Tony Lana
Jan. 26, 2017 By Hannah Wulkan
The Sunnyside Chamber of Commerce will bestow its annual “Sunnysider of the Year” award on local legend Anthony Lana.
Lana will be honored next Tuesday with a celebratory dinner and award ceremony naming him the “Luke Adams Sunnysider of the Year,” named after the first recipient of the award in 2011.
The event will begin at 6:30 p.m. at Tangra, located at 39-23 Queens Boulevard, and tickets are on sale to the public.
Each year the Chamber picks a community member who has gone above and beyond in community service, and this year selected Lana, who has served the community in many roles for the past 40 years.
Lana has served as president of the Chamber, president of the 108 NYPD Community Council, on the Children’s Committee of Community Board 2, and was recently re-elected as president of Kiwanis Club of Sunnyside, and now is its longest serving member.
He is best known, however, for founding the Sunnyside Drum Corps, which is now in its 40th year.
Lana moved to the neighborhood in 1966 when he was in the sixth grade, and remained until a few years ago, when he moved to Garden City, though he still returns regularly for his many volunteer roles in Sunnyside.
“His community service is a sacrifice for us. Doing what he has year after year for half a century is how a neighborhood remains like a big family,” said Manny Gomez, president of both Sunnyside Artists and the Chamber non-profit groups.
The celebration will include performances by local musicians including the Drum Corps.
Tickets for the event are $50, or $55 at the door. Ticket can be bought by clicking here.
The late Luke Adams (middle)
