Ferry owners, bank president win Chamber’s ‘Community Service Award’
Bridgehampton National Bank president Kevin O’Connor and the Wronoski family, owners of Cross Sound Ferry, are the recipients of this year’s North Fork Chamber of Commerce Community Service Award, chamber officials announced Monday.
The winners will be honored during the chamber’s Snowflake Gala on Friday, Feb. 3, at Raphael Winery in Peconic.
Newly elected chamber president Andy Binkowski, who is also the manager of Cross Sound Ferry’s Orient Point terminal, said his company and Bridgehampton National Bank were the first two businesses considered for the award by the chamber’s board.
“Those names first stuck out in our minds,” Mr. Binkowski said. “So many businesses are worthy and, hopefully, we’ll be able to continue the awards ceremony for years to come.”
Mr. Binkowski, who has worked for Cross Sound Ferry for 10 years, said the company hosts the annual fireworks cruise, giving the proceeds to different local organizations, and sponsors a $1,000 scholarship at each North Fork school. Cross Sound Ferry also donated $100,000 worth of gravel to Southold Town last year for beach restoration, he said.
Mr. Binkowski said the chamber also picked Bridgehampton National Bank because of its charitable efforts and its sponsorship of the chamber’s annual golf outing, which began five years ago.
Mr. O’Connor said in a statement that he was gratified Bridgehampton National Bank won the chamber’s community service award and plans to continue partnering with local organizations to improve the quality of life on the North Fork.
Read more about the winners and the Chamber dinner in Thursday’s issue of The Suffolk Times.
