MBA President Ed Berger presents the Joseph P. Tozzi Award of Distinction for 2021 to Cookie Till, owner of Steve & Cookie’s By The Bay Restaurant & Oyster Bar and Ventnor No 7311.
MARGATE – The Margate Business Association held its annual Board of Trustee elections in December at Sofias Restaurant in Margate. MBA Executive Board members for 2022 are Ed Berger of Mediagate Marketing, president; Karen Sherman Rone of Tomatoe’s Restaurant, vice president; Nancy Lynch of Ocean First Bank, treasurer; and Randy Young of Heritage Surf and Sport, secretary.
Members of the board are Chrissy Tracy of Thomas Heist Insurance Agency, Paula Hartman of Berkshire Hathaway Fox & Roach Realtors Hartman Home Team, Cookie Till of Steve & Cookie’s By The Bay, Dr. Joseph Berretone, DMD, Maria De Phillipo of Nix Salon, Rev. Jim Rixon ofTrinity United Methodist Church, Michael Collins of Colmar Home Center and Tim Wainwright of Dino’s Subs and Pizza of Margate.
MBA President Ed Berger presents the Joseph P. Tozzi Award of Distinction for 2021 to Cookie Till, owner of Steve & Cookie’s By The Bay Restaurant & Oyster Bar and Ventnor No 7311.
The Joseph P. Tozzi Award of Distinction for 2021 was presented to Cookie Till of Steve & Cookie’s and Ventnor No 7311. The award recognizes the Margate Businessperson of the Year for their outstanding and dedicated service to our community.
Till is the founder of the Margate Community Farmers Market, the nonprofit A Work in Progress Foundation, and the visionary behind the concept for A Meaningful Purpose/Reed’s Organic Farm in Egg Harbor Township. Her devotion to the community has brought about the creation of popular annual fundraising events such as the Steve & Cookie’s Dog Show, which benefits both the Humane Society of Ocean City and New Jersey Aid for Animals, and the Steve & Cookie’s Art Show, which spotlights local artists with the proceeds going to the Atlantic County Special Services School District.
Till has created community outreach programs centering around her passion for sustainable eating. Cooking classes at the Boys & Girls Club of Atlantic City and the Harvest of the Month program at the William H. Ross Elementary School in Margate target children with the hopes of planting the seeds and giving them the tools to make healthier choices.
Till is founder of the nonprofit A Work in Progress, which this year merged with her farm project, A Meaningful Purpose at Reed’s Organic Farm. She is also Resource Development Chair of the Boys and Girls Club of Atlantic City, and serves on the boards of the Humane Society of Ocean City, Salvation Army and the MBA.
The Joseph P. Tozzi, award honors the longtime Margate business owner and resident, who was very proud of his community and was an active advocate for Margate businesses. Tozzi single-handedly organized the Margate Business Association. making it a viable organization and served as its president for many years. He was the primary founder of the Margate Fall Funfest by the Bay, worked with the city to introduce curbside dining and many other initiatives beneficial to the Margate community. He was an active volunteer including Caring, Inc., the Margate City Beautification Board and the transition team of Dante Hall in Atlantic City. Tozzi also helped a number of Margate businesses get their start and was a benefactor for children through the Children’s International Program.
Upon Joe’s death on Oct. 22, 2019, the MBA wanted to create an enduring testimonial of his many years of service to the association, the City of Margate, and the many quiet gestures of generosity he had made in our community. From the spirit of his memory, the Joseph P. Tozzi Award of Distinction was created.
The Margate Business Association works to promote the economic and physical revitalization and welfare of the businesses and Bay District of Margate, including the advancement of the Margate Community through local scholarship, events to promote family activities and providing assistance to local governments and organizations situated in the City of Margate.
