Dr. Bekelis is a board certified fellowship trained neurosur geon with subspecialty training in minimally invasive endovascular neurosurgery. As one of the most prominent, widely published stroke researchers in the country, with several national and international awards, Dr. Bekelis is the Chairman of Neurointerventional Services for Catholic Health, the Director of the state-of-the-art Stroke and Brain Aneurysm Center of Long Island, and the Co-Director of the Neuro ICU at Good Samaritan Hospital Medical Center.
The Stroke and Brain Center of Long Island is the only comprehensive stroke center on the south shore of Long Island. Our expert team of clinicians are dedicated to all types of endovascular neurological disease and treatments. Our state-of-the-art outpatient center offers noninvasive neurovascular imaging that can aide in the early detection and treatment of carotid artery and neurovascular disease. Our monthly support group is open to all patients and family members who have been affected by neurovascular disease.
For more information or to schedule an appointment call 631-983-7072 or visit: strokecarelongisland.com
Dr. Kimon Bekelis
Stuart Richner CEO & Publisher Herald Community Media
2025 LONG ISLAND CHOICE AWARDS
Wow! Over the past few months, Long Islanders cast an astonishing 211, 220 votes, nominating more than 3,455 of their favorite restaurants, doctors, retail stores and more in the fourth-annual Herald Long Island Choice Awards presented by PSEG Long Island.
Now, the nominees have been narrowed down to the Top Five in over 250 categories, and you have the chance to crown the winners. You can vote every day for your favorite businesses, service providers, and more, at LIChoiceAwards.com.
"In only its fourth year, the Long Island Choice Awards has become a coveted honor for businesses and organizations, new and old," said Stuart Richner, CEO of Richner Communications and publisher of Herald Community Media. “We saw a record-number of nominations this year and are excited to announce the winners at the May 14 Long Island Choice Awards red carpet gala. Thank you to PSEG Long Island for their partnership, to the tens of thousands of Long Islanders who voted in the nominations round, and most importantly to the businesses, organizations, service providers, and more, who continue to make Long Island a great place to work and live."
If your favorite businesses made it through the nomination round and into the Top Five, Congratulations! But your work isn’t done... Vote every day at LIChoiceAwards.com to be sure that your choice is Long Island's Choice!
HOW IT WORKS
Nomination Round
OCTOBER 11- NOVEMBER 12, 2024
It all began with Long Islanders nominating their favorite businesses, practices, services and people who make Long Island the place to be and thrive in their respective categories on LIChoiceAwards.com. Thanks to the communities’ constant love and support, the businesses with the most nominations moved on to make the Top 5. These businesses surpass customers and client’s expectations and are passionate about their work.
Voting Round
JANUARY 2 - JANUARY 31, 2025
The Top 5 nominees in each of the individual categories (based on the total number of nominations received during the Nominations Round) have been placed on the official Herald Long Island Choice Awards ballot for the Voting Round. In this round, members of the public are invited to visit LIChoiceAwards.com, where they will find the ballot and all the contenders in each category. Just like in the Nominations Round, once you register you may vote in every single category once per day, per email address, every day.
The Winners Are Announced MAY 14, 2025
Drum roll, please … Once all the votes are tallied by an independent third-party, it’s time for the Herald Long Island Choice Awards Show! At this live gala event, the Top 3 “vote-getters” in each category will be honored as Finalists in front of hundreds of Long Island’s VIPs. And the business receiving the most votes in each category will be crowned this year’s Herald Long Island Choice Award Winner!
All the Finalists and Winners will be featured in the Herald Long Island Choice Awards Winners Magazine, in addition to being showcased year-round in the Herald.
Visit LIChoiceAwards.com right now and start voting for everything and everyone that make Long Island, well, simply the best.
Ready. Set. Vote!
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David Lyons Interim President and COO
PSEG Long Island
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Long Island:
Proud sponsor of the LI Choice Awards, proud supporter of local businesses
PSEG Long Island is pleased to once again sponsor the Herald’s Long Island Choice Awards. We believe in supporting and celebrating local businesses.
Why should your electric service provider care about supporting local businesses?
According to the U.S. Small Business Administration, they account for about 44% of our national economic activity. Locally, on Long Island, they are our economic backbone.
According to the Long Island Association, roughly 90% of the businesses here are small or medium-sized. In other words, supporting small businesses means keeping our local commercial districts thriving, which optimizes electric usage in our communities.
Assisting the cornerstones of Long Island PSEG Long Island supports small businesses primarily through a program called Business First, which offers resources and incentives to help businesses manage their costs and achieve their goals.
Business First offers a variety of options, including energy efficiency programs that can help lower monthly costs, and grants and incentives for expanding or starting a business.
One of these incentives is the Vacant Space Revival program, which offers a 12-month bill discount to encourage occupancy of commercial space in a business district that has been vacant for a period of one year or more.
Teavour, a bubble tea shop that opened on Merrick Avenue in Merrick, is one business that has benefited from PSEG Long Island’s Vacant Space Revival program. The owner had run food establishments in New York City, but wanted to bring bubble tea and other treats closer to where he lives with his family. Many kids come to Teavour after school to enjoy their favorite beverage and socialize. Teavour earned $3,194 in bill credits thanks to PSEG Long Island’s program.
RESTORING OUR DOWNTOWNS
There are few places that reflect the strength and vibrancy of Long Island communities more than its downtowns. PSEG Long
Island’s Business First program also provides Main Street Revitalization grants to projects in a local business district that are likely to improve the economic stability and growth of the community. Eligible projects may include interior renovations, storefront or façade improvements, streetscape improvements, and engaging design elements that contribute to a robust “Main Street” that, in turn, encourages commerce.
In Roosevelt, the site of a former vacant hardware store on Nassau Road was transformed with the help of PSEG Long Island’s Main Street Revitalization Grant, becoming Romeo’s Deli & Pizza. The owner, who grew up in the area, wanted to open a food
photo courtesy of PSEG Long Island
Teavour, a bubble tea shop that opened on Merrick Avenue in Merrick is one of the businesses that benefited from one of PSEG Long Island's program
proud supporter of local businesses PSEG Long Island:
continued from page 20
establishment with different healthy options. With a $25,000 Main Street Revitalization grant, he was able to install pizza ovens and take his business to the next level.
Another Business First program offers grants for beautification initiatives in our local downtowns, working with chambers of commerce, business improvements districts and civic associations that share PSEG Long Island’s vision in strengthening our local business districts.
PERSONALIZED SERVICE
To make sure local businesses know about these and other important opportunities, PSEG Long Island deploys a team of Business Customer Advocates (BCAs) to meet with them personally. The advocates provide a personal touch and concierge service to help the roughly 100,000 smalland medium-sized business
customers on Long Island and in the Rockaways.
BCAs go door to door, each visiting on average 100 local businesses each week. Along with becoming a liaison and a personal connection to PSEG Long Island, BCAs provide solutions to support businesses in several ways, including providing information on PSEG Long Island free energy assessments, grants and rebates, energy-saving upgrades, and time-saving account services.
Learn more about all of PSEG Long Island’s business offerings by visiting our website at psegliny.com/BusinessFirst.
PSEG Long Island is proud to continue our role in celebrating the small businesses that make Long Island great. You have a role, too! Vote now. Tell the Herald why your favorite business deserves a place on stage and we can all benefit from the best goods and services western Long Island has to offer.
In Roosevelt, the site of a former vacant hardware store on Nassau Road was transformed with the help of PSEG Long Island’s Main Street Revitalization Grant, becoming Romeo’s Deli & Pizza.
photo courtesy of PSEG Long Island
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At The Rizzuto Law Firm, we don't just practice law; we play to win. Our team of dedicated personal injury attorneys is here to go to bat for you.
Nominated in four categories at the prestigious Long Island Choice Awards, we're proud to be recognized as leaders in the legal field.
VOTE FOR US
Best Personal Injury Law Firm
Best Healthcare Law Firm
Best Law Firm with Under 30 Employees
Best Litigation/Business Litigation Law Firm
Our Dedication to winning has earned us these nominations, a testament to our unwavering dedication to our clients who are neglected and injured and the pursuit of justice
Connect. Collaborate. Celebrate!
Del Vino Vineyards, located on the rolling hills of Northport, Long Island’s Gold Coast, offers a memorable wine and culinary experience that combines Italianinspired wines with elegant food, warm hospitality, and beautiful views.
The vineyard is family-owned and operated, with a commitment to quality that extends to the relationships they build with their guests.
Del Vino Vineyards is open year-round. For additional details, please visit their website.
