New Year's Polar Plunge For Kerry Rose Foundation

What would it take for you to plunge into the cold water of the Long Island sound in January? Would you do it for a good cause? Most people if asked would say something like, “are you crazy?” But most people are not like Peter Porcaro, organizer of  L.I. Polar Plunge. 

Porcaro, a Smithtown resident, completed his 12th polar plunge event on Wednesday, January 1, 2014.  Porcaro, an air traffic controller, started the polar plunge event with a group of friends twelve years ago on a lark. He has watched the event grow from a small group of people to over sixty people of different backgrounds and ages. What unites them? In addition to doing something “exhilarating”, an important part of the event is raising money and awareness for some very important organizations. 

Over the years the polar plunge has raised funds for the American Cancer Society as well as the Leukemia Society. In 2013 and again in 2014 the polar plunge benefited the Kerry Rose Foundation. 

Kerry Rose Fitzsimons, a Commack High School graduate, was a senior at Marist College, Poughkeepsie in 2012. She was killed in January 2012 along with two other people when a fire spread inside their off-campus home which did not have a fire sprinkler system.  The Kerry Rose Foundation is a nonprofit 501.c3 ( all contributions are tax deductible) was created to  advocate for fire-safety for college housing both on and off-campus. 

July  2013 the Kerry Rose Fire Sprinkler Notification Act became law when Governor Andrew Cuomo signed legislation requiring public and private colleges in New York State to provide written information on fire safety and sprinkler systems to students residing in college-owned or operated housing. According to Mr. Porcara, Congressman Steve Israel is working on federal legislation similar to New York State’s Kerry Rose Fire Sprinkler Notification Act. 

For Mr. Porcaro and many of the “plungers” it was personal. Mr. Porcaro’s daughter knew Kerry Rose. Kerry’s sister Carly Fitzsimons, wearing a Viking hat, cold and wet from the plunge was pleased with the turnout.  “It is good to have everyone’s support, we feel a lot of love.”   Friends  Deanna Honett and Brandon Marundos both said the plunge was exhilarating and that they were happy to be a part of the event, and to have the opportunity to support the Fitzsimons family and the Kerry Rose Foundation.  Would they do it again? In a heart beat they said, with Deanna clarifying the statement by saying, “when I can feel my feet again.”

Next year’s polar plunge will go to help suicide prevention.

(photos by Katheryn Navas)

Save-A-Pet And Subaru Of Smithtown "Share The Love"

click on photo to enlarge How does Save-A-Pet spell success? S-U-B-A-R-U of Smithtown. On Saturday, December 28, 2013 Subaru of Smithtown hosted their fourth annual “Share The Love” event raising money for charity.  For every car purchased at its dealership on Saturday,  Competition Subaru of Smithtown donated $250 to one of six pre-selected charities.

Save-A-Pet Animal Rescue and Adoption located in Port Jefferson Station was one of the six charities and was invited to bring in some adoptable cats and dogs. In addition to the three dogs ( Betty, Peanut, and Prince) and two cats (Jasmine and Courtney) attending the event, information and photos of other adoptable pets was available for viewing. 

Sue Quattrini, a volunteer and offsite adoption co-ordinator at Save-A-Pet, was thrilled with the event stating that they received “bunches of adoption applications” to be reviewed that will hopefully lead to adoption. 

Vincent A. Moscardino, general manager at Competition Subaru of Smithtown, was also pleased with the event. “This is Competition Subaru’s fourth year participating in a Share-The -Love event. We are committed to giving back to the community and it is wonderful seeing the money raised through this event stay local.”

According to Mr. Moscardino twelve vehicles were purchased on Saturday. The $3,000 ($250 per vehicle)  will be passed on to the purchaser’s designated charity. 

Ms. Quattrini is hopeful that Save-A-Pet will receive some of the money raised on Saturday and she is very hopeful that some animals may have found loving homes and loving families. 

Save-A-Pet Animal Rescue is located at 608 Route 112, Port Jefferson Station. There hours are Monday-Saturday 11-5 and Sunday 12-4. www.saveapetli.org.

Competition Subaru of Smithtown is located at 463 Middle Country Road, St. James.www.competitionsubaru.com

Smithtown Dish – small bites of foodie news

Smithtown Dish – small bites of foodie news

By Nancy Vallarella

With yet one more opportunity left to partake in holiday over indulgence; here are some resources to help overcome the guilt and get back on track in the new year.

Whole Foods Market Lake GroveWhole Foods in Lake Grove hosts store-wide tastings where team members from every department provide samples of food they create with products from the store’s isles. It is a great way to get inspired and try something new before you buy.  The next one is scheduled for Tuesday, December 31 from 5:30pm to 7:00pm.  For more guilt free grazing opportunities check the events calendar on their web page.

Giada De Laurentiis - Who wouldn’t want to cook or look, like her.  Well, she has written yet another cookbook. This time she shares her healthy recipes and secrets. Giada’s Feel Good Food contains 120 healthy recipes with calorie counts and nutritional info.  After reviewing each of the mouthwatering recipes, I am inspired to try and blog about each one a la Julie & Julia.

cookinglight.comCookingLight.com is a great resource for quick and healthy recipes, nutrition tips and even entertaining menus.  An added bonus available January 1 is an on-line feature titled Start Your Year off Light - 31 days of tips, recipes and sparks of inspiration.

Here’s to a Happy and Healthy New Year to all!

Long Island 'ENCORE' THEATER AWARDS 2013

LONG ISLAND ‘ENCORE’ THEATER AWARDS – 2013

Selected by reviewer Jeb Ladouceur

White Chritmas at John W. Engeman Theater, NorthportBest Play or Musical: “White Christmas” – John W. Engeman Theater, Northport

Big, Brassy, and Wonderful … in the finest Engeman tradition. Easily deserving of four 2013 awards.

Best Actor (Play or Musical): John Scacchetti – “Singin’ In the Rain” - Gateway Performing Arts Center, Patchogue

The reincarnation of Donald O’Connor, Scacchetti turned in the kind of performance that has made Gateway the envy of many Broadway companies.

Best Actress (Play or Musical): Missy Dowes – “Dirty Rotten Scoundrels” - Performing Arts Center, Smithtown

Long Island Theater presented a number of ingénue performers this past year … and Missy was as good as any of them. She’s a knockout!

Best Supporting Actor (Play or Musical): Frank Dispigno – “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof” - BroadHollow Theater Company, Lindenhurst

If you missed Dispigno’s interpretation of ‘Big Daddy Pollitt,’ write yourself a note … and don’t miss whatever role he’s playing next.

Best Supporting Actress (Play or Musical): Jennifer Collester Tully – “Les Miserables” - Theatre Three, Port Jefferson

Jen Tully is as comfortable on stage as any comic actress you’ll ever see … even in a heavy play like this one.

Best Newcomer (Male or Female) - (Play or Musical): Rachel Greenblatt – “Grease” - Performing Arts Center, Smithtown

Greenblatt’s debut performance puts her right on the heels of her show biz-savvy siblings Molly and Josh.

Best Child Actor (Boy or Girl) - (Play or Musical): Katie Dolce - “White Christmas” – John W. Engeman Theater, Northport

Cute little Katie possesses a hefty portion of Shirley Temple stage presence. This child looks like she was born tilting a top hat and twirling a cane.

Best Director (Play or Musical): Jeffrey Sanzel – “The Diary of Anne Frank” - Theatre Three, Port Jefferson

Sanzel gave us the finest “…Anne Frank” production since Garson Kanin received a Tony nomination for his masterful direction in 1956.

Best Choreography: Drew Humphrey - “White Christmas” – John W. Engeman Theater, Northport

Humphrey lights up the Engeman stage, as do every one of his fellow dancers, and they don’t even seem to be trying.

Best Scenic Design (Play or Musical): Jonathan Collins – “Twelve Angry Men” - John W. Engeman Theater, Northport

If ever a play demanded an authentic period set, this one does. Collins even provides twenty-foot ceilings and a looming portrait of then-president Eisenhower.

Best Costume Design (Play or Musical): Chakira-Iliana Doherty – “The Diary of Anne Frank” Theatre Three, Port Jefferson

Combining the threadbare with this important play’s required nobility is a challenge that calls for the keenest theatrical insight. Doherty delivers.

Best Lighting Design (Play or Musical): Wilburn Bonnell - “White Christmas” – John W. Engeman Theater, Northport

Bonnell’s magical mixture of light, color, and fabric transported audiences to the festive locale that surely the great Irving Berlin had in mind for this show.

Award-winning Smithtown writer Jeb Ladouceur is the author of eight novels. His theater reviews appear in several major L. I. newspapers. In Ladouceur’s new thriller, “The Dealer” released last month, extortionists threaten to destroy Hoover Dam demolishing the Las Vegas Strip - if casino operators don’t pay millions.

"Lone Survivor" Opens Christmas Day Chronicles Navy Seal - Michael Murphy's Last Heroic Battle

Movie Chronicles LI Hero’s Last Heroic Battle Lt. Michael Murphy, USN

Maureen Ledden Rossi

Michael Murphy ( photo courtesy murphfoundation.org )Michael Murphy grew up like every other Long Island boy – he went to the beach, ate hotdogs and played little league.    Like every other lad with the surname Murphy both in the states and ‘on the other side’, his pals called him Murph.  All who knew him say he had a great sense of humor and loved to have a good time but there was always something different about young Murph.    His father Daniel Murphy spoke with Smithtown Matters about his son’s life.   “Michael exhibited leadership qualities when he was really young, he always seemed to do the right thing at the right time for the right reasons, all his friends knew that about him,” he said.  

Looking back his son’s childhood, Murphy recalled a time when he was coaching Michael’s little league team.   His son was about eleven or twelve at the time; he was up at bat and slammed a shot that went barreling into the outfield.  His teammates began to round the bases with Michael behind them and the whole team cheered like crazy when he arrived at home plate.  “The kids were shouting you won the game, you won the game, you won the game and he said, I didn’t win the game, we all won the game,” laughed his father.  

Michael Murphy was born in Smithtown but raised in Patchogue.   His father regaled Smithtown Matters with tales of his son always sticking up for those in need – a special needs boy who was being bullied in Middle School and a homeless man who was at the wrong end of some ill-mannered teens.  “That’s how Michael got the name The Protectors, he did the right thing,” he shared. 

Doing the right thing is what took Lt. Michael Murphy’s life in a heroic battle in the remote mountainous region of the Kunar Province in Afghanistan on June 28, 2005.    The elite NAVY Seal officer led his four-man reconnaissance team to kill or capture a sought after member of the Taliban.     Murphy and his men were dropped by helicopter near the Pakistan border and during their mission local goat herders came upon their location.  The SEALs had a critical decision to make – they could kill the goat herders or allow them and their animals go about their way knowing full well that their whereabouts could be compromised.   Murphy and his team let those goat herders go and unfortunately the enemy was apprised of their location.  Murphy and his three fellow SEALs were attacked by Taliban forces.   Enormously outnumbered Murphy and his men were all wounded; in a desperate attempt to call for military backup, knowing full well he could  be killed, the officer fought his way to open terrain to make that call and get help for his team.  His call was successful and in the final moments of his life he continued to engage the enemy until he was mortally wounded.

Unfortunately the Chinook helicopter, full of reinforcements to rescue Murphy and his team, was shot down by enemy fire and all sixteen servicemen were killed, eight SEALs and eight services members.    Only one of Murphy’s four man team came out alive that day from the mission known as Operation Red Wings -  Marcus Luttrell.  

Luttrell was rescued several days later after wandering the mountain and then being protected by Afghani people from a small village.    Luttrell was Murphy’s best friend and the Texan penned a book immortalizing their battle that day entitled Lone Survivor.  There is also another book Seal of Honor.   “Lone Survivor is strictly about the battle that day – Seal of Honor is about Michael’s life, it’s a biography,” said his father.  Luttrell’s book Lone Survivor has been made into a film that opens in select theaters on Christmas Day in Los Angeles and New York and goes nation-wide on January 10th.  

Michael’s dad enjoyed reading both books and attending the premier of the movie.   “I think the movie did a better job of portraying Michael’s leadership than the books – he had innate extraordinary leadership abilities,” he added.   

Only 29 when gave his life for his country and for his fellow SEALs Murphy was the first person to be awarded the Medal of Honor for his heroic actions during the War in Afghanistan.  He was also the first member of the United States Navy to receive the award since the Vietnam War.   The medal was presented to his parents during a ceremony at the White House by President George W. Bush.  

Lt. Michael Murphy’s  life has been memorialized and celebrated over the last eight years so many ways.  He had a United States Navy destroyer named after him, a post office, a combat training pool, a Sea Cadet unit and a park in addition to many scholarship funds.  When it comes to the movie Lone Survivor –the senior Murphy felt that the actor who played his son really did an amazing job – he said he really had his mannerisms down, the way he stood, knelt and carried himself. Michael Murphy is played by Taylor Kitsch and Marcus Luttrell is played by Mark Wahlberg.   “Taylor’s personality also fits in well with Michael’s friends; if you go on the Facebook page Seal of Honor, there is a photo with him and my son’s friends,” he shared.    Murphy had the opportunity to converse with Taylor’s mother for about a half hour after the movie premier.  “The boys had a lot of similar life experiences, both were hurt while playing hockey as boys, they were both quiet, they were both laid back,” he added.  

Lt. Michael Murphy’s life was both mourned and celebrated in the Kings Park funeral home of his relatives, the McElhone family in the summer of 2005.   Over 3,000 people filed into the small community to bid farewell to Murph and to surround his parents Maureen and Dan and his brother John with their love.    Murphy said it’s very strange the way his son’s life was immortalized in the press on both the day he was born and the day he died.  “Michael was the subject of a Newsday article, he was born in 1976 before Mother’s Day and they did a big Mother’s Day spread with a picture of Maureen and Michael”, he explained.   “Maureen talked about how happy she was to be a mother.”   Murphy is proud of his son and proud to be a Navy SEAL family member saying the training SEALs go through is beyond grueling and that many actually lose their lives during the training. 

 “Michael’s field class started with one hundred and ninety-eight men, only eighteen graduated,” he explained.   He said they are the elite of the elite and there are only two thousand Navy SEALs on active duty and a mere four-hundred are officers like his son.   Murphy said the attention given to his son’s life has been incredible.  “If I have one regret is that we don’t honor more of these men and women who lose their lives defending us,” he lamented.  He says every single one of them deserve a newspaper article and a story about their lives.        

To make a tax deductible donation to the Lt. Michael Murphy Foundation check out:  www.murphfoundation.org

The money raised is divided between 8 different scholarships.  Two go to Suffolk County students, one goes to the child of a crew member of the USSS Michael Murphy, one to a Penn State student (Murphy’s alma mater), one to the child of a Wounded Warier and one to a child of a Navy Seal who lost his life.