Commack Students Opening Their Hearts Sharing Skills With Cambodian Women

Mailysa Wood and Caitlin Passaro

(click on photos to enlarge)

Commack HS students Mailysa Wood and Caitlin Passaro have been planning for two years to go to Cambodia in support of impoverished women and children. The two High school juniors will not be vacationing when they get to Siem Reap, Cambodia in August; they will be volunteering to train approximately 65 young women in swimming and self defense skills. Mailysa is a certified life guard and Caitlin is a 3rd degree black belt in Jiu Jitsu. They have been friends since meeting each other in third grade at Burr Rd. Intermediate school.  They are courageous, idealistic and smart as well as practical, reasonable and passionate. 

Caitlin has been fundraising for the Little Shelter Animal Rescue for years and Mailysa has assisted her. Both girls are members of the Commack Interact Club, an extension of the Commack-Kings Park Rotary Club run by community activist, Debbie Virga.  The Interact Club is dedicated to providing students the opportunity to do good works in and outside their community. The Cambodian trip is not a Rotary trip and it is not sponsored by any organization. The girls are doing this on their own after learning of the plight of young impoverished women in the Cambodian regio. Too often these become victims of rape and human trafficking and lack the swimming skills that might help them survive the flooding that occurs during the monsoon season. 

The girls have identified their goal as “teaching skills to empower people to help themselves and for them to pass on others.”

Doug Wood, Mailysa Wood and Caitlin Passaro They did not come up with this idea on their own.  Mailysa’s dad has traveled back and forth to Cambodia for years and has been involved in a not-for-profit organization that trains women to become beauty salon owners. Mailysa’s mom is from Vietnam, so the family has an intimate knowledge of the region. Not so with Caitlin’s family. Caitlin admitted they had to be convinced. She was able to convert her family by coming up with a detailed plan. 

The two girls wanted to bring gifts  to the young women they will be training. One of the things they learned was that there are few roads and the woman often go barefoot. They bought flip-flops at Old Navy and personalized them with material and ribbons they purchased with a generous donation from Commack teachers and administrators. For the swimming lessons they were able to  secure the use of a hotel swimming pool in Siem Reap at no cost.  They are looking for a location for the self-defense training.  

In addition to the expense of the 24-hour flight to Cambodia, there are other costsputting together the flip flops involved in bringing supplies (goggles, swim suits etc.) with them and they are fundraising to pay these costs.  Their goal is to raise $6000.  Caitlyn and Mailysa  have a fundraising page on Crowdrise called Project Safe Cambodia https://www.crowdrise.com/search/combined-results/project+safe+cambodia. They also plan to participate in a fundraiser with their Interact Club and are hopeful the club will choose their project as the beneficiary. A second fundraiser (dodgeball) is being planned with the NOKADO School of Self Defense in Kings Park.  A School where Caitlin has trained since she was a young child under John Olshlager. 

Two scheduled fundraisers and the crowdrise page should help them in their effort to help others. They cannot do it alone and they are hoping that people will want to be a part of Project Safe Cambodia.

Village Election Results

Village election results 

Village of the Branch - Voters were asked to vote for two trustee positions with two-year terms beginning April 1, 2015 ending March 31, 2017. Incumbents Michael Donnelly and Thomas Newman were unchallenged and easily won re election. Donnelly received 21 votes and Newman 14 votes.

Book Review - "The Third Target"

BOOK REVIEW - “The Third Target” – Joel C. Rosenberg - 433 pages – Tyndale House - Reviewed by Jeb Ladouceur

To the delight of his growing legions of readers, Joel C. Rosenberg has produced his tenth novel in a series dealing with intrigue in the Middle East. He is also the author of four non-fiction books that this reviewer has not read, but that might be the subjects of a future critique. 

In his new thriller, Rosenberg turns his insightful lens primarily on the nation of Jordan, which he describes as a relatively insignificant monarchy with few if any tourist attractions, no oil, and indeed no Gross National Product to speak of. Nor does Syria fare much better in the author’s estimation. There seems little to recommend that country’s third largest city, Homs, for example, as he states in the book:

Just why anyone was fighting over this wasteland was beyond me. What was the point? What was left to fight over? The banks had been looted. There was barely anything to eat. No running water. No working sewage system. Even if you had a functioning car or truck, you couldn’t use it. The gas stations had no petrol.

Specifically, in “The Third Target” we learn of fictional, well-traveled New York Times reporter, J.B. Collins, whose resumé includes stints with AP, UPI, and a string of notable newspapers in addition to the esteemed Gray Lady. Collins has been invited to interview the new commander of rebel forces in Syria, variously known as ISIS, ISIL, and The Islamic State. His name is Jamal Ramzy … and for the rest of the story, you will have to read this compelling book for yourself (that, or wait for what surely would be a timely motion picture based on it).

Rosenberg’s protagonist, the daring newsman Collins, is not as multi-dimensional as Daniel Silva’s art restorer and sometimes spy, Gabriel Allon, but then again few fictitious characters in modern literature are. However, what the author of this fast-paced novel lacks in knowledge of things artistic, he more than makes up for in a relentless accounting of the perils that await his heroic journalist at every bend in the Middle Eastern road.

Though many will inevitably insist on comparing Rosenberg to Silva, the assessment is essentially an unfair one. The two authors are, after all, basically opposite numbers. Granted, each of them brings to his profession an acute knowledge of the mysterious world in which his stories unfold, but their underlying religious and cultural philosophies vis-à-vis the Judeo-Christian ethic are quite different in real life. And the diverse convictions of both men are apparent in a wide array of episodes that dot all (or most) of their novels.

Consider that Silva is a former Roman Catholic now converted to Judaism, and Rosenberg, a Jew until age seventeen, is now a staunch born-again Christian. Also, while Silva is a more private practitioner of his adopted faith, Rosenberg has made frequent appearances on radio and television in support of the religious views he embraced as a young adult. In particular he has been criticized for comparing apocalyptic scripture in the Bible to modern events, though he certainly has every right to do so.

The fact is that Joel C. Rosenberg has come a long way since penning “The Last Jihad” in the immediate aftermath of 9/11. Since the publication of that breakout thriller (eleven weeks on the Times bestseller chart), his books have sold three million copies, prompting the likes of ultra-Conservative Rush Limbaugh to gush that, “Regardless of your political views, you’ve got to read his stuff!”

That, obviously, is typical Limbaugh overstatement … we don’t have to do any such thing. The simple fact is that Rosenberg’s style is exhilarating, his stories timely, and his settings meticulously researched. That should make fans of international suspense eager to go along for the ride … without anyone telling them what they must (or must not) do.

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Award-winning writer, Jeb Ladouceur is the author of nine novels, and his theater and book reviews appear in several major L.I. publications. In his newest thriller, HARVEST, an American military doctor is seized by a gang of vital organ traffickers in The Balkans, and ordered to perform illegal surgeries. His upcoming THE QUANTUM SYNDROME is patterned on the Atlanta child murders of the 80s and is due in mid-May.

St. James Celebrates St. Patrick's Day Parade - Saturday, March 14

St. Patrick’s Day Parade Saturday- March 14, 2015 - 1pm

2015  Grand Marshals, Princesses & Princes For the 31th Annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade In St. James

Grand Marshals - The Caliguri Family

The St. James Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce that The Caliguri Family has been named the Grand Marshalls, of the 31^th Annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade in St. James.

Caligiuri’s Restaurant first opened in 1956 on the corner of 347 and rt. 111. Opened by our grandfather who came from Italy in the 1930’s. After it sold in 1971, we bounced around a while; my dad had about 5 other pizza restaurants but finally settled in St. James in 1977. My parents Jean and Amedeo Caligiuri bought patio pizza, and with the help of their children Laura, Guy, Teddy, and Dawn, became the Patio Pizza of today. Probably only a handful of businesses have been around St. James as long. I don’t think any have seen a wider variety of people either.

We love St. James! We love sharing stories with customers or welcoming new ones who have just moved in. I feel like we are in the fabric of the town, we have been touched by so many lives, shared memories, and really have enjoyed serving the people of this town. Happy St. Patty’s Day!

Make sure to stop by Patty-O-Pizza for a fresh slice!

Kerry Maher, the Director of the Parade and a Board Member of the St. James Chamber of Commerce, The Caliguri Family is a well deserved family to receive this honor on behalf of the Chamber and his community!!

“On behalf of the St. James Chamber of Commerce and our great Community of St. James, we want to give you the honor in our parade to say THANK YOU for all your time and service” Congratulations on being chosen for our 31^h Annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade in St. James Grand Marshalls.

“With my diligent parade staff that has worked very hard to kick off this year’s planning for the parade, it will be a great turn out!! Participating this year we have local businesses, clubs, organizations, bands!

St. Patrick’s Day Parade the Parade Route:

We kick off our shamrocks at 1:00pm starting at the Smithtown High School East Parking lot next to the Track on Woodlawn Avenue. We traveled down Woodlawn Avenue to Lake Avenue to make a left onto Lake Avenue…following all the way down to the St. James  Gazeobo right by the St. James Railroad Station. That’s where our Grand Marshalls and our Princes & Princesses will watch the parade from the review stand.

We hope you can attend the best and biggest parade around!!!

 Princesses

Emma Campbell - Emma Campbell is 5 years old and is very excited to be starting Kindergarten in the fall at St. James Elementary. She’ll be joining her big sister, Katie who is in the 2nd grade. Emma resides in St. James with her mom, dad, big sis Katie and puppy, Molly. She enjoys dancing at Chorus Line and is honing her swim skills at Saf-T-Swim.

 Victoria Dawson is 6 years old and in kindergarten at Mills Pond Elementary. Her older sisters, Cassandra & Shannon, along with mom and dad are very proud of her accomplishments and ambition. Victoria is currently involved in soccer with the Smithtown Kickers, basketball and St. Patrick’s, gymnastics at Apex and a Girl Scout Daisy. She loves being active, part of a team, playing with friends, and always willing to lend a helping hand. We love you Victoria!

Sarah Emily Feeney is a 5-year-old princess. A St. James resident since birth. Her Nana, Bridget, was born and raised in Co. Donegal Ireland, where her family still resides in Ballyliffin. Her papa’s family is from Co Roscommon. She has an older brother, Brayden (9), her older sister Katelyn (7), and a younger sister Brianna (2). Sarah wishes to follow in the footsteps of her older sister and feels privileged to represent St. James as an Irish princess on the St. Patrick’s Day parade this March 14^th.

Isabella Jones, who was born here in St. James, just turned 7 years old and is a top student at Saint James Elementary. She is very active at school and the neighborhood. She had been a member of the Smithtown Kickers Soccer League for 3 years now and even plays through the winter. Besides the normal things young ladies enjoy she is excellent at computers and her new hobby of making movies. She also competitively plays her favorite online game of Minecraft with her teenage sisters and their friends.

Olivia Lane- is a fun, outgoing 3 year old that loves her baby sister Gia . Olivia loves playing with play doh and watching play doh eggs on her iPad . Olivia loves singing and dancing to Taylor swift and Katy perry. Olivia attends St. James Lutheran pre school .

Josephine Loughlin, 5 years old, attends Kindergarten at Saint James Elementary School.  She likes gymnastics and her dance classes. She enjoys to color and draw pictures, and loves her puppy Tinker Bell. Every year Josephine watches the St. James parade and is so thankful to be chosen as Princess

Princes - 

Carmine Abbate is 9 years old and a third grader at Mills Pond Elementary School.  He has been training in martial arts for the past 3 years and enjoys learning new self defense techniques and skills at karate class. Carmine is a Bear Cub Scout in Pack 228. His favorite scouting activity is the Pinewood Derby and he enjoys designing and racing his car each year.  He loves spending time with his family and playing with his two rambunctious dogs. Carmine’s biggest dream is to one day become a video game maker. 

Oliver Augier is 6 years old. He enjoys participating in sports, learning new things and spending time with his friends and family.

Braden McCormick is 8 years old but will be 9 on St. Patricke’s day! He loves flag football, basketball and baseball, is an excellent student at Mills Pond Elementary School, a great son and little brother. He is always lucky and always smiling.

Sonny Smith is 6 years old. He loves playing soccer, baseball, and basketball! He has one brother, Rocco, and my dog Olive! In the summer I love to go to the beach and out on the boat.

Harbor Country Day School Sponsors Two Miles In Historic Bull Smythe Relay

Harbor Country Day School Sponsors Two Miles in Historic Bull Smythe Relay 36-mile relay replicates Richard Smythe’s original ride around Smithtown, commemorates 350th anniversary of Town of Smithtown

St. James, New York — Harbor Country Day School announces that on March 1, 2015, members of the school’s faculty and staff participated in the historic 36-mile Richard Bull Smythe relay run/walk through the town of Smithtown. The relay, which traced the original route that Smithtown founder Richard Smythe rode in 1665, served as the kickoff to a year-long celebration of the Town of Smithtown’s 350th anniversary. 

Harbor Country Day sponsored two separate mile-long legs of the relay, beginning at the entrance of Harbor Country Day School at 17 Three Sisters Road. Harbor joined other sponsors to run or walk 36 consecutive one-mile legs through each of the hamlets and villages in Smithtown. Participants passed a ceremonial proclamation baton along the route that was read at the conclusion of the relay, officially opening the year-long festivities.  

“As an integral part of the Smithtown community since 1958, Harbor Country Day was eager to join in this celebration of Smithtown,” said John Cissel, Head of School at Harbor Country Day School. “We at Harbor are proud to be a part of a community that has such a rich and storied history. Being able to help commemorate that history was a great honor for us.”