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for larger version       Chamber Honors Spiritual Leaders; Chamber of Commerce of the Rockaways, in celebration of its 75th Diamond Jubilee Anniversary, will recognize three members of the clergy and one community activist at its dinner-dance on Wednesday, September 27 at the Washington Hotel. Rabbi Joseph Weiss, Reverend Wenton Fyne and Father Peter Gillen will be honored for their commitment to the betterment of the Rockaway community with the Amity Award. Rabbi Weiss has been the spiritual leader of West End Temple for more than 50 years, and from the very beginning has been involved in community affairs and interfaith activities. In his long and distinguished career, Rabbi Weiss served as a U.S. Army chaplain overseas, as president of the New York Association of Reformed Rabbis, and has been a Rotarian for more than 50 years. Reverend Wenton Fyne has been pastor of the Community Church of the Nazarene for the past 16 years. Reverend Fyne has been a teacher, mental health coordinator and social worker. He currently serves as president of the Far Rockaway-Inwood Ministerial Coalition and the Rockaway Development and Revitalization Corp. Father Peter Gillen, a Broad Channel native, was ordained as a deacon in 1977 and a priest in 1978. He served at several parishes prior to being appointed pastor of St. Rose of Lima in September 1993. His love for the church and devotion to the Rockaway community provides strength and inspiration for his ministry and to all who know him. For their almost 100 years of collective service to the Rockaways, for their dedication and commitment to the betterment of the community, the Chamber of Commerce is "proud and honored" to recognize these three spiritual leaders with the Amity Award. The Chamber has created a new annual award designed to memorialize the philanthropic efforts of its longest serving board member, Fred Springer. The "Fred Springer Award" will be given to a member of the Rockaway community who, like Mr. Springer, gives tirelessly of his time and talents to our community as a volunteer. Harold Rochelle of Rockaway Park has been chosen to be the first recipient of this prestigious award. Harold Rochelle has been a community activist for over 30 years. He has served as a member of the St. Camillus Sports Committee as a baseball and basketball coach and as both cub and scoutmaster of Troop 99 here in Rockaway. He currently serves St. Camillus as an Eucharistic minister. As past president of the 100 Precinct Community Council, he was the co-chair of the committee that made National Night Out Against Crime a new Rockaway summer tradition and still remains in the position of liaison to the NYC Division of Youth. Harold is the current president of the Rockaway Action Committee and is the RAC liaison to the 100 Precinct Community Council, the Rockaway Park Business and Development Association and the New York Department of Business Services. As a member of Community Board 14, Harold co-chairs the Transportation Committee and sits on several other committees. He is also currently a member of the board of directors of the Rockaway Chamber of Commerce. Harold has always been a positive voice in our community for many years and for just as many years, a willing volunteer in any project designed to enhance the Rockaways. Harold and his wife, Bernadette, have made Rockaway their home for more than 30 years. They are the proud parents of two children and the doting grandparents of two granddaughters. Harold Rochelle exemplifies the spirit of the Fred Springer Award through his unselfish devotion to the community and for his many years of continuous volunteer efforts on behalf of the Rockaways. John Lepore, chairman of the dinner-dance committee, suggests that reservations for the dinner be made early as space is limited. Contact Joan Sweeney at the Chamber of Commerce of the Rockaways for further information.
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