The Plainview-Old Bethpage Chamber of Commerce elected three new trustees last Wednesday during what was the group's final meeting for the summer.

The winners of the election were Don Ingram, who is the current POB Chamber vice president; Kevin Kelly, president of Big Buzz web design and Sheila Kriesberg, the human resources manager of the Marriott Residence Inn at Plainview. As a POB Chamber trustee, each person will serve a three-year term.

In a side election, POB Chamber President Francesca Carlow was chosen as the chamber's nominee for 2004 Small Businessperson of the Year Award. The countywide award, which is given out in the fall, recognizes an active chamber of commerce member who is the owner or manager of a community business and has made a significant contribution to the local economy and community. Carlow is the co-owner of Trio Hardware on Old Country Road.

Elections aside, chamber members also used the last meeting for the summer in order to discuss recent community issues. Carlow highlighted the "tremendous success" of last weekend's Relay for Life, which raised $121,000 for the American Cancer Society. With music and entertainment throughout the night, over 2,500 people attended the event.

"This was our first one and we're committed to doing it again next year," Carlow said.

Carlow also briefly touched on both the plan for a garden around the new POB Chamber sign and fiberglass horse on Old Country Road, and Charles Wang's Old Plainview. Both subjects, she said, were on hold. The garden because Carlow hasn't yet found someone to chair a garden committee, and Old Plainview because Carlow doesn't want to rush a meeting on such a large issue.

"I believe this is going to be a hot topic that in the future we will dedicate a whole meeting to," she said.

Carlow opened the meeting, which was held at Castle Senior Living on Sunnyside Boulevard, by bringing to light a "definite rash of burglaries" in the area around Central Park Road and Manetto Hill Road. According to Carlow, the Second Precinct is still investigating the robberies. "Evidently, it has been going on, and they want us to put the word out," Carlow said.

Newly elected trustee Don Ingram suggested putting locks on backyard sheds. "What I found out is that [the burglars] would break into your shed, take your tools, and use those to break into the house," he said.

"What the police are suggesting," said Carlow, "is that if you're driving around and you see someone who doesn't look like they belong or it looks like they're doing something suspicious, make a call."