Donna Goldstein was recently honored at the Nineteenth Annual Small Businessperson of the Year Legislative Breakfast at the Crest Hollow Country Club. Goldstein, partner, along with her husband Myron, of Plainview's Hope Physical and Acquatic Therapy, was selected by the Plainview Old Bethpage Chamber of Commerce to represent them as their honoree of Small Businessperson of the Year for the Nassau Council of Chamber of Commerce.

Hope Physical and Acquatic Therapy, a small, private, physical therapy practice, has been in Plainview area for 35 years.

"This is a wonderful honor especially that I am being recognized by my peers," said Goldstein, who has a long career with the chamber and other volunteer endeavors.

Goldstein has been involved with the chamber for a number of years and in a number of different capacities. She was first brought into the chamber about 10 years ago when it was undergoing a revitalization period.

"When I was first approached about getting involved, I said I will help but I didn't have the time to become an officer. I offered to be a grunt person and that's what I did for the first three years," said Goldstein, who was eventually voted in as president. "I asked that someone else take over, but I was voted in for the next five years. For about 18 months, I sent out letters to the membership that I couldn't continue as my husband and I had recently bought the Eastern Long Island Campground."

At that point, the Goldsteins were working seven days a week and with no one willing to take over the chamber, it went on a hiatus.

John Casal approached Goldstein and started the chamber up again. He was president for about a year and the chamber's revitalization started. Francesca Carlow was elected the next president and Goldstein presently sits on the board of directors. "The chamber now has great direction and I think we are going to do some positive and great things," Goldstein said.

In addition to her dedication to the chamber, Goldstein was very involved in the Plainview-Old Bethpage School System. "Myron and I have educated and raised six children here so we have been involved in the community in so many different ways," she said. "If you live long enough, and donate so much of your time to so many charities - I guess I am in that age category where they start honoring me," Goldstein joked.

Goldstein has always been community minded. "I have a wonderful life. Plainview has been nothing more than just a joy for me," she said. "We have always felt that because our life is so blessed, that we have to give back. I helped in the schools when my kids were in school and we were very involved in the March of Dimes. When you are part of a community - that's what you do - you give of your energy to keep it that place and make other people's lives better."

Goldstein urges everyone to get involved. "Where you work and live, you have to put your own touch on it to make it what you would like it to be," she said. "You can't sit back and complain - if you don't get involved and you don't try and make a difference, then you can't expect a difference."