Throggs Neck Merchants to honor four

Throggs Neck Merchants to honor four|Throggs Neck Merchants to honor four
courtesy of Hussein Nouri|courtesy of TNBA

The Throggs Neck Merchants Association will pay tribute to four outstanding individuals who are making a difference.

The merchants are holding their 6th annual dinner dance this year at Villa Barone Manor on Thursday, October 17, with a cocktail hour starting at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $95 per person.

At the affair, TNMA will honor Billy Tsibidis of Crosstown Diner as its Businessman of the Year, Dentist Robyn Burchman as Businesswoman of the Year, volunteer Gerri Colon with its Excellence Award, and Community Board 10 chairman John Marano as the winner of its Lifetime Achievement Award.

“We are going to have a phenominal event, and I hope people will call me up and buy tickets to the affair because we always have a great evening,” said Steve Kaufman, TNBA president.

“The four people we are honoring are wonderful,” said Kaufman. “They exemplify the spirit of Throggs Neck, and they all have done tremendous work in the community.”

Lifetime Achievement Award winner Marano gives a tremendous amount of time to help ensure that CB 10 runs smoothly, said Kaufman.

Marano said that he feels that the other volunteer board members of CB 10 are just as deserving of the honor, but he is nevertheless overjoyed to be recognized.

“It is a great feeling when the Throggs Neck Merchants sat me down and asked me to accept the award,” he said. “It made me happy because I felt that the work I am doing is getting noticed. I hope that the community appreciates what I do, because I do it for my family and anyone else who wants to stay in this community.”

He said he is grateful that he has the time to do his volunteer work, adding “it is my turn” to be recognized.

Marano’s parents ran a bakery on E. Tremont Avenue, Dom’s Bakery at Miles and E. Tremont avenues for many years, He is a former NYPD narcotics officer, and a retired FDNY firefighter. He lives with his children and wife Luz in Throggs Neck.

Without Colon’s efforts there would not have been a TNMA Street Fair last year, adding that she also volunteers at St. Frances de Chantal, said Kaufman. She is a longtime resident who does not have a business but who volunteers her time, said TNMA secretary Angela Molinini.

“Billy Tsibidis is the most charitable person I know,” said Kaufman. “Whenever we have an event he gives out much free food and runs a first rate diner.”

He added that Dr. Burhcman is a neighborhood dentist who does great work for the neighborhood.

The proceeds from the dinner dance go to fund TNMA events, like the annual Holiday celebration with Santa and toy giveaway to neighborhood children at DeRosa O’Boyle Triangle in December.

To purchase tickets, please call Kaufman at (718) 822-0500.

Patrick Rocchio can be reach via e-mail at procchio@cnglocal.com or by phone at (718) 742-3393
Gerri Colon
courtesy of TNBA