Nature and Youth Prevail at Caleb Smith's 13th Annual Junior Angler Fishing Tournament

Nature and Youth Prevail at Caleb Smith Event - (click on photos to enlarge)

Snapping turtle laying eggs, undisturbed, all morning at Site 10. A snapping turtle, undisturbed at the activity around her, dug a nest and laid herRyan O’Connor, 9, of Smithtown and dad Chris, wait for a bite. Seen in the background are anglers at the peninsula sites on Willow Pond. eggs during the morning session of the Friends of Caleb Smith Preserve’s 13th Annual Junior Angler Fishing Tournament on Saturday, June 6, 2015.  Site number ten was left without a young angler as a result, while ten children, ages 5-12, caught a total of 23 fish at other marked sites around Willow Pond at the Smithtown state park.

Winners in the morning session [from left]: Anthony Ross, Lena Umbrino, Dennis SteeleWinners at the morning session [ages 5-8]: 

Lena Umbrino, 8, Kings Park, first prize: catching the most fish [3];

Anthony Ross, 6, of Seaford, second prize: largest pan fish [an 8-inch blue gill];

Dennis Steele, 6, of Lake Grove, third prize, largest “other” fish caught [an 11-1/2-inch bass].

Winners in the afternoon session [from left]: Edward Belanger, Timothy Glover, Christopher BelangerWinners in the afternoon session (ages 9-12):

Timothy Glover, 11, of Center Moriches, first prize: most fish caught [four]

Christopher Belanger, 10, of Smithtown, second prize: largest pan fish [8-1/2”]

Edward Belanger, 12, of Smithtown, third prize: largest “other” fish [12-1/2” bass]

For further information about Friends activities please visit www.friendsofcalebsmith.org

It's Back! Kings Park Farmers Market Opens For Its Fifth Season

Kings Park Farmers Market Opens Successfully For a Fifth Season

Kings Park, NY- June 8, 2015 -The Kings Park Farmers Market opened Sunday, June 7th, to a beautiful day and a crowd of enthusiastic residents.  In its 5th year at the municipal lot on Main Street, the market has woven itself into the fabric of the Kings Park community.

Alyson Elish- Swartz of the Kings Park Civic Association and Deborah Staiano of LI Greenmarket present a $300 donation to representatives of the St. Joseph’s Food Pantry.The market is sponsored by the Kings Park Civic Association (KPCA) and run by LI Greenmarket.  Every Sunday during the market’s season, the community is not only able to avail itself to fresh locally grown vegetables, greens and fruit, but also Long Island corn, eggs, heirloom tomatoes, potatoes, squash, onions, cheese, pasta, pickles, soaps, local fish, baked goods, gluten free cookies, soy candles, jams and more.  

The market along with providing these wonderful products, has made its stamp on the community in so many other ways.  The KPCA and LI Greenmarket have not only donated thousands of pounds of food to the St. Joseph food pantry, they have also donated well over $1,000. 

The farmer’s market has been host to many events such as a school supply drive and coat drive for underprivileged children, a book collection for our soldiers overseas, an annual Fall Festival, baking contests and a variety of charitable fundraisers, including raising money for cancer research, Hula Hoops for Hope, Hurricane Sandy victims and our own VFW.

Through raffles, the Kings Park Civic Association is able to provide a scholarship each year to a graduating Kings Park High School senior.

The market boasts a KPCA sponsored community table wherein community organizations can meet, fundraise and educate the community about their groups. Some of these organizations include the Council of Schools, KP in the Know, Kings Park Youth, Nissequogue River State Park Foundation, the Kings Park Fire Department, the Kings Park Photography Club, the Kings Park Chamber of Commerce, local Girl Scouts and the Town of Smithtown’s Green Homes program. 

The market highlights local businesses, such as Abrakadoodle, Cafe Red and Sombreros, through various activities and cooking demonstrations.  The Kings Park business community has enthusiastically supported the market during these past five years. From supplying food vouchers and coupons to those who donate food for the food pantry, like Fort Salonga IGA and Café Red have done, to displaying the Kings Park Farmer’s Market poster in their store windows, local businesses have embraced the market.

In turn, the Kings Park Farmers Market bolsters the local economy by bringing people into Kings Park, who then shop at other businesses in town. 

Most of all, the market promotes a sense of community. Patrons know the farmers by name, such as Teddy from Thera Farms, Michelle and David from Fink Farms, and Paul from Paul’s Fish. In turn, regulars are greeted by name and new shoppers welcomed with big smiles.

The Kings Park Farmers Market is held at the municipal lot on Main Street (across from the Kings Park Fire Department) on Sundays from June through November 22nd from 9 AM to 2 PM.

HAWKINS & DAVIS FUNERAL HOME ACQUIRED BY THE VIGLIANTE FAMILY OF THE BRANCH FUNERAL HOMES

After 35 years of dedicated funeral service to the community, Stephen Markgraf, owner of Hawkins & Davis Funeral Home, has decided to sell the funeral home to the Branch Funeral Homes.  Mr. Markgraf felt that the funeral home to best carry on the legacy of the Hawkins & Davis family traditions was the Branch Funeral Homes, which are owned and managed by Henry, John and Paul Vigliante. 

In 1949, Russell B. Hawkins, established his funeral home at 17 Manor Road, serving the families in the town of Smithtown with dignity, sincerity and compassion.  Mr. Markgraf became the manager in 1980 and in 1983 purchased the funeral home from the Hawkins family. Through the years since its inception, the funeral home experienced many changes with expansion and remodeling to serve its families better. It has four large chapels to accommodate any size service.  In 1991, under Mr. Markgraf’s leadership, O.R. Davis Funeral Home merged with R.B. Hawkins Funeral Home and operated under one roof as Hawkins & Davis Funeral Home for the past 24 years.

Hawkins & Davis Funeral Home continued to honor the Hawkins legacy by accommodating all families like their own with care and compassion. The funeral home has been a pillar of strength for families during their most difficult times for over 66 years. 

John Vigliante said, “We are honored to carry on the Hawkins family traditions just as we carry on our family traditions serving every family as our own.”  Paul Vigliante added, “We are committed to serving our families in their deepest time of need and making sure all their requests are met at all of our family’s funeral homes.” John and Paul Vigliante are both fourth generation funeral directors since their great- grandfather established himself in the funeral business in 1900.  Both the Hawkins and Vigliante families have a long legacy in funeral service and have earned the trust, confidence and reputation of the communities they have served and continue to serve.

Mr. Markgraf said, “I am so pleased that Hawkins & Davis Funeral Home will remain family owned and operated with the same great level of service and to carry on our long-honored traditions.  “  Stephen Markgraf plans on working with the Vigliante family at their funeral homes part time.  

Henry Vigliante said, “All current preplaned funeral arrangements will be guaranteed with the highest level of quality service you’ve come to depend on.”

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to call John, Paul or Henry 631-265-1810 or visit our website at www.hawkinsanddavisfh.com. 

SHSE Boys Track Team Takes 3rd Place At Annual Eddy Meet Set School Relay Record

East Boys Track Takes Third Place at 75^th Annual Eddy Meet

A Trio of Individual Champions and New 4x800m School Relay Record

Story and Photos by James B. Teese

(click on photos to enlarge)

 Most of the Smithtown East boys and girls medalists after the prestigious Eddy Meet at Schenectady High School. Pictured (l-r) Silver 4x800 Relay - Eric Herrmann, Patrick Teese, Matthew Whalen, Marius Sidlauskas; High Jump Champion - Daniel Claxton; High Jump - Benjamin Lebit; High Jump - Jessica Martin; Pole Vault - Kylie Strzelczyk; 3,000 Meter Run - Jaclyn Gallery. (Not pictured: Discus Champion - Liam Hendricks; Shot Put Champion - Dominic Oramas; 100 Meter Dash & 200 Meter Dash - Shane Harris.)The Smithtown High School East Boys and Girls track and field team went upstate recently with high expectations for competing in the 75^th Annual Eddy Meet held at Schenectady High School.

With trophies to defend, and school records to challenge, the athletes were primed for solid performances – and the coaches were not disappointed.

Three boys took home individual championship trophies,For the third straight year, the East 4x800 Team medaled at the Eddy Meet - this year smashing their own school record in a blistering 7:56.94. Pictured are senior Matt Whalen, sophomore Marius Sidlauskas, and seniors Patrick Teese and Eric Herrmann. the 4x800 Meter Relay Squad smashed their own school record and the teams combined to produce twelve medalists!

The Boys 4x800 Meter Relay Squad had set a school record last year in winning the event.  This year they lowered their own record by over eight seconds, ran what was then the fifth-best time in the State for the 2015 season – and could gain only the Silver medal when the Liverpool HS squad ran the third-best time of the season!

In three years at the games, the squad – with three members of the quartet running each time lowered the time from 8:23 in 2013, to a then-school 8:05.16 last year to a blistering 7:56.94.  This year, three seniors — Matt Whalen, Patrick Teese, and Eric Herrmann — were joined by sophomore Marius Sidlauskas for the record-setting relay.  The same quartet also sent the indoor record during this past winter season.

Trio of Champs

Champion Throwers: Dominic Oramas won the Shot Put event while teammate Liam Hendricks won the Discus Event. Both are juniors.Three members of the team won championships in field events.

Sophomore High Jump sensation Dan Claxton won the event with a leap of 6’-8.”  He holds the school indoor and outdoor records and finished second in the State in the winter.

A pair of juniors also triumphed:  Dominic Oramas won the Shot Put event (53’-6.25”) while teammate Liam Hendricks won the Discus Event (160’-5”).

Senior Benjamin Lebit also medaled in the High Jump, finishing tied for fourth place.

Senior sprinter Shane Harris (r) won a pair of medals with a third place finish in the 100 Meter dash and sixth place in the 200 Meter Dash. Sprinter Shane Harris (also a senior) won a pair of medals with a third place finish in the 100 Meter Dash and sixth place in the 200 Meter Dash.

Girls Medal Trio

For the East girls, junior Jessica Martin took fifth place in the High Jump by clearing the bar at 5-02.00.

Sophomore Kylie Strzelczyk earned sixth place in the Pole Vault with a height of 10-00.00, a full foot better than her 2014 mark.  She is the school record holder with a vault of 10’-4” earlier this season.

 Another school record holder, sophomore Jaclyn Gallery ran to a sixth place finish in the 3,000 Meter Run in 10:20.42 for the third spot on the podium at Eddy.

The boys and girls will be competing at the State Qualifiers at Port Jefferson High School on Friday Jun5 5 and Saturday, June 6, 2015.

Three People Rescued From Boat Fire In Great South Bay

Suffolk County Police Marine Bureau officers rescued three people from the water after they jumped off their boat that caught fire in the Great South Bay tonight.

Matthew Biagi was operating a 2001 25 foot Chris Craft with two passengers on a trip from Oakdale to Fire Island when they noticed smoke coming from their engine compartment. They attempted to put out the flames with a fire extinguisher but the extinguisher did not work. The three men put on personal flotation devices, jumped overboard and called 911 from a cell phone at approximately 6:55 p.m. The water was approximately 60 degrees.

Suffolk County Police immediately notified the US Coast Guard and Fire Rescue and Emergency Services.

Suffolk County Police Marine Bureau officers Robert Femia and Daniel Smith, on patrol vessel Marine Kilo, responded to the location and pulled the men from the water at approximately 7:15 p.m. The officers then administered first aid for treatment of hypothermia. Marine Mike, Marine Juliet, and Marine 35 also responded.

Biagi, 41, of Forest Hills, his brother Joseph Biagi, 40, of Weehawken New Jersey and Richard Damaro, 42, of Forest Hills, were transported by Marine Kilo to Suffolk County Police Marine Bureau Headquarters at Timber Point in Great River, where they were checked by emergency medical personnel from Islip Exchange Ambulance. The three men refused further medical treatment.

The fire was extinguished by fire boats from the Blue Point and Bayport Fire Departments.

The vessel was transported to Timber Point for examination by the Arson Squad.