East Meadow Chamber of Commerce throws festival to celebrate reopening efforts

East Meadow residents and business owners celebrated together at a “reopening festival” hosted by the East Meadow Chamber of Commerce on Aug. 15 at the East Meadow baseball fields on Merrick Avenue.

“We keep saying what we can’t do because of the pandemic, but the reality is that we have to find a way to do what we can,” said Ted Rosenthal, co-chair of a chamber committee dedicated to post-pandemic efforts, when talking about his inspiration behind holding the event.

Rosenthal, founder of the law firm Rosenthal, Curry & Kranz, and Jim Skinner, owner of A&C Pest Management, are co-chairing the committee, which also includes Skinner’s son James, also of A&C, and Richie Krug Jr. and Tom and Lyndsey Gallagher, all of Century 21 American Homes.

The committee’s goal is to help businesses reopen or offer their services in any possible way, and generate excitement among East Meadow residents about patronizing such businesses.

To encourage residents to do so, the organization will also give out $5,000 in cash rewards. Anyone who patronizes member businesses will receive five points for every $20 they spend, and points can be redeemed for a chance to win up to $600.

“Everyone on the committee is working vigorously and selflessly to help guide our businesses,” Rosenthal said. “It’s truly an honor to be a part of the chamber and all that they do.”

Roughly 30 drivers met at Veterans Memorial Park in East Meadow for a car parade at 5 p.m., led by the East Meadow Fire Department. Business leaders decorated their cars to reflect their services, such as Richie Krug Sr., who set up a children’s playhouse in the back of his pick-up truck to represent Century 21 Homes.

Once the parade led to the baseball fields, where CLK Properties lent its parking lot to hold the festival. “They’ve been an amazing help,” Jim Skinner said. “And they were so happy to do it.”

There, the chamber set up “villages,” as Rosenthal called them, or areas where business owners had booths to discuss and display their services. As guests browsed and mingled, East Meadow’s own Special Occasion Band performed classic rock hits.

The festival concluded with a drive-in showing of the 2019 live-action remake of Disney’s “The Lion King,” presented by the Farming-dale-based entertainment company DJUSA.

As Chamber Vice President Richie Krug Jr. reflected on the event and reopening efforts, he said that his message to residents is, “we do not wish to welcome you back, we wish to welcome you forward.”