On the unseasonably warm afternoon of Dec. 1, some 75 dignitaries and well-wishers gathered at the northeast end of the Long Island Rail Road train bridge in Great Neck Plaza for the official dedication of the Great Neck Chamber of Commerce's (GNCC) new headquarters.

The dedication ceremony included speeches, presentations of proclamations and a flag, and a ribbon cutting to officially open the distinctive gazebo that is identified to passersby by handsome signage bearing the GNCC map logo and "stick your neck out for Great Neck" giraffe mascot.

Aptly coined "the little lighthouse of Great Neck" by Town of North Hempstead Supervisor May Newburger, GNCC's new home was funded by Nassau County Executive Thomas S. Gulotta's Operation Downtown project. GNCC was among the first chambers of commerce on Long Island to benefit from the county initiative directed at revitalizing local business districts to strengthen small businesses' ability to compete in a changing economic environment.

The octagonal gazebo, alternately referred to as a kiosk, is a joint venture between GNCC and the Village of Great Neck Plaza. It sits on Long Island Rail Road-owned property leased to the village by the MTA and then sub-leased for 20 years to GNCC. "The rent being charged is one dollar a year, so it is virtually a donation by the village," stated GNCC President Robert Goldfarb, adding that GNCC will pay for ongoing operational costs and any required non-volunteer staffing.

The domed 11 foot by 15 foot natural cedar structure will facilitate the distribution of Chamber members' business information and will "be a clearinghouse for other organizations in the community...all the benefits of shopping, living, and working in Great Neck," according to Mr. Goldfarb.

First to address the gathering was Regina Gil, GNCC gazebo opening ceremony committee chair and Great Neck Arts Center executive director.

After thanking her committee of Carol Teplin, Ronit Weiss, Carol Anderson, Leigh Laitinen, Valerie Link and Sheila Penn, Ms. Gil acknowledged the generous donors who contributed to the gazebo: Systematic Control for heating and air-conditioning; Carr Office Chairs for seating; Great Neck Arts Center for a copy machine; Sid Hall Carpets and Linoleum for a carpet; attorney Ronald Samanowitz for a computer; the law office of Capell and Vishnick for window treatments; The Workbench for furniture; Great Neck Rotary Club for a laser printer; Village of Great Neck Plaza Public Works staff for cooperating and helping with construction; and Great Neck Plaza Mayor Bob Rosegarten.

Plaza Mayor Rosegarten presented Mr. Goldfarb with a proclamation declaring Dec. 1 "Great Neck Chamber of Commerce Day in Great Neck Plaza." He described the Chamber as "a beacon in the Great Neck community and a model for other chambers of commerce."

The mayor told the Record, "The village feels that bringing the Chamber to the Plaza and making them visible to the community is a very important step for the peninsula. When the village first heard about this, we knew this was the right kind of project for all of us who are concerned about the vitality of the business community. We are very pleased for the Chamber. We are very pleased for Great Neck."

President Goldfarb thanked an additional list of people and organizations whose efforts contributed to the gazebo: Great Neck Village Business Association; Mayor Rosegarten for "all the work the village has done for so many years;" Assemblymember Tom DiNapoli; County Legislator Lisanne Altmann; Great Neck Plaza B.I.D.; and Plaza Commissioner of Public Works Harry Perlman, "without whom this building would not be here today."

Supervisor Newburger told the assemblage, "The Chamber is to be congratulated...This goes beyond business to speak to the heart of a community, and you have done that spectacularly." She also told the Record, "It is a wonderful service in terms of a new approach to Great Neck, not only to get general information out about the community, but different organizations will have a way to tell people about their services."

Saddle Rock Mayor J. Leonard Samansky added, "A few years ago, Bob Goldfarb became the president of GNCC and has increased membership five-fold. It is because of that, this entire community has grown and prospered, and we are looking forward to more."

Mr. Goldfarb informed the Record that GNCC membership has soared from 70 to 350 between 1995 and mid-1998, and to 417 in the last four months.

After performing the ceremonial ribbon cutting with Mr. Goldfarb and Mayor Rosegarten, County Executive Gulotta remarked on the "sense of community pride and community spirit" of the people who live and work in Great Neck. He added that "Great Neck is one of the finest communities in the country, not just in the county."

Mr. Gulotta's gift of a Nassau County flag will fly from the gazebo site flagpole along with a New York State flag, both of which were recently donated by State Senator Michael Balboni.

Closing the ceremony, Mr. Goldfarb launched the Chamber's holiday shopping program with the distribution of red GNCC Shop in Great Neck buttons. When noticed by the Chamber's designated "spotters," a button will earn the wearer a $10 bill toward holiday purchases in Great Neck.

A dedication reception was sponsored by Fleet Bank, at their branch located across the bridge from the gazebo.