SC Ancient Order Of Hibernians Installs New Officers

On Friday, January 5, 2024, Suffolk County Ancient Order of Hibernians (AOH) President William Corrigan and Ladies Ancient Order of Hibernians (LAOH) President Patricia Moynihan installed the new officers for Kevin Barry Division 3, Smithtown. The AOH will be led by President Brian Clancy, and the Ladies AOH will be led by President Anna Gallagher for the 2024-2025 term. The Installation took place in Travis Hall at St. Joseph’s Church, Kings Park.

The Beauty Of Nature Right Here In Smithtown

Kudos to Smithtown resident, Juan Acosta for the magnificant photos. Juan, a student at the New York Institute of Photography, submitted two photos depicting what he describes as “the beautiful nature of our neighborhood.” 

The Blue Jay photos were taken outside in his backyard near Sweet Briar Nature Center. 

Juan used Sigma 150-600mm lenses so as not to interfere with the Blue Jay’s habitat.

Scouts Attend Weblos Woods Chop & Compete Event

MATINECOCK DISTRICT (B.S.A.) HOSTS WEBELOS SCOUTS AND VISITORS AT ANNUAL WEBELOS WOODS CHOP & COMPETE EVENT

At the Matinecock District (Boy Scouts of America)’s 34th annual Webelos Woods event, held on Nov. 3-5th at the Seminary of the Immaculate Conception in Huntington, Boy Scout 403 of Commack built a pioneer tower with a catapult on top. They taught the Webelos Scouts how to do square knots, and square lashings.To help whet the appetites of the Webelos Scouts as they learn about what to expect when entering their local Scout, BSA Troop next year, the Matinecock District (Boy Scouts of America), held its 24th  annual Webelos Woods event, as 14 Cub Scout Packs and 20 Boy Scout Troops from the Commack, Kings Park, and Hauppauge areas of Smithtown Township and from the entire Town of Huntington attended the overnight camporee from November 3rd-November 5th.

Saturday’s events had the 4th and 5th grade Webelos Cub Scouts participating in activities at various skill events and competitions.  Scoutcraft knowledge and how-to’s were explained and demonstrated by Boy Troops in the Matinecock District. There were a lot of fun activities that the Matinecock Troops provided, such as The Contraption, Rocket Launches, Cooking Demo, Rope Bridges, Pioneering Courses, Obstacles Courses, and a lot more fun activities that got the visitors and scouts involved.

The Cub Scout Packs that participated in this event were: East Northport’s Pack 5, Pack 238, and Pack 52; Huntington’s Pack 66 and Pack 310; Elwood’s Pack 471; Commack’s Pack 329; Melville’s Pack 406; Kings Park’s Pack 5379; Greenlawn’s Pack 2255; as well as Mastic Beach’s Pack 88 and  Trumbull Connecticut’s Pack 167.

Thanks go to the Boy Scout Troops for sharing their expertise and joining us for this event, including the two girl troops: Troop 539G from Kings Park and Troop 218G from South Huntington. Thank you to every Troop that participated at Webelos Woods: East Northport’s Troop 8; Northport’s Troop 41; Commack’s Troop 125 and Troop 403; Kings Park’s Troop 539B, Troop 539G, and Troop 75; Huntington’s Troop 78, Troop 12, and Troop 68;  South Huntington’s Troop 218B, Troop 218G and Troop 106; Dix Hills’ Troop 309; Greenlawn’s Troop 32; Centerport’s Troop 113; Smithtown’s Troop 3; Hauppauge’s Troop 3333; and Huntington Station’s Troop 34 and Troop 406.

  At the Matinecock District (Boy Scouts of America)’s 34th annual Webelos Woods event, held on Nov. 3-5th at the Seminary of the Immaculate Conception in Huntington, Boy Scout Troop 75 (Kings Park) had lashed a “Monkey Bridge” and the Webelos Scouts were able to learn how to walk the rope bridge – with Boy Scouts safely “spotting” them as they individually crossed the 25-foot span.      “Long Island weather finally cooperated with us and gave us a beautiful weekend. The nights were chilly but comfortable. We held an amazing Chopped Competition where the Troops had one hour to complete a dish with the items they selected from our “Scout Trivia Game” and produced some of the best food I have ever eaten —believe it or not, better than some of the 5-star restaurant food. The judges were blown away by the cooking skills of our scouts and took an hour to deliberate the Chopped Winner. We ended with Troop 403 (Commack) dish: “All Average American Dish”. We held a Dessert Competition for the Cub Scout Packs, and they came up with fabulous ideas and tasting treats. Pack 5379 (Kings Park) took away the trophy for Best Dessert with Marshmallow S’mores! In the evening, we held video games for all scouts in the middle of the field underneath a gorgeous night sky and moon. We had over 100 kids swarm, cheer, and chant at players competing in Nintendo Switch Mario Kart 8 & Smash Bros. Fun was had by all the Scouts, their parents, adult scout volunteer leaders, and visitors from the community who came and enjoyed a beautiful cool weekend at the beautiful Seminary of Immaculate Conception!” said Matinecock Senior District Executive, Taliesin Powell.

At the Matinecock District (Boy Scouts of America)’s 34th annual Webelos Woods event, held on Nov. 3-5th at the Seminary of the Immaculate Conception in Huntington. Boy Scout Troop 539Girls showcased their Chopped Competition Dish before submitting to the judges. Their dish was called: Elevate Thanksgiving Dinner.If you are interested in joining Boy Scouts, there’s no need to have been a Cub Scout prior to joining! Boys and Girls from the ages of 5 to 21 can join our program at any time of the year! This is a year-long program! Watch for the 2024 Webelos Woods next fall. If you are in grades 4 and 5, we would love to have you join us for the fun and excitement next year as Webelos Scouts to see what the scouting world can offer, what values we can give to your family, and why youths and their parents should try it for one year. For those youths who are interested in joining Boy Scouts but were unable to attend the Webelos Woods event, please contact Senior District Executive Taliesin Powell at 631-924-7000 Ext. 131 or check for a local Cub Scout Pack or Scout, BSA Troop via “BeAScout.org”.

To find out more information about scouting, go to www.sccbsa.org/matinecock to find out all the fun activities that is going on in our district.                  

(photos by Taliesin Powell, Matinecock Senior District Executive)

Sergeant Beau Fusco To Be Recognized For His Military Service October 21

Elite Long Island Youth Hockey Team Celebrates Return of Beloved Coach from Overseas Military Service

Long Island, NY — October 18, 2023 — The Long Island Monarchs 2015 AAA hockey team is proud to welcome their beloved coach, U.S. Air Force Technical Sergeant Beau Fusco, home from military service in the Middle East. On Saturday, October 21, at 1:40 p.m. at Clark Gillies Arena in Dix Hills Park, the Monarchs will honor TSgt. Fusco’s service ahead of a key home game on the team’s schedule. The team invites the community to join in celebrating Fusco’s safe return and to show their support for this local hero.

Coach Fusco, a Long Island native and Smithtown resident, is an 18-year veteran of the U.S. Air Force Reserves and was called in June to service in Jordan, returning to the U.S. from his tour of duty early last week. His absence has been felt intensely by his family and the team, and all were overjoyed to see Fusco reunited with his wife and three children, including his son, Dominic, who plays Forward and Wing for the Monarchs. 

The Monarchs, part of the Long Island Royals hockey club, a Tier 1 Elite “AAA” ice hockey organization based in Kings Park, is a squad of highly skilled seven- and eight-year old hockey players, all native to Long Island, with the majority residing in Suffolk County. They compete with other Long Island-based teams, as well as with teams from New Jersey, Pennsylvania and New England. They are known as a “team to beat.” With their exceptional performance and unwavering spirit, they currently are enjoying a winning season in the most competitive Mites division of the Atlantic Hockey Federation. Fusco has served as an Assistant Coach since the team began skating together in early 2021. 

“We are thrilled to have Beau back with us. His dedication to both our team and his service to our country is truly remarkable,” said Head Coach Derek Kern, spokesperson for the Long Island Monarchs 2015 AAA hockey team. “We encourage the entire community to join us in welcoming him back and showing our gratitude for his sacrifices and contributions.”

Local media representatives are invited to attend the homecoming game and are invited to confirm their attendance in advance. Interviews with Coach Beau Fusco and team members can be arranged upon request.

Scouting Volunteer Janet Heller-Smitelli Signs Off On 100th Blue Card

She did it!!

 Janet Heller-Smitelli, a long-time volunteer adult Scout Leader, has just signed off on her 100^th Blue Card which evidences a Boy Scout’s receipt of a Merit Badge in a certain topic.

(far right) Janet Smitelli, Merit Badge Counselor for Citizenship in the Community and (far left) Amaru Jones, a local teacher and community activist in Huntington Station/guest teacher, with the Boy Scouts participating in the 2023 annual Matinecock District (ScoutsBSA)’s Summer Merit Badge program (held at St. Hugh of Lincoln R.C, Church) holding the hundred merit badges Ms. Smitelli has successfully signed off on during her years of service to the Boy Scout program.Janet Smitelli begin her involvement in scouting in 1997 when her oldest son Christopher first became a Tiger Cub Scout.  Soon thereafter she became an adult leader and has continued her involvement in scouting to today.  It is interesting to note that before her involvement in scouting, Ms. Smitelli was a VIP Interpretive Ranger at the Grand Canyon National Park, and also a participant in the Student Conservation Association Volunteer Parks Restoration Program at Zion National Park. She is also an avid hiker and camper so the Scouting program was not foreign to her. 

For the past 15 years, Ms. Smitelli had been an Assistant Scoutmaster first at Troop #218  (Huntington) and thereafter at Troop #34 (Huntington). Ms. Smitelli’s three sons have all attained the rank of Eagle Scout and a few years ago, both she and her youngest son Paul participated in the Scouting High Adventure Outer Island Florida Sea Base Program.  

An Assistant Counsel to the Suffolk County Legislature in Hauppauge, she said,  “I have been so blessed to have been involved in this wonderful program for so long. I have had a unique opportunity to assist in the advancement of numerous scouts over the years and am so proud of what they have achieved as young adults. In fact, scouting has also even urged me to become more civic minded and socially responsible in my community. Just last year I ran a Citizenship in The Community Merit Badge Class which involved a special opportunity to attend a Committee Meeting with some of our current Suffolk County Legislators; two of which are Eagle Scouts. During the recent 2023 annual Matinecock District (ScoutsBSA)’s Summer Merit Badge program (held at St. Hugh of Lincoln R.C. Church in Huntington) where I was the Merit Badge Counselor for the Citizenship in the Community Merit Badge, we had Amaru Jones, a local teacher and community activist in Huntington Station join us as a guest speaker. “

When asked about her future plans, Janet is undecided, but does remind her Scouts out there that there are numerous partially completed Merit Badges out there and she hopes to be able to one day bear witness in overseeing their completion as well.