February 2, 2012 is the Chamber of Commerce of the Nyacks Day—officially.

The proclamation, passed down by the county executive, was made at Thursday evening's event celebrating the chamber's 55th anniversary at Nyack Seaport.

Scott Baird, the chamber's president, sounded off on the organization's goals and accolades, noting the group of local merchants and professionals has been around longer than the Palisades Center, Nanuet Mall, and, nearly, the Tappan Zee Bridge.

"[We] see an empty storefront, a burned-out building, and have a vision," he said of local businesses. "We make something from nothing."

"Our goal is simple—to bring people to Nyack," he continued, touching on the tens of thousands of visitors that visit the river village for streetfairs, parades and farmers' markets.

Residents, non-profits and business owners from all corners of the Nyacks had seats, including the Hopper House, Historical Society of the Nyacks, Red Cross, Nyack Schools and Nyack Hospital.

The evening's decorations were local, too—Tappan Zee Florist provided the flowers, and Harrington Press helped produce the programs.

Politicians—local and regoinal—were in attendance. Mayor Jen Laird-White and trustee Doug Foster appeared, and county legislator Nancy Low-Hogan, assemblywoman Ellen Jaffee and state senator David Carlucci took the podium over the course of the evening.

"You are vital to the community," Jaffee told local business owners.

Awards were doled out later in the night, with the Hopper House claiming Event of the Year for Hopper Happens, and John Costa, a 22-year resident and former Clarkstown Attorney, receiving citizen of the year.

Costa earned a law degree while working as an NYPD officer, and began working with the chamber in 1988. He has also been an avid supporter ACADA, the Valley Cottage Fire Department, the Legal Aid Society and other initiatives.