Pictured are Peter Bee, Garden City Citizen of the Year for 2005; Fran Nelson, Garden City Business Person of the Year; and Patrick Smalley, recipient of the Community Achievement Award. (Photo by John Ellis Kordes) At the Garden City Chamber of Commerce’s October luncheon program, announcement was made of the Chamber’s honorees for the year 2005 to be feted at its 3 rd annual Pineapple Ball Gala on Friday evening, April 22, at the Garden City Hotel.

Selected by the Chamber as Garden City Citizen of the Year is Peter A. Bee, a lifelong resident of Garden City and a partner in the Mineola law firm of Bee Ready Fishbein Hatter & Donovan, LLP. The Citizen of the Year Award was established in 1970 to acknowledge outstanding service and volunteerism to the Garden City community. A consummate volunteer in numerous areas within the Village of Garden City and beyond, Mr. Bee has served in many capacities within the Eastern Property Owners’ Association (EPOA) including the office of president, and chairman of the Joint Conference of POAS. He has served the Village of Garden City as a trustee since 1993, and during this 11-year tenure was commissioner of Fire, Police, Public Works, Building and Finance. He also served as chairman of Recreation & Cultural Affairs. Mr. Bee is a past member of the Garden City School Board, and is a past president of the Garden City Republican Club. He also served as Secretary of the Kiwanis Club of Garden City.

Patrick S. Smalley, executive Vice President of the Garden City Hotel, has been chosen as the recipient of the Chamber’s Community Achievement Award . Mr. Smally is also the executive vice president of Fairhaven Properties, Inc., developers, managers and investors in apartment and hospitality real estate. This high honor was established in 1974 to acknowledge outstanding service to the Garden City Community through one’s occupation. Extremely active in community and civic affairs, Patrick Smalley was appointed by the Mayor of Garden City to serve on the Village’s Business Planning Coalition, which developed a plan for the revitalization of the Garden City Business Districts. Following September 11, 2001, Mr. Smalley facilitated the opening of the Garden City Hotel to the American Red Cross to accommodate family members and friends of victims. Mr. Smalley was named “Executive of the Year” by the Mental Health Association of Nassau County.

The Chamber of Commerce has named Fran Nelson, manager of the Seventh Street Café Garden City’s Business Person of the Year for 2005. This award represents significant contributions to the local economy ... to advancement of aims and objectives of the Chamber of Commerce ... and to the welfare of the community. Fran began working for the Scotto Family, (owners of the Chateau Briand, the Fox Hollow and the Inn at Fox Hollow) at various of their locations in 1993. Impressed by her rapport with the Seventh Street Café’s vast clientele, Mr. Scotto assigned Fran to the Garden City location full time. Fran Nelson serves as a director on the Chamber Board and for the past eight years has graciously hosted the annual Chamber Community President’s Coffee. As chairperson of the Chamber’s After Hours Networking Events, she has organized and pulled together 14 local restaurants featured at the Chamber’s “Taste of Garden City” at Saks Fifth Avenue in 2003 and 2004. On behalf of Seventh Street Café, Fran has organized numerous benefits for the American Cancer Society as well as benefits that followed the tragedy of September 11. Fran Nelson is a member of the American Culinary Federation. To receive an invitation to the Pineapple Ball, call the Chamber at 746-7724.