The Cold Spring Area Chamber of Commerce celebrated its Centennial Awards Dinner at the Chalet on the Hudson on March 25, 2010, with a well-attended gathering of over 80 active members and guests. The Chamber has been a link for local businesses and the community for many years.

Nat Prentice, the Chamber’s President, gave a brief introduction of the evening’s awards ceremony before handing off the microphone to the Master of Ceremonies for the evening, County Legislator Vinny Tamagna.

It was a special night for musical entertainment. Tamagna’s son, Nicholas, a professional musician and opera singer, gave the audience a treat when he sang an aria and played a few classical pieces on the baby grand piano while dinner was being served.

The awards presentation followed. The Baumgarten Student Scholarship award went to Zosia Kruk; The Chamber Service Award went to past Board members Bill Bujarski, Cecilia Dinio-Durkin, Robert Lomino, and Grey Zeien; The Katie O’Donnell Award of Excellence went to William Mazzuca; and The Innovation in Business Award went jointly to the Haldane School Foundation and the Garrison Children’s Education Fund (this last award was chosen by community members who voted for their favorite nominees via the Chamber of Commerce website, coldspringchamber. com).

Vinny Tamagna noted the community’s involvement in recognizing both of these unique non-profit foundations. The Garrison Children’s Education Fund and the Haldane School Foundation help our local public school districts in many ways, especially by funding programs and grants that most likely would be cut out of the schools’ budgets or simply be out of reach. Tamagna also mentioned the success of the Haldane School Foundation’s annual Snow Ball fundraising event (held this year on March 13) and urged the Chamber member businesses to continue to support each other and local non-profits, as well.

Congratulations to all of this year’s nominees for their involvement in this vibrant community.