Pictured (front row, left to right): Jonathan Abrams, Manager, Gershow Recycling; Jack D’Andrea, Sophia Montalto, Kate Leigh Manvell, Courtney Corcoran and Sophia Lorenzo, Members, Sayville High School SADD (Students Against Destructive Decisions) chapter. Back row (l-r): Colleen Doyle and Faith Cummings, Members, and Margie Dashiell, Moderator, Sayville High School SADD.
In support of local schools and the community, Gershow Recycling donated the use of a junk car to the Sayville High School SADD (Students Against Destructive Decisions) chapter. The car serves as a reminder to students to drive safely.
The junk car was on display in front of the school to show students the consequences of driving while under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs, as well as the dangers of driving while distracted by texting or talking on cell phones. The Sayville SADD chapter thanked Gershow for its assistance and its use of the vehicle.
Representatives from Gershow Recycling joined members of the Northport Fire Department and local elected officials at the 16th Annual Chuck Varese Vehicle Extrication Tournament at Steer’s Pit in Northport on May 13. Pictured (front row, left to right): Andrew Raia, Town Clerk, Town of Huntington; Rich D’Angelo, Manager, Gershow Recycling’s Huntington facility; Rebecca Beach, daughter of Robert “Beefy” Varese; Mr. Varese, Ex-Chief, Northport Fire Department and Co-Coordinator, 16th Annual Chuck Varese Vehicle Extrication Tournament; William Varese, Mr. Varese’s grandson; Jeanne Varese, Mr. Varese’s wife, Lieutenant, Northport Fire Department Rescue Squad and Co-Coordinator, 16th Annual Chuck Varese Vehicle Extrication Tournament; Donna Koch, Mayor, Village of Northport; Jillian Guthman, Esq., Receiver of Taxes, Town of Huntington; and Meghan Dolan, Trustee, Village of Northport. Back row (l-r) Doug Pyne, Chief, Northport Fire Department; Will Varese, Mr. Varese’s son, and his wife, Jenny Varese; Andre Sorrentino, Superintendent of Highways, Town of Huntington; Stephanie Bontempi, Suffolk County Legislator; Steve Rossetti, Vice President of Special Projects, Gershow Recycling; and Keith Brown, New York State Assemblyman. Third row: Ernest Pucillo (left), Trustee, Village of Northport and Joe Sabia (right), Deputy Mayor, Village of Northport.
In support of local fire departments, Gershow Recycling donated the use of 30 cars for the 16th Annual Chuck Varese Vehicle Extrication Tournament, which was held at the Northport Fire Department’s Training Grounds at Steer’s Pit in Northport on May 13. Gershow also donated the use of its Huntington facility to enable teams to practice in the week leading up to the tournament.
Twenty-seven teams from fifteen fire departments participated in the tournament, which involved groups of five firefighters working to extricate a “victim” from a “crash” using the Jaws of Life. Once again, the firefighters used battery-powered tools during the extrication exercises; the Chuck Varese Vehicle Extrication Tournament was the first such tournament to bring in electric tools.
Each team was judged on the amount of time it took to perform the extrication, the handling of equipment and the safety procedures they followed. The top three teams were:
1st Place — East Northport FD (6 minutes, 26 seconds)
2nd Place — Northport FD (6 minutes, 50 seconds)
3rd Place — Commack FD (8 minutes, 40 seconds)
The Ridge Fire Department had the fastest evolution time of the tournament at 3 minutes, 6 seconds.
After the tournament, the vehicles were brought back to Gershow’s facility, where they were shredded and recycled.
Khaliah Vega-Bellone (front row, second from left), Logistics Coordinator, and Keily Nolasco (right), Call Center Representative, Gershow Recycling, are joined by members of the Tesla Science Center at Wardenclyffe (TSCW) during the “Metal for Tesla” fundraising event on April 22. Also pictured (front row, l-r): Dan Berry, Facilities & Grounds Team; Gene Genova, Board Member/Facilities & Grounds Team; Bill Haydamach and Judy Black, Facilities & Grounds Team. Back row (l-r): Peter Palmieri, Tom LeDeoux, Steve Kuhl, Jeff Brown, and Jim Wuttke, Facilities & Grounds Team.
Gershow Recycling sponsored and took part in “Metal for Tesla,” a scrap metal fundraising event, which was held at the Tesla Science Center at Wardenclyffe (TSCW) in Shoreham on Earth Day, April 22. As part of the fundraiser, Gershow provided the use of a container and collected 10,000 pounds of scrap metal, which wound up being recycled and kept out of landfills. Proceeds will go to support renovations at Wardenclyffe, the last remaining laboratory of famed inventor Nikola Tesla. In addition to its sponsorship and participation, Gershow handed out recycling educational activity books to children in attendance, as well as T-shirts, refrigerator magnets, and reusable shopping bags.
Since 2013, Gershow has provided the use of its scrap metal containers for the TSCW as part of its efforts to help the non-profit organization fund the renovation of Wardenclyffe. Plans for the property include a visitor center, a museum, science and education center, business accelerator and entrepreneur center, and the rehabilitation and preservation of Tesla’s iconic lab. A groundbreaking is scheduled for April 27 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
Jonathan Abrams (left), Manager, Gershow Recycling, and Sean Austin (right), Set Builder, Newfield High School Drama Club, pose with the rims and tires that will be used in the school’s production of “Footloose.”
In support of the local community, Gershow Recycling donated the use of auto parts to the Newfield High School Drama Club for its production of “Footloose,” which will take place on March 24-25.
Gershow provided the club with rims, tires, headlights and grilles for the scenes that take place behind the local gas station.
Members of the Patchogue-Medford High School cheerleading team pose with a check from Gershow Recycling in the amount of $1,000 on February 8. The money will be used to pay for the costs associated with the trip to the Universal Cheerleading Association National High School Cheerleading Championship, which will take place at Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida on February 10-12, 2023.
In support of the local community, Gershow Recycling donated $1,000 to the Patchogue-Medford High School cheerleading team to help pay for the costs associated with the trip to the Universal Cheerleading Association National High School Cheerleading Championship, which will take place on February 10-12, 2023 at Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida. It is a special moment for the team, since it is the first time in 20 years that they have qualified for the Nationals.
Gershow Recycling donated $400 to Donors Choose to help fund ELLevating English Language Learners Literacy, a program initiated by Kendra Hughes, a teacher at Kreamer Street Elementary School in Bellport. The money went to buy school supplies and books for Ms. Hughes’ students, who are English Language Learners in grades K, 2, and 3. To continue donating to Ms. Hughes’ classroom, please click here.
Lawrence Schillinger, Compliance Counsel, Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries (ISRI), explains to visitors how the anti-theft marking/etching kits for catalytic converters are used during St. James Day on October 2. Gershow Recycling joined ISRI and the Suffolk County Police Department in distributing these kits.
As part of an industrywide effort to prevent the thefts of catalytic converters from vehicles, Gershow Recycling joined the Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries (ISRI) New York Chapter and the Suffolk County Police Department, 4th Precinct in distributing anti-theft marking/etching kits during St. James Day on October 2. Visitors had the opportunity to receive these free kits and learn how to apply the tags.
The catalytic converter kit includes a non-destructible tag and etching fluid to engrave a unique serial number onto the catalytic converter. ISRI industry members have begun to record serial numbers of catalytic converters that were presented for recycling in their efforts to thwart catalytic converter theft.
Catalytic converter theft has become one of the fastest-growing crimes in the United States. According to the National Insurance Crime Bureau, there were approximately 1,300 thefts in 2018. Last year, over 52,000 converters were stolen — an increase of more than 4,000%. Those who sell these items to scrap dealers can get between $25 and $300; if it is from a hybrid vehicle, they can get up to $1,400.
“Gershow is proud to work with ISRI and the Suffolk County Police Department to educate the public on how they can prevent the most valuable part of their vehicle from being stolen,” said Ray Colon, Manager, Gershow Recycling. “Wide-scale use of serial number etchings on catalytic converters will help put an end to catalytic converter theft.”
“The scrap recycling industry is perfectly positioned to obtain the critical information needed to arrest and successfully prosecute catalytic converter thieves,” said Lawrence Schillinger, Compliance Counsel, ISRI. “ISRI partners with police departments across the State to implement proven effective strategies to combat scrap metal theft.”
Pictured (left to right): Joe DeStefano, New York State Assemblyman; Tanya Pottinger, Human Resources Generalist, Gershow Recycling Corp.; Bob Policastro, Co-Founder, Angela’s House; Dominick Thorne, Suffolk County Legislator; and Alexis Weik, New York State Senator.
In support of local charities, Gershow Recycling made a $1,000 donation to Angela’s House. The donation was made during the Medford Chamber of Commerce’s monthly meeting at Angela’s House Home Store in Medford on May 26.
Angela’s House is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that assists families caring for children with special health care needs who are medically fragile, chronically ill or living with a life-threatening illness.
In support of the local community, Gershow Recycling sponsored the Medford Chamber of Commerce’s Memorial Day BBQ, which was held on May 30 at Medford Memorial Park. Gershow sponsored the band and covered the cost of a new barbecue grill for the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post #2937.
Local war veterans pose in front of the new barbecue grill purchased by Gershow Recycling for the Medford Chamber of Commerce’s Memorial Day BBQ at Medford Memorial Park on May 30. Pictured (left to right): Paul Donoghue, President, Medford Chamber of Commerce; Walter Maresco, Commander, American Legion Commander and Post Chaplain; Niel Marturiello, Post Commander; and Matt Pereira, Adjutant, Veterans of Foreign Wars Post #2937.
First Long Island Tournament of Its Kind to Use Electric Tools to Cut up the Vehicles
Representatives from Gershow Recycling joined members of the Northport Fire Department and local elected officials at the Chuck Varese Vehicle Extrication Tournament at Steer’s Pit in Northport on May 14. Pictured (left to right): Ernest Pucillo, Trustee, Village of Northport; Doug Pyne, Chief, Northport Fire Department; Joseph Sabia, Trustee, Village of Northport; Andrew Raia, Town Clerk, Town of Huntington; Robert J. “Beefy” Varese, Ex-Chief, Northport Fire Department and his wife, Lt. Jeanne Varese, Co-Coordinators, Chuck Varese Vehicle Extrication Tournament; Donna Koch, Mayor, Village of Northport; Keith Brown, New York State Assemblyman; Dave Weber, Jr., and Meghan Dolan, Trustees, Village of Northport; Richard D’Angelo, Manager, Gershow Recycling’s Huntington facility; and Dr. Dave Bennardo, Councilman, Town of Huntington.
In support of local fire departments, Gershow Recycling donated the use of 30 cars for the Chuck Varese Vehicle Extrication Tournament, which was held at the Northport Fire Department’s Training Grounds at Steer’s Pit in Northport on May 14. Gershow also donated the use of its Huntington facility to enable teams to practice in the week leading up to the tournament.
Twenty teams from thirteen fire departments participated in the tournament, which involved groups of five firefighters working to extricate a “victim” from a “crash” using the Jaws of Life. This year marked the first time the firefighters used battery-powered tools during the extrication exercises; the Chuck Varese Vehicle Extrication Tournament was the first such tournament to bring in electric tools.
A member of the Northport Fire Department uses a battery-powered cutting tool during the Chuck Varese Vehicle Extrication Tournament at Steer’s Pit in Northport on May 14. Not only was it the first time that battery-powered tools were used in this tournament, the Chuck Varese Vehicle Extrication Tournament was the first Long Island tournament of its kind to use these electric tools to cut up the vehicles.
Each team was judged on the amount of time it took to perform the extrication, the handling of equipment and the safety procedures they followed. The top three teams were:
1st Place — Northport FD Team #1 (7 minutes, 52 seconds)
2nd Place — Ridge FD (8 minutes, 15 seconds)
3rd Place — North Bellmore FD (8 minutes, 25 seconds)
After the tournament, the vehicles were brought back to Gershow’s facility, where they were shredded and recycled.
