home the excellence award.
“We discussed it and felt that these people were outstanding business people,” said Kaufman. “They have all done nice things in the community and have excelled in the entrepreneurial endeavors.”
The event, with tickets costing $95 and those purchasing a full-table (10 tickets) getting a free journal ad, shows that the merchants association is vibrant and strong, said Kaufman.
What is good for the businesses in Throggs Neck is also good for the surrounding community, he said.
“Whenever they ask me to participate I always help,” said Dambinskas.
Miguel Luna said that his supermarket participates in a college scholarship program sponsored by a regional supermarket association, as well as sponsoring local youth sports teams.
“The community benefits for us and we work to help the community – we work to help the kids.”
Squiteri, who founded Sanitation Salvage at age 19 with the purchase of a single garbage truck, today handles tens of millions of dollars of private carting services annually, servicing 8,000 commercial customers.
The Morris Park native also founded Citicar on Bronxdale Avenue with his cousin Joseph Gallito in 1984, and today he can still be found working at both.
Caruso has been the business liaison for the past six years, working with the merchants and community to foster better relations,.
For information, call (646) 657-1312 or (718) 822-0500, or go to www.throggsneckmerchants.com.
Patrick Rocchio can be reach via e-mail at procchio@cnglocal.com or by phone at (718) 742-3393
